Discovering Love and Lost Memories

Draco followed Harry closely through the halls of the Ministry. They were headed to Kingsley Shacklebolt’s office to sign the release papers, and Draco was as nervous as he could get without physically shaking and babbling to himself.



It was almost shocking to him how he had gone from being locked in one of the Ministry’s cells with no hope of escape, to following his mate down the hallways of the Ministry, soon to be released back into the Wizarding world.



Still, he was grateful that Harry had come back for him, even if the man had been an ass when they met again in Malfoy Manor. Draco knew deep down inside, where his inner Veela lurked, that he would be happy as long as Harry stayed with him to protect and defend the pregnant blond from any dangers. At least his inner Veela would be happy. Draco, the human side, still was royally pissed off at being left behind for so long.



But pissed or not, Draco couldn’t help himself as he stood well within Harry’s personal space, and refused to be moved from it. Tonks was leading them to the office of the Minister of Magic, and couldn’t resist giving Draco a look every once in a while that he knew was meant to poke fun at him for practically clinging to the man he had claimed to hate. Draco glared back whenever his cousin’s dark eyes met his, twinkling with amusement in a way that reminded Draco of Harry’s dear old Headmaster.



By the time they stood waiting outside the Minister’s Office, Harry had had enough of watching the pair exchange meaningful glances to say something. “Draco, please stop glaring at your cousin, and Tonks, please don’t look at Draco like that. It makes him uncomfortable.”



He turned back to Draco and saw that the blonds’ eyes were raised to his face, and an expression of surprise was on his face. “Yes Draco, I know you despise Dumbledore and that the way Tonks keeps looking at you is reminding you of the man you have mentally dubbed ‘the prying old fool’, and you may very well be right about him, but at this moment, in this place, I could really do without you and Tonks fighting each other, even if it is quietly.”



Draco couldn’t help himself. He smirked. He looked over to Tonks, and raised a speculative eyebrow. She smiled and nodded back to him; looking ready to say something just as the door to the Minister’s office swung open, and Kingsley beckoned them in.



Inside the room, Harry, Draco and Tonks were met with the sight of at least six high level Ministry workers, all staring at Harry and Draco as if one had cursed the other, or both were liars and had concocted some grand scheme. Draco’s hand moved to grip Harry’s arm tightly, and the brunette Boy-Who-Lived let him. There was something reassuring in that small touch for both young men, and it seemed to strengthen the idea that they were together for the Ministry members.



“Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy.” Kingsley said, acknowledging them, but ignoring Tonks. “I have the paperwork here, prepared for signing, but it seemed the other Ministry members would like to question you both themselves.”



“We have no problem with answering some questions,” Harry said, giving Draco a look that told him to keep calm. “So long as you all understand that there are some things Draco and I are unwilling to discuss.” He had seldom used the power his status gave him, but he alluded it well now with an uncaring gleam of his eye.



Several of the people looked put off, and mumbled things to one another. Kingsley motioned the pair to a nearby couch, but left Tonks standing guard by the door. Harry and Draco sat down on the couch indicated, though Draco was further away from him then he would have liked. He wrapped an arm around the blond man and pulled him closer, so their thighs touched where they sat side by side. He didn’t remove his arm.



“Harry, earlier today you came to me to take back your former statement and issue a new one. You claimed you had had some memories hidden from you, which you recently recovered. Who was it who took those memories from you?”



“First off, I want to mention that the people who kept my memories from me were doing what they thought was best for me. They hadn’t known me to care for Draco, so when I spoke of him as my mate, they became frightened and thought someone had messed with my mind, or that even if it was true, I would run off to save Draco and harm myself in the process. Though I don’t forgive them for what they did, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Professor Dumbledore were only trying to look out for me.”



“While I appreciate your candor and your generous nature, Mr. Potter, what they did was a great crime. Keeping a Veela’s mate from them by any means is illegal, though I doubt you’ve been taught much about Veela laws. Mr. Malfoy may press charges against them if he wishes.”



Harry’s eyes flew to Draco’s. Draco had only moments before felt smug, knowing he had the right to put Harry’s friends and mentor in Azkaban. But now, feeling Harry’s eyes upon him, Draco felt his elation at having something to hold against them evaporate.



“I’ll hold off on choosing a punishment for them, for now.” He said, giving Harry a look which told the brunette they would talk about it later. Draco would not be denied his chance to punish them for their crimes.



Harry sighed and leaned back against the couch, placing his free hand on Draco’s stomach protectively. Draco then felt the eyes of everyone in the room fall on, and stick to, his bulging stomach. The blond had felt Harry’s love flowing into him when the hand met with his stomach, but the eyes of all these people threw him off his feelings of happiness. He grabbed a throw pillow from behind him and clutched it over his stomach, glaring at any of the Ministry members who dared to look up at his face.



Harry got the point. “Kingsley, Draco and I are not here for the amusement of your people. We came to sign the paperwork. I would appreciate it if you would get on with it.”



Several of the people looked at each other, frowning. One woman stood, and faced the pair on the couch. “Mr. Potter, while we appreciate your struggles against You-Know-Who, so please don\'t take this badly. We have decided to refuse to allow Mr. Malfoy out of our custody. He is a death eater, and must be punished as such.”



Harry stood, glaring at the people around the room. “You all think you can keep Draco here? I have news for all of you. Draco is my mate, and I WILL NOT allow him to be kept in these substandard conditions any longer. I bet you haven’t even fed him yet, have you?” He looked down at Draco for an answer. The blond shook his head.



“You dare to tell me what you will and won’t do. Well, how about this? I’ll be taking Draco with me, whether you sign him over to me or not. You can either allow us to sign the paperwork, or we’ll do this the hard way. The hard way includes me leaving you all to fight against Voldemort without me. What is your answer?”



The people all stared at each other, eyes wide, mouths moving in stunned silence. Harry nodded. “When you decide, Draco and I will be at my place. Kingsley, you know the way. But if anyone dares to attack my property, or to touch or take my mate from me, I will let you all know just why Voldemort fears my powers.”



With that, he extended a hand to Draco, who took it, and stood beside his mate. Harry’s arm went around the blonds’ waist, and suddenly a pop was heard.



Harry and Draco were gone; the throw pillow Draco had been holding falling harmlessly to the ground.