Close Enough

Ch 48 Fallen Angel
The remainder of the holiday break was productive. Harry and I spent the majority of the time talking our issues out. We discussed things about our childhoods and friends, or lack there of in some time periods.; our fights in the beginning years of school; what it was like living with death eaters in and out of the manor all the time; why treating house elves with respect is important. We discussed joys and pains of our pasts, hopes and desires for our futures. But most of all we spoke about the bond, and how we are going to deal with any future fights and misunderstandings.

We spoke at length about our different needs as far as our Creatures were concerned. It was fairly odd to learn that after we complete the bond, my mate will need nearly constant touch for two weeks time; he explained it as something that would strengthen the bond between us and his Creature would thrive on only my touch from that point on. It was even more strange to learn that even though Veela and Succubi are dominant by nature, due to the mix of blood that my Harry is, he has no desire to be; in this I was relieved, my Vampire instincts would not have stood for a challenge of power.

Harry told me all about the potion that he takes everyday to suppress his physical needs to keep himself from jumping on top of any willing body he can find. We conversed over how Harry’s Creature magic uses the energy around him, draws on power from their sexual energy and arousal. I questioned him about his charmed necklace, and he revealed to me in no uncertain terms that without it he would not have the problem of ‘finding’ a willing body, everyone around him would become aggressively willing. This made me chuckle, and I had to inform him that even without the Creature blood he would never have had a problem finding a willing body. He blushed, it was so adorable.

Having learned everything about Harry’s Creature needs, I felt it was only fair to discuss mine. At this point he knew that I needed to feed off of his blood, that I would desire to do so; sadly it was my responsibility to inform my dear mate that once we completed the bond I would need to do so twice a day. To my surprise he laughed at my reluctance to tell him this fact; he said, “Draco, I’m turned on my pain, and my body requires sex. I honestly don’t see the problem.” It was my turn to laugh; the Harry Potter that I thought I knew would have been blushing like crazy at a statement like that, however my mate merely raised an eyebrow and quirked the corner of his mouth slightly at his own comment.

After his little remark I asked the question I was dreading having the answer to, “Have you ever had sex?” I was blunt about it, I know, very upfront. I couldn’t help it, the curiosity was killing me. I admit I was slightly nervous when the moment the question left my mouth he blushed; moments later however I was relieved when he shook his head slightly in the negative. I could have jumped out of my skin I was so happy; I wanted to dance around chanting ‘MINE! He’s all MINE!” Yet, I didn’t think that Harry would appreciate that much so I didn’t.

Now came the part that I didn’t know I was afraid about, he shot the question back at me. It broke me apart inside to have to tell him that I was no longer a virgin and he would not be my first time. It amazed me that he didn’t ask who, or how many, or if my reputation as the Slytherin-Sex-God was valid; he nodded his head once at the information and moved on.

After nearly three days in our dorms talking, I felt very at ease with everything between Harry and I. It was two days after Christmas when Harry and I emerged from our rooms to go see Severus for some tea and a chat. It went well, even though I think he still had lingering anger toward me for what I had said to Harry; Severus relaxed toward me when Harry told him that we had talked over many of our issues since then. It was in that moment that I realized how close my godfather and Harry truly were; something about his protective nature over my mate, and the openness that the two shared made me happy.

When the rest of the school arrived back the following day, Harry and I had to get used to spending time with other people again. Hermione and Justin made their way directly to our common room when they arrived, as did Pansy and Blaise. There were hugs pretty much all around for Harry, who jumped up as soon as the portrait hole opened, as I smiled my hello from my favorite spot on the sofa, patiently waiting for Harry to return to his seat by my side. I didn’t have to wait long and Harry was slipping gracefully into the seat next to me, resting his head on my shoulder and sighing in contentment.

“So how is the bond coming then?” Hermione asked as she sat next to Justin at the other send of the sofa.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Harry responded in a nervous shy tone.
“Sure you do. It’s obvious. You know…. You being what you are..” The bushy haired young woman said pointing toward Harry, “and you being what you are…” moving the gesture toward me, “it is the only rational conclusion.”
“Everything’s fine Hermione.” Harry said softly, nuzzling my shoulder ever so slightly with his cheek.
“Well that’s good. You both seem happy.” Justin agreed, smiling.

“Yes we are fine. Yes the bond is fine. And yes we are both very happy.” I said, in slight annoyance, ‘this is not a public topic.’ I thought angrily.
“Well good.” Hermione confirmed. “So…. When will you be completing the bond?” I shot her a look, that was a personal question, a very personal question. What type of person would have the nerve to ask something like that, it’s just not done. However Harry took it upon himself to actually answer the nosy girl’s inquiry.
“We discussed waiting until after school was finished, due to the change in needs afterward.” Hermione nodded knowingly, while the rest of the group only looked slightly confused. However upon looking to my friends, I saw they were both giving Granger a strange look; good someone else realizes that this topic is out of bounds for public discussion. And much to my relief the discussion ended there.

“So how was everyone’s vacation?” Harry asked, smiling; holding my hand in both of his gently rubbing my fingers. Unfortunately this change of subject meant that I had to spend the next hour listening to Granger’s account of all the very muggle things that she did over break, Justin babble on about how he missed her, and Blaise and Pansy make snarky comments to both of them; at least this gave me a laugh.
That evening Harry and I retired to our room rather early, tiring of people quickly and wishing some time alone. Upon entering our room, Harry expressed the desire to change into his lounge wear, cuddle up to me, and journalize; I quickly agreed and changed. It took a long moment for Harry to search out his lounge pants, I was completely changed and waiting for Harry on his bed, before Harry began changing.

I was captivated. Harry didn’t usually change in front of me, body image I guess, so when he began to do so he definitely had my attention. First his sweater, followed fluidly by his T-shirt were removed; revealing smooth, hairless, golden skin. He turned his back to me, presenting me with his tattoos. At closer viewing distance this time, I could make them out much more clearly. The Phoenix on his lower back was in fact made up of black, blue, green and silver; it’s wings spread out, the tips extending around Harry’s sides. Just below the base of Harry’s neck was another tattoo, a harmony symbol; one side green with a gold inlay, the other red with a silver inlay. I cataloged in my mind to question Harry as to the meaning and significance of the coloring later, turning my attention to the remaining markings on Harry’s back. Set just inside the lower part of Harry’s shoulder blades were two identical tattoos, both resembling what the area would look like if something ripped through Harry’s skin but was no longer there; I could hold my curiosity no longer.

“Harry… what do you tattoos mean?” I asked, sliding myself to the end of his bed, feet hanging touching the floor, looking closely at my mates back.
“huh?” Harry said unintelligibly. He turned his head to look at me, slight confusion marring his beautiful face.
“Your tattoos, Harry. What do they mean?” I asked, a smile on my face and a slight laugh in my voice.
“Oh….” He finished changing his pants quickly, and sat next to me on the foot of his bed; his shirt still held in his hands. “Well the Dark Phoenix is for rising over adversity, you know, the whole from the ashes of death comes new life thing. Thought it was fairly perfect for my life.” My mate told me, in a very soft tone.
“And the Harmony symbol? I’ve never seen one done in anything other than black and white.” I couldn’t help it at this point, if he was going to answer my questions then he might as well have them.

“Oh that.” He smirked at me. A smirk. An actual smirk! It was probably the sexiest thing that I have ever seen. He raised an eyebrow, “Did you know that the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin?” my mouth fell open for a moment, but I quickly closed it.
“No….” I said simply.
“Yea, it did. Said that it would help me to greatness. But I begged it not to put me there, having been told about all the Death Eaters coming from that house… that and the fact that I met this real prat of a kid who got sorted there and I didn’t want to be near him.” He shot me a look with a big grin on his face. The little git was talking about ME! But he continued talking and the comeback that was forming quickly slipped away, “So it put me in Gryffindor, like my parents. I found out later that when Voldie cursed me as a baby he put some of his power in me, so I was a mix of his power and mine. Slytherin and Gryffindor, good and evil.” He looked down at his hands then, twisting the shirt in his hands slightly, “I figured the symbol showed my two sides working together in perfect harmony, the two parts of me making a whole.” I chuckled.

“You wouldn’t have lasted a day in the snake pit.” I said, quickly changing the subject. “Alright, and the others?” I asked, reaching around Harry’s back and gently tracing the outline of the identical tattoos with my fingertips. “What are these?”
“Those, were a birthday present from Cloe.” Harry said, simply, but this provided no explanation.
“But what does it mean?” I pressed, still tracing the tattoos gently.
“Well… it’s kind of embarrassing.” He said, blushing slightly.
“Out with it then. I’ll only laugh if you deserve it.” I said jokingly. “Honestly Harry, you can tell me anything.” I guess that did it.
“When I first joined the band, Cloe called me ‘the angel’ because I was the most innocent person she’d ever met. She said I was so clean and pure, that I must have fallen straight from heaven.” The fingers on Harry’s left hand went up to play with the charm on his necklace, “But after the year between when we met and my next birthday she learned it wasn’t true, not really. But she still called me ‘the angel’. That was until my birthday, with the whole inheritance thing. The band took me out that day, that’s when I got my tattoo,” Harry touched the harmony symbol at the base of his neck with his right hand, “And as I told you, and I know Ty mentioned, I like pain.” Harry blushed, going back to wringing the shirt in his lap. “Well after that, and the whole sex demon thing, Cloe decided that I wasn’t an angel at all, I was a fallen angel. Someone who was meant to be good and pure, but fell. She and I designed it ourselves, standing in Ty’s shop. It’s where my wings should have been, but aren’t anymore since I fell.” Harry finished.

“Well…” I began, wrapping my arm gently around Harry’s shoulders, squeezing him to me, “I’m glad you fell. I like you better this way.” Harry laughed, pulled on his slightly wrinkled tank top and crawled up the bed.
“I’m sure you do.” Harry said with that infernal smirk again, “I wouldn’t be nearly as open to you latching onto my neck everyday otherwise.” We both laughed as I allowed him to cuddle up next to me and begin to write.