Changes of Life

Title: Changes of Life
Chapter: 4
Overall Rating: NC17
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Blaise/Seamus (on the side)
A/N: Weee! I had so much fun writing this ^_^ ah, the wonders of late night, just before going to sleep, thoughts that plots would come to mind. This is one of my favorite chapters so far, but things will improve as certain plots get more developed for you, my readers, to see. I just got so excited I couldn’t wait to post this up! So, um, I didn’t wait? Well, it might be a bit before the next chapter is up depending on if I get a temporary writers block or not. So anyway, enjoy! ^_^

Oh yeah, there’s more smoking stuff in here, but may I remind you, a) it is a personal choice with personal views, and I will not accept any harassment to anyone because of it, and b) as far as health concerns go, it was already explained that a witch had found a way of eliminating the health issues the tobacco causes.

This will be the only time I will put an A/N for this, so please remember it for future chapters.

Disclaimer: same as chapter 1

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Food appeared on the table and the boys magically got their schedule in their hand. Each looked it over before getting a slight confused look.

“It doesn’t say who the DADA teacher is this year on your schedule, does it?” Harry asked to whoever else had the class.

All three boys chorused a “no” before Harry looked at Draco with a little surprise. “I didn’t know you were going to take DADA this year.”

“Yes, well…” Draco looked away. “All part of the act to make you think I wouldn’t.” He finished, opting not to say more. Not ‘I need protection from my father if he gets out’, not \'I had to get most the classes you got or my veela instincts would go crazy like it has been when I’m not around you since my 14th birthday.’

“Why did you put on the act?”

Draco shook his head slightly. “I can’t tell you, Harry. At least not yet.”

Harry didn’t have much time to dwell on the surprise, and slight warmth, which came with hearing Draco use his first name out loud since Seamus spoke.

“Hey you two, aren’t you going to eat?” Seamus asked Harry and Draco, as he and Blaise were already at the table, eating.

“I’m not hungry.” Harry said and sat down on the couch again.

Draco grabbed an apple and some raspberries. Seamus and Blaise just shrugged and talked quietly to each other.

The near silence gave Harry some time to finally think over a few things. First, Draco’s usage of his first name out loud. It felt… nice. Like they truly have started over. Something he found he really did want. But no matter how much he wanted it, weren’t things moving a little too quickly? Yes, Harry has had feelings for Draco since last year, and at some point, those feelings have intensified… but why now? It was only the first night back, and already Draco admitted to putting on an act. Why though? Why did he admit that to him now? Did something important happen to Draco while his father was locked up? Should Harry just ignore the fact it was kind of quick? He did want this after all. He did want Draco. ^Gods, he’s just as hot as he was in my dreams. Fuck I want him.^

“Harry?”

The boy in question was torn from his thoughts at Draco’s voice. Harry blinked a couple times before looking around to see everyone was staring at him. Harry shifted slightly, a bit uncomfortable. “What?”

“You were staring at Draco.” Seamus answered.

“Oh, sorry. Thinking about something. Didn’t realize I was staring at anyone.” Harry replied and looked away before he found an answer good enough for the time being. Everything in his life has been sudden. At least most of his life.

His parents’ death, his fame, his discovery of the existence of the wizarding world. His friendship with Ron (though that didn’t turn out too well now, did it?) the meeting of his father’s friends, Cedric’s death … Sirius’ death.

Harry froze. Sirius. He’d been so caught up in everything else, he didn’t really think of Sirius too much. It was probably good for him, but he couldn’t ignore the guilt that started to well up inside himself. He felt as if in some way, he betrayed Sirius.

Draco felt the sudden sadness Harry held, and he ended up squeezing the raspberry a little too hard by forcing himself not to go and comfort Harry. Grabbing a napkin, he hastily wiped the raspberry juice off his hand. From the corner of his eye, he saw Blaise give him a glare, and merely turned his head to glare back.

Seamus brought his mouth close to Blaise’s hear and whispered very quietly. “You know that if Draco acts on his veela instincts at this point, Harry would just push him away.”

Blaise nodded slightly and stopped glaring.

Draco looked back at Harry, wanting desperately to make the boy feel better. He couldn’t stop himself from saying “Harry…”

But whatever response made, Draco did not see. The blond had felt a sudden wave of dizziness, and he fell to the floor. But as soon as he hit the floor, he was standing. Only in a different surrounding. He was in a hallway. The floor and walls were both made of stone, but cut so that it made a straight surface, and smooth. He had no idea what the ceiling was made of, but it was grey.

He didn’t have much time to ponder it, as he started walking. He wasn’t sure if it was his idea or someone else’s to start walking. It felt… kind of strange. Like he wanted it to happen, but at the same time, felt so confused he didn’t know what he wanted.

He came to a doorway that only had a black curtain hanging from it, long enough to reach the floor. He pushed it aside and entered the room, hearing a voice call to him not long after.

“Nathaniel.” The voice spoke. Draco looked to the person. He had auburn/brown hair, tied back so he couldn’t see exactly how long it was, beautiful blue/green eyes, and slightly tanned skin.

Draco felt an instant attraction towards the guy. Before he had time to register what was going on, he spoke. “Zachary. You’re here early.”

“I went ahead to make sure no one’s found this place yet.” Zachary replied. Then, in a quieter tone, he continued, taking a few steps. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Zack.” Draco found himself whispering back, before he wrapped his arms around Zachary and kissed him deeply. Draco, throughout the entire time being here, felt a small hint that he wanted all this, but at the same time, felt forced to do these things.

Then his whole world seemed to fade away. The first thing he recognized was Blaise’s voice. Something about asking if he was okay.

“What… Blaise? What happened?” Draco asked, a little weakly as his eyes came into focus with his surroundings. He had a feeling he saw something important, but he couldn’t remember what it was…

“I don’t know. You were about to tell Potter or… Harry something when you both collapsed to the floor.”

Draco suddenly sat up, ignoring the head rush. “Harry? Is he okay?” His eyes suddenly spotted the raven-haired boy. It only took a split second to take in Harry’s odd position on the floor, before he crawled to Harry, too weak to stand. For the first time in his life, he gave in to his veela instincts. Pushing Seamus out of the way, he repositioned Harry to where the boy wouldn’t be hurt, or get cramped. Harry’s legs were stretched out in front of him, back resting half against the chair he was in, half against Draco. Draco had him in a sort of sideways hug type hold. Harry’s breathing was irregular, and Draco could feel Harry was emotionally distressed, so he was smoothing down Harry’s dark hair, and whispering soothing words. Even brushing his lips against Harry’s cheek once. So softly, it was like the specialized wizards hearing the tales the wind whispered.

***

Harry\'s world faded at the same time Draco\'s did. Though rather than returning to reality, he was on a floor. A damp, concrete floor, with something sticky under him.

He tried to lift himself off the floor, but the sudden sharp stinging in his arms brought him down again. Then the pain wasn\'t just in his arms. It was everywhere, seeming to pulsate irregularly so his body didn\'t have a chance to adapt to it. It wasn’t like the pain from his transformations.

A thick hand closed around his throat in a strong grip, pulling him up from the floor. He then had a chance to see what the sticky substance was. Blood. Lots of it. A dark red that was almost a scab in itself. Not appetizing at all. Especially since it was his own.

Chains wrapped around his wrists. No, not chains... but Harry could not tell what they were. His eyes had started to water from the choking hold that was on his neck.

Suddenly the hand moved away and Harry gasped for breath. It was then he realized he was hanging almost. He would have to stand on his toes in order to reach the ground. Harry yanked at whatever it was that was bound to his wrists, but his holds wouldn\'t budge even a centimeter.

Harry\'s eyes finally came into focus, only to see Vernon standing there, holding a nasty leather whip. It was split into some sections, and then split again at each end. All down it were chipped pieces of glass, pottery, metal, and other various sharp objects attached to it. Was that the cat of nine tails? Harry wasn\'t sure.

As the first strike slashed his already bruised and battered body, Harry found he didn\'t care what the hell it was called and let out a loud scream that echoed through the nearly empty room.

Vernon was saying something, but Harry couldn\'t make it out. Again and again the whip struck. It only ceased when Harry\'s voice was so scratched that he couldn\'t yell out any more.

Suddenly a liquid was being poured down his throat that only felt like broken glass the entire way down.

A hand grabbed his jaw and he was forced to look into the face of Vernon. The face, however, started to change. The pupils enlarged so that the entire eye was black. The fattiness left and a thick, dark brown, leathery skin took its place. The hair lengthened some and changed to an almost purplish black that didn\'t look so much like hair as it looked like silk.

The look wasn\'t so bad, but the feeling... being in this guy\'s presence just made Harry feel like an artic wind was blowing inside himself. It was just then he could feel something beyond this nightmare try to comfort him. But then the man spoke and it was forgotten.

\"Enjoying yourself?\" The creature asked, knowing full well that Harry was far from it.

The creature flicked his wrist, letting go of Harry, but hurting his neck again in the process. The creature pulled back the whip, ready to swipe again when Harry was suddenly on the floor, hands no longer restrained.

Harry started struggling in the hold, still in the mind set of being in that room. But Draco, too lost in letting his veela instincts out for the first time, tightened his hold on Harry. “Shh. Harry, relax. It’s okay.” He whispered.

Harry heard Draco’s words, and felt warmth spread throughout him from Draco’s arms around him. Harry stopped struggling and let his breathing slowly return to normal. Draco’s words, voice, and feel of arms around him were comforting. Harry kept his eyes closed and relaxed into the warmth. He felt now as if nothing else mattered.

Seamus and Blaise looked at each other. “Is that part of the veela charm?” Seamus asked Blaise quietly, so as to not disrupt the peaceful boys.

“No. Draco said even while the veela decides to use the charm, it wouldn’t work on the veela’s mate. They can transfer feelings or something though.” Blaise replied, just as quietly. “There’s something different about Harry though. His aura has changed color.”

“That’s rare, right?” Seamus asked.

Blaise nodded. “Something big must have happened. Physically. He may not be all wizard.”

“Do you have any idea what else he could be?”

“No.” They let the conversation drop and let the two have more time. They sat on a couch and gave each other soft kisses, and caresses so not to start up anything. They would have later that night for that.

After a while, Seamus checked the time. “It’s getting kind of late.”

“At least Draco got some time with Harry. I don’t think them getting together is as impossible as Draco thinks.” Blaise replied with a small smile.

“Yeah, me too.” Seamus said before untangling himself from his boyfriend. He raised his voice so the other two could hear him. “It’s getting kind of late. Thinking of turning in for the night?”

Harry was torn from his pleasant thoughts of happier times, or more predominately, fantasies and dreams of the future minus the crap that comes with life. Hearing Seamus’ voice had brought him back and he opened his eyes as the arms that were wrapped around him dropped. He turned to look at Draco.

Draco, who had enjoyed the feeling of finally holding Harry, even if it was just temporarily, reluctantly let go of his hold. He thought of what to say as Harry turned to look at him. “Take it as proof I want to start over with you? You needed some comfort, and… friends comfort each other, right?” Draco got a little more nervous as he talked. What if Harry saw through him… saw his feelings. Thought it was disgusting and that he never wanted anything to do with the boy. Draco could handle being just friends with Harry. Hell, even being enemies gave him enough time with Harry to quash the veela instincts enough. But he couldn’t handle if Harry were to never be around him again. He silently cursed himself. Blaise was right. Harry was the only part in his life that he was insecure about. The only part.

Draco’s worries for the time, thankfully, disappeared when Harry gave him a very small smile and thanked him.

Harry had not wanted people he barely knew to see him having one of his visions type crap. Though it wasn’t really the same, was it? Voldemort had nothing to do with this, did he? Harry thought, and instinctively touched his scar. No… nothing to do with Voldemort. His scar didn’t hurt at all. Not even a little bit. But what was it then? And there was something else. Something before being in that room he saw. He just couldn’t remember what it was, though he felt he should.

“What about…” Draco started, but didn’t quite know what to call Granger and Weasley now. He personally wanted to continue calling them what he had been calling them, though childish as it may seem, there was always something about them he didn’t like, even under the jealousy Draco held for them for being able to be so close to Harry all the time. Though Weasley… he wasn’t that bad anymore, like he used to… Draco just ignored the rest of his thoughts on the two.

“Hermione and Ron?” Harry asked, having a feeling that’s who Draco was questioning about. He narrowed his eyes a bit. “They can go fuck each other for all I care.” At first he may have been hurt by them not owling him, but (while some hurt may still be there) now he was just angered at them. Their attitudes on the train didn’t help much either.

The other three looked at Harry with some surprise that he would use that language, and (excepting Seamus) that he thought of Ron and Hermione that way now. Though, a small smirk did cross Blaise’s face at the sentence.

“Um…” Draco said, not really knowing how to reply to that. He should be happy, but he didn’t know how this was affecting Harry.

Harry looked at Seamus, so he spoke up. “They didn’t really take to the ‘new Harry’ all that well.”

“Oh. Well, I like it.” Draco said before he could stop himself, and Blaise agreed.

“Of course you two would, you’re Slytherins.” Harry replied in a half joke, and was suddenly reminded of Tiamut. When would he be back? What was it that needed to happen? Oh yeah, and where has Hedwig flown off to? Harry stopped his train of thought as he didn’t want to get confused again. Sighing, Harry got up and walked to the lone window. He sat Indian style on the ledge, looking out. The night air was a comfortable cool, and there was a slight breeze. Harry fought his urge to go flying by taking out his cigarettes.

The other three had laughed a little bit at Harry’s joke, only to watch him walk to the window and take out the cigarettes. Seamus just shrugged and looked at Blaise who just gave a small smile before chatting quietly with Seamus about other things.

Draco had felt a little surprised before feeling… a little weird. Like a part of him that wasn’t veela started to like him. It wasn’t so much on the smoking thing, rather than the meaning behind it. Harry was doing something most wouldn’t dare, even though most wizards knew about the witch who took away the bad health issues caused from it. And he didn’t do it to be rebellious, Draco was sure, he did it because he wanted to.

Harry paused and stared down at two people. He couldn’t tell who they were, or even guess their age, but they were fooling around or something. Pushing each other lightly, talking, and laughing as they walked. What were they doing out at this time? But Harry didn’t dwell on that too long as he was suddenly filled with a desire to tear them apart, and get them far from the other. Just do anything to get them to stop laughing. He growled before he had a chance to stop himself, and he just continued to glare in their direction. He was too far into this annoyed (or was it angered?) state to be confused as to why he was feeling this for two strangers this suddenly.

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Review if you want. I love finding out what my readers think of my fanfic, and ideas/plots for the fanfic. Though I won\'t bother you if you don\'t want to.

As I\'ve said, one of my favorite chapters so far. So yeah ^_^