Hybrid Destiny

Chapter 16

Draco reluctantly left his elf sleeping and walked quickly towards his rooms. Although he hadn’t exactly lied to Harry (he really did need a shower and a change of clothes), his main reason for leaving so early concerned his father. Walking into the sitting room of the Malfoy suite, he saw Lucius was already awake and eating breakfast. At least I don’t have to wake him up for this. He tends to be a bit grumpy when you actually have to wake him up thought Draco.

“Father, we need to talk,” said Draco abruptly.

“Sounds important. Should I worry?” asked Lucius setting his fork down and pushing away his plate. Draco sounded like he needed his undivided attention. He also had to admit to himself that he was a bit curious. Draco never sounded this intense when conversing with his father.

“That bombshell Lupin dropped on us during training. Well, when Harry panicked and rushed to the library, I found a book that actually had some detailed explanations. I told Harry enough facts to calm him down but as you can probably tell by the way this conversation is going, there were a few details I conveniently left out,” explained Draco.

“Keep going. You have my undivided attention,” said Lucius.

“I found out that the fae have several steps in determining a mate. You and I both obviously passed at least one. There are two more steps: one is scent and the other is seeing through a spelled glamour. The feathery tattoo is a glamour, yes, but it is a natural glamour, not a spelled glamour. A spelled is consciously cast whereas a natural glamour is automatic. The fae use scent to sniff out major imperfections like bad health, insanity, that sort of thing. I have obviously passed the scent test as well. Anyway, Harry knows this part,” he continued to explain.

“The important part of the discussion I did leave out is the fact that male fae, and elves for that matter, can carry children in a same sex mating. The other part I left out was that fae cannot impregnate anyone or become pregnant by anyone other than his or her mate or mates. There have been documented cases where a fae hybrid has had two mates instead of just one. The point I’m not sure about is if the fae hybrid actually had to mate with both mates or if they just chose to mate them both. I’ll have to do more research on that,” he ended.

“This is unexpected. So what you’re saying is that I basically need to see if I pass the scent test and can see through his spelled glamour to either confirm or deny my status as his mate. Why exactly would you want me to do that? What are you going to do if I do pass these so called tests of eligibility?” he asked seriously.

“I don’t know. I will do whatever it takes to keep him. If that means I have to accept you in the relationship, I will. I just want my elf happy,” Draco replied quietly.

“Let’s see if we can find some more answers, shall we?” asked Lucius.

“Not until I shower and change we won’t,” said Draco heading for the shower.

***

Harry rolled over in the bed feeling lonely now that he didn’t have Draco to lay on. He sleepily rubbed his eyes before blearily looking to see the time. It’s already 9:00 he thought. I may as well go ahead and get up. I still need to take a shower before I get dressed. He stumbled out of bed and headed for the shower.

At exactly 10:00 on the dot, Harry strolled into the Great Hall. He saw Draco sitting in his customary seat and walked over to sit in the seat beside him. “Good morning, Draco,” he said as he reached for the eggs.

“Yes, it certainly is. Good morning, elf. Did you sleep well after I left?” he asked.

“I slept until 9:00 but I didn’t sleep as well,” said Harry blushing lightly. “Apparently I’ve already gotten use to having a living pillow.”

“I would have stayed longer and let you sleep better, but I had to discuss some things with Father,” said Draco.

“Oh? What kind of things?” he asked curiously.

“Nothing really important. What are you going to practice today?” asked Draco trying to divert his elf’s attention.

“I don’t know. I may just skive off practice today and go swimming instead. It’s certainly pretty and hot enough outside for it. You want to go swimming with me?” he asked eagerly.

“Sure. I’ll warn you now, I burn easily so if that happens you’re going to have to take care of me,” said Draco smiling.

“Deal. I have to go change into my swimming trunks but I’ll meet you by the lake, okay?” said Harry finally pushing his plate away.

“Okay. Don’t be surprised if Father joins us, though. He needs some sun. He’s been spending most of his time in our quarters and I’m a little worried about him. I can at least blackmail him into spending time with his loving son. Don’t look at me like that. I am loving,” said Draco indignantly at the skeptical look Harry had given him.

“I didn’t say a word, Draco. No need to get all indignant,” said Harry teasingly. “I’ll meet you by the lake in thirty minutes.” With that, Harry walked out of the Great Hall leaving Draco to his indignation.

While Harry was changing into swim trunks, Draco was badgering and pestering Lucius into going swimming with them. On one hand, he wanted to find out if Lucius passed the remaining two test. On the other hand, he was afraid what the results would be. He just wasn’t sure if he wanted to share his elf with anyone. Lucius finally gave in and they set out towards the lake after changing into swimwear.

Harry arrived at the lake moments after the Malfoys. Since neither of them was really paying attention to their surroundings, Harry snuck up behind them and shoved them both in. He really started laughing at the looks of identical shock on their faces when they surfaced. The then squeaked and ran when Draco managed to get out of the water while he was rubbing the tears of laughter from his face. Draco caught him in minutes and carried him struggling all the while to the bank of the lake. The next minute, Harry was airbourne before landing in the water a few feet from Lucius.

Draco jumped back into the lake landing near Harry. Harry was splashed in the face and the wave of water pushed him into Lucius. He immediately turned around to apologize only to find his face mere inches away from the elder Malfoy’s. Blushing bright red, he stammered his apology and swam a short distance away. He didn’t know why he blushed so much around Lucius Malfoy.

To alleviate poor Harry’s embarrassment, Lucius started to swim back towards the bank of the lake but stopped when he saw Draco glaring at him. “Harry, do you know any water games we can play?” he asked the elf.

“Well, if you can conjure an inflatable ball we can play ‘keep away.’ Of us would be in the middle while the other two would be at opposite ends. The two at the opposite ends would throw the ball to each trying to keep the one in middle from catching it. I know it’s childish but it’s really the only water game I can think of right off hand,” said Harry hesitantly.

“I’m on the end!” shouted both Malfoys simultaneously.

“No fair. I came up with the came,” pouted Harry.

“Sorry, elf, but you’re in the middle,” laughed Draco.

Lucius conjured the ball and they played that game for over an hour. Harry was stuck in the middle for about the first forty-five minutes of the game. That is until he managed to catch the ball by jumping out of the water just high enough for his wings to emerge safely giving him an extra boost in the air.

“Hey! No cheating,” yelled Draco.

“NO! I’m shorter than the two of you. I obviously need a handicap and what better handicap than wings. I have to have something to compensate for my lack of height,” said Harry defensively. “Besides, someone else should get a turn in the middle. Since you are the one who threw the ball, have at it.”

“Fine. You’ll be back here soon enough,” said Draco smugly.

We’ll just see about that thought Harry. After all, Draco hadn’t disputed his claim to a handicap so he would just continue to hover over the water instead of swimming in it. With that thought in mind, Harry tossed the ball to Lucius. When the game finally ended, Draco had managed to get Lucius in the middle and it was close to lunchtime.

“I can’t believe you cheated like that. You’re a Gryffindor. You’re supposed to be all noble, heroic, and honest,” pouted Draco.

“So I guess if I told you that the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin my first year, you wouldn’t be at all surprised?” he asked nonchalantly.

“What? No way did that hat want to put you in Slytherin,” said Draco disbelievingly.

“His exact words were ‘Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness’ but I had been told only bad wizards came from that house and begged the hat to put me somewhere else. That is how I ended up in Gryffindor,” said Harry.

“You convinced the hat to put you in a different house when Slytherin was it’s first choice. I just can’t picture you in Slytherin. You epitomize Gryffindor traits,” said Draco still in a state of shock.

“It could be worse. I could have been sorted into Hufflepuff,” said Harry teasingly. “Come on. I’m ready for lunch. All that swimming worked up an appetite.”

“Swimming? What swimming? You decided flying would benefit you more, remember?” said Draco.

“Minor detail. Are you coming, or not?” said Harry as he quickened his pace.

“Yeah, yeah. I could do with a decent meal. I actually swam,” he replied hurrying to catch up.

They managed to make it to their respective rooms, got changed, and met at the doors to the Great Hall. Harry noticed that Remus had not been to a meal since the previous day and couldn’t help but feel hurt and a little angry. He was hurt because his surrogate godfather had turned his back on him and angry over the circumstances that had promoted it. Engrossed in his thoughts, he automatically followed Draco to the table and sat beside him. He also finally noticed that instead of the empty seat that had been beside him this morning, he was no sitting between Draco and Lucius.

Harry unconsciously scooted a little closer to Draco upon noticing the seating arrangements. He just for some reason felt weird about being around Lucius. He blushed far too easily for his liking where the elder Malfoy was concerned. He was comfortable with Draco because he had been around for the last six years in some capacity. The only time he had been around Lucius, the circumstances hadn’t been the most promising. He didn’t actively dislike Lucius; he just didn’t know what he felt.

“I see Lupin missed another meal. Do you know what’s wrong with him?” asked Lucius.

“He hates me now,” replied Harry sadly. “I lost control while practicing with elemental magic and nearly killed him. He…he…I’m not hungry anymore. I think I’ll just go to my room for a while. Sorry.”

Harry pushed away from the table and ran from the room almost in tears. He ran all the way back up to the tower and as soon as he reached his bed, he just flung himself down and started crying.

“What did you say to him?” demanded Draco angrily.

“I just commented that Lupin had missed another meal and asked him if he knew what was wrong. He told me that Lupin had nearly been killed by out of control magic and wouldn’t talk to him anymore. He then said he wasn’t hungry and would go to his room. That’s all I know,” said Lucius.

“I’m going to go talk to that mangy werewolf. Accidents happen and he knows that. I can’t believe he’s treating my elf this way,” said Draco getting up to go find the culprit responsible for his elf’s distress.

“I’m going, too. I want to see this,” said Lucius walking with him.

They got directions to Lupin’s quarters from Dumbledore and made their way to the confrontation. They finally found the portrait guarding the door to Lupin’s room and proceeded to demand entry. Draco made enough noise out in the hall that Lupin finally came out to investigate. As soon as he opened the door, Draco demanded “What the hell is your problem, you mangy wolf?”