My Chosen One - by leo_draconis, Part Two Title: My Chosen One Author:leo_draconis Pairing: Harry/Draco, slight Remus/Bill Rating: NC-17 Warning(s): M/M slash sex, oral, rimming, language, minimal violence. AU beyond HBP, really. The main things of consequence are the characters I kept alive, no Remus/Tonks, and no Bill/Fleur. Beta: My fantastic B – thanks as always! Prompt: For isinuyasha. The ministry decides to pass a law that will drastically change the life of magical creatures. They have to stay with random wizards who can control their lives and their actions. When Draco Malfoy (who still hasn't found his mate) is to be send to a resentful Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter is strangely worried. Harry takes Draco into his own care and they're both happy about it, they just don't realize why. Summary: When the Ministry passes a new law taking away the rights and freedom of magical creatures, Harry fears for the safety of Draco Malfoy and takes him in. What happens next is a miracle of Fate. Author's Notes: I wanted to write this the moment I saw the prompt! I hope it’s what you were looking for, isinuyasha, and I thank you for providing the prompt as I really loved working on this.
Disclaimer: This piece of art or fiction is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made, no copyright or trademark infringement, or offence is intended. All characters depicted in sexual situations are above the age of consent.
oOoOoOoOo
They resized the shrunken books and split them up, and spent the evening reading quietly. Harry was sure to grab ‘Veela Through the Ages.’
A male Veela reaches his maturity at age 21. On his anniversary of birth this year, he will come into his Veela traits. Note that not all Veela have all traits. Most male Veela physically exhibit only a few of these, such as the pale skin, lighter colored hair, and wings. If the male Veela is the product of two Veela parents, he may exhibit more of the bird-like features.
Female Veela have no determined mate, but instead project the Veelan lure thousands of times the intensity of the male Veela. The male Veela is irresistible only to his mate, and is simply seen as quite attractive to others, where the female Veela will attract her pick of men and occasionally women. See “Female Veela,” page 264, for further information.
When a male Veela reaches his maturity, he enters his mating year. The Fates choose each Veela’s mate at some time during his life. It is someone the Veela has a strong connection to, someone he reacts strongly to, and someone whose soul is considered the counterpart to the Veela’s own.
During the mating year, the Veela will begin seeking out his mate. Once he finds this person, he will begin to feel a physical need to be near his mate. It will be mild at first, but stronger as the year goes on. Additionally, if the Veela and his mate are intimate together before fully consummating their bond, the need grows tenfold until they are properly bonded.
Male Veela are very protective of their mates. When a Veela’s mate is threatened, he will exhibit his Veelan traits on instinct and can be very dangerous, even deadly. With bonding, the Veela generally calms and has more control over his actions – that is, until he is with child. While pregnant, the Veela will be more protective than ever before, both of his mate and of his unborn child. This is true whether the Veela is female or male, as male Veela have the magical capability to carry children.
When a male Veela is intimate with his mate, he often releases what is known as the Veelan Trill. The Trill is a musical sound that is relatively pleasant to anyone who happens to hear it, but is described as “absolutely brilliant” by the Veela’s mate. It is released the first few times the Veela and his mate are intimate, and especially when the bond is fully consummated.
In turn, the mate will begin to feel similar things for his Veela when the Veela comes of age. He or she will want to protect the Veela, and want to be near him at all times, though not to the extremity the Veela will feel. Any sexual desire he or she felt for the Veela will be intensified, likely due to the Veela’s urgent need to bond. Many humans are concerned that they are somehow being forced to bond with the Veela they are chosen for, but this is not true. The Fates choose a mate for each Veela, and they choose wisely. There is always a strong connection between the two, and the mate usually has feelings for the Veela even before he comes of age.
It is vital that a Veela finds his mate before the end of his 21st year. If not, the Veela slips slowly into madness, and eventually will die from the despair of being without his chosen partner. Mating with the wrong individual will only speed this process, and is not recommended.
For bonding rituals, see page 495.
Numbly, Harry looked up and over at Draco, who was absorbed in his book. The blond was curled in an overstuffed arm chair with his legs tucked beneath him, his eyes scanning the pages quickly.
Draco is my mate. I feel these things because we are meant to be together.
Harry closed the book quietly and rubbed at his eyes. How had this happened? The book had claimed he wasn’t forced into feeling something for Draco, but the only thing he’d ever felt before was hatred. Although, the book had said they would have to have had a strong connection, and react to one another…Merlin knew they’d always done that.
Looking at the blond again, Harry knew that no matter what he had or hadn’t felt before, it was over for him. He would never love another in his lifetime.
“Draco?” Harry said softly.
“Hmm?” Draco looked up.
“Have you found anything?”
“I’m just reading about the history of the Veela race.”
“Oh. Well, I’ve found some pretty important stuff, and I want to talk to you about it. But first…I really want you to tell me what happened to you at the Ministry.”
Draco’s face turned blank. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but please, Draco. Please tell me. I need to know so that I can help you. The case against the Ministry –“
“The Ministry doesn’t give a fuck about me, Harry! They look at me and see Lucius Malfoy’s good-for-nothing son. Why do you think I was treated the way I was? Because the Minister himself hated my father, and he was only too happy to make me pay in his stead!” Draco stood. “I can’t do this.”
Harry got to his feet quickly. “Listen to me! Overturning this ruling depends on impeaching Scheddford. He’s hated by many, and I don’t see him staying in office once we get the ball rolling. We’ve chosen Kingsley Shacklebolt as his replacement, and he does care what happens to you.”
“Why?” Draco choked out. “He doesn’t even know me. Why should he care?”
“Because, unlike Scheddford, he’s a good person. You’re here with me right now because I asked to have you. He did it because I told him it’d be the best thing for you.”
“You…you wanted me here?” Draco asked in disbelief. “Why?”
“Because the alternative was for you to live with Ron. I was supposed to get Remus.” Harry watched Draco carefully.
“I was supposed to live with someone who hates me?” Draco’s lip quivered a bit.
“Yes. And because Kings is my friend, he told me ahead of time who I was getting. He told me about you as well, and how he’d placed you with Ron since we all went to school together. He had no idea you two hated each other, and when I told him he was happy to change it for your safety. Draco, with Kingsley as Minister and the case Hermione is building, I think we can get the Wizengamot to revoke this idiotic law. And I think your testimony of Ministry mistreatment would help. It could even help with the actual impeachment, if Scheddford had something to do with the way you were treated.” Harry held out a hand. “I’m here, Draco. Talk to me.”
Draco took Harry’s hand. “Can I please do it later? I promise, I will. I just…I need to think through it all, decide where to start.”
“All right. I’ll hold you to it.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you found out?”
It was Harry’s turn to squirm. “I…well, you’d better sit down.”
Draco eyes him warily. “Why? Is it bad? Am I going to die of some crazy bird disease?”
“No, but…just…just sit.” They both sat down on the couch. “Do you know that Veela mate for life?”
“All right…” Draco said slowly.
“Well, apparently, when you’re growing up you encounter someone who the Fates decide is your soul mate, your chosen partner. You are then destined to be with this person. When you turn 21, you have a year to mate with the person, or…”
“Or what?” Draco looked panicked.
“Well, you kind of die. But you go insane first.”
Draco’s face was the picture of horror and shock, almost comically so. “What? How am I supposed to find this person? What do I do, wander around asking who’d like to mate with me?”
“No, the book says you shouldn’t do that. You know what? You should read the passage I read. It explained a lot of things. Then…we can talk.” Harry picked up the book, opened it to the marked page and handed it to Draco. He held his breath and waited.
After a few minutes, Draco looked up slowly. “It’s you,” he whispered.
Harry nodded mutely.
“It’s not the spell. It’s you, you’re my chosen mate.” Draco closed his eyes and the book slid from his lap. “And now…no.” He stood quickly and fled from the room.
Harry followed him. “Draco, wait!” He found Draco curled on his bed. “Talk to me.”
“Leave me alone, Potter,” Draco cried. “Just leave, so that I can get on with my insanity in peace.”
“You have months before that would happen, and what makes you think I’d let you go through that?”
“I thought it was the spells, I thought they were causing this!”
“What?”
Draco sat up. “This! All of this! The way I can’t stand to be away from you, the whole situation today with Nott…the way I can feel what you feel, the way I want to touch you all the time…”
Harry sat beside Draco and raised a hand to stroke Draco’s cheek gently. “I want to touch you, too.”
“No, you don’t!” Draco batted his hand away. “Just this morning, when we were in bed together, I thought we were connecting. It felt so right, so perfect. I couldn’t help myself from making all that bloody noise.”
“It was beautiful,” Harry said softly. “Your Trill, it spoke to me. And what we did was beautiful too.”
“You didn’t seem to think so then! I thought we might continue, but you told me you were sorry it happened.”
“I – no, Draco! Gods, no. I apologized because I felt like a dog in heat or something, humping your back while you were still asleep. I felt like I’d molested you!”
“I was certainly not asleep. Couldn’t you tell by the racket?”
“Well, I didn’t know anything about that stuff! For all I knew you were dreaming or something. I thought you were mad at me, because you ran off.”
Draco sighed. “I think we were both mistaken. Look, for the record, I wanted that very much. And more.”
Harry reached to stroke Draco’s cheek again. “So did I. I’m glad I’m your mate, Draco. I want this.”
“Veela mate for life, you said.”
“Yes. Which means you’re stuck with me, even if we get this law revoked.” Harry grinned. “Face it, Malfoy, you’ll never be rid of me now.”
Draco smiled. “Figures it’d be you. Do you think…could we…” Draco bit his lip and blushed.
“Yes. In fact…” Harry leaned in close. “Let’s start with this.”
Their lips met softly. Harry gave in to his urge and twined the fingers of both hands through Draco’s silky hair. He ran a tongue along the blond’s soft lower lip, asking for and finally gaining entrance into the warm mouth attached to his. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry’s neck and pressed closer to him, touching his tongue to his lover’s.
Harry moaned and ran a hand down Draco’s back, the other still twisted in shining blond locks. Their lips caressed each other, moved together in a passionate dance. Harry broke away, panting, and licked a stripe down Draco’s throat, causing him to shiver and cry out. He sucked at Draco’s pulse point and hastily moved to unbutton the other man’s shirt, needing to expose more of that creamy, pale skin.
“Draco, what…what is this?” Horrified, Harry stared at Draco’s chest. Scars lined the white flesh, crossing over one another in a haphazard manner.
“I…” Draco closed his shirt quickly and scooted away from Harry. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Harry shook his head. “Why should you be sorry? How did you get all those scars?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“It was at the Ministry, wasn’t it?” Harry’s eyes flashed in anger. “It’s part of what you won’t tell me about, am I right? Talk to me!”
“Yes, all right?” Draco shouted. “You want to hear about it? You want to know how it all happened? When I was arrested, the Minister himself showed up at my house. While the Aurors restrained me, he told me how happy he was to finally have his revenge. It would appear that my father raped and killed his Squib sister, and he’d just been dying to make him pay.”
“But your father is dead,” Harry said dumbly, and Draco snorted.
“Yes, and therefore Scheddford never got to personally extract his pound of flesh. Don’t get me wrong, Harry, I definitely don’t condone what my father did, but I’m not him. They took me to the Ministry and threw me in my cell, and he would come by every night and torture me with a whipping spell designed to produce these scars.” Draco slid off the bed and took a deep breath before slowly taking his shirt off. Harry drew in a sharp breath at the sight.
He could see Draco’s whole chest, and the many silvery lines stood out starkly on the pale skin. They covered his whole chest and his sides, as well as his upper arms. Draco turned so that Harry could see that his back was littered with scars as well, smaller ones surrounding the two vertical lines where the skin separated to allow his wings freedom and then knit back together when they were retracted again. Draco dropped his trousers and pants and tears of anger sprung to Harry’s eyes when he saw the scarred tissue of Draco’s buttocks and the backs of his thighs. Harry remembered suddenly Draco’s reaction when Harry had seen him nearly naked after his shower, when he’d covered his chest quickly. Harry hadn’t seen his back, and his buttocks and thighs had been covered by the towel. He hadn’t noticed his arms and Draco had been careful to wear clothing that covered most of his skin, revealing only his unmarked forearms at most.
“Does it hurt?” he whispered.
His back still to Harry, Draco shook his head. “Not now. It did while he was doing it, of course, but not now. It would take many expensive potions to get rid of magical scarring of this magnitude.”
“Whatever it costs, I’ll get it for you,” Harry promised instantly.
Draco stiffened. “I see.”
“I mean it, Draco. Just tell me what it is you need.”
“I need to be left alone. Please leave now.” Draco pulled his pants and trousers back up and slipped his arms into his shirt.
“What – why? I just want to help!” Harry protested.
“What you want is for the disgusting creature you feel obligated to help to look as normal as possible. I realize that I must repulse you, but I don’t want or need your pity. I would rather go mad than know you feel sick every time you touch me.”
“What?” Harry exclaimed, jumping up. “Because I offered to help you, you think so little of me? Fuck, Draco! I want that bastard dead for what he did to you! You obviously hate the scars, and if I can help you get rid of them…I just don’t want you to have to see them and remember what you went through forever.”
“I will never forget what I went through,” Draco said quietly. “I have been beaten and humiliated because of what my father did. I’ve been robbed, imprisoned, and further humiliated because of my genetics. I have completely lost control of my own life because of accidents of my birth, and I fucking hate it. I can’t even choose whether I want to be with you or not, because Fate says I have to be. Truly, I’m beginning to think I would be better off dead than living like this.”
“Don’t say that,” Harry said, his heart aching. “Please. Don’t you…you don’t want to be with me?”
“I do, Harry! So much! I just…I wish I could have chosen. I wish I could have seen you, and thought, ‘wow, that bloke is fit,’ and asked you to dinner or something. Instead, my whole body cries out for you and I can’t stop myself from reacting in so many ways. And I feel guilty that you’re tied to me, no matter what you wanted.”
“I don’t know why Fate chose me for you, but I’m not sorry about it, not at all. We have been paired because higher powers seem to have recognized that the intense feelings we’ve always had for each other would be better served by love than hate.”
Draco gave him a small smile. “That’s actually a lovely way to put it.”
“I mean it. Look, if you want to keep your scars, I really don’t care. I want you no matter what, do you understand that?”
“You don’t think I’m ugly?” Draco asked softly.
“I think you’re beautiful, Draco. Let me show you.” Harry held his hands out to Draco, and after a moment Draco nodded and reached for him.
Harry drew Draco close. The blond’s shirt was still unbuttoned, and Harry dipped his head to trace one of the scars with his tongue. Draco cried out. “Harry!”
“How does that feel?” Harry purred, laving another scar with a long, flat lick.
“Fucking incredible,” Draco gasped.
“Mmm, and that’s exactly how you taste.” Harry dropped to his knees and unbuttoned Draco’s trousers while lapping at the lines on Draco’s stomach and dipping his tongue into the blond’s navel. He pulled them down and mouthed Draco’s straining erection through his pants. “Scheddford is lucky he never touched this – it’s mine,” he growled.
Draco shivered. “Yours,” he panted.
Harry pulled the pants down and helped Draco step out of the cloth pooled at his feet, then turned him around. “This is mine, too.” He stroked Draco’s buttocks. “He will pay for having hurt what’s mine.”
Draco moaned loudly and shook as Harry bathed his cheeks with a warm tongue. When Harry parted them, his knees buckled.
“Easy!” Harry said, catching his lover quickly. “Why don’t we take this to the bed, hmm?”
“Fuck, yes!” Draco breathed and allowed Harry to guide him there.
Harry pushed Draco gently onto his back and attached his mouth to Draco’s neck. Draco threw his head back and let the sensations of Harry’s lips and tongue wash over him. Harry kissed and nibbled at every inch of skin hungrily, as though he was a starving man and Draco was his banquet. Harry straddled his hips and attacked his mouth again, claiming Draco with every thrust of his tongue. Draco’s hands slid under Harry’s shirt and ran frantically over his back, his nails scrabbling at the taut skin.
Harry began kissing a trail down Draco’s bare chest, lapping at each of Draco’s scars. He took one small pink nipple into his mouth and sucked on it, pausing to nip at it gently with his teeth. Draco arched his back and ran a shaky hand through Harry’s raven hair. “Mate…” he rasped. “Need you, my beautiful mate!”
Harry looked up at him, his eyes dark and ravenous. “I am yours, Draco. Forever.”
“I need you, my mate…need you inside my body…”
Harry agreed wholeheartedly, and he made short work of his own clothing and then stared reverently down at his Veela’s nude form. “Merlin, Draco, you are the most incredibly gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m not, I’m…”
Harry trailed his fingers down Draco’s abdomen. “You are.”
Draco looked up at his lover with heavy-lidded eyes. “Fuck me, Harry.”
Harry groaned and ran a hand up Draco’s leg. “You feel so good…” He stroked the thick cock jutting proudly up from a nest of pale blond curls. As his hand made contact, Draco’s eyes rolled back and the room was suddenly filled with the breathtaking sound of the Veela’s Trill.
Harry lay on his stomach between Draco’s parted thighs and pushed the blond’s legs up toward his chest, exposing his puckered entrance. He kissed the scarred flesh of Draco’s buttocks before sweeping his tongue up his lover’s crack and over the tiny hole. Draco groaned and jerked his hips. “More, my mate!”
“As much as you need, my love.” Harry licked and sucked at Draco’s arsehole hungrily, loving the way the blond pressed himself against Harry’s face. He shaped his tongue into a point and pushed it inside the pucker.
”Fuck!” Draco swore. “Fucking hell, Harry!”
Harry didn’t respond, concentrating instead on tongue-fucking Draco as hard as possible.
“I’m going to come!” Draco gasped. “Harry, I’m going to come!”
Harry swiftly removed his tongue. “Not yet, my mate. Not until I’m inside you.”
Draco groaned. “Hurry, please!”
Harry sat up, grabbed his wand, and said a quick lubrication charm. “Ready?”
“Now!” Draco gasped. Harry nodded and spread the pale mounds of flesh eagerly, running a thumb over the loosened pucker before pressing the blunt tip of his cock against the opening. Draco’s Trill sounded again and Harry’s breathing was shallow and ragged as he pressed forward slowly. Inch by inch he slid inside his lover, and with each passing moment the Trill grew and filled him until he was afraid he would die if he couldn’t be inside this man, his mate.
Once fully seated, Harry began to thrust in earnest. Draco reached out for Harry and Harry understood, and went to him. He gathered Draco in his arms and held him close, kissing him tenderly and reverently, trying to show him everything that was growing inside him. What once was a frantic need to find release had changed into a desperation to be one, to fuse with his lover until there was no seam where one of them ended and the other began.
Harry’s movements were slow and deep, and Draco rocked with him, matching his thrusts and driving Harry deeper yet. He wanted to last longer, wanted to stay inside Draco forever, but he felt his orgasm building slowly and knew he would soon be finished. He closed his eyes and listened to the Trill calling to him, felt Draco’s sweat-slicked cock sliding against his skin with each movement, and kissed his Veela with passion.
“Need you forever, my mate,” Draco groaned.
“I am yours, my Veela. I will protect you and cherish you always.” The words appeared in Harry’s head and spilled from his mouth. He didn’t understand where the thoughts came from, but he believed them to be true.
“As I will protect and cherish you, my mate.”
“You are mine. Your needs are my own, your happiness is my own, your pain is doubled in me.” Harry’s voice was hoarse and desperate as he rocketed toward completion.
“I am yours, as you are mine. My life I would give for you; my heart has already been given, and my soul is tied to you and cannot be broken.” Draco clung to Harry as their movements sped up and intensified.
“I will treasure you always, my love, and I will gladly die for you. My heart is yours, my soul lives in you. Forever, my love, my mate!” Harry groaned as he spilled his seed within his lover’s passage. Everything in the room began to shake and rumble.
“Forever!” Draco echoed, and then the Trill returned, loud and beautiful as he came from the friction between their bodies. The rumble in the room grew louder, followed by a loud clap and a flash of bright light. Harry released a choked gasp as the peak of the Trill somehow ripped a second orgasm from him, and he collapsed on top of Draco.
Draco rolled Harry to his side and held him, running fingers tenderly down his cheek. “Did you just come twice?”
Harry’s eyes were a bit glazed as he grinned weakly at Draco. “Yes, and I have no idea how…it’s like when you came, your Trill called out to me and literally pulled it out of me. Was there an earthquake in here, or was I imagining things?”
Draco looked around. “Not imagining things, unless I was too, but everything looks all right. And the things we said…”
“No idea. It was like it showed up in my head and I had to say it. But I meant it. I don’t know what’s happening, but I feel…right. I feel good with you.”
Draco smiled a little, but looked troubled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You don’t feel…I don’t know, like you were some sort of pawn in this? You never felt this way about me before, and suddenly you’re being forced to want me.”
“No, Draco, I told you – I do want this. I don’t care if Fate had a part in it. In a way, that makes it even better, knowing I was chosen to make you happy for our whole lives. Besides, you read the book - it says that the mate is not forced. We have a connection, Draco, and we always have.”
“We’ve always reacted to one another, that’s for sure.” The men shared a smile at that. “But Harry, that’s a big leap from this.”
“I don’t know, Draco. I’m your mate, and the Fates decided it for reasons we might not understand, but I don’t regret it. I can’t, not when I feel like this.”
“I just…” Draco looked away. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay with me to keep me alive. If you ever want to leave…”
“Draco.” Harry turned Draco’s face gently and smiled at him. “Do you want to be with me?”
“More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
“Me, too. I want you, and however it happened, I love it. I was confused at what I was feeling, but now that I know what it is, it feels perfect to me. And after doing what we just did…I don’t think I could leave you if I wanted to.” Harry caressed Draco’s cheek with his thumb. “It’s crazy, all of this. Will you promise to stop worrying about it? We’ve been given a gift, an amazing gift. I won’t question it, not when I’m happier than I’ve ever been before. Promise me you’ll just enjoy this, us.”
“Yes. And Harry…” Draco kissed his lover softly. “If you want me to get rid of the scars, I will.”
“No, Draco. It’s your choice. I will want you no matter what. If you want them gone, I’ll help you. If you want them to stay, I’ll still think you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Mmm.” Draco curled up against Harry, and they both drifted off to sleep.
oOoOoOoOo
They slept straight through until morning, and when Harry woke he was famished. He imagined that having skipped dinner and engaged in so much exercise would do that.
Deciding to make his lover breakfast in bed, he slipped out from between the sheets and threw on a bathrobe before heading quietly down the stairs. He was rummaging in the refrigerator when he heard the Floo start up. He walked toward the great room.
“Hey, ‘Mione,” he greeted his friend.
“Hi, mind if I come through?”
“No, come on in.”
Moments later Hermione stepped out and brushed herself off. “So did you read the book?” she asked eagerly.
Harry laughed and motioned for her to follow him back to the kitchen. “Right to the point, as always. Yes, I read it.”
“And?” She bounced eagerly on her toes.
“And I’m guessing you knew about this yesterday. How do you know these things?”
“So it’s true? It’s really true?” She grinned and grabbed Harry’s arm.
“It’s true. That passage could have been written about us, ‘Mione, it’s amazing.”
“And how do you feel?”
“I feel great!” Harry smiled widely. “He’s all mine. For life. It’s just perfect.”
Hermione threw her arms around him. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. How romantic, to have the Fates choose your life mate! And you two have such a volatile history, only to find that you are meant to be in love!”
Harry laughed. “Yes, it’s one for the books, I guess. I’m pretty sure Ron won’t be as enamored with the idea as you are, though. And you never answered me – how did you know?”
“I didn’t know until the incident with Nott took place. I only brought up the issue of Draco’s mate because I knew it would be important for him to know – I had no idea his mate was already with him. I Obliviated Nott, by the way. But when Draco turned into…” She shivered. “Wow, that was fantastic, wasn’t it? When he did that, I began to suspect that it had to be you.”
“It was fantastic,” Harry agreed, remembering how glorious Draco had looked. “I still can’t quite believe this is all happening, but I’m thrilled.”
“I’m glad. And as for Ron…he’ll come around, you know he will.”
“I don’t know, ‘Mione. He’s been so angry about Draco, and when I saw him yesterday I sort of snapped when he insulted him.”
“Oh, you’re all protective of your Veela!” Hermione teased.
“Quiet, you.” Harry broke eggs into a bowl.
“Where is your Veela, anyway?”
“Still asleep,” Harry said smugly. “I’m making him breakfast in bed.”
Hermione widened her eyes. “Oh, Harry…tell me you didn’t!”
“Didn’t what?”
“Have sex with Malfoy!”
“He’s Draco, ‘Mione, and I’m happy to say I can’t tell you that.”
“Harry!” she groaned. “Did you not read that book? Are you both all right?”
“I told you I read it, and we’re fine. Why would we not be? It was fantastic.”
“Nothing weird happened?”
Harry scrambled the eggs and shot Hermione a grin. “Want the sordid details, do you?”
“Damn it, Harry, this is serious! You didn’t read the section on bonding?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Harry!” Hermione grabbed his arm and spun him around. “Listen to me. The book says a Veela and his mate shouldn’t consummate their relationship until they have prepared for the bonding ritual. The first time you have sex, you’ve sealed your bond, and it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“’Mione, I may have never been with a man before, but I’m pretty sure we both knew what we were doing.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Hermione slapped his arm. “Stop being thick, you prat! I’m trying to tell you that you just fucking married Draco Malfoy!”
“Married?” came a voice from the doorway.
“Draco! Hello.” Hermione smiled awkwardly at him.
“Good morning. Harry…what’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” Harry gripped the counter behind him for support. “What the fuck, Hermione?”
“You didn’t read it all, Harry. When a Veela and his mate first have sex, they seal their bond. They usually have a bonding ceremony first, to share the occasion with their friends and family, but the actual bond occurs when they make love for the first time. There are incantations that are supposed to be said while you’re doing it.”
“Oh, gods,” Harry said faintly.
“So that’s where that all came from,” Draco mumbled, still standing where he was.
“So you said things?”
“It just came into my head!” Harry cried. “Stuff about our souls, and dying for each other…”
“And the room shook, and there was light,” Draco added.
“So it’s done. You are, according to the magical world, married. Congratulations?” she said questioningly.
Draco looked at Harry fearfully. “Oh, Merlin, Harry, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I should have –“
“You great prat!” Harry cried. Hermione was about to snap at him when she saw the grin spread across his face. “Get over here and kiss me, my gorgeous husband.”
Draco smiled shyly. “You’re okay with this?”
“Draco, we knew we would be spending our lives together, didn’t we? I sort of wish I knew I was at my wedding, but I’m thrilled to be married to you. Now come here!”
Draco crossed the room and cuddled into Harry’s waiting arms. “Harry, I can’t believe it.”
“I love you, Draco.”
“I love you, too.” Draco kissed Harry softly. “Are you making breakfast?”
“Yes, I was going to bring it to you in bed, sorry.” He glanced over at Hermione. “’Mione, do you mind? We’re on our honeymoon.”
“I can see where I’m not wanted,” Hermione laughed. “Well, I’m glad it all turned out. You’ll need to go the Ministry within 90 days to register your bond, you know.”
“We’ll see to that later. For now…” Harry looked at Draco hungrily and Hermione shook her head.
“I’m going. See you two later.”
Harry and Draco were already locked at the lip, and didn’t pay any attention to her departure. “Upstairs?” Harry asked breathily when they took a break for air.
“Mmm, yes,” Draco replied.
“Let me shut off the stove. I’ll be right there.”
Draco nodded and disappeared around the corner. Harry shut the burner off and quickly put the egg carton back in the refrigerator. He was approaching the stairs when the Floo roared to life again.
“Damn it!” he swore. He turned to tell whoever it was to leave and saw Ron stepping out of the fire. “Ron.”
“Hey, mate. Listen, I just wanted to make sure we’re okay.”
“Sure, sure. Can I talk to you later? I –“
“You wouldn’t believe what I walked in on. Remus and Bill, snogging on the couch! It was so creepy!”
Harry frowned. “Why?”
“Like I want to see my brother snogging someone!”
Harry relaxed. “Oh. So it wasn’t because they are both men, then?”
“No. I mean, that isn’t my thing, but I don’t really care what works for others. But it was Bill! It wasn’t quite as disturbing as the time I caught Percy with his hand up some Ravenclaw’s skirt first year, but still.”
Harry silently agreed – seeing Percy engaged in anything sexual would be a bit nauseating. “Well, I’m glad for them.”
“Yeah, it was just a shock. Hey, I’m glad we’re all right, mate. It would be stupid to let that git Malfoy come between us.”
Harry’s eyes took on a dangerous glint. “I’ll thank you to watch your mouth, Ron.”
“You can’t still be on about that! Come on, he may be nicer than he used to be, but he’s still a prick.”
“He’s mine, Ron.”
“Yes, I know. Sucks to be you to have to live with him, but at least you’ll be able to keep him in line.”
“You’re not understanding me. Do you know about Veela and their mates?”
Ron shrugged. “Only what Bill told me about Fleur’s family. Why?”
“I’m Draco’s mate.”
Ron stared at him openmouthed. “What?”
“It’s true.”
“But – Harry, they can’t make you marry him or anything! They can’t force you to be with him.” Ron waved his arms around. “This is just…I mean…”
“No one has to force me, Ron. I’m with him. I’ve already bonded with him.” Harry held his breath and waited for the explosion.
Ron didn’t disappoint. “What?! You – this is a fucking joke, right? You can’t have bonded to him. He’s a bloke. And he’s Malfoy!”
“He’s Draco, and he’s my husband now. What does it matter if he’s a bloke? You just told me you don’t have a problem with gay people.”
“I don’t, but since when are you one? Malfoy moves in here and offers up his dick and suddenly you’re interested?”
“Careful, Ron.” Harry’s voice held a warning tone. “I’ll tell you this one time, and then I want you to leave before you say anything I can’t forgive you for. I am Draco’s mate. I love him, I’m bonded to him, and I will be spending my life with him. I’ll probably be having children with him one day. There’s room in my life for both of you, but only if you don’t try to make me choose between you. Now get out, and don’t come back until you can hold your tongue.”
Mouth pressed in a thin line, Ron spun around and stepped into the Floo. When he was gone, Harry closed the connection and went upstairs.
oOoOoOoOo
Harry and Draco spent the next few weeks getting to know each other better, in bed and out. Harry proudly presented his husband with his very own Potions lab, teasingly calling it a “wedding gift.” He wanted to take Draco somewhere to celebrate their unintentional marriage, but Hermione cautioned him that she felt things would soon come to a head in the case against Scheddford.
Sure enough, the day quickly came when the impeachment case was to be presented before the Wizengamot. It took some convincing, but Draco agreed to testify. Harry gripped his hand during the other testimonies, and when he was called to the stand Harry kissed him tenderly, causing a stir of whispers to sound through the courtroom.
He was very proud of Draco. The blond sat tall and told of his treatment in prison with an unwavering voice, even though Harry knew it still haunted him. When he was done, he returned to Harry’s side and they awaited the verdict. With a nearly unanimous vote from the Wizengamot, Scheddford was ousted from his position and Kingsley was appointed to act as temporary Minister until a formal election was held. As the proverbial icing on the cake, Kingsley made a short announcement about his intended plan as Minister, including immediate reexamination of the new laws on Magical creatures.
Harry wanted to take Draco out to celebrate, but first they stopped in the Magical Records department to register their bond. Since they had 90 days and Draco wasn’t eager to return to the Ministry, they had waited until they would already have to be there for the trial. It was a mercifully short process and soon they were on their way.
“Do you think we can have pasta? I’ve been dying for Italian.” Draco was cheerful as they made their way out onto the street.
Harry squeezed Draco’s hand. “We can have whatever you want.”
“I think – fuck!” Draco yelped as a beam of red light shot past his ear. Harry grabbed him and shielded him just as people ran around them shouting.
“We should just Apparate!” Harry yelled, and Draco nodded. Suddenly he was torn out of Harry’s embrace.
“Fucking piece of Death Eater shit,” Scheddford spat in his face, clutching Draco’s robes.
Everything happened at once. Harry leaped at the ex-Minister, enraged; Aurors aimed their wands at Scheddford; and Draco went bone white. Scheddford was pulled away from Draco forcefully and Harry caught his husband as he fell. Draco was paler than usual and his skin was clammy.
Scheddford laughed maniacally as the Aurors spelled magical cuffs on him, and the sound of metal hitting stone echoed in Harry’s ears as he finally noticed the knife Scheddford had been gripping. The blade was covered with crimson, and heads swiveled to Draco just as Harry gasped and saw the blood pouring from his husband’s stomach. Without another thought he Apparated them to St. Mungo’s.
“Help me!” he shouted when they appeared in the lobby of the hospital. “Please, help me, someone!”
A mediwizard rushed over and scooped Draco up, then laid him on the gurney a mediwitch levitated toward them. They took him into a nearby room and closed the door as Harry tried to follow.
“You’ll be better out here, sir.” An elderly mediwitch smiled kindly at him and pulled him toward the waiting area and into a chair. “They’ll need to concentrate on helping your friend.”
“He’s my husband,” Harry mumbled. He closed his eyes, but the image of Draco bleeding and cold was still firmly imprinted on his mind.
“Well, you’ll want them taking care of him with no distractions, then. Here.” She conjured a glass of water and pressed it into his hands. “Sip this, dear.”
“Harry!” Hermione ran up. “What happened? I heard there was a commotion, that Scheddford had gotten away from the Aurors and that Draco was hurt.”
“He stabbed him, ‘Mione,” Harry whispered. “So much blood, and Draco, oh gods…” He released a choked sob and Hermione knelt before him.
“They’ll fix him, Harry. You got him here right away, they’ll heal him.”
“I can’t lose him! We just found each other, we’re supposed to be bonded for life, I…” Tears made tracks down his cheeks and Hermione embraced him.
A short time later, the mediwizard who had taken Draco returned to speak with them. Harry tried not to notice the blood, Draco’s blood, on the man’s clothing.
“He’s going to be all right,” the man assured Harry. “He lost a lot of blood, and he’s in considerable pain. He’s receiving potions and should heal nicely. He’s asleep now, but we’re moving him to an inpatient room to monitor him for a few days and you can see him up there. Take the front lifts to the fourth floor and the desk will give you his room number.”
Harry nodded dumbly and allowed Hermione to pull him down the hallway. As soon as Draco was settled in his room, Harry hurried in to see him. “Draco?” he croaked. His mate looked so pale and small in the bed, still thin from the abuse and starvation during his imprisonment.
“He’s under a sleep stasis spell,” the mediwitch who had taken over his care explained. “He’s sleeping peacefully. He will wake in about eight hours, and by then his blood levels will hopefully be close to normal and we’ll just be concentrating on wound closure and pain management.”
Harry nodded and looked at Draco again. “Can I stay with him?”
“It would probably be better if you just came back tomorrow…” she began, but paused when she saw the crushed expression on Harry’s face.
“Please,” he begged. “If he wakes up in eight hours, it will be the middle of the night and he won’t know where he is. I need to be near him.”
“Mr. Potter…”
“You can’t force him to go.” Hermione stepped up. “They’re married. He has the right to stay.”
“Oh!” The mediwitch looked surprised and Harry shot Hermione a grateful look. “I didn’t realize. Of course you can stay.”
Harry nodded and pulled a chair up to the bed. He sat and took his husband’s hand. “Hermione, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“I…maybe for awhile?” He looked up at her sorrowfully and she chuckled.
“Then I’ll stay.”
oOoOoOoOo
Draco woke up after Hermione was gone and Harry had dozed off. “Uhhh,” he groaned.
Harry’s head snapped up. “Draco! Are you feeling all right? Do you hurt?”
“Wha’ happ’ned?” he mumbled.
“You were hurt, but you’re going to be fine. I should get the mediwitch.”
Before he could even call, the mediwitch came in. “Mr. Malfoy, how are you feeling?”
“Hurts…”
“I imagine. I have a nice pain potion for you, double strength to help ease the initial pain. After this we’ll keep you on scheduled doses of the potion and reduce it slowly until you’re healed.”
“How long will he be here?” Harry asked.
“Several days, I imagine. We will need to monitor him to be sure his blood volume returns to normal and that there are no signs of infection, and he’ll need to be able to get up and around. His pain will need to be controlled by regular strength pain medication before we discharge him as well.” The nurse cast a few diagnostic spells on Draco after he drank the potion and then exited the room.
“Scheddford…” Draco tried, then grimaced.
“Don’t talk if it hurts. They got him, and he’s locked up. Hermione says they are moving him to Azkaban after his sentencing tomorrow. There’s no way he’ll get off now. You just sleep,” he added when he saw Draco’s eyelids drooping. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Love…you…”
“I love you, Draco.” Harry leaned over and kissed his forehead gently.
Draco slept fitfully, and continued to take pain potions when he woke. Instead of getting better, though, he remained pale and had frequent fevers. His diagnostics showed no other signs of infection, so the Healers were puzzled.
“Harry?” Draco croaked two afternoons later.
“Yes, love?” Harry set aside the book he’d been reading while Draco slept.
“Why are we in the infirmary? Won’t Snape be angry that we’re missing Potions?”
Harry frowned. “Draco, we’re at St. Mungo’s.”
“Are you sure? I think I still need to finish my Charms essay, am I going to be able to get out of bed soon?”
“Draco, we’re not in Hogwarts anymore. We graduated awhile ago. You and I are bonded, and we’re in St. Mungo’s. Why are you so confused?” Harry stood and laid a hand on Draco’s forehead. “You’re feverish again.”
Draco began to cry wearily. “I don’t understand what’s happening! Why do I feel like this? I don’t…”
“Hold on, baby.” Harry touched the button to summon the mediwitch, and she appeared a few moments later. “Draco is very confused. He thinks we’re still in school, and he feels hot again.”
The mediwitch waved her wand and frowned as the air around Draco glowed bright red. “I just don’t understand why he keeps getting these fevers, and they just keep getting higher. I wonder if –“ She stopped and called out for assistance when Draco suddenly began to thrash and jerk around in bed.
“What’s happening?” Harry cried.
“He’s seizing,” the mediwitch called to him as Healers and mediwizards flooded the room. Harry backed against the wall and watched fearfully as they all tried to keep Draco from injuring himself until the fit ended.
“Is he okay?” Harry asked when Draco was still.
“We have to figure out how to bring these fevers down. Nothing is working.” One of the Healers pinched the bridge of his nose. “I just don’t know what else to try. His tests show a change in his blood but nothing we’ve encountered before, and no actual infection.”
Harry approached Draco’s bed again, and tears ran down his cheeks as he stared down at the sickly man. “Draco, you need to get well. I can’t lose you.”
“Harry?” Hermione stood in the doorway. “Is everything all right?”
Harry kissed Draco’s sleeping mouth and motioned Hermione into the hall. They sat in the waiting area and Harry put his head in his hands. “He’s getting worse, ‘Mione. They can’t figure out why he’s getting these fevers, and he’s delirious and having seizures and they can’t figure out how to fix him.”
“Oh, Harry…” Hermione rubbed his back gently.
“I just don’t know what to do.” Harry raised his head and frowned at the figure that had appeared in front of him. “Ron.”
His best friend sat down on his other side. “Hi, Harry. I’m sorry I didn’t come by sooner, but I didn’t know if you’d want to talk to me, and…well, I’m really sorry about Mal - Draco. Is he going to be all right? Remus said he wasn’t getting better yet.”
Harry sighed. “Yeah, Remus and Bill stopped by last night, right after Draco spiked another fever. They can’t figure it out.”
Hermione quietly excused herself, and Ron swallowed and looked at Harry. “I…you really love him, don’t you.” It was a statement rather than a question.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry,” Ron said quietly. “I didn’t understand.” He took Harry’s hand and squeezed it.
Harry nodded, tears filling his eyes again, and the two sat quietly.
A mediwizard came to talk to Harry a few minutes later. “He’s resting, Mr. Potter. We gave him another pain potion, but he still has a fever and it’s not breaking. The Healers are working to find a solution. He’s still acting like he’s in pain so we’re going to give him another double strength draught.” He walked back toward Draco’s room.
Harry swallowed hard and shook his head. “I don’t get it,” he whispered. “What the fuck is happening to him?”
Ron frowned. “I feel like I’m thinking of something, but I don’t know what it is.”
Harry snorted. “Well, that was descriptive.”
“No, I mean…pain potion…he said…wait!” Ron jumped up. “Wait!” he yelled after the mediwizard. “Don’t give him that potion!”
“What are you doing, Ron? If he’s in pain –“
“No, listen! Stop!” Ron jogged after the mediwizard and grabbed his arm. “You can’t give him any more pain potion. I think that’s what is causing his fevers.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I think we understand the effects of our potions quite well, and temperature fluctuation isn’t one of them.” The mediwizard gave Ron a haughty look before turning away.
“No, listen to me, damn you! Do you treat Veela often?”
“Not often, no. I don’t see what –“
“Where is Malfoy’s Healer? I want to speak to him.”
“I hardly think you have the right to –“
“Please, get him for us,” Harry interrupted. “Ron, what’s going on?”
The irritated mediwizard motioned to the Healer. “I would think that allowing us to help your friend might be of a higher priority that telling us how to do our jobs.”
“I am trying to help him. Sir!” he addressed the Healer. “Do you have experience treating Veela?”
“Not really, we don’t see many here. I’m sorry, but I really need to –“
“Will you people just listen to me?” Ron cried. “Veela can’t take traditional pain potions once they’ve come of age! They are toxic to Veela blood. Harry, Remus was asking Bill about Veela a few days ago, because of Fleur and all and you being bonded to Draco, and I remember Bill saying that Fleur had to order special pain potions without certain ingredients because she couldn’t take the regular kind. You guys have been giving Draco potions that are poisoning him!”
Harry gasped and the Healer frowned. “That would explain the changes in his blood screen…we couldn’t interpret the results to match anything in our references. What do we need to do?”
“I’ll go Floo Bill now. I bet he can get some pain potions from Fleur for Draco to use, and hopefully someone will know what to do to fix what’s been done.” Ron patted Harry’s arm and hurried off toward the Floo.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to give him the draughts, Mr. Potter? Your husband looks to be in pain.”
“Are you mad?” Harry cried, startling the Healer. “He just told us what’s wrong with Draco, and you want to continue doing it?”
“My apologies, but do we really know that’s the problem?”
“Do you have any other leads? I believe him, and I forbid you to give Draco any more potions. Of any kind, at least until we know what’s safe and what isn’t.”
The Healer nodded curtly and Harry returned to Draco’s side.
oOoOoOoOo
“Harry, I got it!” Ron rushed into the room waving a sheet of parchment. “We Floo called Fleur, and these are the potions he needs to counter the toxins. I hope it isn’t too late. There is also a list of standard potions that he shouldn’t take, but I don’t think they probably gave him most of these – fertility potions, things like that.”
Harry threw his arms around his friend. “Thank you so much, Ron.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s get this to the Healer.”
The staff administered the appropriate potions and Harry settled at Draco’s bedside to await any change. His fever had been fluctuating for days, but after the seizure it hadn’t broken at all. The blond was flushed and sweating and Harry tried to soothe his head with a cool cloth. Draco tossed and turned, moaning in his sleep but never gaining full consciousness.
Several hours later, Harry was staring despondently out the window. He wished he’d never talked Draco into testifying. He knew it was important, but had he just left it alone his husband would be well and at home with him instead of fighting for his life.
“Harry?”
He spun around at the sound of the hoarse voice calling his name. “Draco!” He rushed to the bed and took a pale hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Hurts…” Draco grimaced and Harry bit his lip. Ron had said he’d bring the Veela pain potions as soon as Fleur got them to him, but in the meantime there was nothing Harry could do for Draco.
“I’m sorry, baby. We’re trying to get a new potion for you, one that’s safe.” As an afterthought, Harry laid the back of his hand on Draco’s forehead and nearly vibrated with excitement when he found it cool. “Oh, Draco, your fever’s broken! Thank Merlin.”
The Healer arrived soon after Draco woke to examine him, and said with much relief that the potions appeared to have counteracted the toxins that had been poisoning him. He advised Draco to engage in as little movement as possible until they had the pain draughts that were safe for him to ingest.
Harry sat at his bedside and stroked his hair. “Merlin, Draco, I’ve been so worried.”
“Sorry…everything’s a bit hazy, I’m not sure what’s even happened.”
“Do you remember Scheddford’s trial?”
“Yes…I still remember him stabbing me afterward, it’s just that everything that’s happened here is foggy to me.”
“The pain potions were reacting badly to your Veelan blood. They didn’t know that, so they kept giving them to you and you were very ill. Ron made them stop.”
“Weasley helped me?”
“Yes. His brother dated a Veela once. He saved you, Draco.”
“Hmm.” Draco closed his eyes momentarily and his face twisted into a small grimace.
“Harry! Oh – Malfoy, you’re awake.” Ron handed Harry a small parcel. “The potions, with instructions.”
“Thank you, Ron. He’s in so much pain.” Harry rang for the Healer and hugged his friend.
“Yeah, you’re welcome. Fleur sends her best, and she says if you have any questions about your…stuff, or whatever…you can contact her.” Ron directed the last part of his statement to Draco gruffly.
“Fleur? Delacour, the Beauxbatons girl from fourth year?” Draco asked.
“Yes, she dated Ron’s brother Bill for awhile. She’s part Veela too.”
The Healer came in to inspect the potions. With his approval, Draco took one and fell asleep soon after, and Ron and Harry left the room quietly so he could rest.
Draco was able to leave after another week. His injury was healing nicely and his pain was minimal, and Harry was thrilled to take him home. He was afraid to push Draco into anything intimate, fearing he’d hurt his still recovering husband, even though he was aching to touch him and his cock was in a permanent state of hardness.
“Harry?”
“Hmm?” Harry glanced up from his book. They’d taken to reading together or playing chess in the evenings. He much preferred the reading, as he generally lost at chess – not as much due to his lack of skill as to his wandering thoughts, suggesting all the naughty things he could do to his lover with the chess pieces.
“Are you…do you regret what we did?”
Harry frowned and closed his book with a snap. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…the bonding. Do you regret it now that it’s been a few weeks?” Draco looked like he wanted to cry, and Harry immediately vacated his seat and knelt before his husband.
“Draco, no. I told you – I love you. I want to be with you. Why would you even ask such a thing?”
“I don’t know, it’s just…we’ve been home for several days now, and you don’t ever touch me. You barely even kiss me. I want to make love to you so badly, but I feel like you don’t want me anymore.”
“Are you kidding?” Harry exclaimed. He stood quickly and placed Draco’s hand on his erection, which had arrived the moment Draco had mentioned kissing and making love. “Merlin, Draco, I don’t think I’ll ever stop wanting you! This is all yours, baby.” He pressed his lover’s palm firmly against his hardness and nearly shuddered from the sensation. “I’m sorry I wasn’t clear, but I was just afraid of hurting you while you were still healing. Not to mention the fact that you nearly lost your life, and I thought it might be a bit disrespectful to jump you the moment you got home.”
“Disrespect me!” Draco cried, jumping up. “Fuck, Harry, my life has been so screwed up for so long. Things are finally improving, and I want to celebrate, starting right now. Take me upstairs and fuck me. Now.”
Harry shivered at the command. “Yes, sir!” He grabbed Draco’s hand and hauled him upstairs, where they celebrated long into the night.
oOoOoOoOo
The months passed quickly, and life only got better. Scheddford was sentenced to life in Azkaban, a term that would not have been so long if it weren’t for his attempt on Draco’s life. Kingsley Shacklebolt was officially voted into office, and his first order as Minister was to throw out the Magical Creatures law, with no opposition from the Wizengamot. The creatures that had been imprisoned awaiting execution were released and the contracts involving those under supervision were dissolved. Draco was free and his assets were unfrozen, but despite having the Manor back in his name he wanted to remain in their house. Harry assured him that he would have no problem living in Draco’s family home, but Draco told him simply that he never wanted to leave the place where they’d fallen in love.
A year after their accidental marriage, Harry and Draco celebrated their first anniversary with the bonding ceremony they’d never had. All of the Weasleys were in attendance, including Bill with Remus on his arm. Fleur Delacour was present as well. Since Draco’s hospital stay, the two part-Veelas had become pen friends of sorts, and Harry was extremely grateful Draco had someone to talk to about his heritage. Because of Fleur’s guidance and Harry’s support, Draco had regained much of the confidence he’d lost in his ordeal. A high point in his year had occurred a few months after his recovery, when Kingsley had asked him to take a job at the Ministry as a liaison for Magical Creatures. It turned out to be a great success; so many of the citizens that had been wronged by Scheddford’s law were angry at the Ministry, and with Draco’s help they found peace again.
“Harry?”
Harry jumped, having been lost in thought. “Hermione. Is it time?”
“Yes, just about. Are you ready?”
“Very. Why is it that we’ve been married for a year and I’m still nervous?”
Hermione closed the door and smoothed a slight wrinkle on Harry’s robes. “Probably because you two never had a real wedding. This will make it feel more official, I bet.”
“I guess.” Harry bit his lip and looked in the mirror.
“Harry.” Hermione laid a hand on his arm. “Are you having second thoughts about this relationship?”
“What? No!” Harry looked horrified. “Why would you even ask that?”
“Sorry, sorry. You just seem scared, that’s all.”
“It’s just…with Draco…well, he’s so much more like his old self these days. And that’s great!” he added quickly. “I mean it, it’s great. But I start to wonder if maybe he won’t…you know…”
“If he won’t want you now that he doesn’t have to depend on you?”
“Well…yeah.” Harry looked down.
“Harry, you’re his mate.”
“I know, and that almost makes it worse! I mean, what if he’s sorry now that it had to be me?”
“I don’t think it quite works that way, Harry, but if it makes you feel better, I just saw him before I came here to you, and he’s just as nervous as you are, if not more.”
“Really?” Harry asked hopefully, and Hermione laughed.
“Yes, really. Talking some nonsense about you maybe not wanting him, that he’s been too much like the Draco you used to hate lately. I assured him that you love him, and I’ll now do the same for you. He loves you, Harry. He wants to have this ceremony as much as you do. Remember why you both wanted to do this?”
“Yes, we wanted to share our love with everyone, show everyone our commitment to each other.”
“Exactly. And when you get out there, you’ll see him, and it will all be fine. So shall we?” Hermione offered her arm and Harry took it with a smile.
“Thanks, ‘Mione.”
She led him to the garden, where Draco was waiting for him in silver-trimmed white robes that matched his own. Hermione wished them luck, but neither man heard her as they were too absorbed in each other to notice.
“You look gorgeous,” Draco breathed, grasping Harry’s hands and pulling him close.
“You look absolutely breathtaking,” Harry replied huskily. “I can’t wait to marry you. Again.”
“I can’t wait to marry you the way I did the first time, again,” Draco said with a smirk. “As amazing as you look in those robes, I am positively salivating at the thought of getting them off of you.”
“Well, I suppose we should go inside, so that we can get married properly and then we can fuck like newlyweds.” Harry shot him a grin and started to turn toward the gates, but Draco tugged on the hand he was still holding.
“Harry, wait.” He smiled shyly at his husband. “I just wanted to tell you…I love you, so much.”
“I love you too, baby,” Harry said softly. “Always.”
They turned then, and walked toward their family and friends and the rest of their lives together.