Chapter 12: Believing
Harry woke feeling warm and comfortable. Never before had he felt this relaxed. Harry snuggled deeper into the warmth surrounding him and gasped in surprise when he felt a pair of arms tighten around his waist. He opened his eyes and was confused to see twin pools of silver staring down at him.
"Good morning, Emerald." Draco murmured as he ran a hand through Harry's disheveled hair.
"Morning, Angel." Harry whispered back as a huge grin spread across his face. Draco grinned back and they spent a moment smiling at each other. 'I feel so safe and comfortable! I can finally relax because I know he'll keep me safe.'
"Harry about yesterday…I've been thinking, and I threatened my parents with this too, if you aren't comfortable here we can always go somewhere else." Draco offered. Harry looked at him in confusion.
"You mean like a different room? Because I wouldn't mind, you know, sleeping with you." Harry said, his face lighting up in a brilliant blush when Draco raised an eyebrow at him.
"No, not like a different room," Draco chuckled. "I mean a different house. I was thinking I could buy you a nice cottage by the ocean. You need some peace and quiet since your life is normally so hectic." Draco explained. Harry could only stare up at him in shock. 'He wants to buy me a house. He would move away from his parents and buy a house if I was uncomfortable living here! Merlin, can he get any more perfect?'
"You would do that for…me?" Harry breathed, staring adoringly up at his dominant.
"I would do anything and everything for you, Harry." Draco said solemnly.
"Anything." Harry repeated in a low voice.
"I would go through Hell or high water for you if it meant you were safe and happy always." Draco swore. Harry threw his arms around Draco's neck and squeezed himself closer to the blond.
"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can we really get a cottage by the ocean? I think I'd like that. We could walk on the beach and swim and build sandcastles and fly kites and have bonfires and-"
"Harry!" Draco interrupted his rambling mate with a happy laugh. "One thing at a time, Love. First things first, we need to get up and dressed." Draco unwound his arms from around Harry's waist and stood up from the bed. "Wait here. I'm going to get ready and then we'll go see if my parents got you any presentable clothes yesterday." Harry watched as Draco walked into his closet and came out a few minutes later completely dressed. Harry felt his mouth go dry and his eyes widen as he stared at the blond Adonis.
Draco was dressed in form fitting black jeans, a black wife beater under a dark green short-sleeved button-up shirt that he left open, a thick black wrist band and dark green high-top converses. 'Oh. My. Merlin! How can he be that amazingly sexy?'
"That's not fair!" Harry whined as he continued to check Draco out. 'If he's my dominant I'm aloud to look at him…right?' Draco raised an eyebrow at him and Harry pouted.
"What's not fair?" Draco asked as he sauntered back over to Harry.
"That you look like a bloody god and I look like a scrawny, four-eyed-" Draco lurched forward and Harry flinched back. "I'm sorry!" Harry shouted as he fell back on the bed and Draco landed on top off him with his hands clamped over his mouth. Harry looked fearfully up at the glaring boy above him.
"Don't you dare say the f-word! I never want to hear you say it again! Don't even think it!" Draco hissed down at him. Draco slowly removed his hands and sat up, leaning back on Harry's thighs.
"W-what do you mean? I can't think or say what?" Harry asked in a soft trembling voice.
"Freak." Draco spat the word in disgust. "I've heard you call yourself that one too many times already and it's only been five days since you got here! I will not tolerate you constantly putting yourself down." Draco snapped. Harry flinched again at the harsh tone and Draco's expression softened.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to yell or attack you." Draco said as he curled a hand against Harry's cheek. "I just hate hearing you degrading yourself. You're so perfect and you don't even realize it." Draco whispered softly. Harry looked at him in surprise.
"You think I'm perfect?" Harry gasped. No one had ever said anything like that to him before.
"I know you are perfect." Draco said. Harry beamed at Draco as the blond Slytherin rolled off him and helped him off the bed. 'Why was I fighting this so hard? He's so nice to me. I hope it lasts.' Harry thought as he followed after Draco in a happy daze.
"Now let's see what clothes my parents got you. Did any of them go even remotely together?" Draco asked Harry. Harry froze and looked around. They were in his room and Draco was headed for his closet, his closet that didn't have any clothes because they were packed and ready for when he ran away. 'Which never happened but I can't let him know I was planning on running away! He might never forgive me. Shit! What do I do?' Harry freaked out in his mind. He watched in silent horror as Draco opened his closet door and saw absolutely nothing. Draco slowly turned to look at him and Harry couldn't help but be afraid.
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"Harry. Where are your clothes?" Draco asked. Harry paled and backed up. 'What is he so afraid of?' Draco though worriedly.
"I-I don't…" Harry looked around desperately.
"Harry? Where. Are Your. Clothes?" Draco took a step forward for every step Harry took back until Harry's back was pressed against the wall.
"Draco, I didn't mean it!" Harry cried out looking pleadingly up at him.
"You didn't mean what? And for the last time submissive! Where are your clothes?" Draco snapped. 'What the bloody hell is he so frightened of?' When Harry still didn't answer his question Draco spun around, pulled out his wand and waved it across the room.
"Accio Harry's clothes!" He said forcefully and then was forced to pull Harry down to avoid the suitcase that came launching at them from under the bed. Draco slowly knelt by the suitcase and unzipped it. There folded neatly were Harry's clothes. The horrible rags from his stay with those disgusting muggles and the random articles of clothing his parents had gotten yesterday. Draco looked up at Harry confused.
"Why are your clothes packed?" He asked. Harry shook his head as his eyes welled up with tears.
"Please don't hate me!" He whimpered. Draco shot up so fast that he almost knocked Harry over. He wrapped his arms around the dark haired teen.
"Never. I could never hate you, Harry." He said. "Just tell me why your clothes are packed."
"I…I was going to leave. I didn't think that you still wanted me around and I didn't want to hurt you again like I did yesterday morning so I was going to…leave." Harry whispered, staring down at the floor. 'He was going to leave. My mate wants to leave me. He doesn't want to be here.' Draco felt his blood run cold and his heart clench painfully. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe. His submissive wanted to leave him, had planned on running away in the dead of night. Draco felt his legs give out and he dropped to his knees, staring blankly ahead. He didn't hear Harry frantically calling his name and didn't feel the hands on his arms and face. 'Nothing matters anymore. Without Harry I don't want to live. He wants to leave me. He doesn't want me. So I don't want to live.' The Veela in him had taken over and he was running on instincts alone, instincts that told him he had been rejected. Draco felt himself getting weaker and he knew he was dying. No Veela ever survived after being rejected by their mate. 'At least he will be happy' was Draco's last thought as he slumped forward onto the floor and passed out.
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"Oh God! Draco, please wake up! Please!" Harry sobbed as he shook the unresponsive teen. Draco lay unconscious on the floor and Harry frantically tried to come up with a way to help him. "There has to be a spell or a potion, something!" He shouted. 'A potion! Severus!' Harry jumped up and ran from the room.
"Professor! Professor Snape! I need your help! Please! Severus!" Harry ran to the library where he hoped the dour man would be and cried out in relief when he saw the professor sitting in an armchair by a window. "Professor! Please I need your help! It's Draco, sir. He's collapsed and I don't know what's wrong. Please can you help him?" Harry was nearly crying. Severus jumped up from his chair and hurried to Harry's side.
"Where is he? What happened?" Severus questioned.
"He's in my room! Come on." Harry dashed back out of the room without checking to see if the potions master was behind him. He could hear the hurried footfalls as they raced to his room. Harry ran straight to Draco's side and cradled the blond head in his lap.
"Please, just help him." He whispered. 'I can't lose him. I can't.' Severus was running his wand over Draco's body and he sucked in a sharp breath at the results.
"What? What is it? What's wrong?" Harry asked frantically.
"Potter I need you to go get Lucius and Narcissa. They should be in the dining room eating breakfast. Hurry! We don't have much time." Snape urged. Harry was up and out the door in seconds. He leapt down the stairs and skidded into the dining room.
"Come quick! Draco's collapsed and I don't know what's wrong!" Harry didn't wait for a response. He flew back up the stairs and hurried to Draco's side. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy came rushing in after him. Mrs. Malfoy took one look at Draco and let out a sharp cry of despair.
"No! What did you say to him?" She rounded on Harry.
"Nothing! I didn't say anything! He found out I was planning on running away and then he just collapsed!" Harry said.
"Tell me exactly what you said to him!" Mr. Malfoy snapped as his wife moved to Draco's side. Harry quickly told them everything and Mrs. Malfoy let out a soft sob.
"He thinks you rejected him. His Veela is telling him he was rejected and now he's dying." She whispered. Harry felt as if everything slowed down as he dropped to his knees beside Draco.
"Dying?" He looked down at the pale Veela. "Please. Dominant I need you. Don't leave me!" Harry whispered brokenly as tears began streaming down his face. He begged and pleaded, promising to do whatever the blond wanted if he would just wake up. With every second of unresponsiveness Harry's heart grew heavier. He leaned over until he could look down into Draco's face. "I can't lose you because I…I care about you too much now Draco. You're showing me what it feels like to be loved and I'm starting to learn how to trust people. I need you dominant." Harry whispered before he leant the rest of the way down and pressed his lips firmly to Draco's. Everything was still for a moment and then a loud gasp sounded from under Harry's lips.
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Draco was cold. So, so cold. He could feel himself slipping away. Then there was suddenly heat everywhere and he was getting stronger. He became aware of a pair of lips pressing against his own and his eyes snapped open with a gasp as he regained all his strength. He brought his hands up and tangled them in the hair of his mate.
"Harry." He moaned loudly against Harry's mouth. Harry jerked away from him and stared down at him in relief.
"You're awake! Oh thank Merlin!" Harry cried as he threw himself into Draco's arms. 'Merlin, this feels so right. I want to hold him in my arms always.' Draco shivered when he felt Harry's breath ghost over his neck.
"Shh, Harry. I'm perfectly fine. There's no need to cry." Draco tried to comfort the hysterical teen.
"You collapsed and you wouldn't wake up! I couldn't wake you!" Harry pressed even closer to Draco. "Snape said we almost lost you." He whimpered. Draco looked around and noticed that everyone was in his room. His expression hardened and his face grew cold.
"Harry, get up." He demanded even as he pulled the slighter teen up with him as he stood. He shifted so he was in front of Harry and glared at his parents. "We're leaving. I'm getting him that cottage and we'll be gone in three days. He can't heal and forget here, not when he is constantly put on edge by you two." Draco snapped at his parents. He turned to Sev and smiled. "I would like you to come with us. He will need you and he already trusts you a great deal."
"Draco!" Harry hissed from behind him in embarrassment. "You don't have to do this. I told you already that I would be fine here. And you can't talk to your parents that way!" Harry said indignantly. Draco turned to Harry and raised a sculpted blond brow at him.
"I can talk to them anyway I want Harry. You wouldn't understand because you don't have any parents." Draco said coolly. Harry gasped and stepped back his eyes filling with tears as his heart constricted painfully. Draco's eyes widened once he realized exactly what he'd just said.
"Shit! Harry I didn't mean it!" He said quickly.
"Fuck you, Malfoy." Harry said in an emotionless voice. Draco could only watch as Harry walked dejectedly out of the room, closing the door silently behind him.
"You idiot! Do you realize what you have just done?" Severus snapped at Draco. He glared when Draco looked up at him with wet, anguished silver eyes. "After what he just did for you, after everything he just said how could you say that to him?"
"I didn't mean to!" Draco insisted. Severus sneered disgustedly at him before storming out after Harry, the door slamming behind him. Draco turned towards his parents who had been silent throughout the ordeal.
"Well? What do you have to say about this?" He snapped at them.
"Don't you take that tone with us Draco Lucius Malfoy! You did this all on your own so I expect you to fix it on your own." Lucius snapped back.
"You should know betted Draco. Not only is he a submissive but he has been beaten. He doesn't have any confidence and you have most likely destroyed any progress you might have made." Narcissa turned to go and Lucius followed behind her.
"I hope you are happy Draco. You have managed to hurt the one person who needs your support and love the most." Lucius said before he left completely. Draco sank slowly onto the bed and buried his face in his hands. 'I just royally screwed up. I don't deserve his forgiveness but we need each other too much for me to just take this as the punishment I deserve. I have to make it up to him.'
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Severus found Harry curled on a window seat in the library. His shoulders were slumped dejectedly and he was leaning his forehead against the glass. Severus walked over to stand behind the raven haired teen and they stayed silent as they stared out the window.
"He didn't mean it." Severus said quietly without turning away from the view of the gardens.
"I know." Came the soft reply.
"Then why are you in here sulking?" Severus asked. 'Not that he doesn't have a good reason. My godson just so happens to be an insensitive idiot.'
"I'm not. I just…I need to think." The boy finally turned to face him. "He's right, you know. I don't know what it's like but he shouldn't treat them like that. What if they die tomorrow? Then he'd feel awful because the last time they were together he snapped at them!" Severus thought he understood.
"You were trying to protect him." Severus nodded.
"I just don't want him to screw up his relationship with his parents for me. I'm not that important. I just want him to be happy." Harry whispered.
"Just like how he wants you to be happy. The only reason he snapped at them is because they made you feel like your only option was to run away even after they gave their word to help you. Draco just wants what's best for you." Severus said as he laid a hand on the teens shoulder.
"I messed up by running away didn't I?" Harry sighed.
"Quite the opposite. Draco is distraught because he thinks you now hate him." Severus informed the Gryffindor.
"What!" Harry jumped up. "I could never hate him! How could he even think that?" Harry grabbed Severus' arm. "Where is he? Is he still in my room?" Severus nodded and watched as the boy took off. Severus could only shake his head. 'Those two are going to make me go prematurely gray.' Severus thought fondly as he sat in the seat Harry had just vacated. He summoned a potions book and began to read.
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"Draco!" Draco looked up and turned from the window at the sound of his name and braced himself in time to catch the human missile speeding towards him.
"Harry! What's wrong? Why are you so frantic?" Draco asked as he peered closely at the shorter teen looking for any physical injuries.
"You're an idiot! That's what is wrong!" Harry shouted as he slapped Draco on the arm. "How could you think, even for a second, that I hate you?"
"I…what? I don't understand. You don't hate me?" Draco looked hopeful and confused.
"I could never hate you." Harry whispered quietly.
"But…what I said about your parents!" Draco exclaimed in surprise. 'How is he not furious with me?'
"I could never hate you." Harry repeated, deep emerald eyes staring up into molten silver. Draco cupped Harry's face in his hands and kissed him softly. He shivered at the feeling of his submissive's soft lips moving against his own. He gasped in excitement when he felt Harry nip lightly at his lips. He moaned and opened his mouth, tangling his tongue with his mate's. Harry moaned into his mouth and pressed closer against him. Draco's breath caught in his throat and his hips hitched forward. Harry gasped and puled quickly away, his face colored a beautiful red.
"Sorry, I'm sorry." Draco panted as he tried to control his lust. "God, you look so beautiful." He breathed. Harry blushed even deeper and looked up at Draco from underneath long, dark lashes. Draco moaned again and turned away from his sinfully alluring mate. "We should…we should go get you some breakfast. You haven't eaten yet." Draco said in a shaky voice, still facing away from Harry. He felt a hand touch his back and shivered.
"Did I do something wrong? Did you not like the kiss?" Harry asked worriedly from behind him.
"No! Merlin, no. It was perfect!" Draco said as he turned and swept his mate into his arms. "You just look so incredibly sexy and kept making those delicious sounds that if I had continued kissing you I don't think I would have been able to stop and you aren't ready for something like that." Draco let go of Harry, only keeping hold of his hand. "So I suggest that we go eat something before I ravish your delectable body." Draco said and laughed lightly as he pulled a red faced Harry from the room.
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Harry was extremely happy right now. 'I don't think I've ever been this happy before.' Harry thought as he sat eating on the balcony that connected to his room. He peeked over at the blond beside him and blushed slightly. Harry had surprised himself when he instigated that kiss but he didn't feel sorry for doing it, he just thought it meant he trusted Draco even more now. 'Maybe…maybe being affectionate will help me get over what Vernon did to me.' Harry hesitated before turning towards Draco.
"Draco?" Harry called softly. Draco turned to him and Harry's mouth went dry. Draco was outlined by the sun and it made him look like an angel with his shining hair and sparkling creamy skin.
"Yes, Harry?" Harry had to shake his head and reorganize his thoughts.
"I was thinking about our kiss," Harry blushed deeply and looked down at his lap. Draco cupped his chin in his hands and gently lifted his head.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. What were you thinking?" Draco murmured softly as his eyes roved over Harry's face. 'What does he see when he looks at me?'
"I was thinking that I wasn't scared and that when I was kissing you it didn't remind of him at all." Harry whispered, feeling the need to speak in softer tones.
"That's good. Maybe you are finally starting to get over it, accept it."
"Yeah, and I was also thinking…maybe if we, you know, kissed more I would recover faster." Harry swore his face would be permanently red if he kept blushing like this. Draco smirked down at him and raised an eyebrow mockingly.
"Are you saying you want to snog me right now? If you are, I certainly wouldn't protest your advances." Draco said with a small chuckle. Harry hesitated again before leaning over and pressing his lips to his dominants. Draco immediately stopped laughing in order to expertly steal Harry's breath away. Their lips moved perfectly in sync with each other and Harry found himself wanting to be closer. He fisted his hands in Draco's shirt and pulled him closer with a moan. Draco moaned back and swiped his tongue over Harry's bottom lip, which fell open readily. Their tongues tangled and both boys moaned loudly.
"Draco." Harry breathed as he ran a hand through silky blond locks of hair.
"Harry." Draco gasped as he wrapped an arm around Harry's waist. "Want to be closer." He whimpered. Harry stiffened and felt Draco preparing to pull away when he decided to get up and plant himself firmly in Draco's lap. Draco gasped and tightened his grip on Harry's waist.
"Close enough?" Harry asked in a husky voice. Draco nodded and pulled Harry back down for a toe-curling kiss. Harry had his hands firmly embedded in Draco's hair and Draco had a tight hold on Harry's thin waist. They were ravaging each other's mouth quite happily and didn't seem to be planning to stop anytime soon. 'Never knew this could feel so good. Want so much more.'
"Need you, Dominant." Harry whimpered against plump lips and Draco groaned. Harry stared into darkened silver eyes as Draco pushed him back with a shake of his head.
"Can't. Harry…Gods!" Draco exclaimed as he pulled Harry back down for a rough kiss before lifting him up and placing him back in his own chair. Draco scrambled away from his seat and rounded the table so it was between them.
"Draco?" Harry tried to push away the feeling of rejection that told him he was unwanted like his uncle had always told him.
"We can't Harry. You aren't ready for any more than kissing. I won't have you rushing into things before you are ready." Draco panted as he ran a hand through his hair. Harry felt warmth bubbling in his chest. 'He's trying to protect me from myself. I can tell how much he wants to go farther but he won't until he thinks I'm completely comfortable with it. I have the best dominant.'
"Okay, Dominant." Harry nodded and took deep breaths trying to control his racing heart.
"I…erm. I need to… go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." Draco said in a strained voice before darting inside. Harry watched him go in confusion before turning back to the lunch they had brought out with them.
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Draco locked himself in his bathroom and leant over the sink breathing hard. 'Gods! How am I ever supposed to stop myself when he looks so damn sexy all the time?' An image of Harry lying flat on his bed without any clothes, his face red and eyes bright with passion as he moaned out his name had Draco whimpering softly. He shakily reached for his pants and undid them hurriedly before pushing them down around his ankles along with his boxers. He wrapped a hand firmly around his straining cock. He moaned loudly at the rush of pleasure he got and started to stroke himself while think of Harry writhing under him, moaning his name, begging for more, harder! Draco imagined what it would feel like to have that warm, wet mouth wrapped around him.
His breath was coming in short harsh pants as he moved his hand along his cock. He twisted his wrist at the head of his cock before brushing his thumb nail against the slit and pushing his hand back down. He sped up the movement of his hand as he began to thrust into his fist.
"Harry." He moaned as he felt a tightening of his muscles indicating his release was near. One final image of himself buried deep inside of Harry sent him over the edge.
"HARRY!" He cried out as he came all over his hand. Draco slumped bonelessly against the wall, his breath labored. After a few minutes he straightened up and cast a quick cleansing charm before pulling his pants back up. He checked his appearance in the mirror and once he decided he looked presentable he left his bathroom and made his way back to his mate, trying to ignore the images he had thought up in the midst of passion.
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Dear Headmaster,
Harry hasn't been returning my owls and I'm starting to get worried. I fear that his aunt and uncle are treating him badly. What if they locked him back in that horrid cupboard! Could you please allow the Weasley's and me to go check on him and take him to the burrow? Or maybe check on him yourself? I just want to make sure he's okay; he was so distraught when Sirius died. He needs his friends, Professor.
Sincerely,
Hermione J. Granger
Dear Headmaster,
Potter hasn't returned any of my letters. Probably thinks he's too good for us poor people. You wanted me to tell you right away if something was wrong. I haven't heard from the attention seeking git all summer and neither has Hermione. I really couldn't care less about him but you said you wanted to know.
Sincerely,
Ron Weasley
Miss Granger,
Thank you form informing me of this disturbing change in Harry's attitude. I will look into it immediately. I highly doubt his relatives have locked him in a cupboard. He is probably just grieving and did not feel up to answering questions. I am sorry to say that Harry will not be able to leave his aunt and uncle's house until it is time for school to start up again. I will make sure he is perfectly fine and healthy and owl you back.
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,
Albus Dumbledore
Mr. Weasley,
Thank you for informing me of Potter's strange behavior. I will go and investigate at once. I have added more galleons to your vault for the information you have given me. Make sure you continue to follow orders and you will get many more.
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,
Albus Dumbledore