The Engagement Kiss

“What did you do?” Severus asked accusing Az who looked up sharply.

“I didn’t …!” he began but Harry cut him off,

“It wasn’t him Sev, it just seems like the more I learn the less I understand.” He whispered, refusing to let his mate go. Severus looked at him confused, but Draco interrupted them all by snapping straight up and looking around wildly.

“I can smell my mate!” he said looking around, trying to figure out whom.

Chapter 13:

Ronald Weasley sat on the edge of the younger Malfoy’s bed watching the blonde sleep peacefully. After his announcement of being able to detect his mate the slighter boy had proceeded to pass out, Snape said something about the rapid onset of his powers finally kicking in after being released. Ron had surprised everyone by volunteering to carry the blonde back to his room, he surprised himself by staying. Watching the gentle rise and fall of the other boy’s chest he felt … something for his one time enemy besides the typical hate. Ron was aware that he wasn’t considered the smartest wizard nor was he on the upper scale of society, yet the boy in the bed had harped and throw each of those things back in his face. Every single time they encountered each other it ended in a fight, but now the feeling of animosity seemed to have vanished. The redhead watched silently vigilant waiting for the blonde to wake up; they needed to talk, soon.

HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHP

Harry paused panting, watching the green haired boy circle around him. Engaged in yet another sparing match, Naji had a different air about him this time though. It hardly felt like a sparing match, it almost seemed that his cousin intended him harm. While Harry knew that Naji wouldn’t do that he couldn’t help the small fear in the back of his mind. Naji darted forward his mocha skin blending in quite well with the walls behind them, his black shirt and green hair merely preludes to his next location. Harry swore vividly and dodged the attack, moving swiftly sideways to disable him. Naji of course summoned his element, earth pulling the floor up in a mound of dirt and rocks to head off his cousins attack. That was the goal of these spars, to get Harry to gain control over his own elements. He was one of the rarer ones with two elements under his control. One which he could control rather well but was much weaker, utilizing that now he floated upwards. The element of air, part of the reason he felt so at home on a broom his first year. Naji grinned fiercely up at his cousin, as he rose up on his mountain of earth.

“Ry, you’re never going to be able to win at this rate.” He teased tossing chucks of his mountain with ease, barely breaking a sweat. Harry however was sweating profusely it was difficult for him to remain aloft and dodge at the same time. He swept downwards alighting on one of the various ledges strewn thought the room. Briefly thinking that it was a good thing that Severus had a room resembling the room of requirement for them to use otherwise he might’ve despaired the loss of half a wing. Quickly he maneuvered to another ledge,

“Naji enough, I’m not getting anything!” he called but his cousin didn’t cease. Instead the blows were heavier and faster causing Harry to rapidly jump from ledge to ledge. He called out fearfully to Naji, hoping perhaps the other boy hadn’t heard him. However catching a glance at the other boy’s glazed brown eyes erased all rational thought as Harry fell into his fears.

RWDMRWDMRWDMRWDMRWDMRW

Ron glared at the blonde as if he were refusing to wake up on purpose, after all there was only so long one could wait before reaching that brink of boredom where it becomes unbearable. He stood to leave but a pallid arm whipped out to lock around his wrist. Ron looked back wide silver eyes stared at him. The redhead patiently awaited the explosion, what he got was quiet acceptance.

“Weasley…Ron?” Malfoy, no Draco asked quietly. The other boys response threw him off so Ron opted to sit heavily in the nearby chair.

“Yeah?” he replied, suddenly hit with the urge to hear Draco say what they both knew. He watched as the blonde fidgeted, before opening his mouth.

“You’re…My…” he paused looking at Ron but the redhead remained impassive, “You’re my mate W…Ron.” He finished only pausing briefly on his name. Ron nodded. Watching Draco’s face amazed that even now the narrow, mildly attractive…No! Bad Ron he did not just call the ferret attractive in any way, despite those hypnotic silver eyes and full lips… shaking his head Ron resumed watching Draco, watching the lack of emotion and impassive mask.

“I realize that you’re not quite intelligent Weas…Ron but surely even you can see our predicament.” Draco finally snapped, while Ron noticed with annoyance that the emotion was manufactured. Falling back on old roles when he was unsure what to do, that was an interesting facet of Draco.

“Look Draco we can’t help this, but I’m not going to sit here and allow you to continue to treat me the way you have been.” He began surprising the blonde, “I may not be the most book smart of our group but that doesn’t make me stupid. I’m good at observing. Something that others take for granted in my lack of intelligence, they don’t guard their words as well.” He continued. Inspecting the small flash of respect in those well trained silver eyes, if this was going to work than that mask needed to go.

“I am willing to make an effort on this Draco; I know that you’ve little choice in the matter. Submissive veela are dependent on their mates once they’ve met. But you must work with me; you have to loose that stupid Slytherin mask around me.” He continued once again surprising Draco, silver eyes narrowed.

“Why?” he demanded, no refusal in his voice just furious curiosity.

“Because I will not accept you trying to lie to me by hiding behind your mask and because it isn’t fair to either of us for you to close yourself off. I could unintentionally hurt you even, if I can’t see any of the typical signs.” Ron reasoned, keeping his own temper in check. Despite what he played in public he truly had quite good control over himself. Draco started for a moment then allowed his face to ease out of the stiff control he usually kept. Silver eyes softened and looked tired as he looked up at Ron,

“What next?” he whispered brokenly, softly, hopefully all at once.

HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHPSS

“Naji!” Harry shouted again, his foot was caught. He was caught literally between a rock and a hard place. His cousin entrapping him behind a wall of ground and rock, stuck on one of the ledges. His power of air useless with his foot caught under a rather large stone and sticky muddy mass of earth. Naji moved forward the earth rolling underneath him like a wave.

“My dear cousin you aren’t afraid of me are you?” Naji whispered silkily. Harry shuddered, that voice was far to close to his father’s certain brand insanity. He instinctively tried to reach out to Severus but the room had been specially warded to block the link while he was learning control. He watched the approaching threat and pushed against the wall, feeling much like a cornered rabbit. Reaching his breaking point Harry uttered a wild screech and flames burst from his body. Naji was whipped backwards with the force of a small explosion. Harry watched as the flames receded to gently lick his body with only the feeling of gentle warmth. He also felt the link opening up. Naji’s thoughts flowed in as well as a fresh surge of guilt and apologies. A quick viewing of his cousin’s memories showed that Az had used the same method on him to awaken his powers. He went over digging Naji out of the layers of dirt he’d been baked into. Staring into those brown eyes he broke out into a smile.

“Never, ever, do that again.” Harry informed him throwing an arm over Naji’s shoulders. They exited in time to see Draco race down the hall panic in his eyes. Harry and Naji glanced at each other before following the distraught Slytherin. They all entered Severus’ lab, eyes on Draco.

“Ron…he passed out and the whole room started glowing…I can’t get back in!” he explained, Harry briefly wondered why the shit had to hit the fan now all at once.

A.N. Fess up! How many of you truly thought Naji was after Harry for real? =P and I was intending to make ya’ll wait on who Draco’s mate was but I started writing it that way and it just didn’t flow right. So I changed it…I’m slightly off my outline again so I think I’m going to add another chapter or two to my original plan which will bring us to about, 30ish chapters. I know everyone seemed to see the Ron/Draco coming huh. Well I tried to make Ron a real person, he always seemed kind of flat to me. I had the single worst day of my life today but writing this chapter cheered my up slightly. =D