Inevitability

Sorry that it's been so long. It's harder to find time to do anything with school going on, but I will try.

And thanks to blackSilkenKitty for being my beta for this chapter.

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Chapter 4

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Something was off, something was wrong.

As my mind slowly returned to consciousness a few things started to register in my sleep dazed mind. The one I felt most profound was the fact that all the pain was practically gone, which made me sigh in relief. But that wasn’t what had drawn me out of my healing sleep; someone was touching me. As soon as the thought registered in my mind my body instinctively rolled away and unfortunately off the small bed. Years of being knocked down proved helpful as my body automatically rolled over and ended in a crouch facing whatever threat had managed to touch me.

“Merlin Harry, freak out much?”

I looked up into the silver eyes of Draco, but couldn't analyze his sentence, still stuck on one particular word.

“Harry?” I questioned, bewildered as to why that name would be coming out of his mouth. And there wasn’t even a disdainful Potter on the end, or some other caustic name.

“Yes. That is your name right?”

“Well yes, but…”

“You’re my mate now Harry. It’s only logical that we relinquish the use of surnames.”

I felt my heart sink into my stomach and then I remembered. I remembered why I was here, remembered the hate and spite of the school, remembered the cruelty that came from my own house and my own friends.

Trapped in memories my hand moved to the left side of my chest, the same side Ronald Weasley had kicked hard and repeatedly enough to break two ribs.

A shadow flickered at the corner of my eye causing me to snap back to reality and realize that Malfoy had been trying to catch my attention and was coming closer.

“What?” I snapped; standing up to get a better position against the threat and hoping my words and actions would make him back down.

He stopped, giving me an odd look. “I asked if you were ready to go to our room.”

My heart sunk lower while my stomach rose up in the back of my throat. I took a heavy swallow trying to fight back the nausea his words caused so I could speak.

“I agreed to be your mate, as in you can drink some blood every now and then, the rest is negotiable.”

I could see the anger on his face instantly and his eyes began to glow again. I slid my foot back, finding more balance in case of an attack despite knowing I stood no chance against a vampire.

“You are the most egotistical and infuriating Gryffindor I have ever met.” He growled. I watched his fingers twitching at his side and knew he was itching to force me to submit to him.

“Then pick a new mate! Give up on me!” I yelled, not caring I was essentially angering a dangerous creature.

“No! It has to be you!”

“Why?”

“Because you’re perfect!” He shouted, causing more words to catch in my throat at hearing what appeared to be a compliment. There was an underlying tone as well to his voice, as if what he said should be obvious and make everything perfectly clear. “Don’t you know anything about magical creatures, or wizarding society?” He asked exasperated, “bloodlines?” He added at seeing my still clueless look.

I gritted my teeth, not willing to admit my ignorance.

“A magical creature picks the most suitable choice around; that’s you.” He added condescendingly. “Have you ever wondered why there’s more and more squibs being given birth to each year? It’s because there’s not a large enough infusion of new powerful magic being introduced; which is what all magical creatures can supply.”

I opened my mouth about to argue the fact that muggleborns introduced new blood, but he must have known what I was thinking.

“Yes, the mudbloods aid that source, but their magic is dirty, pathetic, and they just weaken the bloodlines even more in the end. Involving vampires, veelas, elves, and other such creatures refresh the bloodline. The first chosen is the best possible match around, meaning that in the end the new line will be as superior as possible.”

“But we’re both men, we can’t create a kid, go pick some witch!”

After the words left my mouth Malfoy just stared at me like I was a complete idiot.

“Potter… wizards can have children too.” He said slowly, as if I had some brain deficiency. I glared at him while inside I was astonished and denying the mere thought. It went against everything I knew and I had enough world shaking events for one day.

We remained silent, just staring at each other and unsure of what to say.

“This changes absolutely nothing Malfoy.” I said at last, bringing the anger back swiftly to his face.

“We’ll see Harry.” He sneered before storming from the suddenly silent hospital wing.

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I managed to escape from the hospital wing within a few hours just as dinner was going to start. I was hesitant to go down to dinner, not wanting to face those who hated me, those who attacked me, and those who betrayed me. Not to mention that I still felt like I would hurl at even the thought of food, but Madame Pomfrey insisted I go and that Dumbledore was expecting me.

So now I was dragging my feet as I moved towards the great hall, refusing to acknowledge the few who were still straggling in. When I did open the door everyone was there and an unearthly silence fell over everyone at the sight of me.

“Welcome Harry, you may take your seat next to your mate.” Dumbledore voice called joyfully into the silence. I was tempted to turn around and leave, to let the door slam behind me in a show of anger and get away from this entire mess. But I had nowhere to go, and there was a look in Dumbledore’s eyes saying that if I did he would make things worse than they already were.

In a small way –very small- it was a blessing to be ordered to sit with Malfoy, I didn’t think I could sit by any Gryffindor just then.

But still reluctant I headed for the Slytherin table with the intention of taking a seat at the very end of the table, but before I got within 5ft, bodies shifted and the opening was gone, I looked up around the table and with a resigned sigh noticed the only spot available was next to Malfoy who had a sickly grin on his face. I glanced up to see Dumbledore’s eyes still on me and admitting defeat in this battle, took the seat available.

“Glad to see you’re coming around.” Malfoy whispered in my ear as an arm slid around my waist causing my body to tense and begin to panic.

“Get your hand off me or I will break it and walk out of here.” I hissed back, quietly enough that no one but Malfoy heard.

Pretending to laugh at something I said he removed his arm and continued eating while I sat among the snakes trying to block out their lewd comments.

***

Before I realized it someone was pulling on my sleeve causing me to instinctively jerk away from it.

“Merlin Harry, you’re as jumpy as a Hufflepuff. Let’s go. I’m not going to wait here for you to finish your staring contest with the table.”

Resisting the attractive desire to punch him in the face, I got up and followed him through the halls and unsurprisingly down into Slytherin territory. We stopped at a portrait of some blond haired lady I couldn’t care less about, what I did care about was that we were one hall over from the Slytherin rooms, and even worse, in the same hall as Snape’s room.

“Blood Bond.” Malfoy answered to the portrait and I gritted my teeth again at the implication. “Ladies first.” He said, with an arrogant smirk, gesturing towards the now open doorway.

I just glared at him for a moment, so many possibilities to make his death look like an accident running through my mind, but there was still an echo of pain in my body to remind me of what my alternative was, and so I ignored him and entered the room.

The room eerily reminded me of the Slytherin dorms, all black leather couches, stone fireplace and black curtains. But where the Slytherin dorm would have green this had red, but not Gryffindor red either , this was a dark red, blood red that made me uneasy; I would have preferred the green. There were a few creams to ease the heavy atmosphere of the room a little. Dark wood bookcases lined the wall while two desks of similar color were off to one side. Overall it wasn’t too bad, it could have been much worse; Dumbledore could have done the decorating.

“Lovely isn’t it?” Malfoy asked, I said nothing. “Not up to my standards of course but the bathroom’s not bad. Come on, the bedroom’s through here, and don’t worry your stuffs already been moved.”

Great; because that is my big concern. Barely five minutes in the room and I already wanted to commit murder. If either of us survived a day together I am going to nominate my self for sainthood given how much patience dealing with him is going to take.

Numbly I followed after the boy who now seemed to be in control of every aspect of my life.

*****

I decided I wasn’t sleeping tonight.

Malfoy was right, the bathroom was gorgeous, a fucking fantasy come true and I loved admiring the black granite with white lightening streaked through it. It could explain why I was in the bathroom at one in the morning. Or it could be the fact that there was only on bed and that this was the only room that could be locked. I had already taken a bath that lasted over an hour, and now was just sitting on the floor, staring at the white lightening surrounded by darkness.

After another hour had passed and my arse could no longer handle the hard floor I struggled to my feet and quietly opened the door. As I had hoped Malfoy was already asleep on the bed. Using years of experience at sneaking around my Uncle’s house, I managed to pass through the bedroom to the main common area and to one of the leather couches.

Maybe I would sleep tonight.

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An alarm rang in my ear causing me to spring up, wand already in hand and pointed at the blurry body in front of me before my brain could think.

“What the fuck are you doing Malfoy?!” I snarled, my sleep scratched voice making it sound more menacing than usual.

“Me?! You’re the one who freaked out!”

I had set a perimeter ward before falling asleep that would warn me if someone came within 5 feet of me. Silently thanking Sirius for having taught me the spell.

“Besides, I’m hungry. I’ve waited long enough, I want your blood.”

My lips twitched at his words, I had a strange flashback to the horribly cheesy vampire movies Dudley used to watch and struggled not to laugh. But then reality caught up with me and all thoughts of laughing disappeared. I wanted to protest, to deny him and scream to never touch me, but this was the one thing that I had already agreed to.

“Fine.” I said lowering my wand, and resigned held out my wrist to him while looking away. When I heard no movement I glanced back over to see him looking as if I had just insulted his entire family. He crossed his arms looking remarkably like a petulant child, tilting his nose in the air just so.

“No, I want it from your neck.” He demanded in his snotty superior way.

Fuck Sainthood.

“You’re not touching my neck, there’s no fucking way I’m letting you that close, nor trusting you that much. You can have it this way or not at all, if you choose not to, no skin off my back.” I said, and leaving a gapping Malfoy behind, walked around the couch and towards my… our room to get dressed.

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Malfoy continued to nag me; and nag me while we were dressing and as we walked to the Great Hall but I refused to speak to or acknowledge his whines so when we got to the table he complained to his sycophants. Unsurprisingly they listened, and before the meal was over everyone knew, and everyone was glaring at me again. A chill ran down my spine and I wondered if this had been a good idea, but as I glanced over at Malfoy’s face I refused to give in, I refuse to let him control everything and use me like his bitch.