A/N: Yes, I know that I haven't updated in a while…but I did put up a little notice telling you all about me updating in about a "month"…although it was taken down, and I got a penalty of not being able to update for about 5 days because of it…
Also: A note to some of you who are confused; I will not be ending this story anytime soon! I basically have a plot planned already, but the hard part is writing everything!!
TO ELSEEDY!!: I'm glad you liked my fic!! I know the death penalty is a bit…strange…but it was the only way I could think of to make the story interesting!! Otherwise, it'll just be like some other "regular" Veela!Draco story!! Also, Lucius and Narcissa aren't "caring", because as I'm *sure* you've read (In my fic and OotP), Lucius is now in Azkaban, and Narcissa couldn't live without him, thus, is also in Azkaban. I highly doubt that the Azkaban guards would care about "another" Malfoy, and besides, Lucius and Narcissa might not even know the time or date!!
And…: No one has actually "complained" about this, but I've realized that Draco is…*slightly* OOC (People have actually said that the characters are IC, which…I can't see…lol…but thanks anyways!!). Okay…maybe not slightly…probably more than that. Anyhoo…I do plan on sharpening Draco's personality, so he behaves more like a Slytherin. I think he's actually going toward the Hufflepuff side so far…O___O
Last But Not Least: THIS CHAPTER IS FULL OF FLUFF!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!! ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW BITS!!
(^^But no *coughcough* scenes…yet…;D)
Chapter 7 ~ ThirstThere. It was midnight. It had passed. She was never going to see him again…not alive, anyway. None of them were…he had gone. Where? She had no clue. No one did. Was he really going to go to Heaven or Hell? Or was he going to spend eternity wandering around…an aimless soul, with only the thought and emotion that he was forever lost…?
That he had never fulfilled his life's destiny. What he could have done…what he had been meant to do…
It was…so fucking confusing…why? Why did Draco have to be fated like this? To be doomed with death…to pass away so soon?
It wasn't fair…it really wasn't…
Pansy turned and grabbed a tissue from the table next to her.
"Oh God…" she muttered. "This is not good…"
~*~
"What?" asked Draco, bewildered. "I'm…what?"
Harry turned his head the other direction. "Nothing…" he mumbled. "Nothing…"
"Potter!" Draco said, almost sharply. "That wasn't nothing! Tell me what you meant!"
"I…" Harry started, but then he closed his mouth again…only to re-open it. "I…can't explain it right now…you'll understand…later…"
Draco looked at him disbelievingly, but decided to let it drop. He stared at the raven-haired boy, until green eyes suddenly whipped around to meet his own silver ones.
They were lost…in time…in place…in everything. If there was one time in Draco Malfoy's life…where he could completely defrost…completely melt away from his usual cold appearance…it was now.
"We…should…go…" Harry muttered, breaking the connection. "It's…like…erm…late…"
"Er…yeah…" Draco answered softly, his eyes never leaving the emerald ones.
"Ummm…" was all Harry could let out before Draco leaned forward to capture his lips.
He started soft…after all, he was too weak to do anything "ravishing". Kissing Harry slowly, he let one arm balance him, while the other snaked up the Gryffindor's back, caressing it lightly.
Strange…really…seeing that Draco had never really kissed before…but now, you would have thought that he had been learning all his life.
It was like an art, easy to learn, but hard to perfect.
And Draco Malfoy had perfected it in a way that no others could.
He moved his lips slowly, savoring the taste of Harry…the softness of his lips…the shivers he received from stroking his back…
And he was almost in love…
Harry was feeling the strangest emotion he had ever come across.
It wasn't love…no…he was positive about that…but still…it was…more like a confused sentiment, mixed with a bit of what he had felt for Cho before…
But it was still different from that…Harry couldn't describe it…it was too hard to describe…too horrendous…yet…the most beautiful thing Harry had ever sensed.
So nevertheless, when Draco leaned forward…his wonderfully supple lips meeting his own, he couldn't help but kiss him back.
But why? A voice in his head asked him. Why are you kissing him back?
Because…he reasoned with himself. I've already hurt Malfoy…hurt him more than I can even imagine…and…I can't…not again…
But there's something else…isn't there? The voice asked again. Go on…admit it…it isn't like he'll hear…
I…You can't keep it bottled up, Harry…there's no point…absolutely none…
But…Harry was downright puzzled. Maybe…just maybe…there was something else…but what was it?
Not love, he told himself again, over and over. Not love…it can't be love…
All the while he played Twenty Questions in his head, he had been kissing Draco. It was surprising how much strength Malfoy had, even after coming so close to Death. It was like…
There was no tomorrow? Harry's mind suggested. You seem pretty desperate, Harry…
I'm not!
And as if to prove this, he let go of Draco's lips, however slowly, and felt himself turn a beet red when Draco raised those mystical gray eyes toward him.
Neither boy smiled. It didn't seem appropriate; after all…smiling was for self-indulgent people, who had been waiting for "so long" for a kiss…and finally got one…
Harry and Draco were much more mature than that…
"Here," Harry said, as he helped Draco get to his feet. "I'll walk you back to your common room…"
"Er…thanks…" Draco balanced on his feet, and swayed, when he felt two arms slide under his own and steady him.
Draco felt at first, wonderful, in those strong, steady, and warm arms, but then, that pleasure turned into a horrible helplessness. He felt so…vulnerable…so…weak. It felt horrible…it was horrible that he was so fragile…unable to even stand, much less walk.
It was terrible…
"Here…" Harry said again, his lips at Draco's ear, his warm breath sinking down to Draco's neck. Draco feebly closed his eyes and let out a small, almost silent sigh. This was like a dream…he was going to wake up soon…and find out that he wasn't 16 yet…that he had yet to find his mate…
That his mate wasn't Harry Potter.
However, just the thought of that made something in Draco's chest wrench. Harry…not his mate? It seemed impossible right now…it seemed like an intolerable idea…just the thought of not having Harry…not having those arms holding him…not having the taste of him still on Draco's lips…it made Draco want to cry out in agony…
Harry had turned into his lifeline…all in the matter of a month. He was like the air that Draco breathed…the blood in Draco's veins. If he was to die…so would Draco.
Harry let Draco lean on his own body as they slowly limped down toward the dungeons.
Draco was just beginning to enjoy being half-carried by such a warm, snug body when they stopped.
He scowled quietly, and opened his drooping eyes.
They had arrived at the wall of the Slytherin Common Room.
"Half Veela," Harry announced quietly.
The wall didn't budge.
"They must have changed the password…and didn't tell me…" Draco whispered in Harry's ear.
Harry pushed the thoughts of a shiver out of his mind, and replied, "Well, I guess we ought to knock, then…"
He raised his fist and pounded the wall two times.
They waited.
A minute? Two minutes? Ten? Draco had no idea. All he knew was that he was still alive…and that it was because Harry had kissed him…willingly…Harry had kissed him willingly…so what did that mean?
That Harry loved him?
No…it didn't have to mean that. He had already told his friends that he could be kissed willingly…and not lovingly.
Out of pity, then?
Draco took a deep breath and hoped with all his heart that that wasn't the case. It just seemed…abnormal…anguishing…that Harry would only come because he felt sorry for Draco.
Whatever the case, Harry had come to him…and he had kissed him. Willingly. It made something wonderfully painful jolt inside of Draco.
The wall suddenly swung open, and a red-eyed Pansy peered out suspiciously. When she saw Harry, with a weak-looking Draco leaning on him, her eyes widened and she stared at Harry accusingly.
"Potter!" she shrieked, rather loudly. "What in the name of Merlin did you do to him? For Heaven's sake…you've hurt him enough! Did you absolutely have to make his life miserable? You…you…fuck you! All you ever do is make fun of Draco…knock him down…and now…now you've made it worse! You…"
All the while Parkinson had been yelling, Harry had turned toward the head on his left shoulder, and saw Draco looking at him as well. He gave a small smile, in which Harry returned.
"…you…I can't believe you! You're a fucking Gryffindor! You're not supposed to hurt people! I-"
"Pansy…" Draco interrupted softly.
"What Draco?" Pansy snapped. "I'm sorry…I don't care if he's your mate or not…but…honestly…he has no fucking right to hurt-"
Her eyes widened even more, until she started to remind Draco of Umbridge.
"…to hurt…to hurt…" she babbled, not really knowing what she was saying, or even what she was supposed to say.
"…you…" she finished, her voice now in a whisper. As realization that Draco was still alive slowly dawned upon her, she kept on staring at the pair of boys in front of her, almost not believing her eyes.
"You…you're alive…Draco!" she said in an undertone. "Alive…and…and it's past midnight…"
Suddenly, without warning, she jumped once and clapped her hands together.
"Alive!" she repeated gaily. "You're not dead! You're alive!"
"Erm…yeah…yeah, I am…" Draco said, a small smile creeping once again on his face.
"Hahaha!" Pansy laughed, still clapping her hands together. "You're alive!"
Suddenly, she stopped, and her eyes darted from Draco to Harry, and then back again.
"But if you're alive…" she said in a hushed voice. "Then that must mean…that…that…"
She looked at Harry again.
"…that you got kissed…by…by him…" she indicated toward Harry, her eyes darting back to Draco's face.
When Draco gave the tiniest of nods, a huge smile took its place, once again, on Pansy's face.
"You…you got kissed! By…by Potter! You got kissed by Potter! You got kissed by Potter! You got kissed by Potter!" she giggled, over and over again. Tears of mirth were threatening to spill on her cheeks.
"I think…she's gone mental…" Draco murmured to Harry, who couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape his lips.
"Pansy? Are you okay? What's going on?" Blaise appeared at the entrance, looking very concerned. However, he seemed to have forgotten about the blonde-haired girl when he saw who she was "entertaining".
"Draco!" he exclaimed, his eyes, like Pansy's, widening to an abnormal size.
"Yes," Draco interrupted in a slow drawl. "I'm still alive. Pansy's done well to remind me…"
"I…I…" Blaise shook his head rapidly, blinked a few times, and stared some more.
"Er…Zabini?" Harry asked.
"What?" Blaise snapped.
"Er…do you think you can take Ma-…Dr-…Ma-…er…him in right now? I don't want to be caught…"
"Oh!" Blaise said. "Er…sure!"
Then, he turned his head and called over his shoulder, "Oy! Some help here!"
"What is it Blaise?" Iris appeared at the entrance, followed by Sally-Anne.
Both girls had the same reaction as the first two people.
Sooner or later, Draco was finally pulled into the common room, and put gently into an armchair close by the fire.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay, Potter?" Blaise was heard asking. "You can leave early morning…"
"No," Harry said quickly. "No, that's quite alright…I'll just…I'll just see you all tomorrow…"
"Fine," Blaise said simply. " 'Night."
He slid the wall shut, and turned.
"So Draco!" he said jovially. "Tell us all about it!"
However, Draco paid him no attention. Instead, he was focusing on Theodore, was who sitting in the armchair opposite of him, giving him a pointed stare.
"What?" Draco asked, rather brusquely.
"So…" Theodore started, sounding frosty. "So…Potter's actually your mate, is he?"
"Er…yeah, he is…" Draco said, peering at Theodore. He didn't sound right…
"So Potter's your mate," Theodore repeated, still with a haunted look in his eyes. "Harry Potter is the 'oh-so-wonderful' Draco Malfoy's mate."
"What's your point?" Draco asked suspiciously. Theodore wasn't himself tonight.
Theodore continued to stare at Draco for a few minutes. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco could see Blaise, Sally-Anne, Iris, and Pansy looking tense. Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent must have already gone to bed.
"Potter's your fucking mate," Theodore suddenly snapped, sitting upright.
"And what…do you mean by that?" Draco hissed dangerously, still not comprehending anything, except the fact that he, or Harry, had just practically been dissed.
"I mean…" Theodore replied, now sounding eerily calm, "That you are…going out…with Harry Potter, the 'boy-who-lived'."
"Erm…yeah…that's because he's my mate…" Draco informed Theodore slowly, as if he were a two-year old child.
"So why?" Theodore asked. "Why does he have to be your mate?"
Draco stared at Theodore incredulously before replying, "How the hell am I supposed to know? It's fate! It's destiny! I sure didn't ask for it…what, did you think that I looked up in the skies, and said 'would my mate please please please be Harry Potter, the boy who has been my archenemy for the last five years'? DO YOU THINK THAT? Because that's not what happened!"
Theodore didn't say anything; only sat with his arms crossed, glaring at Draco.
"Huh?" Draco shot at him. "Is that what you thought? Is it? For Merlin's sake, ANSWER ME!"
"I can't believe you," Theodore said in a shaky voice. "I can't fucking believe you! I would have thought that you were…disgusted about all this…gobsmacked that Potter was your mate…I can't believe you're defending him!"
"WELL I CAN'T HELP IT!" Draco shot back. "IT ISN'T MY FUCKING FAULT THAT THIS HAPPENED!"
"HE PUT OUR FATHERS TO PRISON!" Theodore yelled. "TO AZKABAN!"
"THERE AREN'T ANY DEMEMTORS THERE ANYWAY!"
"THEY'RE STILL IN PRISON!"
"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE? DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL MYSELF SO POTTER WON'T BE AROUND?"
"YE-"
"That's enough!" Sally-Anne cut in. Glaring at Theodore, she continued, "I can't believe that you're acting like this, Theo! Draco just had a scrape with Death! Don't get him so worked up!"
"I can't help it if he's acting like a git," Theodore said angrily.
"You…" Draco made to get out of his chair. Iris stopped him.
"No," she said firmly. "Draco, you need your rest. You just…go on up…"
"Here," Blaise said quickly. "Let me help…"
"I'm not a three-year-old, Blaise!" Draco snapped. "I can walk!"
Getting up, he stumbled to the boy's dormitory entrance, and opened the door.
The five Slytherins listened until they heard no more footsteps, and a door opening and closing before speaking again.
"Alright," Pansy said heatedly, "What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing," Theodore answered stubbornly. "Nothing's the matter."
"You know damn well that there is something wrong!" Pansy exclaimed. "What?"
Theodore proceeded to glare at his feet, with his arms still crossed on his chest.
"Alright," Pansy finally said. "We'll talk tomorrow. It's late."
Still silent, Theodore got up, and marched toward the dormitory entrance. Wrenching the door open, he stomped his way up.
"I'd better go and make sure he doesn't try and kill Draco in his sleep or something," Blaise said hurriedly, and he followed Theodore up.
"Yes, well," Iris said tersely. "I suppose that's it…"
"Yes," Sally-Anne said. "Let's go to bed."
~*~
The next morning was tense. Draco was ignoring Theodore, and Theodore was ignoring everyone else. He had left the dorm early in the morning, slamming the door, and waking everyone else.
"Bastard," Draco muttered.
"Go back to sleep, Draco," Blaise said, somewhere on his left. "It's only four o'clock."
However, once Draco was awake, he was awake. He couldn't sleep anymore.
Soon, his thoughts wandered toward the last night…and what had happened…
Draco couldn't seem to get this out of his mind…he couldn't get Harry out of his head. No matter what happened, Harry kept on popping up.
Draco sighed, and turned over.
He felt…horrible still. He still had that helpless feeling…it gave him a strange sentiment in his stomach…it felt…like it was light…and it kept on floating up. The higher it went, and worse Draco felt. He needed to push it down…
Getting up on his right elbow, Draco felt around for the water jug. When he finally found the handle, he lifted it.
The jug fell to the floor with a splintering crash.
"Damn," Draco muttered. He hadn't counted on the jug being so heavy. But then again, he was still weak…
"There we go again…" Draco said to himself. "I'm weak…"
"Draco?" Crabbe's bulky figure had suddenly appeared next to Draco's bed.
He's finally useful, Draco thought, as he opened his mouth to tell Vincent to help him with the water. However, before a word could get through, Crabbe was talking again.
"Draco?" he said again. "Can you not make so much noise? I'm still sleepy…"
And with that, he had lumbered off again. His bed squeaked with annoyance and protest as he fell upon it. Snores were heard in a matter of seconds.
Draco sighed. Really, what had he expected? For Crabbe to pull out his wand and actually mutter "Reparo"?
Yeah, right.
Crabbe was so dim…he didn't even notice that Draco was still breathing, and wasn't a corpse.
Great friends…
Moving his hand around again, Draco finally found his wand, and fixed the jug.
Pity there wasn't any water left…
Draco sighed again. This was bad. He was so thirsty now…and besides that, the helpless feeling kept floating upward.
He swung his legs out of bed, and started to stand up.
A dizzy feeling overwhelmed him, and Draco had to grab his bedpost to stop him from falling.
After standing with his eyes closed for some time, his head felt cleared, and Draco started to dress.
Then, Draco stumbled out of the Dormitory, and out of the Common Room.
~*~
Harry really needed to be alone right now. After getting back to the Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in the morning, he had been bombarded with questions from his friends.
No, he didn't get lost…no, he didn't get caught…no, there's nothing wrong with him…no, nothing happened…yes, he lost track of time.
However, that didn't convince anyone, especially not Hermione, who still fixed him with a strange pointed stare.
"But how," she started. "Could you lose track of time? You ought to have noticed that it was getting late…that no more students were around!"
"Well…I…didn't," Harry had answered, whist looking down at his feet.
"Harry?" Hermione said, more calmly this time. "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"What?" Harry's head had snapped up, as he stared at her. "No! Of…of course not! I wouldn't hide anything from you…you're my best friends! Besides," he added, as Hermione began to glare. "You'd find out anyway…"
You'd find out anyway…these words were burned into Harry's thoughts. What would happen once his friends found out that he was Draco Malfoy's mate?
How would they react to this?
Hermione would probably try to stay calm…she'd understand that it really wasn't anyone's fault that this happened. She'd be understanding…
But Ron? Ron was a whole different story. Not only would he go mad, he'd also go on a "Let's Get Together And Kill Malfoy" frenzy. He wouldn't listen to a word that anyone told him. He'd blame Draco for all of this…
Draco…
That name…it had come to him again. Not Malfoy…Draco…
It was so strange…unfamiliar…and yet, Harry felt as if he had been using that name ever since they met…
It was early. Outside, darkness still prevailed, but you could see the smallest rays of orange and pink starting it's blessing across the sky.
Harry felt a small smile grow on his lips. At last, he could actually be alone…and actually be at peace…at last…he could live with his own thoughts…for once…
At least, he wished that were so…
~*~
Draco didn't know what to do. Should he approach Harry, or should he back away, and continue his trip down to the Great Hall?
He was still thirsty…
"Harry?" He couldn't stop himself. Just the sight of Potter…he needed him…
The Gryffindor turned. His emerald eyes caught sight of the silver ones, and they widened.
"Oh!" he said dumbly. Then, "Why are you up so early? Shouldn't you be resting? I mean…you've had a bad night and everything…"
"Couldn't sleep," Draco answered softly. "Theo woke me up."
"Why?" Harry's brow was furrowed.
"Doesn't matter," Draco said simply. "Just a little row we had last night…"
"Oh…" was all Harry could put out.
"Er…" said Draco uncomfortably. "So…erm…why are you up so early?"
"I woke up early," Harry said plainly. "I needed some time alone."
"Oh…" Draco said, thinking that Harry was hinting for him to leave. "I – I'm sorry to bother you…I'll just go…"
"No," Harry replied, taking Draco by surprise. "No…it's alright…stay…"
"But…why?" Draco whispered.
Harry shrugged. "I…don't know…" he answered softly. "I…I…" he looked around helplessly. "I…want to get away…" he said. "I…I want to go somewhere peaceful…"
Draco gave a tiny smile.
"I know just the place," he murmured, as green eyes met silver.
~*~
"I've never noticed this place before…" Harry said softly, gazing around in wonder. "I wonder why…"
"It's a dark staircase…and it blends in with the surrounding walls," Draco answered. "No one would see it unless they looked closely.
"It's beautiful…" Harry muttered looking at the landscape.
They were on the highest tower…the same one that Draco was on the day he turned sixteen. In the sunrise, the tower was bathed in red and orange, while the soft, cool wind slightly ruffled their hair, breathing around their robes.
It was truly peaceful.
Draco leaned against the wall, and slid into sitting position. Looking back, Harry saw, and sat down next to the blonde-haired Slytherin.
Draco fidgeted. Harry was…seemed…to like him…it was strange…he never would have thought that Harry would soften up so soon.
But then again, he never would have thought that Harry'd kiss him either.
It was a strange world…
"How did you find this place?" Harry asked, still gazing out into the sky.
Draco shrugged. "I was bored one day…" he answered. "I wanted to be alone…and I just…found this place. I…I feel better when I'm here…"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, turning his head towards him.
"I mean…" Draco said softly. "When I'm here…no one will bother me. The peace and silence calms me…I can stay here for hours at a time…just…feeling. I…I can almost feel…how it is to love…"
Harry was, to say the least, shocked. He had never heard Draco Malfoy…sounding…so…beautiful…his voice, just then and there, enchanted Harry, it was almost like music…
Draco looked at Harry. His hair was softly waving in the wind, and his cheeks were tinted a light shade of pink from the cold. His green eyes sparkled in the early sunshine, and on his lips, he wore a small smile.
He just had to kiss him…But to his surprise, when he was about to lean forward, it was not his lips that met Harry's, but Harry's that met his.
But it didn't matter. He was tasting those wondrous lips once again. They were so sweet…they were like candy…
Slowly, he moved his lips, and was, yet again, pleasantly surprised to find a answer from Harry.
Gradually, ever so slightly, Draco slid his warm, soft tongue into Harry's open mouth. He intruded gently, not wanting to rush anything. And yet…he felt such a strong desire overwhelm him…he felt so desperate…like it was the end of the world…like this was the last time he would ever see Harry.
And Harry?
All Harry was feeling was the soft, silky lips upon his…the warm fingers as they reached up to stroke his cheek…the…perfectness.
The wonderful feeling of contentment…and peace at last.
Draco pulled away ever so slowly, gazing deeply into the green orbs in front of him.
It was so wonderful…just being here with Harry. Alone. It was wondrous.
And he wasn't thirsty anymore.
~*~
A/N: OH. MY. GOD. I ACTUALLY FINISHED!!
LOL!!
Anyhoo…ummm…can you believe that that^ was really the first kissing scenes I've ever written? Okay, so I had written one before, but…I meant that this is the first time it was anywhere NEAR decent! I mean…I have no idea why, but writing kissing scenes are SO hard for me! Seriously…I just start giggling like mad every time I wrote a word…it was SO annoying!
Er…well! As you all know, seeing that school is still on, and I get frequent Writer's Block, updates will be, again, infrequent. However, if you just want to make sure I'm still alive or something, I suggest you check out my LiveJournal, and just look at my dates, to see that I haven't died or anything...O__O
Er…links:
My story LJ: http:// www.livejournal. com /users/ peace_shadow
My plain everyday LJ (Not like anyone wants to read this, but I update this one more): http:// www.livejournal. com/ users/ xxsapphrinexx
Let's see…oh! And…
Lolling around, waiting desperately for me to update? (LOL, I'm just kidding) Well! Here are some stories that I happen to LOVE; so you can read them if you're ever bored!
Hidden Magic by nschik
Sapphrine's Summary: Basically, Harry has a lost twin sister, who was taken and raised by a Death Eater. However, she does know that she is not the Death Eater's child, and that her twin is Harry, and etc. etc. She had grown up with Draco, and finally, she goes to Hogwarts. While there, yet another prophecy that Alexia had known about happens, and Harry and Draco find themselves falling in love. SLASH.
The Chariot, and The Hermit, by Karina4
Sapphrine's Summary: LOL, I can't think of a good one! You'll just have to read it!
Dreams Can Come True, Frost Kills the Most Beautiful Flowers, and True Colours, a trilogy by Blonde Ditz.
Sapphrine's Summary: Er…well, let's just say it's a REALLY REALLY REALLY good story! But be warned, Blonde Ditz hasn't updated in a REALLY long time (Half a year!!), and so far on True Colours, she had left with a REALLY wonderful/horrible cliffhanger!
Anything by Silvestra, Michael Serpent (Even though I'm sure you've all already read his stories), eveylici0uz, and Silverbreeze!!
Okay…that was WAY too long of an A/N…
TATA!!
~Rine