How Life Can Be

Thanks everyone for reading this far and for being so loyal to this story! It really means the world to me! Here’s chapter 12 and I hope you like it! Happy Reading!

Chapter 12

Harry walked away from the fireplace and towards the room Draco was currently occupying, figuring it best to not give the old professor a word in to decline his invitation. He took a seat by the blonde’s bedside and waited. He watched the blonde’s chest steadily rising and falling slowly. His breathing wasn’t deep, but soft and even. It made the sound of someone using their breath to make a fog on glass. Draco was extremely pale; whether from blood loss or from Draco’s natural skin color, Harry wasn’t sure. But Draco’s skin seemed to glow like a hazy aura. One would have thought, without knowing Draco, that he was some kind of angel cast from Heaven for some unknown reason.

Harry exhaled deep, leaning forward to rest his face in his hands. He didn’t realize how tired he was now that he had sat and let some of the tension leave his body. Harry didn’t move when he heard the roar of the fire in the room across the hall. He didn’t even look to see whose footsteps he heard coming his way. He knew who it was anyways.

“Potter…What was so important that you had to disturb me at home at this hour? Do you have no respect for your elders, boy?” Severus was on a roll as he strode into the room where he saw Harry sitting. He looked at Harry, and when he got no response, he looked around to see what exactly was occupying the man’s attention. His eyes rested on the bed where he could see Draco lying. Severus’ face flushed, his cheeks going rosy and the rest as white as a sheet. His heart quickened and his breath hitched a little, but outwardly, he looked every bit composed and calculating as he always did.

“Potter…What’s happened here?” Severus’ voice had a slight lingering of suspicion.

Harry looked up and sighed, “That’s why I’ve called you here. Something’s going on and I don’t know what it is. It’s been bothering me since I saw Draco at the hospital regarding his mother. I had to examine him and he was sore all over. He never said he was in pain, but I could just tell. He had bruises all over his body that he tried to hide, too. He said it was from work, and although it’s believable enough, I just know he wasn’t telling the truth.”

Severus summoned another chair to Draco’s bedside and flopped himself down, “Then tell me how you found him like this.”

Harry began his tale starting from his dream, “I was having dreams about him, sir, when he called out to me. I wasn’t sure if it was my dream or if it was real, but I found his address in his medical records and apparated to his place. The whole flat was creepy and quiet...Anyways, I found him in the bedroom on the floor. Severus, I’ve seen some gruesome things…during the war I even had to do gruesome things…but seeing him lying there, I was terrified...I didn’t think he was even alive at first. But I checked, and he was, so I fixed him up the best I could and brought him here.”

Harry finished and waited for Severus’s reply.

“I know you ran diagnostic tests…so what did they say?”

“Yeah...broken bones and some internal damages...Most of them I fixed right away, but there were a couple things I couldn’t.”

“I see...and you need help with that?”

“...Draco was...violated,” Harry stumbled over this word, “...and I don’t know what to do for that because he can conceive children. I didn’t want to risk hurting him further. I just wasn’t trained for that sort of thing.”

“Well, Potter...you did well and you were correct. Using magic on him there would have lead to problems. Magic can’t be used, but there are salves, ointments, and a couple potions that will heal the injuries. You’ll have to administer them once he wakes. That should give me the time I need to prepare. They have to be specifically made for the patient.”

Harry and Severus sat in silence for a good while, both pondering what to say or what to do. Harry had a nagging feeling that Severus knew much more so he broke the chain of silence.

“There’s more to this isn’t there?”

“Why do you think that, Potter?”

“...Because...something isn’t sitting right about this whole situation with me...something between him and me. I feel there’s something I’m supposed to remember.”

Severus rubbed his temples, “I knew this day would come sooner or later.”

“What would come? What do you know?” Harry waited and after receiving no answer, he persisted, “Severus, if this pertains, even in the slightest to me, I have every right to know. Besides, I’m an adult and no longer a student. I’m a man...just as you are.”

“All right then...Heavens, where to begin? I suppose I should state the obvious. Draco is of...mixed heritage...Veela from his mother, Elf from his father, and because they have wizard blood in them, so, too, does Draco.”

“Yes...he told me that in the hospital...”

“Draco was a special child; a miracle so to speak...like the red calf to the Jewish or the white buffalo to the American Indians. First off, Draco should have been a girl. Narcissa is half Veela, but can still only produce female children. Veela can only birth females, asexually. No male is ever involved, but even if one was, the outcome would always be female. Lucius, on the other hand, is half Elf. His heritage can produce both sexes, but most children born are, too, female. It’s not uncommon in the Elfin community for a male to have several mates to produce more males. The Veela and Elfin genes are always the dominant when paired with a wizard or human. So, by all accounts, Draco should have been a girl. When Draco was born, I was there, and to see the shock on Lucius and Narcissa’s face was something I had never seen. And because Draco’s birth had beaten all odds, they didn’t know what to expect from him later on in life. Would he need a mate? Would he be able to reproduce at all? What traits would he have and from what blood line? Draco’s parents were overwhelmed to say the least.”

“Sir...what exactly does this have to do with me so far?” Harry wasn’t trying to rude, but curiosity always killed the cat and he was one to read the back of the book before reading the beginning.

“Be patient...I’m getting there. They observed Draco throughout his early years, and that proved to be shocking as well for them. He definitely had the features of a Veela: soft and feminine. He had an ethereal beauty that was strange, but yet you couldn’t keep your eyes off of him. He had the power and the wisdom of the Elfins as well. He was always calculating; everything had to be exact or as close to it as possible. To him, everything had a purpose and he believed it was him to discover it. He had a way with nature, getting that from the Elves as well. And boy could he charm his way out of anything. Veela have a special way to get people to bend to their wills. It’s an internal magic that is given off and the recipient, or victim, wouldn’t be able to say no if their life depended on it. You see, Draco was a perfect mix of each race; taking on the most prominent traits.” Severus paused to think about what to say next, feeling somewhat guilty divulging family secrets that weren’t his own, but still a bit relieved that he was able to get this off his chest.

“That I believe...Draco has always been that way back in school. He was really smart. I remember Hermione being so mad because Draco had higher scores than she did at the end of our last term. She was unapproachable for a week.” Harry smiled, remembering the face of Draco when it was announced he had the highest scores Hogwarts had ever seen from a student and the face Hermione made as well.

“Yes...Draco was perfect in every way; brains and beauty. But his parents weren’t the only ones to notice. Voldemort also saw this and wanted to use it for his own betterment. He went before Draco’s parents when he was just six years old and made a proposal that every parent would object to. He wanted Draco as his personal consort when he reached puberty. Parents don’t want to think of their child having sex one day, but having Voldemort make such a request so early in a child's life was vile and disgusting. But Draco’s parents couldn’t say no. No one would object if their family was to be killed if their response wasn’t the desired one.”

Harry sat; eyes wide open and mouth slightly agape. How could anyone ask a parent of this? Draco wasn’t really a child, but still a baby.

"Lucius and Narcissa stressed over this every day and searched and searched for a way out; even going to Dumbledore. But not even he could break a Wizard’s Oath; not without finding a loophole first.”

“Were they able to find one?” Harry was on the edge of his seat. When Severus nodded, he asked the next question that was to be expected, “What was the loophole?”

“...You...”

“What did I have to do with it? Draco and I were never on speaking terms...actually, we hated looking at each other. So how could I have possibly been involved in this?”

“When Draco started Hogwarts he came to me and told me about the first time he saw you. That’s when we, his parents and I, knew he also had another trait of Veela. He would need a mate. When I asked him what he felt like when he met you, I all ready suspected what the answers would be…an automatic fascination, a lust for the amount of power you had. He said it felt like his insides were turning inside out, that he hurt just a little, but hearing your voice banished all the pain. He said his back hurt around his shoulder area and he was getting a large headache...”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa...Now wait a minute...You aren’t suggesting that he thought I was his mate?”

“That is precisely what I’m saying. I’m not merely suggesting, it turned out to be true…I asked him to take off his shirt while we were in my chambers and to turn so I could see his back. That was when my suspicion proved correct. Draco had the markings of wings in the forms of tattoos. He inherited the wings from the Veela, but instead of them bursting out if times of anger, they burst out when an overwhelming emotion strikes him like the Elf. An elf’s power will be released when he or she senses the one they love or whenever a strong emotion enters them. Meeting you started the ball rolling for Draco’s awakening.”

“O...Okay...but how did I help though? I never knew any of this.” Harry didn’t know where this was leading.

“You awoke Draco’s blood lines to accept a mate early. Because Veela and Elf reach puberty at an older age of 17, Voldemort wouldn’t receive Draco until the time. That left Draco six years to get you to claim him. And there was the loophole we had been hoping for.”

Harry was confused, “What loophole?”

“Voldemort’s condition of the oath stated that Draco cannot become intimate with anyone until he reached his 17th birthday. That meant no hugging, or kissing, or anything that showed affection towards another. By this time though, Draco all ready knew what his fate would be if he couldn’t get you to accept him. What Voldemort didn’t know was the fact that Draco needed a mate...a trait he had forgotten Draco could, someday, acquire. And whenever the time came for Draco and you to consummate, Voldemort would not be able to do anything about it. Draco needing a mate is a sacred thing in nature. It’s against nature’s law to impede a mating or try to push it along. It has to commence of its own will between the two parties.”

“I still don’t see how I helped. He never tried to get my attention in an intimate way.”

“That’s where things get even more complex. Do you know why Draco always bullied you?” Harry shook is head no. “Because he needed contact with you every day in some form. You can also chalk it up to him being too shy to admit as well…But one summer, between fifth and sixth, Voldemort paid a visit to the manor. He observed Draco going through…what you would call withdrawals. He was in an almost constant state of pain, thinking he’d never see you again and whatnot. The mind of a Veela and Elf don’t take kindly to being taken away from their beloved. Voldemort saw and, knowing what Draco's behaviors meant, demanded he know who Draco’s mate was. Draco lied, saying all he could hear was a voice but couldn’t see a face. Voldemort believed him, and knowing that Draco now had a mate somewhere close, he moved the date for Draco to the next summer, a year ahead of schedule. After Voldemort left, Draco was distraught. He hadn’t gotten any closer to you since he was eleven and now he had even less time.

Dumbledore knew the Malfoys were on his side, but to make you trust Draco, he had Draco come out publicly in his office with you present. And after that meeting, you two became inseparable...and a while later, became lovers.”

“But how can that be? If we were lovers, then why aren’t we mated?”

“You are...sort of...but only in body. Even though you and Draco loved each other, you never did the mating rite. It’s a complex ordeal for lovers to become officially mated. It doesn’t matter how in tune one is mentally, physically, or emotionally with their mate. Nothing can be done without the rite.”

“Then why not do it?”

“It takes many months to prepare for the rite and by then we were out of time. The rite would not have been ready on time. Draco...he took it hard, but he was brave. He knew that the next time Voldemort asked him who his mate was he wouldn’t be able to lie seeing as how he had become intimate with someone and it could have only been with his prospective mate. If Voldemort got that information, he would have surely used Draco as bait for you and Draco wouldn’t stand for that. He asked for my help. I didn’t want to, but for your safety and Draco’s I agreed. Draco spent one last night with you and then...” Severus didn’t finish, Harry interrupting.

“Then you obliviated my memory…making sure that I wouldn’t think of Draco or anything he and I had together...”

Severus wasn’t surprised that he knew this, “I see you’ve had visions in your sleep?”

“Yeah, but I just thought it was something totally random...”

“Well, yes, I obliviated your memory of him. More than anything, Draco didn’t want to be the cause of anything hurting you. So, he decided to give you up and go along with Voldemort for as long as he could get away with it…But Draco could not stop being what he was and still needed you after your memory was erased. Voldemort also had plans involving Draco and his ability to conceive. But it would only work if Draco was in need of his mate and still felt a pull towards you. Draco found an old ritual and asked me to perform it on him. How I wanted to refuse due to the consequences it would bring Draco, but he insisted it was the only way. At the time, he was right.”

“What was this ritual then?”

“I cannot even remember the name of it now, but it was meant to impede the progression of Draco’s awakening to find a mate and complete the bond.”

“I...I don’t know what to say…I had no idea all this was going on back then...I...well, what happened after that?”

Severus sighed and looked to Draco, “I think it’s best for Draco to tell you...It his story to tell after all. I just gave you the necessary information…and by the way...now that you and Draco have come into contact once again, the ritual’s hold will start to dissolve. So expect more memories while you sleep. It will be extremely hard on Draco, so inform the moment he wakes. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Severus got up to leave, telling Harry all he had to say that night, although many more nights like this would come soon. The rest was up to Draco, because only he would be able to describe the events that lead him down this road.

Harry walked with Severus to the fireplace, “Give Remus a kiss for me, okay?” He smiled a little to lift the pall that had accumulated during their conversation.

“Don’t get cheeky with me, Potter. I’ll tell him you said goodnight.” And with that, Severus stepped into the fire, called out his destination, and disappeared...leaving Harry with much to mull over in his clouded mind.


AN: Thanks everyone for the reviews! My story is like a glass of milk and reviews are like the yummy chocolate chip cookies that go with it! You can’t have milk without cookies!

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Jih Pun