Viper Weed (Remix)

Chapter 5


When Harry finally scurried down to Hagrid's hut he found the rest of the class huddled curiously about several tiny boxes. He headed automatically for Ron and Hermione, painfully aware that the students' attention was now directed at him and his odd appearance.


"What took you so long mate?" Ron whispered.


"I…uh…Snape took awhile. With the reprimanding and all that." Harry said lamely. Hermione caught his eye disbelievingly, but thankfully she didn't comment.


"All righ' Harry?" Hagrid called over the heads of the students. Harry nodded and waved at him. "Today we're lookin' at somethin' real special. We jus' got ‘em recently. These are Golden Snidgets Harry. They be real rare in parts these days."


Harry just nodded again in reply, feeling ill. He'd been getting along with Malfoy reasonably well until now. Then the boy had to go and provoke him, and then that had happened.


With a blush Harry recalled the things he'd been doing. He'd been pressing himself against the boy and kissing and biting him. It's Malfoy for Merlin's sake. Oh…that's so horrible. Harry took a moment trying to call the blush off his cheeks, but Hermione had already shot him a worried look. He replied with his most disarming smile and she turned away, still thoughtful.


Harry was far from worried about her though. Instead he was much more worried about himself. Hadn't Snape told him specifically not to do that again? Had Malfoy been listening? Oh Merlin, what if he got sent to Azkaban? Harry took deep calming breaths and tried to turn his attention to the Golden Snidgets.

---

Draco sat in the headmaster's office desperately trying to calm his beating heart. What he'd felt with Harry had been both intoxicating and horrible. He'd thought for sure he'd die when Harry had started ripping his magic out of him, latching on, and he could feel it slipping away.


But then something wondrous had happened. He'd felt all that magic pouring back into him and more. It had filled every bone, every vein, and every pore in his body. It had reached into his mind and attuned itself to his own unique magical signature. He'd felt the boy in front of him begin to fade and slump against him as Harry lost his magic.


Just as he was sure Harry was going to die like he'd been about to not a moment earlier something snapped, some tiny resistance in him, and all that magic had stopped for a moment before flooding back to Harry.


In that moment, a lot had changed. Draco had felt something he'd known was there all along change and mutate in his body and mind. It was like there was this whole range of power he'd never accessed before, and it didn't flood out with the rest of the magic. He could feel it moving over his body, changing things, shifting and increasing.


Harry had said he had changed, and he had been right. Draco had known the moment he'd cast the mirror spell that he had changed for good. He was looking at the features not of a handsome pureblood boy, but of a stunning young Veela.

He'd known for a long while that there was Veela blood in the Malfoy family tree, although the only records of it were in a heavy leather bound book in the middle of the Malfoy safe.


It was simply one of those things he'd learnt as a child. The Malfoy family carried a recessive Veela gene that to date had not surfaced since his distant ancestor had married the Veela woman to begin with. It was uncharted. No male child of the Malfoy's had ever had a dominant Veela gene. To do that they would have had to have Veela genes on both sides of the family, and an enormous magical stimulation to spark off the changes. His father had told him all about it. Male Veelas were very, very rare, and needed far more magic than female Veelas.


It was policy of the Malfoy family not to marry into any families containing Veela genes, no matter how great the strategic move. Could Lucius have married Narcissa without her telling him of the genes? Possibly. There was always the distant possibility.


Then, he could have had dominant Veela genes and not known it, due to the fact that he was not an innately powerful wizard. Somehow he doubted that even people like Harry, Dumbledore or Voldemort would have been able to synthesise that amount of magic as a mere child.


But this was different. He knew Harry had absorbed some of Voldemort's powers when he was attacked. He'd talked the theory over with his father, and they'd both agreed that that was probably the reason for their similar characteristics. But even that shouldn't have been enough.


Draco knew he was definitely well past the time where he would have shown Veela characteristics. A female child would have shown them easily, and would have needed only their innate power to orchestrate the changes. But Harry had sucked out much of Snape's power before hadn't he?


That must be it. Thought Draco. Harry's power combined with Voldemort's and Snape's would have done it. Well…at least I'm rare and valuable. Not to mention stunning.


"Mr Malfoy. What can I help you with?" Dumbledore said kindly. Draco wasn't so distracted that he couldn't sneer at him.


"Your Gryffindor Golden Boy had wreaked some very unpleasant changes on me." The headmaster just smiled back at him.


"How did this happen?"


"It doesn't matter how it happened. What matters is what is going to come of it." Draco cut in curtly. "For what ever reasons you would like to assume, a distant part of my heritage that has lain dormant for several centuries has been resurrected." The headmaster nodded for him to continue. Draco just curled his lip at him. "To cut to the end of this tale, I have become, to my knowledge, the only male Veela in existence."


"Ah. What do you propose we do about it?" Said Dumbledore sagely. Draco cursed the old man for not even batting an eyelid to his revelation.


"Are there any known repressants for the effects of the Veela charms?"


"There are a few, yes. But they all have varying side-effects that I doubt you will be much enamoured of." Dumbledore said lightly.


"I am not much enamoured of the entire student body throwing themselves at me either." Draco said shortly.

"May I suggest that you consult Professor Snape. As the head of your house, and the resident potions master he will probably be better able to help you than I in that department." Said the headmaster levelly.


"I also think it would be best if you were to have your own set of rooms. You will be able to escape the hoards of students more effectively that way." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily at him, and Draco ran through his extensive knowledge of dark spells to calm himself down.


"I simply suggest this because I think you will find it to be more convenient. And, if you are indeed showing signs of becoming a full Veela, then the changes will take several days to complete." The headmaster paused for a moment, looking him full in the eyes. "Am I correct in assuming that there was a large exchange of magic between you and Mr Potter?"


"Yes. It's all because of his filthy hybrid urges. I'm sure Snape will be happy to tell you all about it." Draco's voice was deeply insincere.


"I am sure that he will. However, may I remind you that Mr Potter's condition originates from your own actions?" Draco just scowled at the man in front of him.


Dumbledore sighed before leaning over to one of the bowls containing lemon drops and offered them to Draco.


"No, thank you." Draco said bitterly.


"In that case, you must take the rest of the day off to inform your family and see Professor Snape about these changes. He will show you to your rooms by the end of the day."

---

When Draco had finished with Dumbledore he immediately headed down to Snape's rooms. The older man opened the door after only a few knocks, and invited him in.


Draco got along well with the potions master. He and his father had been friends in school, and Severus looked on Draco fondly. If Lucius had had any mind to at the time, he would have appointed Severus as Draco's godfather. Instead, Lucius had maintained that it was an idiotic custom not befitting pureblood families, and instead was reserved for muggleborn of mudblood families.


"Good afternoon Draco." Severus greeted him. "I am sure you are meant to be escorting Mr Potter around the building rather than seeing me though."


"Mr Potter orchestrated some rather irritating changes." Draco replied, picking a high backed green leather armchair and seating himself.


"As I can see. Did you want anything to drink?" The other man offered. Draco stated a preference for wine, and soon they were sitting opposite one another beside the fire.


"So you have come into your Veela inheritance." Severus stated. Draco tried hard not to choke on his wine.


"Why is it that practically everyone seems completely un-surprised? I was under the impression it was meant to stay within the family." Draco said irritably.


"I am privy to much information from your father, as I am a close friend of the family. If I am correct in my guess and you have seen the Headmaster, you should know by now that little ever surprises him." Severus said calmly. Draco just snorted and took another sip of his drink.


"As much as I enjoy the idea of people falling at my feet, this isn't what I'd call a desirable situation." He replied tersely.


"Quite. Perhaps you could explain to me what part Potter played in all this." Severus asked quietly, but Draco had known the man long enough to know he was looking for a reason to do Harry in once and for all. And Merlin Draco was going to give him one.


Draco briefly explained the events, deliberately leaving out certain, more…personal details of their encounter.


"Mr Potter, enjoy your last days in Hogwarts." Snape said to nobody in particular.


"I do accept partial responsibility. I should have known better to provoke a dangerous animal." Draco said amusedly, drawing a chuckle from Snape.


"Yes, quite." Severus took a sip of his drink. "I must say though, that it is not such a terrible thing to happen. Male Veelas are incredibly rare. There is a chance that there is one or two in the wild Veela colonies, but it is unlikely. They tend to occur once every couple of centuries, and that is longer than most wizards are ever likely to live. You are also to inherit some rather unique powers."


"What are they? Father told me the female powers, but he didn't see it necessary to mention the male ones."


"You will have the normal powers of attraction, beauty, and allure, but this will be directed to both sexes now. Men are naturally susceptible to Veela powers, but only the male Veela can seduce both men and women." Severus paused to check that Draco was absorbing it all.


"As you know, female Veela can inflict a lot of damage. Unlike them you do not undergo such severe changes. You still grow wings in times of deep anger of fear, but unless you are very strongly emotional they will not occur. Since the magic is not being diverted into bodily changes, the magnitude of your power and the damage you can increase is much greater." He paused for thought. "Oh, and like the female of your species you will have a greater aptitude with elemental magic."


"Elemental magic?" Draco queried.


"Fire, water, air and earth." Severus said concisely.


"I suppose." Draco conceded. "That it isn't all that bad. But there is still the family name to think of."


"If I am right, then the prestige of a male Veela will somewhat outweigh the loss in having not an entirely pureblood family." Draco nodded in agreement. It made sense.


"I suppose that I should write a letter to my father explaining the changes. He will not like them." Snape gave him a rare smile.


"Good luck Draco."

---

When lessons had finally finished, Harry rushed up to his room after a brief promise to his friends that he'd meet them at dinner. When he finally made it into his rooms he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

The day had been hectic. He'd had to write down masses of work that he had to catch up on, and would need to have a few extra classes in subjects he that had less of an aptitude in, such as potions.


Most worrying of all was the ordeal with Draco. He'd spent all day thinking about it and he still couldn't pin down why it had happened. He'd had similar urges in Charms, but they were less centred. Harry suspected that that was because he'd already drained Snape of some of his magic earlier that morning. Plus, he was distracted by the fact that everyone in the class was doing magic, and thus there was no one to focus on.


Harry walked quickly over to the windowsill and picked up the plant, hissing a hello and listing off a few more words that had occurred to him during the day.


"Harry must get Viper food. Food and water." The plant hissed back to him. Harry groaned. He'd meant to ask Hagrid for some in his lesson, but hadn't remembered because of his encounter with Malfoy.


He sat for a moment more before heaving himself up and gathering his invisibility cloak from his trunk. It was nearing the curfew, and he knew he'd inevitably stay awhile at Hagrid's.


As an afterthought he picked the plant pot up and tucked it under his arm before throwing the cloak over his shoulders and heading out.

---

The night air was fresh and clear, the moon hanging limply in the sky, looking foggy against the thin clouds. The weather was getting colder these days, and there were occasional mists on the grounds in the mornings now.


He neared Hagrid's hut and took a moment to peer in through the window to check that no one else was there before knocking. There came the customary barking from Fang before Hagrid yanked the door open and looked around suspiciously.


"'arry? Is tha' you?" He said gruffly.


"It's me alright. And a friend." Harry said, pulling the cloak off his shoulders and showing Hagrid the plant.


He was quickly ushered inside, and soon found himself sitting at the table with a cup of tea in his hands, watching Hagrid croon over the plant and feed it bits of dead weasel. Harry had introduced the plant to Hagrid, and the plant had dipped its head in a bow of acknowledgement.


"Aw…idn't he cute?"


"What speaks Hagrid?" The snake hissed at Harry, who tried to wrack his brains for a parseltongue synonym of ‘cute'.


"He says that you're loveable. And it's ‘What does Hagrid say?', not ‘what does he speak.'" Harry corrected. The snake nodded and turned back to swallowing the chunks of meat.


"So you can speak to ‘im eh?" Asked Hagrid curiously. "What does ‘e say?"


"Actually it just asked what you said to it." Harry laughed and Hagrid joined him.


"It may be a bit impolite an' the like, but is it a ‘he' or a ‘she'?" Hagrid asked in his gruff voice.

"Can I ask you your gender Viper?" Harry hissed to the plant.

"A male plant. Two to the leader of the plants. I need another word to speak well." It replied evenly.


"'Two'? Do you mean second? Second as in, you rank below him, or second as in you are related to the leader?" Harry asked, curious.


"I am related to her. The leader is a female plant, the older of us."


"So you're her…brother? Cousin? Uncle? Son?" Harry queried.


"Cousin. Harry makes a good pick with Viper."


"What does the leader do?" harry continued, his curiosity peaked and his original question forgotten.


"Leader decides to grow…I need another word." It nodded towards him.


"Um…grow, sprout, er…pollinate-" Harry guessed.


"Yes! Pollinate. Leader decides when we pollinate. Who we pollinate. Like Harry." It hissed back eagerly.


"Like me." Harry sighed.


"Harry is not happy? Harry is strong, and big now." The snake asked, confused.


"I just didn't ask for it, that's all. I like making decisions." Harry said regretfully to the plant.


"Er…'arry? Well, is it male or female?" Hagrid cut in.


"Oh, sorry Hagrid, I completely forgot. He's a male alright." Harry turned to the plant and hissed at it once more. "What is your name?"


"We have no names. All are name Viper."


"Named." Harry corrected. "Well, I'll have to think of something to call you, or I'll get terribly confused about it all."

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a/n: To those who've asked... No I don't have a mailing list at this time but it is wonderful to know how much everyone enjoys the story thus far. Please keep the reviews coming as they feed the authors' muses. *LOL* Enjoy!