MINE

Author\'s Note: Wow! I can\'t believe all the great responses I\'ve been getting out of this challenge. Although I don\'t respond to every single one, I do read them and appreciate them alot. The Vanteerian is not my own creature creation. Becca589 put up the challenge on TSS a while ago, and I thought it sounded intriguing ( I love creature fics). Although she is a very talented author, she wanted it written and was too busy working on other fics. The challenge was posted on TSS. As that site is down I have put the actual challenge (word for word) on my yahoo group (see profile). I would add it here, but it is rather long.

There are a few other authors that took up the challenge:
\'My Fallen Angel\' - by Crimson Vipera (AFF site - not completed)
\'The Vanteerian Charm\' - by Draco\'sMix (HPfandom - complete - 16 chapters)

There are others, but can\'t recall the names or where they can be found right now. Any readers out there that know of other\'s???

A few reviewers had mentioned something about Severus kind of taking advantage of Harry while he was sleeping. The Vanteerian race grows stronger when touched by their mate, especially stronger when touched sexually. Severus, as well as the others, have been researching the race to better understand what Harry now is. He knew that as his mate, he could heal him faster. He has also been attracted to Harry for about a year now, which will be explained a bit more in later chapters. Harry will find out, and will not be upset by it.

Thanks go to Strife again who beta-d for me.

Sorry it took so long, but my brother and sister had requested some of my other fics for gifts for Christmas, so I\'ve been going over them again, fixing up things where I see them, then printing them out, as well as finding pictures for the cover pages. Wireless binding at the near by Staples and they look really good. Still have more to work on.

Anyways.....you\'ve all waited long enough, so on with the next chapter. Enjoy.

~tas


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Chapter Eight


“Well, I’d say that Harry is feeling much better,” Lucius said, from the doorway that had taken a few tries to get open.

“Merlin, that looked hot,” Draco said, who was standing beside Lucius, a pair of pajama bottoms and slippers in his hand for Harry.

Severus felt Harry’s body stiffen against him. He reached down to pull the sheet over their lower bodies, as he held Harry close to him, running his fingers reassuringly through his hair to calm him. “Give us a few moments, then we’ll be right out,” he said, looking over to the two blondes in the doorway.

“Is Harry strong enough to come out? We can come back later,” Draco said.

“I’m okay,” Harry quietly said against Severus’s neck.

“He’ll be okay. I’ll be there to help him,” Severus said.

After Lucius and Draco closed the door behind them, Severus pulled Harry’s upper body up. “I can’t believe they saw that,” Harry whispered, as he waved his hand over their laps, cleaning the cum from their bodies. “Do you think I have time for a shower?” He hopefully asked.

“Of course,” Severus smiled. “They’ve waited for you to wake up for two weeks. Another few minutes won’t hurt.”

“I might need help with getting up,” Harry smirked, as he got off of Severus’s lap, then watched him get up to pull up his boxers and pants.

Severus magicked a robe onto Harry’s body, with a gap at the back, so the wings were not confined. He leaned over to place a soft kiss on Harry’s mouth, then helped him to his feet. “How are you doing?” He asked, seeing Harry stumble a bit as he took a few steps forward.

“Feels weird, but I think I could get used to it,” Harry replied, experimentally shrugging his shoulders and stretching out his wings. “Guess I don’t need a broom now, huh?” He joked.

Severus slipped his arm around Harry’s waist, leading him through to the adjoining bathroom. “Do you need me to come in with you?” He asked, leading Harry into the large open shower.

“No, I think I can manage,” Harry said, magicking the robe off wandlessly, “but maybe, don’t go too far.”

Severus reluctantly stepped back to stand behind the low partition that separated the showers from the changing area, leaning his forearms on it as he watched over Harry, which was not a real hardship for him. He couldn’t help but admire the way the muscles flowed and worked under the tanned skin as the water cascaded down Harry’s body. You could see that Harry was trying to get used to his wings, as they would span out, then move back in close to his body, the bottom of them touching the backs of his knees. His fingers bit into his palms as he watched Harry’s soapy hands travel over the body he longed to taste. His hands were itching to touch where Harry’s hands so innocently touched.

“Maybe you should wait outside Severus. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Harry said, not looking around.

“I’m not uncomfortable,” Severus huskily said.

“I can smell how . . . excited you are,” Harry said, his face flushed. “I’ll be okay,” he added, taking a quick glance back at Severus.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Harry nodded. “Can you please get me some apples, or something to eat? Maybe some orange juice, too.”

Severus stepped out of the room, leaning back against the door as he tried to will his erection away. The memory of Harry showering, will not be something he soon forgets. He took a few deep breaths and calmly walked out into the main infirmary, where Albus, Minerva, Lucius, Draco, Dudley, and Remus were waiting, as well as Madame Pomfrey and the medi-wizard from St. Mungo’s.

“How is he?” Minerva asked.

“He will be fine. He’s a bit confused, although he hasn’t asked many questions. He’s taking a shower right now, and has asked for something to eat,” Severus replied.

“I’ll get the elves to bring him some porridge,” Remus said.

“He won’t eat it,” Draco and Dudley said at the same time.

“He only eats fruit and plain bread or toast,” Dudley said.

“He tastes every little thing in the food when he eats it,” Draco added.

“He likes apples,” Dudley grinned.

Albus called for one of the house elves to bring up some toast, apples, and orange juice for Harry. Moments later, the house elf was setting everything on the table, when it suddenly stopped what it was doing, and bowed low to the floor. Albus looked to the doorway to see Harry standing uncertainly in his pajama bottoms and a tank top that was magically transfigured to fit around the wings. He got up and went to Harry. “Harry, it’s good to see you,” he warmly said. “Good to see you up and about.”

“Thank you Albus,” Harry smiled. “Why did the house elf bow like that?”

“Your race is revered among many of the magical creatures in the wizarding world Harry,” Albus replied.

“Which we will tell you about after we check to make sure you’re all right,” Madame Pomfrey said, directing him to sit in the chair, where he turned it around to straddle it, his wings hanging down his back. “How are you feeling Harry?” She asked, using her wand to scan his body.

“I feel a little stiff, but other than that . . . pretty good,” Harry replied.

“How is your back?” She asked, running her fingers down his spine and around the base of the wings on his back, smiling to herself when a soft purr could be heard. “Any soreness here?”

“No, it feels good,” Harry softly said, closing his eyes. “So, will I always have these wings?” He asked, opening his eyes.

“No, you’ll be able to detract them,” Pomfrey said, stepping to his side. “Harry, I’d like you to meet Callum Pidet. He’s a medi-wizard from St. Mungo’s that specializes in magical creatures.”

“I must say . . . it’s a pleasure to meet you Mister Potter,” Callum smiled, stepping forward to shake his hand.

“Please, call me Harry, Sir,” Harry smiled, liking the peppered haired man immediately.

“And you can call me Callum,” he grinned. “I am glad to see you up and about after your ordeal.”

“He’s extremely lucky that way,” Minerva fondly said.

“It’s a wonder you are up already, actually. Your race tends to get stronger from touch when they are weakened, stronger yet, if touched sexually,” Callum said.

Harry’s face flushed pink as he looked to the floor, not seeing the knowing looks directed Severus’s way by Lucius and Draco. “So, what have I become then?” He asked, looking back up again.

“You are a Vanteera, of the Vanteerian race. A Vanteera is a very rare magical creature that hasn’t been heard of for quite some time now. I had to actually look back in St. Mungo’s medical records for more information. It’s quite fascinating, really,” Callum mused.

“How many are there?” Harry asked, smiling in thanks to Remus who handed him an apple.

“There are . . . not including yourself, two in existence in other countries . . . that is documented,” Callum replied. “It has been told that the Vanteerian race are actually fallen angels from the heavens, for their grace and beauty.”

“So, besides the wings . . . ” Harry began, then smiled. “Will I be able to actually fly?”

“Yes,” Callum smiled. “May I see the wings spanned?”

Harry nodded and shifted his back a bit to span the wings fully . . . about eight to ten feet, end to end.

“Amazing,” Remus exclaimed, coming closer. “They’re like angel wings,” he added, feeling the smooth feathers of the one wing.

“So, how do I go about retracting them . . . and my nails?” Harry asked, holding out a hand to look at his claws.

“Close your eyes,” Callum softly instructed, pulling up a chair in front of Harry. “Now, it’s hard to imagine that those beautiful wings can slip into your back, but they can. Bring them close to your body, and ‘will’ them into you. They are a part of you now. Your body will adjust to them. Picture your back smooth . . . without your wings.” Callum motioned for Severus to come near, then placed Harry’s hand in his.

Severus held Harry’s hand, his thumb caressing the knuckles as he watched Harry breath deeply, concentrating on what he needed to do. He felt the nails slowly retract, leaving Harry with short, human-like finger nails. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to the top of Harry’s hand, then watched the wings shimmer, before slipping effortlessly into Harry’s back.

Harry opened his eyes, and met Severus’s. “I did it,” he quietly said, moving his shoulders.

“Well done Harry,” Callum smiled, then checked his back to see two thin white scars where the wings detracted. “Now, try to ‘will’ them back . . . without the claws.”

“Will it hurt?” Harry worriedly asked.

“I won’t lie to you Harry,” Callum began. “The first couple of times there may be a bit of pain. It will become easier.”

“I’ll be right here Harry,” Severus reassured him softly, still holding his hand.

Everyone silently watched as Harry closed his eyes again, waiting for the wings to appear again. Remus grasped Lucius’s arm when Harry cried out in pain when the wings emerged, then lay his head on his forearms.

Callum went behind Harry to check his back. He sighed in relief to see no blood, just a redness that was already fading to the golden hue of Harry’s natural skin color. “Looks good Harry. How does it feel now?” He asked.

“Okay. There’s a throbbing feeling, but it’s fading away,” Harry hoarsely replied, then loosened his hold on Severus’s hand. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he smiled.

“It’s okay,” Severus said. “Nothing a good healing charm won’t cure,” he smirked.

Harry smoothed his fingers over Severus’s hand, smiling when the hand turned to hold onto his. “Try to retract them again, Harry,” Severus softly said.

Harry nodded and closed his eyes again, concentrating first on Severus’s hand in his, then ‘willing’ his body to take the wings back in. He sighed when he felt them slip effortlessly into his back again, then arched his back as he opened his eyes.

“Excellent,” Callum said. “So, now about your other abilities.”

“There’s more?” Harry asked, accio-ing another apple to himself wandlessly and wordlessly as the others watched in amazement.

“Well, as you may have guessed, your powers have increased. It will become easier for you, and you will probably need to learn to tone it down a bit when using a hex or spell. You will now be able to transfigure yourself into an animal. Most Vanteerians documented, have turned into a feline of some kind,” Callum said.

“So, I’m an animagus now?” Harry asked.

“Yes, but I would advise you to try when you’re full strength is up first,” Callum smiled. “You may have noticed your senses are heightened, like your eyesight, hearing, smell, and tastes.”

“I can’t seem to stomach eating much. I can taste every single thing put in a meal, including each and every spice that was added. I’ve been able to eat plain bread and fruit.”

“Do you find yourself feeling hungry?” Callum asked.

“A little, but not overly much . . . at least not now. At my uncle’s I felt hungry all the time.”

“You won’t need much for food to fill you up Harry, but you will need to find something that would have the right proteins. I would suggest elven bread. It’s filling, and rather tasteless, but shouldn’t bother your stomach overly much. Most important, you will need the contact of people. The Vanteerian race have many characteristics of many other races. Your strength is heightened magically and physically, much like the vampire species. The sunlight may also bother you, but not to the extent you need to fear it. Wizards tend to live long lives, but your lifeline may be longer, much like the elven race. Your race is also a very sexual race, much like the incubus. You will feed off pleasure . . . after you’ve found your mate,” Callum recited from memory.

“Feed off pleasure? My mate?” Harry asked, letting go of Severus’s hand.

“Your senses will pick up if someone is aroused, and take in some of that arousal, feeding your body. You don’t even have to be touching the person . . . although the feed would be more if you were in contact. You can be in close proximity of say . . . someone kissing to have a feed. If you yourself are touching, or doing a sexual act, you will feed easier and become stronger. Your race, like the veela or werewolf, have one mate for life. Now, if your mate happens to die before you, it does not mean you die as well. In some cases with veela and werewolf, they are lucky to feel love again, but not as strong. Your mate, you will know by their scent. Not sure what that would be though,” Callum grinned.

“Like cinnamon,” Harry quietly said, inhaling that very scent.

“Yes, could be,” Callum smiled, seeing that Harry’s mate was already found, and sitting beside him. “Your mate is automatically attracted to you. It’s something they cannot fight. Much like the veela.”

Harry got up and walked to the window, his arms folded across his chest. ‘It’s something they cannot fight,’ he repeated in his head. “So, I have the allure like the Veelian race?”

“No,” Callum said, watching Harry carefully. “The attraction people may feel for you would be natural. You can’t make people fall in love with you.”

Harry sat beside Draco. “Anything else?” He asked, leaning his elbows on his knees.

“The Headmaster told me of the night you changed; the earth quaking, the house shaking, and the wind,” Callum said.

“What?!” Harry asked, looking up and around the room.

“When we arrived, the ground around the house was quaking, shaking the foundation of the house. A whirlwind was around your body, not letting us pass until your change was complete. Your uncle tried to stop it by using his gun, shooting you in the leg, and then attempted to shoot you in the head. Dudley managed to stop him using an ‘expelliarmus’ spell and knocked him out. It would appear you are an elemental, able to control the elements around you,” Albus explained.

“Can I leap over tall buildings too?” Harry sarcastically asked, looking over at Dudley who snickered at him.

“No, but you can fly over them,” Dudley smirked, “and no tights,” he added, smiling back when Harry grinned at the joke.

Callum and most of the others were lost at the mention of the muggle superhero. “There may be other abilities, but have not come across any in the research.”

“Anything I can’t do, besides eat normally?” Harry asked, smiling over at Draco, who began to rub his back in soothing circles.

“There are a few weaknesses. You are most likely allergic to salt. You won’t die from it, but will become quite sick. Artificial lights when quite bright, could burn your skin. Candlelight and sunlight won’t harm you, or wand light, unless it is at it’s maximum strength and directed directly at you,” Callum said.

“So, why me?”

Lucius came over with the familiar looking shoe box and sat on the other side of Harry. “We went through the box, as well as used the key . . . which was a Gringott’s key by the way, and were able to trace back why you inherited this race. The goblin’s were hesitant on letting us in at first, but Albus explained the situation to the Head Goblin. Once you’re feeling better, you may want to have a look in the vault,” he smirked. “Going through everything, we found that the Vanteerian gene came from your mother’s side of the family.”

Lucius took out a few pictures, and a newspaper clipping from the box. “This picture is of an Evans’ reunion back in the early seventeenth century. That is Shera and Jaden Evans,” he said, pointing to the woman that looked like Harry’s mother. “Jaden was an Evans and married Shera when she was thirteen years old, and had two children, Elizabeth and Ella. Shera had an affair with a family friend,” he said, pointing to the winged man. “She was found out and was banished from the family and her two girls. She left, then found out she was pregnant from her lover, who was a Vanteerian, his name, Halliad. Although she missed her two first born, she grew to accept her fate and lived happily with Halliad and their son Devon, who is your great-great-grandfather. They never married, and Devon was given his mother’s name. Shera and Halliad lived many years together, but mysteriously died together in a foreign land. There wasn’t too much on Elizabeth and Ella to be found, and Shera and Halliad only had the one child.”

“Is that all?” Harry asked, looking down at the picture.

“That is all we’ve found. The Vanteerian race is close to being extinct, there’s possibly quite a bit more yet to discover,” Callum replied.

“Can I please be alone now?” Harry quietly asked.

“You shouldn’t be alone right now,” Minerva said, worried about how quiet he became.

“Please,” Harry choked out. “This is all a bit much to take in all at once.”

Albus stood up, motioning to the others. “Quite right Harry. We will leave you to rest and come back tomorrow,” he smiled, placing his hand on Harry’s shoulder as he walked by, leading Remus, Minerva, and Dudley. Madame Pomfrey and Callum went into her office.

Harry held onto Draco’s hand, signaling him to stay. Severus kneeled before him, taking his hand in his. “Do you want me to stay?” He quietly asked.

Harry pulled his hand away and looked Severus in the eye. “No, you go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Severus shut the look of pain away from Harry’s rejection, and turned and left, with Lucius worriedly following his friend.

Draco had felt that Harry was going to fall apart any moment, and was not surprised to have an armful of Harry in his arms after everyone left, the tears wetting the shoulder of his shirt. He tightened his arms around Harry, stroking his back to calm him.

Several minutes passed as Harry cried. “What am I going to do Draco?” He hoarsely asked. “Why does my life have to be so complicated?”

“Because, you are Harry Potter, and you’ve never had an uncomplicated life,” Draco smiled. “Think how boring your life would be if everything went the way you wanted it to.”

“It still sucks,” Harry murmured against Draco’s shoulder.

“Harry,” Draco hesitantly said.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what Dray?” Harry asked, sitting up to look at Draco.

“Sorry I wasn’t there for you. Sorry I didn’t come get you when you needed to be rescued, and sorry about Hedwig,” Draco softly said.

“I thought I may have done something to tick you off or something,” Harry said.

“No, you didn’t. The journal was taken right before your entry about Hedwig. Bellatrix had taken it. When we went to retrieve it, we were stuck with Voldemort in meetings and raids for the week. Father and I couldn’t get away. Bellatrix gave the journal back the day we left, the night before your birthday. Said she didn’t find an empty journal too interesting,” Draco smirked. “When we arrived at Hogwarts to report, I sat down and read your entries. I was so mad at myself for letting you down, and was about to demand to get you when the alarm went off in Dumbledore’s office, letting him know the wards around your relative’s house were failing. I’m so sorry Harry,” he repeated.

Harry got up and led Draco to the bed. “Nothing to be sorry for Dray. Can you stay with me for a bit?” He asked.

Draco kicked off his shoes and sat on the bed, his back leaning against the wall. Harry curled up on his side, his head resting on Draco’s lap.

“Love you brother,” Harry softly said, sighing when Draco began to comb his fingers through his hair.

“Love you too, Scarhead,” Draco replied, their closeness, comforting to them and their blood bond.

“Were you still planning on going away to the beach?” Harry asked.

“Father hasn’t mentioned it lately. Why?”

“Can you take me there?”

“I’ll ask. Severus too?” Draco asked.

“No,” Harry replied. “I don’t want to see a lot of people. I need to think some things out first.”

“Sure Harry,” Draco said, wondering why Harry was trying to distance himself from his mate all of a sudden.

tbc (I promise)