Chapter One : Harry's Dilemma

June 1, 1998

Harry Potter was unpacking his clothes chest, and just tossing his clothes into his trunk. He couldn't wait to get out of Hogwarts. Between Draco Malfoy lusting after him, and the whole school acting like he was in fourth year again because he refused him, he had his fill of this place. At least Voldemort wasn't his concern anymore. The Dark Lord was good and dead, finally. If another Dark Lord came along he could care less. They would have to contend with him themselves. Voldemort, formerly Tom Riddle, met his end at the tip of Gryffindor's sword, and then what was left of his soul was vanquished by the Killing Curse at the tip of Harry's wand.

Of course, I probably got your attention with the whole Draco lusting after him part. It all started after the Christmas holidays were over, and Quidditch began again. The Gryffindor/Hufflepuff game was over within a half hour, giving Harry some fly time for himself. He was the only one in the Gryffindor Locker Room, and had finished up his shower when Malfoy came out of nowhere.

FLASHBACK

Harry froze seeing Malfoy standing there by his locker. "What are you doing in here?" he asked. Malfoy went to answer him, but Harry stopped him. "No, scratch that. How'd you get in here?"

"I got an anonymous tip about the password," Malfoy said.

"There are very few people who know this password, Malfoy. Only Gryffindors."

"You forget that I'm a Slytherin, Harry," Malfoy said using Harry's given name. "I have ways of persuasion."

"More like perversion," Harry said as Malfoy got closer to him. "I'll ask again, what are you doing in here?"

"Claiming what's mine," Malfoy said before lunging at Harry.

END FLASHBACK

Harry had pushed him off, throwing him against the wall, and pulled out his wand. He threatened bodily harm in an area that would take months to recover from to get Malfoy out of the locker room. Harry got dressed, and decided to report Malfoy to Dumbledore to clear everything up. It turned out things were a bit complicated. When he arrived at Professor Dumbledore's office, Malfoy was there with his father and Professor Snape, and Professor McGonagall was there as well. He was told that the Malfoys were not really Pure-bloods, but descendants of Veela and Vampire. Draco had half of each race in his blood, and both were urging him to get a mate. It turns out that that mate was Harry. To say that Harry blew his top would've been overrated. He got even more pissed when Dumbledore told him that he had no choice.

FLASHBACK

There was silence in the office as Harry let it soak in; for about two seconds. "No way!" he shouted. He stood up from his seat far away from Malfoy. "No way in hell am I agreeing to this!"

"You don't have a choice, Harry," Dumbledore said, "This match is for your own good."

"My own good?" Harry asked. Dumbledore detected a hint of disgust and anger in Harry's voice. "I'm as straight as I can be, Professor. I'm not playing ...housewife to Malfoy over there!"

"Now, Harry ..." Dumbledore said.

"No, don't you 'Harry' me," Harry said, "You've been writing my whole life your own way ever since my parents died, forging me into your perfect

'weapon'. Well, not anymore. It stops right now. I'm seventeen, and an adult, which means no one is telling me that I have to do this. The answer is 'no'."

"I'm not that bad, Harry," Draco said.

"What part of 'no' do you not understand, Malfoy?" Harry asked. "The 'N' or the 'O'?"

"You've got no choice, Potter," McGonagall said.

"Oh yes, I do," Harry said, "Or have you've forgotten the little matter with Voldemort?" The whole room was silent. "If I'm pushed the tiniest bit in the wrong direction, I am going to leave you all, and then you can see how well you go up against Voldemort without me."

"You wouldn't dare," Snape said.

"Try me," Harry warned, "As far as I know, I'm the only one who can defeat him, and if anyone tells me one more time to go ahead and be wife to Malfoy, I'm leaving," he said. He grabbed his backpack, and headed out of the office.

"Harry, please reconsider," Lucius tried to say. Harry whipped his head around.

"This conversation is over!" he snapped before yanking the door open. "And keep that son of yours away from me or you won't have one, Mr. Malfoy." And with that Harry slammed the door behind him.

END FLASHBACK

During the months up to graduation, Harry had to contend with the entire school giving him cold stares, cold shoulders and cold demeanor. It was like he was back in fourth year, only worse. They had taken to tripping him in the halls, knocking his stuff off his desk and pushing him into the walls. According to Hermione, the only one who was by his side, the Wizarding world believed that being the mate of a magical creature was a great honor, and anyone who refused to be a mate were treated like the way Remus was treated; an outcast. It was just like that. Even Ron, his supposedly best friend, turned on him. This was a Weasley siding with a Malfoy. Two families who hated each other for years, and Ron was telling him he should consider the 'offer'. It finally came down to him announcing to everyone what he said in Dumbledore's office. Leave him alone or they face Voldemort without him. That shut everyone up. He also threatened with taking points away from any house if they did anything to him again. One of the benefits to being Head Boy was the authortity to take points away.

Harry and Hermione knew that Voldemort would attack soon the closer graduation came upon them. They spent more time together in the library going over charms and spells that were more helpful in battle when it came. Malfoy took to following Harry around whenever he wasn't in class. Ginny had broken up with Harry, although Ron may have had something to do with it. None of the girls wouldn't have anything to do with him. Malfoy was always around wherever Harry was. His father had told him to keep his distance, but one night he couldn't take it anymore. Harry had come down to the dungeons to hand in extra credit for Potions. Malfoy was in the classroom helping his godfather sort out the ingredients when he went in. Harry walked a straight line to Snape's desk, put the report on it and walked out of the room. He had made it to Gryffindor tower, and was about to turn to his dorm room when he was grabbed from behind. His self training in hand to hand combat over the summer really helped. He twisted Malfoy's arm around, and got him to the ground. With his wand out, pointing down toward Malfoy's genitals, Harry threatened to remove a necessary organ that Malfoy would need if he had any hopes of reproducing.

Two days before graduation was upon them, Voldemort attacked Hogwarts. With the teachers and Order of the Phoenix members battling Death-eaters, Harry and Hermione managed to lure Voldemort out of the castle, and into the Forbidden Forest. The battle between Harry and Voldemort was long and hard, but eventually the Dark Lord met his maker when Harry plunged the Sword of Gryffindor into his body, and killed what was left of his soul. The battle left him really weak, and he collapsed into Hermione's waiting arms. He spent graduation day in the hospital wing. Hermione had come up with his graduation papers, and told him that no one missed him at graduation. He didn't go to the farewell feast after getting out of the hospital. He stayed up in his dorm room for what seemed like forever before going down to the kitchens to get something to eat. That night was the first time he got a decent night sleep.

So, here he was, packing up his trunk to leave what used to be his home. He would spend the summer holiday with Remus, and then go to Auror school. They still had a few Deatheaters to contend with, so he needed to brush up on his investigative skills. There was a knock on the door, and he turned around to see Hermione. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said back.

"What's up?" he asked. He turned back to his trunk and realized his needed to fold some clothes if he wanted everything to fit in it.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

"Sure," he said. He took all his clothes out of the trunk, and began folding them. "What's on your mind?"

"Well, the past few days have been a little hectic for us." Harry chuckled.

"Yeah, they have."

"There's been a lot of chatter about this whole Malfoy mate thing," she said, "Mostly from Ron who can't seem to shut his mouth." Harry snickered as he tossed a folded sweater into his trunk. Hermione walked over, and started to fold some clothes too.

"What's the word?" he asked.

"Since Voldemort's dead you can't use your previous threat anymore," she said.

"We still have the remaining Death-eaters to contend with," he said throwing socks which really don't need folding into the trunk.

"The Ministry can handle that, Harry," she said. Harry turned to his only remaining friend with a look of disbelief.

"What are you saying, Hermione?" he asked hoping he wasn't going to lose Hermione too.

"I'm saying you should think about this whole 'mate' thing."

"Oh, no. Not you, too," he said as he turned his back on her. He started to just throw his clothes into the trunk again.

"Just hear me out, Harry," she said.

"I don't want to hear you out," he said, "I don't want to hear anybody out!" he shouted. He put the rest of his clothes into his trunk, and slammed it shut. "I thought you were on my side. Was it all just an act?"

"No, Harry, I would never ..."

"Then don't tell me to be Malfoy's mate."

"Harry, if you don't do this, you'll be singled out for the rest of your life."

"I know about that whole 'being a mate is a great honor' crap, Hermione," he said.

"Then you should consider this because you'll have a better chance at getting a job."

"I don't need a job, Hermione."

"Harry, I know you," she said, "You'll be too bored to sit around a house all day doing nothing." Harry sighed out knowing that she was right. Having to do all those chores when he was a kid caused him to have problems about being lazy.

"Why are you making a big deal about this?" he asked, "I already turned Malfoy down with his 'offer'."

"There's still time to accept him." Harry chuckled. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Me? Hurt?"

"Draco's vampire side is going to take control over him the more he's away from you," she said, "If he doesn't get what he wants, he could take you by force. He could rape you." Harry snickered. "I'm serious, Harry. It's no laughing matter."

"Malfoy learned that's it's not easy to take me by force," he said.

"He could die," she said.

"Since when did you care about Malfoy's welfare?" he asked. "What about me?" Hermione didn't answer. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life as Malfoy's sex thing."

"You'll be more than that!"

"A housewife then?" he asked, "I remember you saying I can't sit and do nothing, Hermione. Can you see me doing the wife thing with Malfoy?" Hermione shook her head. "I don't want Malfoy getting his hands on my family's estate either. The Potter estate. I read that part, too. He'll have control over what is mine, including Sirius' estate. I'd rather die than let him get his hands on my money."

"This isn't about money, Harry."

"It's not?" he said. He opened his backpack, and pulled out a file. He handed it to her, and she took it. "Go ahead, and read it." She looked through it. "In case you can't understand any of that, the entire Malfoy estate after all those fines the Ministry gave them, has dwindled down to a little over twenty million galleons, and if you look on the next page," he said causing her to turn the page. "You'll see that I had the Potter and Black estates combined together. The number at the bottom is the final tally." Hermione's eyes went wide when she saw the number at the bottom. She knew that Harry was rich, but she had no idea he was that rich.

"Harry, I had no idea you were so rich."

"Now you see why the Malfoys approved of their son's choice," he said taking the papers, and putting them back into his bag. Hermione sighed.

"Draco won't give up on you."

"I'm not gay! Never been, and never will be! Hell, I'll never be bi even," he shouted, "I'll always be straight! I want to find a nice girl and settle down with her. Get married and have kids."

"But you can have kids with ..." she tried to reason.

"No," Harry interrupted her, "Don't even think for a second that I'll be spreading my legs for Malfoy, and give birth to his kids." He put his trunk on the floor for the house elves to take to the train. "I'm in love with somebody else, anyway."

"I know it's not Ginny," she said.

"No," he said, "Ron told her to get over her crush on me, and find someone else. I think she's dating Neville now."

"So, who is it?" she asked.

"It's you," he said. He heard her light gasp, and reached into his pocket. "Or did you forget that night before Voldemort attacked. You were my first, 'Mione, and I know I was yours." Hermione chuckled. "You were with me to the end, Hermione."

"Harry ..."

"I've loved you since third year, but was afraid that if we were together, you would be killed," he said, getting down on one knee. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He pulled out a ring box, and opened it. "Will you marry me?" he asked. Hermione gazed at the beautiful ring in the box, and was speechless. "Hermione, this is where you say 'yes'."

"I can't, Harry," she said, "Ron and I ... we may be having problems, but we didn't break up." Harry sighed closing the box, and standing up. "I'm sorry, Harry. Ron asked me to marry him two days ago."

"And?"

"I didn't give him an answer yet, but ..."

"You're going to say 'yes'?" Hermione nodded. Harry turned from her, and put the ring in his pack. "No problem," he said. He swung his back pack onto his shoulder, and turned to face her. "I hope you and Ron have a wonderful life together. Merlin knows you deserve each other."

"Harry, I don't want to lose our friendship," she said tearfully.

"You knew you lost it when you said I should consider the mate offer." He left the room without looking back at her. He walked through the castle one last time, ignoring the cold stares from the former classmates. He found a carriage to sit in, and rode to the train station alone. He also sat on the train alone. He kept the door locked and the shade pulled closed in case Draco came around. He looked out the window until he fell asleep, and woke up when the train came to a halt. Most of the students were already off the train when he walked through the narrow rows, and got off. He got his trunk, and found Remus in the crowd. With him were two big guys, whom looked like they were Aurors. "What?" he asked.

"We need to talk, Harry," Remus said.

"If this is about Malfoy, forget it," he said, "I already made up my mind about it."

"It's the wrong choice."

"Why?"

"Well, first, you'll be the most hated wizard in the world," Remus said.

"Good, it'll be a nice change," Harry said with no emotion. "I can't believe you. Mum and Dad would be rolling in their graves right now. So would Sirius."

"Harry ..."

"You're my only family, Moony!" he shouted, "Don't tell me that you sided with the Malfoys!"

"I'm sorry, Harry," Remus said.

"Screw you," Harry said before turning around. The two big Aurors that were with Remus blocked his path. "What the hell is this?!"

"We need to secure you, Harry, until the bonding ceremony," Remus said.

"Bonding ...?" Harry started to say, but suddenly realized ... "You're forcing me to do this?!" he asked his parents' friend. "You're lucky Mum and Dad can't come back from the dead to kill you, because this is absurd."

"Like I said before Harry, I'm sorry," Remus said.

"So I am, Lupin," Harry said. Suddenly there was a puff of white smoke, and people scattered. When the smoke cleared, Harry and his things were gone.

"Where'd he go?" one of the Aurors asked.

"Find him," Remus said, "He couldn't have gotten far."

Harry sighed as he collapsed on a chair in No. 12 Grimmauld Place. He knew this was going to happen, so he prepared the house for himself. Charms, wards and other spells guarded the place from any entry. The house appeared to Muggles, so using magic to get in the house was out of the question. The only ones with Harry were Dobby and Kreacher. Dobby worshipped Harry, and joined the house elf staff. Kreacher unfortunately came with the house. Harry had no choice but to put up with him. Since breaking into the house was next to impossible, the Ministry decided to send portkeys to Harry in hopes of getting him into a holding cell. However, any letters and packages sent to the house went through the house elves first, a security measure for Harry's safety. That idea was futile after the first couple of times the portkeys were sent back with a Howler from Dobby.

The letters from 'friends' still came, but he didn't answer them. He got hate mail from Magical Creature activists. The hate mail soon turned into Howlers. It was by the time when the twentieth Howler arrived that Harry decided that hiding out in the house wasn't going to work, and that he would have to go to 'Plan B'; disappearing.