Dead & Gone

by Mindige0

 

“Ten years” Harry Potter said to the empty cell that he currently sat in at Azkaban Prison, the worse wizarding prison in the world. Harry had been thrown into prison at the tender age of sixteen when his magical inheritance had been received and with it great power, although no one would ever say that. Harry had been out for a walk at the Dursley's to get away from his relatives and the abuse that they had been doling out to him. When he arrived back he saw that most of the Order of the Phoenix was there along with the Minister of Magic and none looked too happy to be there. After a quick check to see that the Dursley's were quite alive and not at all happy with the wizards that were crowding their house, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. It was short lived since the Minister then set Aurors on him and stated that he was to be thrown in Azkaban for attacking a Ministry Official; of course this had Harry confused. He hadn't stepped foot into the wizarding world since the whole fight at the Ministry, where he had almost lost his godfather but he had been lucky on that Bellatrix's hex rebounded and pushed her through the veil.

“Harry Potter you are sentenced to ten years for attacking a High Ministry Official, Delores Umbridge” Cornelius Fudge was quite happy to finally have Harry Potter and his attention seeking ways out of the way for the next ten years and he was going to make sure that he was there for ten years. He had even managed to get the Headmaster of Hogwarts to agree that Harry Potter was a danger to himself and others if he continued to be free. Everyone at the Ministry had felt the huge power surge that had occurred on the night of Harry's sixteenth birthday, and they all feared that if they didn't do something that he would turn into the next Dark Lord or even worse side with the current one. It wouldn't be until years later that the Minister and the wizarding world as a whole would realize the mistake that they had made in allowing Harry to go to prison. Harry stood motionless; he couldn't believe that the Headmaster and his friends were going to allow his. He took one look and saw that everyone in the Order seemed to have a look of disgust on their faces, the worse was Remus and Sirius, who it looked like had been cleared of the charge of killing muggles and Peter Pettigrew. They stood, their hate written all over their faces, and Harry knew then that there was no one that would willing fight for him and that made him slump. Why fight? There was nothing to fight for anymore…..of that Harry knew.

“Take him into custody” the Minister said before watching with glee on his face as the Aurors took Harry and then apperated away to Azkaban, where he would spend the next ten years of his life. Maybe by then the boy would figure out that fighting with the Ministry would end in pain in the end. Harry had this explained to him as well as that a trial had occurred and this was the result of said trial as he was pushed into his new home a cell in Azkaban. Harry knew then that there was no need to even try and fight with the wizards that stood outside of his cell laughing at him. Oh the pain they would get once he was released, Harry had no hope that Dumbledore or even the Order member's would break him free; oh no that would only come when the Minister himself granted Harry freedom. For the next ten years Harry worked on wandless magic and other items that he had remember mentioned in some of his school books, when he had been able to actually use them. He had figured out early on in his stay that there was a block on his magic, and it had taken him two years to break the block. He had seen the net of blue magic that he later followed and found to be tied to the Headmaster of Hogwarts, he had been livid and it seemed that with that anger any other binds were broken away leaving only one and that was the crimson color thread that lead from his lightning bolt scar on his forehead to Lord Voldemort. He had taken up watch inside the other man's mind and noticed that he seemed to have an unhealthy interest in Draco Malfoy. Harry could agree with Voldemort to a point, since Draco had filled out quite nicely and seemed to be the toast of the wizarding world, either light or dark. Harry felt an irrational urge to kill any who tried to get Draco's attention; for this he didn't understand what was going on. That brought him to the present time, ten years from his arrest and Harry Potter was very much, dead and gone.

“Bloody Dementors” Harry rasped out before focusing on a pure white orb that appeared in his hands before pushing them towards the door of his cell. He had figured out that Dementors hated pure white magic almost as much as they hated a Patronus. Harry noticed that the Dementors passed by his cell quickly since the two glowing white orbs floated right by his cell door. Harry was just about to go into a trance to see if he could catch a glimpse of Draco but instead noticed that there seemed to be foot-steps making their way towards his cell.

“Hmmm” Harry said now recalling that today was the ten year anniversary of his imprisonment, and if things were to hold true he would be released today.

“Explains the Dementors” Harry said, the Dementors had always thought of Harry as an extra tasty treat until he learned to control his immense power and project pure white magic at them. Harry had even managed to kill two of them, and in retaliation for the deaths the Dementors made sure to stop by Harry's cell more frequently, it of course did nothing to Harry since he was always prepared but they had to try, didn't they?

“Miss you” Harry said with a humorless chuckle. He wasn't going to miss anything in this horrible prison and cell that was for sure but he certainly wasn't looking forward to greeting the outside world either. He was quite happy with his life, even if it was in a prison but he knew that all things must come to end either good or bad.

“Potter” one of the Aurors that worked at the prison said breaking Harry out of his thoughts about the prison and his run-ins with the Dementors.

“Stand back” the Auror said bringing up his wand like that would push Harry back to one of the corners of his cell. Harry rolled his eyes and backed up still standing near the center of the cell.

“Hands out” the Aurors said placing the shackles that he had brought with him on Harry's wrist.

“Let's go” the Auror said now pushing Harry out into the hallway of the prison. Looking up and down the hallway he was happy to see that there was no one from the Order or the Ministry besides the two Aurors.

“Be happy the Minister is allowing you freedom” the Aurors said once they reached an area that Harry remembered well enough from his entrance into the prison.

“Here” one Aurors said before pushing a small bag of things at Harry.

“Go clean yourself up” the other Auror said before wrinkling his nose at the smell of Harry. Harry just nodded his head and made his way to the open shower stall so that he could clean himself. Harry quickly washed himself up as best he could and then threw on the prison issued clothing that he had been given.

“Here” yet another Auror said before handing Harry a parchment. Harry looked at the parchment and noticed that it had the familiar loopy handwriting of the Headmaster of Hogwarts on it.

“Burn it” Harry rasped out before handing the letter back to the Auror that gave it to him. The now three Aurors looked at Harry as if he was mad.

“But the Headmaster….”

“I said burn it, I have no urge to read what he has written” Harry said his voice gravely due to non-use. The Aurors looked at each other before setting the parchment alight, they had wanted to read the parchment but the Headmaster had warned that it wouldn't open for anyone except for the intended receiver which was Harry Potter.

“Can I go?” Harry asked the three Aurors when it looked like they weren't in any hurry to release him now that he had them burn the letter that Dumbledore had sent for him.

“Uh, yeah” the Aurors all said a bit confused by the man that was standing in front of them. They never had much contact with the prisoners since most had been convicted Death Eaters, so seeing Harry Potter all grown up was a shock. They knew that he was going to be a twenty-six year old man when he left but it still surprised them to see a man standing there when they could still picture Harry Potter with round glasses and the boyhood look he had when he arrived. Finally one of the Aurors made his way in front of Harry and then led him to the boats that would allow him freedom. The paperwork that needed to be done would be done once Harry arrived back to the main land.

“Hold on” the Auror said before pointing his wand at the boat and setting it in motion. Harry watched the whole thing with a disinterested air. He cared little for the actions that were going on around him, oh he knew that there was probably something stupid like a ‘welcome home' party already planned for him at either Hogwarts or at the Burrow but the people who had turned their backs on him would find out soon enough that Harry James Potter, was dead and gone and in his place was a man that neither the dark or the light had ever planned on encountering. The boat soon docked and Harry noticed that there were a couple of other Aurors now standing nearby watching him as if he had a second head.

“Mr. Potter” one of the older Aurors said looking at Harry and becoming a bit on edge. There was something about this man that worried him, but he didn't know what. There was a power that swirled around him, but he was certain that he had imagined that since the man had been stuck in a magical-less cell for the past ten years.

“Auror Goldstein” another Auror spoke to Harry, he had to smirk. Did they think that throwing all these people in front of him would confuse him to the point that he would do what they requested of him?

“Auror Gawain Robards” the older man that had felt the magic in Harry said, eyeing the man and wondering if releasing him was such a good idea. It had been the last Minister to throw Potter into prison, but the new Minister had done nothing to release him and he was wondering if it was a good idea to release him now as well. They were at war with Death Eater's and the Dark Lord and they didn't need an unknown entity like Harry Potter being added to the mix. Of course the Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, had been assured by the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore that Harry Potter wasn't a threat and that once Potter was free that he would willingly take up arms with the light wizards and the Ministry to bring down the Dark Lord. Gawain wasn't a stupid man, and he certainly wasn't going to put all his stock into what Dumbledore had said and if he had been a betting man, he was pretty sure that he would have won a hell of a lot of galleons for Harry Potter looked anything more than bored and in his book that was a very bad thing for both the Ministry and Dumbledore. Harry tipped his head to the side in acknowledgement before sweeping his eyes over the two other Aurors that were standing with him. He had been careful on who he had picked to come and release Potter, for he didn't want any Order of the Phoenix members to get wind of the release. That was why he had chosen newly made Auror Goldstien and veteran Auror Savage, he knew that neither one of them were members of Dumbledore's little club and he also knew that these two were the most un-bias so if they were going to sell Potter on at least staying neutral in the fight these two were his best bet.

“I have your release papers” Gawain said before unrolling the parchment that had been drawn up before they left. All prisoners that had served their time had a parchment similar to this that must be kept on them at all times, to prove that they had not in fact escaped Azkaban. Harry just looked at the man and then the parchment; did they really think that he would sign something without reading it? Harry stuck out his hand and was handed the parchment, he glanced at the three Aurors and then began to read what the paper said. He of course had lost his glasses long ago, the magic that had been blocked had fixed his eye sight so the required glasses he usually needed were gone. After Harry pursued the document and found that nothing was being hidden and it also seemed to be a standard Ministry document did he put his hand out for a quill and ink. Auror Goldstein sneered at Harry before passing him the quill and ink, he had been talking to some of the Aurors in the department and they had stated that Harry Potter was to take up arms along side with the Headmaster of Hogwarts. This had bothered him since he had been trying for years now to be asked even to a meeting to the ‘club' that Dumbledore had and for this convict to not only to probably be asked but to be inducted made him livid.

“Thanks” Harry said signing his name and then watching as the documents made copies of themselves and then going back to his hands.

“Well, you're a free man Potter” Gawain said before looking at the two Aurors and taking a deep breath.

“So what are your plans?” Gawain said trying to sound casual and not interested like he really was.

“Ah, ah, ah” Harry said before tilting his head to the side as if listening to something, which had Gawain a bit freaked out. He had heard rumors and even bets had been made that when Potter was released that he would madder than a Hatter, and since it had been said that he was unbalanced to begin with that maybe the rumors were going to prove true.

“Potter, he asked you a question” Goldstein barked out, he was tired of the Boy-Who-Lived presence already, maybe the Order of the Phoenix was a bad idea for him since he would be in close contact with the other man.

“He most certainly did but I am not going to answer” Harry said before looking at the two older wizards and shaking his head. They were in for a rude awakening since he was pretty sure that Dumbledore had probably sold them on the theory that he would take up arms and vanquish Voldemort but instead he would only be too happy to sit back and do nothing. The only way he was going to enter the fight was if he thought it was absolutely necessary, which meant that he was attacked and or was dying or on the off chance that his family was threatened, none of those options seemed to be a plausible, so Harry wasn't too worried.

“Potter” Goldstein growled out before noticing that Harry began to smile at him.

“Oh the things I can hear” Harry said before looking over to Gawain and then speaking.

“Can I go?” Harry said stopping the thought of saying that Goldstein was looking for a way into the Order to the older man. He didn't have the energy and personally he couldn't care what the pack of Aurors did as long as they left him alone.

“Yes and make sure to keep those parchments on you at all times” Gawain said before he watched as Harry Potter walked away from the group of them.

“We're just going to let him walk away?” Goldstein said shocked that his superiors weren't doing anything to keep Potter around, even he could admit that having Potter on their side was a good idea. He may not like Potter at this point in time but he was willing to bet all the galleons in his vault that Potter was the key to this whole war, and here they were just letting him walk away.

“We are; we have no orders to detain him for any reason” Gawain said looking at Auror Goldstein and wondering if the younger man was maybe not an un-bias as he had thought he had been. The glare that he saw Goldstein shoot Potter's retreating back answered his unasked question, Anthony Goldstein had something against Harry Potter but he was uncertain on what it was. As Harry walked away he decided that showing any kind of power in front of Aurors was a bad idea, so he walked on the outskirts of the forest that stood before him. He remembered in one of his ‘visits' into one of the Aurors head that was leaving the prison at the end of this work day; that there was a small path that lead you out into a road to where you could call the Knight Bus. When Harry arrived to the small road he stuck out his hand and called for the bus and soon there in front of him was the purple Double Decker bus that he remembered calling in his third year at Hogwarts.

“Where to?” Stan Shunpike said before eyeing Harry and the haggard look he had about him.

“Leaky Cauldron” Harry said before reaching into his robes that he had been given and passing over some gold coins. The Aurors had been nice enough to hand over some coins so that he could make his way to civilization, enough for a ride on the Knight Bus but that was about it.

“Away we go” Stan said before looking at Harry one more time and trying to recall why the man in front of him looked so familiar. He knew it was a silly idea to think that he remembered every rider on the bus, but for some reason those verdant green eyes seemed to make him remember another person who had ridden the bus many, many years ago. Soon the bus was flying down the countryside and then the streets of London; it seemed that Harry had gotten lucky since there was no one on the bus beside Stan and the driver.

“Leaky Cauldron” Stan said when the bus pulled to a stop right outside of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry stood up from the cushy chair and then nodded to Stan before leaving the bus. Harry heard as the bus was set into motion yet again as he made his way to the entrance of the dark pub. Harry pulled his hood of his robes over his head so as to not be stopped on his way to Gringotts for some gold. He wasn't sure what had happened to his vaults and money but it wouldn't hurt to ask the goblins of the bank. The walk through the pub was made easily since no one seemed to realize that he had been freed, for he had been certain that most of the wizards would be talking about his release, if they remembered that he was to be released in the first place. Harry passed quickly and easily through the brick wall that was the entrance to the Alley from the Leaky Cauldron. Harry kept his magic and body on guard just in case someone would recognize him as he made his way to the large white marble bank building. Harry watched the wizards and witches coming and going from the bank, not really paying attention to their surrounds. Harry snorted at the sight, even with the threat of Voldemort and his followers known people still acted as if there was nothing wrong with the world.

“Mr. Potter” a goblin said as he noticed Harry leaning against a wall of the bank watching the witches and wizards move about the bank without care in the world. Harry looked down to the small goblin and nodded his head.

“Follow me” the goblin said before walking away and making his way over to where some of the richer looking wizards were standing and talking with the goblins at the large gold looking desk. Harry glanced at the few wizards that were over by the large golden desk and noticed the bright white blonde hair of the Malfoy family.

“Mr. Malfoy” Harry heard just as the door was closing behind him and the goblin that he had followed into a small but cozy room.

“Groshpock will be with your shortly” the goblin said before making his way back out of the room and back to his post in the large banking of the bank to watch for any people that would cause trouble for the young man that currently sat in the bank's posher waiting rooms. He could remember when the Ministry along with the Headmaster of Hogwarts had arrived to the bank to take possession of the Potter Heritage vaults as well as any other holding that Harry Potter may be entitled to, they of course had walked away fuming . The goblins were not bound by wizarding laws, which was how convicted Death Eaters were still able to have their vaults and properties.

“Mr. Potter” another goblin dressed in a black suit said making his way to the desk that Harry was sitting in front of.

“Groshpock, I assume?” Harry's voice was still very gruff and husky due to not speaking much while in Azkaban.

“Indeed” the goblin said before jumping up into the chair and then waving his hand for the stack of papers that were sitting on the desk before the parchments started to make a stack.

“I think everything is in order now” the goblin said before taking out the first parchment and reading it over before looking at the young man that sat in front of him.

“Well let's begin” the goblin said before he explained to Harry that since he had been released from prison that all holding for the Potter Estate as well as any vaults that had been left to him before he came of age were now his to do with whatever he wanted.

“I thought the Ministry…..” Harry said thinking that the Ministry had taken his vaults and emptied them out since he was a criminal.

“Have no sway here” the goblin said before showing Harry a parchment that he needed to sign.

“So what does this mean?”

“You are now Lord Potter, as well as being Lord of the Peverell family as well” the goblin shook his head here, he had thought that the Peverell line had died out many, many years ago but it seemed that things that dealt with Harry Potter were never straight forward.

“Anything else I need to know about?”

“Yes, you should know that you are now not only the most powerful wizard in the world but you are also the richest and that is a major feat since the Malfoy family have always been the most wealthiest. With the Lordship of the Potter and Peverell line you have made yourself probably one of the most sought after wizards in the world.” The goblin explained to Harry, unfortunately the time that they were spending sorting out all of the holdings in businesses, properties and other familial ties was cut short because of a visit from one Albus Dumbledore.

“I shall return shortly” the goblin said jumping down off his chair and making his way to where he knew the Headmaster of Hogwarts would be waiting.

“Dumbledore” Groshpock said looking at the Headmaster and then sneering at the bright and non-matching robes he had on. Could the man draw anymore attention to himself?

“I was told that Mr. Harry Potter may be here at the bank, is he, for I need to speak with him” Albus Dumbledore said to the goblin acting as if he was better than the goblin.

“Can't help you out” Groshpock said before looking at the old man and seeing that the twinkle that was in his eyes just a minute ago was now gone.

“Now you listen here you goblin”

“No you listen; you are in my bank and you best to remember that” Groshpock said before turning on his heels and leaving the area where Dumbledore still stood mouth hanging open. He had never been as disrespected at the bank as he had been just now. Dumbledore was just about to follow when another goblin came up to him and told him that he had best leave, the manager of the bank had spoken and he had said that Dumbledore was to be gone by the time he finished with an important client. Dumbledore stomped out of the bank not at all happy with the way that things were going. First he had been notified by one of the Aurors at Azkaban that Harry had told them to burn the letter he had sent for the man, and now he was being told by goblins, goblins no less that he was unable to speak to Potter and that he had best leave the bank. Didn't they know who he was? Once outside of the bank, Dumbledore made the decision to wait for Harry to leave the bank to speak, or more accurately ‘borrow' the boy and take him to the Burrow where the whole Weasley family along with Remus and Sirius were waiting for them. While Dumbledore waited for Harry outside, inside Harry was still working with Groshpock trying to figure out what would be the best property for him to take residence in.

“What do you suggest” Harry said looking at the many properties that were now under his control. He and the goblin had managed to weed out a good many of the properties that he was either unwilling to stay in or unable to, such as any properties located outside of the UK. Seems that other countries didn't like the whole idea of a convicted felon moving in, regardless of how rich you were.

“There is the Peverell Cottage that I think would be an excellent choice” Groshpock said looking over the photos of the cottage and then passing them to Harry.

“Wonderful” Harry said happy with the way that the cottage looked.

“The down side”

“Figures” Harry muttered before listening to the goblin speak.

“Is it is near Hogwarts”

“No”

“But”

“No, any closer to that man and his ‘friends' and I will be back in Azkaban and that is something I am wanting to avoid, I did after all just get out” Harry said before glaring at the goblin. He would have happily moved into the cottage but with its close proximity to Hogwarts and Dumbledore he was very unwilling to move there.

“Well” Groshpock said looking back over all of the properties and trying to find something that would suit Harry and his needs.

“There is a flat in muggle London”

“Muggle London you say?” Harry said very interested, he was more than willing to spend the rest of his days in the muggle world if given the chance.

“Yes, but I have a feeling that Dumbledore and his Order will be guarding the location”

“Why”

“It's close to the Ministry of Magic and seems to be stated on one of the many documents as a Potter residence”

“Pass” Harry said not at all happy with Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic.

“Ah, this could work” Groshpock said looking at a flyer for a property that they had over looked before.

“Shoot”

“Cadmus Labs”

“Labs?”

“Yes, but don't be fooled by the name. It seems I was on first glance but Cadmus Labs is very much a medium sized cottage on the outskirts of the muggle world and the wizarding world”

“And that location would be”

“That is for only the owner to know, the flyer here just states that the property is close enough to the muggle world and the wizarding world for those that are looking for the best of both worlds” Groshpock said reading off the paper and looking at Harry for any type of reaction.

“Let me see” Harry said before he was passed the prospectus of the property. It looked nice enough with a flowering front garden and the building looking very much like a lab, with it contemporary front, the back looked almost like the front but instead of flowering muggle plants there were magical plants and animals roaming around.

“Yes, I think this will work out just fine” Harry said reading how big Cadmus Labs was and what sort of muggle and magical items it had available. Groshpock smiled, he was quite happy to have helped Harry. Starting out he had been a bit put out with having to help a convicted felon of the wizarding world and also the Boy-Who-Lived, but when Harry had treated him as an equal he had warmed up to the young man sitting in front of him. Oh he would protect this young man of that he was certain and he had never had a complaint about the young man in his younger years, so he was also quite sure that Harry would be one of the few clients that the goblins actually liked dealing with.

“House elves” Groshpock said wondering what Harry's response would be. He of course wouldn't begrudge the young man of them, but it would knock off any points the man had gained by his treatment of him.

“No, I'll take care of the place myself” Harry said knowing that on some level that Groshpock was looking for this sort of response. He had never really gotten comfortable with the idea of a creature cleaning and taking care of the house, where humans were just as capable to do the same thing.

“Excellent” Groshpock said smiling again, oh yes the goblins would make sure that Harry was taken care of; there was no doubt about it now.

“Dumbledore will be waiting for you outside”

“I know”

“There is another entrance and exit to the bank”

“Really” Harry asked, he had never heard or seen of another entrance to the bank but then again he had spent the first eleven years of his life with the Dursley's only to be then shipped off to Hogwarts and then to Azkaban.

“Yes, our VIP members tend to not want to deal with the masses”

“Indeed” Harry said before grinning at the goblin. Who knew that goblins could be so sneaky?

“Follow me” Groshpock said before jumping out of his chair and making his way to another door that Harry hadn't seen before. Harry was soon standing outside of the bank and off near Knockturn Alley, Harry fully understood what Groshpock hadn't been saying now. Most of the VIP members of the bank were of pureblood lines and that meant that they had leanings toward the Dark Arts and Dark Magic in general. Harry pulled up his hood on his robe and made his way back out towards Diagon Alley, that was the only way in or out of the Wizarding Britain's shopping district if one wanted to return back to muggle London.

“Headmaster Dumbledore” Harry heard just as he was walking past the maroon and teal color robed headmaster.

“Ah, Ms. Edgecombe” the old man said smiling at the reddish-blonde hair woman standing in front of him.

“Soon to be Quigley” the woman said with a giggle while showing off her diamond ring. Harry about wanted to throw up, like the old man cared about a past students life, well he did but Harry was pretty certain that if she had been the Boy-Who-Live, Harry Potter than he would be all over the girl.

“Ah that is right, this coming August?”

“Yes, yes it is” the woman said primping under Dumbledore remembering when her wedding was to be.

“Ms. Edgecombe, I am actually on my way to Flourish and Blott's”

“Oh, I was just heading into the bank” the woman said before she said goodbye and made her way into the bank for a last minute withdrawal for something silly, or at least that is what Harry thought. Harry watched the old man for a moment longer before deciding that it was safe to continue on his path out of the Diagon Alley. The less time he spent here the better in his book.

“Headmaster Dumbledore” Harry heard again just as he passed by the old man and yet another former student. Harry had to laugh, it seemed that the headmaster's thought of waiting outside of the bank was a bad one since all of his former students seemed to want to stop and update him on their lives since they had graduated from Hogwarts. It was just as Harry stepped into the Leaky Cauldron that he heard the Headmaster shout.

“Harry Potter!” Harry didn't pause in his steps to continue out of the Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. When the patrons of the dark and dank pub heard the Headmaster's shout many began to talk about Harry Potter and his release.

“Ten years to the date, today!” A plump woman with golden curls said, surprised that such news hadn't been printed in the Daily Prophet, Harry only shook his head before looking to the left and right after opening the door to the Leaky Cauldron that led out into the muggle world.

“Out of my way” Draco Malfoy said pushing Harry out of the way as he made his way into the Leaky Cauldron.

“Sorry” Harry said his voice quite deep, before he stood off to the side and watched Draco pass.

“Do I know you?” Draco said looking at the hooded figure and wondering why he was even speaking to the person. It looked as if they had just gotten out of prison; that thought pulled Draco up short. There were only a few people that were to be set to be released that year and one of them was Harry Potter. Certainly Potter would be toasting up his release with his Gryffindork friends.

“Not any more” Harry said before pushing the hood of the robes back a bit so that Draco could see his vivid green eyes.

“Potter” Draco said shocked, he hadn't ever expected to run into the Gryffindor and so soon after his release.

“Draco” Harry said in greeting before tilting his head to the side and then speaking again.

“Gotta go” Harry said before spinning around and dashing down the street. Draco watched as Harry disappeared from view and then was jostled as the Headmaster and a few of his ‘club' members came out of the door he had been going in.

“Malfoy” Draco thought a Weasley said to him. There was only one family in the wizarding world that had the horrible hair color that the Weasley's had. Draco looked at the group and began to figure out that maybe just maybe Harry Potter wasn't so happy with his Gryffindor friends now.

“Did Harry come this way?”

“Harry Potter?” Draco said deciding to act dumb for the moment to see what sort of information he could get from the group.

“Yeah”

“Isn't he still in Azkaban, where he should be?”

“He was released today” the Headmaster supplied to Draco.

“Swell, now scar-head is running around just what I don't need” Draco said before rolling his eyes and then trying to make his way into the pub and to Diagon Alley.

“So I take that as a no then?” one of the Weasley's said, there did after all look to be at least three of them there standing along with the Headmaster.

“No actually I set up a tea time with him” Draco said before pushing another Weasley out of the way and then making his way into the pub.

“Headmaster are you sure he came this way?” Draco heard being asked, he about wanted to crack up at the way that the ‘light side' was acting about the release of Harry Potter back into polite wizarding society. Draco didn't wait to hear the response, he didn't really care he knew which way Harry had gone and he certainly wasn't going to tell the ‘light side' without any sort of incentive for himself.

“Draco, darling” Asteria Greenglass said standing in the Leaky Cauldron looking not at all happy with having to meet Draco there of all places.

“Asteria” Draco said with a nod of his head, he had been disenchanted with Pansy while in Hogwarts and he had thought that Asteria would be the next Lady Malfoy, but it seemed that she along with her sister were just as bad, if not worse than Pansy and that was something that Draco refused to put up with. He was the toast of the Wizarding World and he would be damned to be held back by these shallow bints of that he was certain. He had never really stated which gender he preferred but if he had to pick a mate he would much rather have a hard, lean body instead of the soft and curvy one in his bed. A flash of vivid green eyes shot into Draco's thoughts, could it be that maybe Harry Potter could be his other half? He had always had an unhealthy obsession with Harry Potter, but he had never really questioned his motives for always being in the brunette's presence, now though looking back he could see that maybe just maybe his motives had been more than just enemy hate.

“Draco you know how much I hate coming here” Asteria said glaring at Draco to make her displeasure known. She had been Draco's girlfriend for exactly three months now, the longest that any girl had ever managed with the blonde Slytherin graduate.

“Hmmm” Draco said deep in thought, now seeing Harry Potter out and free he began to wonder if maybe there was a chance to befriend the ex-Gryffindor since it looked like the man was avoiding the people he had thought of as friends.

“Draco are you listening to me?” Asteria said her hands on her hips, she was not at all happy with the way Draco was currently treating her.

“Trouble in paradise?” one of the Weasley's said as they passed by Draco and Asteria, who now stood in the center of the pub but away from the other patrons of the pub.

“Like you would know Weasley” Draco threw back pretty certain that it was either one of the twins or Ron, they were the only ones that still gave him a hard time even after being out of Hogwarts for almost ten years and were still unmarried. The Weasley snorted before making his way to the back of the pub, probably to make their way back into Diagon Alley.

“I asked you a question” Asteria said now hopping mad at Draco for not paying attention to her.

“What is it that you want woman?”

“Draco Malfoy!” Asteria said before raising her hand as if to slap him.

“If that lands you may find yourself missing a hand” Draco said in a growl, which of course had Asteria flushing and quite ready to jump into bed with Draco.

“Draco” Asteria said now moving closer to rub up against him.

“Get away from me, better yet we are through” Draco said before pushing her away and then stalking towards the door to the pub. He had a green eyed man to go and find and he wasn't going to stand around in some dark and dingy pub with some bint that wanted his money and his family name.

“Draco” Asteria said tears now running down her face. She had been certain that today was the day that Draco was going to ask her to marry him, she had even wore her best robes-in blue to bring out her eyes but it seemed that Draco had other plans. How dare he!

“We're through” Draco said one last time to make sure that all in the pub heard, he wouldn't put it past the girl to tell lies and make him marry her, once he was sure that the gossiping old hags in the pub understood he left the pub and returned back out to muggle London. Draco shook his head once he began to follow the path that he had seen Harry run in, he was now chasing Harry Potter of all people. Draco continued down Charing Cross Road before coming to an intersection, which way to go? Draco looked left and then right, not really knowing which way to go but knowing that he needed to find Harry for some unknown reason. Draco was just about to turn to the left when he saw a flash of bright ginger red hair. ‘Following me?' Draco thought, he had of course been joking about having tea with Harry Potter, but it seemed that one of the Weasley's or even the Headmaster had thought to follow him just in case.

“This should be fun “Draco mumbled before taking a right and walking much faster than he had before, almost as if he knew where he was going. The person behind him followed at a quick pace, the grin that spread on Draco's face made some of the people he passed stop and stare. The sight was a truly beautiful thing, it was just as he was about to start into a run that he was pulled quite harshly into an alleyway near a building that looked almost like a factory building.

“Ssshhh Draco” Harry whispered into Draco's ears while watching as the ginger haired follower ran past looking for Draco's slim build. Once Harry was certain that the follower was gone Harry turned Draco towards him.

“What was that all about?”

“They're looking for you” Draco stated before rolling his eyes, of course Harry knew they were looking for him he wasn't that daft.

“That I know, but why were they following you?”

“I may have said that we had a tea time set up” Draco said his cheeks turning pink at his words.

“Hmmm” Harry said tilting his head to the side again and looking like he was listening in on something.

“You're safe for now”

“How”

“Do I know that? This here” Harry said pointing to his head.

“What” Draco asked confused, how could Harry Potter be able to read people's thoughts that was a skill that only truly powerful people could manage.

“I almost can hear that a bloke about 2 meters away is waiting for you to reappear so he can ask you out” Harry said before moving them to the mouth of the alleyway and showing Draco the bloke in question.

“You can read thoughts?” Draco asked breathless, his godfather could do it but not very well and of course the Headmaster could but even then he was reading emotions more than thoughts.

“That I can, and I for some reason can't read yours” Harry said looking at Draco and tilting his head to the side again as if trying to listen in on Draco's thoughts.

“Nope, nothing….odd but very welcome” Harry said a smile on his face. It felt great to be in someone's presence and not know what they were thinking. Draco looked at Harry as if he were crazy, before shaking his head. This was Harry Potter and the man always welcomed the unexpected, something that Draco was beginning to understand now ten years too late.

“Bloke is not happy about you not coming back” Harry said now showing Draco that the bloke had managed to cross the street and seemed to be looking at the alleyways to decide where Draco had gone. Draco tried to shuffle back into the dark parts of the alleyway, but Harry's hand kept him in place.

“Don't worry” Harry said before waving his hand at the entrance and Draco watched a shimmer before he saw the bloke make his way to the alleyway and then move on.

“What did you do, and without a wand” Draco asked in a slightly panicked voice, Harry Potter was proving to be nothing like the boy he had taunted while in Hogwarts.

“Made sure that he wouldn't interrupt, who needs a wand?” Harry said before looking at the entrance again and wondering if maybe showing Draco that bit of power was a bad idea. He had felt that Draco was going to come and look for him, so he had stayed close to the Leaky Cauldron waiting for Draco to show up. Now though he was wondering what he had been thinking, Draco Malfoy would never want anything to do with Harry Potter even if the Gryffindor Golden Boy was dead and gone. Draco looked at Harry and noticed that he seemed to shrink into himself.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…..” Harry said before waving his hand back at the entrance of the alleyway.

“I….I won't….” Harry didn't finish what he was going to say since the bloke that had been waiting for Draco came past and saw the bright white blonde hair of Draco's.

“Hey, I was looking for you” the bloke said before throwing a nasty look at Harry's form.

“Sorry” Harry said one last time before looking left and right at the mouth of the entrance of the alley.

“No” Draco said coming to a decision that he wouldn't be scared of the powers that Harry had just shown him. He had shown him for a reason and Draco wanted to find out why.

“Excuse me” Draco said trying to pass the bloke that still stood there checking Draco out.

“I wanted to ask if you wanted to go out sometime”

“I am quite busy” Draco said still watching Harry as he listened to their conversation.

“Is this bloke bothering you, is that it”

“No, now if you will excuse *us*” Draco said now pushing past the bloke and then putting an arm around Harry's waist and then whispering into his ear.

“You're not getting rid of me that easily”

“But, but…he's a runt!” The bloke said glaring at Harry now outright, he did not like being passed up and for some man that looked like he was homeless or at least very poor.

“He's going to try and fight for you” Harry said to Draco quietly, for some reason the arm around his waist made him much calmer than he had been before.

“There won't be much of a fight then” Draco said before tightening his hold on Harry.

“Come on runt!”

“He's not going to fight you” Draco said before glaring at the bloke, if he thought that putting himself up against Harry was going to win his affections he was delusional. The bloke watched the pair and then sneered; he knew he could win if he fought the runt but how to do so when it was very clear that the blonde god wanting no sort of violence.

“He's going to follow us” “Well then, let's send him some where he isn't so confident in” Harry nodded his head before pushing his hood further down to cover up his face.

“Can't even been seen with him” the bloke said before stomping off like he wasn't going to follow. When Draco and Harry made their way out of the alleyway and back down the street, Harry kept up a running commentary of what the bloke was thinking as he followed.

“Oh, he's not too happy going this way” Harry said walking a bit closer to Draco since he had been editing out what some of the man was thinking and it was not at all pleasant.

“Turn here” Draco said knowing right where they were going. It was the Dark clubbing district and even in the daytime you had better have a very good reason for being there, let alone at night.

“He's stopped” Harry said as they moved around the street passed many clubs that thumped with bass as they passed.

“Good, now over here” Draco said pushing Harry up against a wall with his hand placed on either side of Harry's body.

“What's he thinking now?”

“Can't tell, the bodyguard over there is checking you out though…..is there anyone that doesn't want you?”

“You” Draco said leaning in a bit to say the word.

“Hmmm” Harry said before tilting his head again.

“Why do you do that?”

“To hear better” Harry said listening to the thoughts around him.

“Oh, he's coming in”

“Bloody terrific” Draco said pushing his body up against Harry's.

“Oh my” Harry said blushing at the thoughts that were now running around in his head.

“What” Draco said his lips very close to Harry's ear, almost making it look like Draco was kissing Harry's neck.

“The bodyguard wants a chance next and the bloke from before managed to get stopped by another bloke”

“And” Draco said peeking out the corner of his eye and seeing the bodyguard in question as well as the bloke from before talking to a guy that looked quite interested in the other man.

“Seems the bloke was looking for a one off and is quite happy to get a blow job and the bodyguard is oddly taken with me” Harry said a confused tone to his voice. He was quite confused with the thoughts that were swirling around in his mind, and the ones from the bodyguard were the most odd.

“You have your charms” Draco said in a low growl, Harry Potter was *his* and no bodyguard was going to take him away.

“Hmmm” Harry said now listening to how the bodyguard was going to distract Draco to get a piece of him.

“We had best be leaving” Harry said a bit in a panic.

“Let's” Draco said before pulling Harry close to him and then walking back out of the Dark Clubbing District and out into the bright and sunny street from before.

“Are we safe?”

“As can be with a Goth guy wearing a robe with the hood up and a blonde god” Harry said with a chuckle; the things people thought. Draco smirked at Harry and continued to hold onto the brunette as if it was a normal occurrence.

“Almost there” Harry said letting Draco know that Harry was in fact leading them to somewhere. After about ten more minutes of walking they came upon a semi-large building in grey.

“Here?”

“Yeah” Harry said looking at the lovely roses that were in bloom that he knew his Aunt Petunia would be jealous of.

“But this place looks like a lab or something” Draco said confused.

“That is the point” Harry said before walking the two of them up to the front door of the place. Harry had read the information given to him about the place and once the document had hit his hands the location and how to get into the place had shown up.

“Open” Harry said placing his hand on the door and then watching as the frosted glass door pushed open without a sound. Draco watched Harry with awe, he wasn't really sure on what was going on but he did know that he was quite happy to have followed his instinct that said to find Harry and as soon as possible. Harry saw out the corner of his eye the shock on Draco's face, he knew he had *a lot* of explaining to do, but for once he was quite willing to explain things and to Draco Malfoy of all people.

“Here” Harry said making a split second decision to add Draco to the wards that protected the building.

“Harry” Draco said not really sure what was going on, Harry just shrugged his shoulders before placing his hand over Draco's on the door.

“Ow” Draco said pulling back his hand and seeing a bit of blood on the palm of his hand.

“Sorry about that”

“It's all right” Draco said before wrapping his arm around Harry again, doing so just felt so right. Harry nodded his head before the pair of them entered the building.

“Wow” Harry said looking at the open concept floor plan of the main rooms.

“I agree, what is this place?”

“Cadmus Labs, my new home” Harry said looking left and right and taking everything in. There were furnishings but Harry already knew that they would be replaced, tacky wizarding fabrics was something Harry planned to avoid for his new home.

“Cadmus Labs?” Draco said looking around the place, his godfather had spoken about this place for years and years, but it had always been rumored that the place never existed.

“You've heard of the place?” Harry said shocked, he had thought that he had picked out the perfect place to hide from the wizarding world seems he guessed wrong.

“Yeah, but I mean Severus always said that it was just a myth”

“Snape? A myth?”

“Yes Severus Snape, he's my godfather after all and this place has been in Potions Master's stories for years. It was said that Cadmus Peverell built this place and it was the Potions Master's dream” Draco said in an awed voice.

“Can I never have it simple” Harry grumped before glaring at Draco.

“It's your lot in life” Draco quipped back before moving around the building looking at everything that was in the building. He was actually in Cadmus Labs; oh he couldn't wait to tell his godfather!

“You can't say anything” Harry said already knowing what Draco was thinking, even if he couldn't hear the other man's thoughts.

“But Severus”

“Will tell the Headmaster and I like my freedom a bit too much to allow that old man and that greasy man into my home” at these words Draco turned around to see that Harry was still standing in the spot he had left him in and looked about ready to run, again.

“Fine, fine” Draco said before grinning at Harry, he wasn't too hurt with not telling his godfather. He would after all be the only person probably in the world that knew where Harry lived and what he was doing. The goblins at the bank didn't count, and the thought of the goblins and money made Draco stare at Harry yet again. Harry Potter was living, or at least about to live in a Peverell property.

“Yeah Lord Peverell” Harry said knowing what Draco was thinking by the look on his face.

“But, how…I mean when…..”

“Goblins said something about it being left to the right person and it seems that lucky person was me” Harry said now pulling at a string on his robes.

“You Harry Potter are an amazing thing” Draco said before pulling Harry's hands away from the string that he had been so intent on.

“You think?”

“I know so; I did after all watch you for five years” at these words Harry looked up into Draco's eyes and saw the truth of the words. Harry was quite uncertain on what to think about the whole thing, he hadn't had that much experience with girls and the feelings he was having now with Draco made him wonder if he was gay. Draco on the other hand was wondering if it would be too forward to just lean down and kiss Harry, the answer was taken from him when Draco's pocket gave a shake.

“What was that” Harry said breaking the contact and look, while looking around the room trying to find the source of the faint shaking noise.

“Urg” Draco said before pulling out the mirror like looking thing from his pocket; Draco pressing a finger to his lips to tell Harry to keep quiet while he answered the call.

“Malfoy” Draco barked to the mirror like thing before hearing his mother's voice.

“Draco Lucius Malfoy! Why am I getting a floo call from Asteria Greenglass' mother saying that you broke things off with her daughter?!” the cool voice of Narcissa Malfoy said coming through loud and clear over the communicator.

“Mother that woman's daughter was as shallow as Pansy Parkinson and you just *know* how much I enjoyed her company” Draco drawled out already in full Draco Malfoy, pouncy git mode. Harry stood amazed that Draco had a mask to wear; he had never really thought that maybe the blonde was hiding his true self to make sure he made it through the war alive.

“Young man you had better had a very good reason besides *that*” Narcissa said sounding not at all happy with her son at the current moment.

“I may have” Draco said flicking his eyes to Harry who had turned his back to continue to observe his new home as well as give Draco a bit of privacy, it wasn't much but it was something at least.

“Hmmm” his mother said having noticed the eye movement, who had her son in such a twist and she could tell that he was head over heels about the person even if her son didn't quite know it yet.

“A little warning would have been nice dear” Narcissa said not really happy with her son and his quick dropping of the Greenglass girl, but she could also see that her son had a very good reason for that it seemed but still she had been left listening to Lady Greenglass bemoan how her Asteria was just heartbroken over Draco breaking things off with her.

“Spur of the moment thing mother” Draco said before flicking his eyes back up to Harry's back.

“Malfoy's do not do spur of the moment” Narcissa said before she rolled her eyes as a house elf announced that someone was there to see her.

“When should I expect you home?”

“I'll call you” Draco said before pressing on a Rune on the mirror and ending the call. He was not going to have his mother set up yet another dinner date for him, when he had a perfect good dinner date standing in front of him.

“Uhmm” Harry said a bit embarrassed to having heard the conversation between Draco and his mother.

“My mother won't be happy until I am a married man” Draco said before rolling his eyes and watching as Harry's cheeks turned right red.

“So I hear, and who was Asteria Greenglass” Harry asked wondering why he felt jealous of the girl because Harry refused to think of the female as a woman for some reason.

“A past girlfriend that has about the same temper and breeding as Pansy Parkinson”

“Oh” Harry said not really sure on how he should react, he was quite happy that Draco wasn't tied to the girl now but he was also at a loss as to his reasons for why he was so happy about it.

“Were you going to you know…” Harry said waving his hands as if explaining himself.

“Ask her to marry me? Oh no, I had planned to break things off with her today” Draco lied, but after speaking knew he was telling the truth. There had always been something about all of the women and men that he took up dating; he couldn't seem to make it much beyond a few months of dating before dropping them and then continuing the cycle over again.

“But your mother said” here Harry flushed, he hadn't wanted to say something about what Draco's mother had said because that would show that he had been listening in.

“Well yes, if I had told my mother beforehand she would have found a way to talk me not only out of breaking up with her but into marrying her” Draco said shaking his head, he knew his mother well enough to know that she would have sat down and discussed why he had become disinterested in the girl as of late and then explain that it was his duty to continue the Malfoy line and Asteria was of the right breeding to do so at least the children of the pairing's sake. Harry eyed Draco wondering what he was really thinking; it was so much easier dealing with people when you knew their thoughts even if it was the guards of the prison, but with Draco that choice had been taken from him. It was something he was finding that he both loved and hated at the same time. Draco's eyes roved over Harry's appearance, while the other man thought about something of that Draco was pretty certain. Harry's appearance was ragged but he still had the amazing vivid green eyes and the tale-tell lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Harry's face had thinned out from age and lack of care in prison but Draco could tell that with time Harry would be an amazing sight to see and he hoped to see the transformation if given the chance.

“Are you safe here?” Draco asked looking for a change of topic, something that would lift the other man's spirits since he could see a haunted look enter Harry's eyes for some reason.

“As safe as if I was staying at Gringotts” Harry said watching Draco's face for a reaction.

“Dumbledore and his ‘friends' would be hard pressed to get any information on where I am living out of the goblins” a smirk replaced the slightly worried look that had been on Draco's face.

“Well then” Draco said still a bit shocked that Harry held such distain for the Headmaster of Hogwarts and his ‘club' members.

“I'm not their biggest fans” Harry said before shifting slightly, all of this standing was making him tired. Draco noticed the move and began guiding him to the open living room area.

“Sit down, you must be tired” Draco said before taking out his wand and waving it over the small love seat that was covered in a white sheet. The sheet promptly folded itself up and the dust that had been resting not only of the sheet but the piece of furniture underneath disappeared.

“Thanks” Harry said before sitting lightly on the love seat. It may have horrible fabric but it was the most comfortable thing he had sat in for years. The chair at the bank had not counted; it was nice but nothing like this.

“No problem” Draco said before waving his wand again and watching as the other sheets that cover up three other pieces of furniture folded themselves up and the dust disappearing as before. Once Draco was done he took a seat in the chair that was next to the loveseat. He would have liked to have sat next to Harry but the meeting was still a bit odd and the easy conversation that they had before had died away into something awkward and unsettling.

“So what are your plans?”

“Hmmm, not sure but I do know that it will have nothing to do with the wizarding world” Harry said resting on the loveseat with his eyes closed. He trusted Draco enough to not curse him while he had his eyes closed and was relaxing, unlike his former friends. They were quite happy to kick you while you were down of that he remembered well; Ron turning against him in his fourth year for his name being entered into the Goblet, Hermione turning her back on him when he had turned down Ginny for a date.

“You're not taking up arms to fight the good fight, blah, blah, woof, woof” Draco said looking at Harry and watching for his reaction. He had read just like every other witch and wizard in Britain about the thought of releasing Harry Potter early if he was willing to fight for the Ministry as well as with the Headmaster of Hogwarts and his band of merry followers. Harry laughed at Draco's words, blah, blah, woof, woof indeed!

“They will be doing that good fight without me; I have no urge to fight that fight”

“Understandable” Draco said not really shocked by the words but still very much amazed that Harry was willing to stand back and do nothing. He remembered that Harry had quite the hero complex while at Hogwarts, but Draco guessed with ten years in Azkaban there wasn't much for the saving others thing left, since you were busy trying to save yourself from the horrors that Azkaban had to offer.

“How about you?” Harry asked he knew that Draco was a Death Eater, unmarked but unfortunately still a follower of Voldemort.

“I have my own blah, blah, woof, woof to fight for” Draco said wondering what Harry would do with this bit of information. He along with many other Death Eaters had managed to talk the Dark Lord out of marking them since they had jobs that could easily require them to show their forearms to show that they weren't Death Eaters. When the mandate came down from the new Minister of Magic that all employees of the Ministry were to bare their forearms, Draco along with many others sighed in relief. There would be no way for the Ministry to ever prove that they had been loyal to the Dark Lord if the light side won.

“Do you believe in it?”

“No, but since my father has his eyes on being Minister once his side wins; I had no choice” Draco said bowing his head in shame, his father had basically sold him into service for the Dark Lord and there was no real way out without the light side winning.

“I know, I saw and the Dark Lord is quite smitten with you” Harry said now eyeing Draco for reaction to his words.

“I figured as much when my father is always pushing me to the Dark Lord's side when we are at meetings”

“I've heard him comment to your father a few times, he is getting most impatient on waiting to take you as his consort”

“I bow to no one” Draco growled, he had known at least intellectually that the Dark Lord was quite taken but to have someone else point it out and to even know was a whole other matter.

“Oh that is part of the charm, he wants to break you and then train you to be a good little submissive” Harry said remembering one of the many conversations that the Dark Lord had with Lucius about his son. Draco's face paled at these words, he never thought that his own father would speak about him to another person that way.

“Should I worry?”

“Yes, the Dark Lord plans to approach your father at the meeting tonight about you being a good little submissive and warming up his bed for the night.” Draco could only sputter at these words; he now understood why his mother was so on edge about him coming home for dinner. She of course hadn't said anything about it, but her tone earlier now made much more sense. Knowing his father, the man had probably set up dinner ‘date' with the Dark Lord just so that he would be near the man earlier than expected.

“What am I to do?” Draco asked no one in particular, not expecting an answer from Harry about his dilemma.

“The only thing that I can offer is a place here if you need it, or to simply find something else that will occupy the Dark Lord's thoughts until a solution can be found”

“Will it work?”

“For a time, but you seem to draw him in” Harry said tipping his head to the side. He could see how the Dark Lord was snagged every time he saw Draco. The other man was truly a beautiful person; he was someone you would see on the cover of a magazine or in an ad in said magazine. Draco snorted; ‘drew him in' was probably putting it lightly.

“Ah” Harry said rubbing his fingers over his scar, knowing that Voldemort was either really happy or really angry about something. It was the only way the man could get through the shields that he had built while in prison.

“Harry” Draco asked concerned.

“I'm fine but it seems the Dark Lord is in an extreme emotional state”

“What”

“Let me see” Harry said before sliding off the love seat and lying on the floor of the living room. Draco was about to ask what he was doing when Harry spoke:

“I was always on my back in prison when channeling his thoughts”

“Ah” Draco said before he took out his wand and crouched over Harry's body, as if protecting it. It was once Harry had accessed Voldemort's mind that he began to speak in a voice that Draco had never heard before, it was much more sibilant and a bit higher pitched than was normal.

“Are you certain Lucius?” Draco listened wondering what his father had said to the Dark Lord.

“Explain to me again how this Veela gene works again” Draco was stunned by the words, he had always been told that they had distant relatives on his father's side that were Veelas, but that he need not worry about the gene activating in him being so removed.

“So you say that as long as the boy is pure and I dominate him that he will be mine?” Draco wanted to vomit at the words; there was no way in hell the Dark Lord was going to do any dominating of him.

“Ah Lucuisssss” Harry said like a purr, which had Draco turning green with thoughts of what could make the Dark Lord say those words that way.

“If the boy comes un-pure than what?” Draco wanted to know that answer as well, if it would mean that he would be free of the Dark Lord he would do whatever was necessary to make that happen, even if he had to tie his life to someone that he loathed.

“Killing his mate would be an easy task” the Dark Lord said before Harry jerked out of the trace he had been in.

“Totally and completely gross” Harry said dry heaving; he had seen something he wished never, ever to see again.

“What, or do I want to know?” Draco said coming up with a couple of scenarios that made him green just thinking about.

“Your father naked in front of the Dark Lord” Harry mumbled still dry heaving.

“Oh, ew” Draco said before shaking his head of the thoughts, he least didn't have the vision that Harry had for which he was very thankful for.

“Are you pure” Harry asked once he got his body under control.

“What?” Draco said cheeks turning a lovely shade of red.

“Virgin, are you one?”

“Yes” Draco said with a sigh, he knew that Harry wouldn't laugh at him; he couldn't since he knew that Harry was one as well. It was what happened when you got thrown into prison at 16.

“Why?” Draco threw back at Harry, he knew he only heard one side of the conversation and whatever his father had told the Dark Lord remained in the dark and that was something he didn't like at all.

“It's seems that the Veela gene he lied to you about is very much alive and well, and well there are two choices you have to make.”

“What”

“Option one is to go to the Dark Lord pure and also let him dominate you and you become the good little submissive he was looking for”

“Not going to happen”

“I didn't figure it would, but the second option is a bit tricky”

“Tricky, how”

“Well…” Harry was uncertain on how to break this news to Draco.

“Harry just tell me”

“You have to become the dominate and he won't be so quick to pick a fight”

“Explain” Draco was truly confused on what Harry was/wasn't saying.

“That Veela gene works two ways, you are either dominated by someone else or you dominate someone else”

“Okay”

“Well if two dominates go at it, the *only* way for the other dominate to become a submissive is if the other dominate wins in a fight and the submissive from before is dead”

“Huh”

“Let me use an example”

“Go ahead'

“Let's say you dominate…..me for instance” here Harry's cheeks turned red. He was very unwilling to use anyone else for this example for some reason. Draco smirked but said nothing.

“So I become your submissive and we are mated for life or until death, whichever comes first”

“Okay”

“Well the only way that the Dark Lord could ask for a fight is if I was dead and you were free to either claim another or be claimed”

“You're serious”

“Very”

“So if you aren't dead”

“He can do nothing”

“How would be he know?”

“Oh the Veela gene in you wouldn't allow for you to even consider being on display”

“Display”

“That's what you probably have been doing for years now, displaying” here Draco's face turned into a look of horror. He knew exactly what Harry was talking about, it was the reason for him going through girlfriends and boyfriends like water. He was looking to find the certain someone who would be able to calm his displaying.

“I'm doomed” Draco said before hanging his head, Harry's hand pushing it up to meet the eyes of Harry.

“Is there no one?”

“No” Draco said shaking his head before the thoughts about Harry and Hogwarts and maybe just maybe there was one person. One person who the Dark Lord would be hard pressed to kill since he would want to do it himself, of that Draco was certain. Which would mean that the Dark Lord would be unable to fight him for his affections and Draco used the term lightly since he was certain the Dark Lord could not produce those types of emotions; pain, humiliation, yes but affection, love, no way in hell.

“Well there is…..”

“Well get on that mirror thingy and call them or whatever it is that it does” Harry said waving his hand to Draco's pocket where he knew the mirror communicator sat.

“I don't need to”

“Huh” it was Harry's turn to be confused.

“It's you”

“I'm not the fall back guy”

“No, not that, never that” Draco said putting his hands up to show Harry he meant no harm.

“Explain then”

“I think it's always been you, I mean I had this unhealthy obsession with you while at Hogwarts. If picking a fight with you everyday isn't displaying then I don't know what is” Harry thought over Draco's words and he could see the merit in them, he himself had the same obsession but he had chalked it up to ‘knowing the enemy'.

“Look if you don't want…me, I guess that is fine. I can…” here Draco stopped his words, he could hear a growl emitting from Harry's throat.

“Mine” Harry said sitting from the lounging position he was in, to up on his hands and knees looking at Draco. Draco saw swirls of silver and gold in Harry's eyes; they entranced him and made him want to protect Harry from all harm or die doing so.

“Yours as you are mine” Draco said knowing for some reasons these words needed to be said. Harry heard the words and began to close the small distance between them on his hands and knees.

“Mine to protect and love” Draco said now taking one of Harry's hands and holding the hand between his. Harry seemed to melt into Draco's lap then, almost as if he became boneless.

“Yours” Harry said with a mew before closing his eyes and resting his head on Draco's chest.

“What am I do to with you?” Draco questioned looking down at Harry's face, eyes closed and lips parted just enough that he could see the pink tongue lying inside. Harry mewed at the question and rubbed his body against Draco's again as if that was the answer.

“I can't have you hating me afterwards”

“Never” Harry said coming back to himself, he could tell that Draco was distressed as well as happy and he wanted to make Draco happy not distressed.

“Once this is done, it's for life for me”

“I know”

“I won't be able to walk away”

“I wasn't planning on you to” Harry said now uncertain, when Draco had said it had always been him he had assumed that they were on the same page of being together forever, but now with the way that Draco was talking it was almost as if he was doing this to get away from the Dark Lord and that their lives would be two circles never connecting again.

“Good” Draco said before finally giving into the urge to kiss Harry breathless and kiss Harry breathless he did for when they pulled apart Harry was unable to get his breath back.

“Mine” Draco said trailing kisses down Harry's neck, taking in the scent that still clung to him even after ten years in prison, a scent that was distinctly Harry.

“Yours to have and to hold” Harry answered back with a gasp when Draco bit down on the skin at the juncture where neck turned into shoulder. Draco hummed in agreement before sucking harder on the patch of skin, making it red and inflamed.

“Draco” Harry whined when it felt like Draco had become a bit too enamored with the patch of skin instead of the rest of Harry.

“Mark you as mine” Draco explained before running his hands up and down Harry's back.

“Are we to consummate our devotion to each other here on the floor?”

“I would assume there are bedrooms here” Harry said not really wanting to get up but knowing that Draco would not allow for them to make love on the floor in the living room, at least not for their first time.

“Stay here” Draco said before pointing to the loveseat.

“I'm coming with you” Harry said standing up with Draco and taking his hand in his. There was no way that Draco was going to leave him alone, while he explored his new home.

“Harry” “I'm coming with you”

“But I wanted to prepare the room”

“You can, I'll stand outside but I want to come with you” Draco could hear and see the truth in Harry's words.

“Okay” Draco said before tugging Harry to a set of stairs that lead upstairs and hopefully to a floor where there were bedrooms.

“Guest” Draco said opening the first door on the far right, and did this two more times before the last door at the end of the hallway on the left showed them the master bedroom.

“Master, now stay there” Draco said pointing to the wall outside of the room. Harry nodded his head before stealing a kiss and then leaning against the wall. He felt like he was sixteen or something, not twenty-six and freshly out of prison.

“So how does this work?” Harry asked through the door, he wasn't really sure on the specific of things but he was pretty sure that if they said a bond ceremony words while having sex, that they would be married in the eyes of the Ministry.

“So how does what work?” Draco called back while preparing the room while waving his wand.

“Will we be married or something?”

“Yes and no”

“Explain” Harry said before he saw Draco slide out of an open space in the doorway and then close the door behind him.

“Well let me start with the no then, since we have not filled out any Ministry paperwork we won't be married or bound in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic or in the British wizarding world” Draco's cheek turned pink, his emotions were fully engaged when dealing with Harry so for him it would be a bond, something that was non-breakable. It was actually a plus as well if the Dark Lord decided to kill off Harry; Draco would find a way to follow if they bonded instead of married. Potent stuff magic.

“And the yes”

“Well if we both speak the words and mean them with all our hearts, then magic does the rest” Harry nodded his head, he at least was right about that part, it was then that he started to remember some words that their Wizarding Traditions professor had said about the differences between bonding and marriage.

“You'll die if it is a bond?”

“Yes”

“Draco” Harry said shocked that Draco was calm about that.

“As sappy as this sounds, I would rather die than be without you”

“My sap” Harry said his eyes tearing up; it was good to have someone that cared about him. He was just waiting for the other shoe to drop and more pain to begin.

“I am and don't you forget it” Draco said before leaning down and stealing a kiss from Harry.

“Now come on!” Draco said impatiently now. He couldn't wait until he was looming over Harry's body, pleasure running through his body while they spoke the bonding spell that would tie them together for life.

“Welcome home” Draco said opening the door with Harry still wrapped around his body. Inside lay the most amazing thing that Harry had seen.

“Had this planned”

“Something like that” Draco admitted, he had given a lot of thought over how he would take his other half for the first time and the clichéd things like roses on the bed, candles floating in the air and silk or satin sheets on the bed had been thrown out the window as soon as he thought of them. Instead here was his dream, soft Egyptian cotton sheets, in a crisp white of course, with a duvet in a black with a contrasting band of white following the corners of the fabric. Instead of candles, small silver globes hung in the air with a few color globes spinning throughout the room.

“It's beautiful” Harry said at a loss as to what to say. He hadn't been really sure on what to expect but he certainly didn't expect this, this was just so much more than he deserved.

“You deserve it” Draco seemed to answer Harry's thoughts.

“Now come” Draco said taking control of the situation, neither one of them had been with another but Harry knew that Draco would be the dominate; it was just his nature, just as the nurture was part of his, they completed each other of that much Harry was certain now. He would fight if he was pushed into it, but he certainly wasn't going to go looking for a fight that was for sure. Draco brought Harry to the edge of the bed before pushing him down and then leaning over him as he took Harry's lips in his. Harry's taste was addictive and Draco would happily sell his soul to make sure that he never had to do without the taste.

“How much time” Draco asked, he didn't want to ask but he knew he needed to. He needed to know how much time they had before Draco was to go and meet the Dark Lord.

“The party starts in four hours” Harry said going in and out of his trance quickly.

“Good” Draco said before he continued to kiss Harry to make him forget what he had just asked.

“Draco” Harry said pulling his lips away from the blonde's.

“Yes, my love”

“Please” Harry said not really certain on what he was begging for.

“As you wish” Draco answered before pushing Harry back on the bed and lining their bodies together, Harry's shorter one fit right into Draco's taller one. Draco was soon taking off the robes that Harry had been given before his release from prison.

“Shopping spree” Draco said before removing another article of clothing and sneering at it. Harry felt a bit ashamed of his body until Draco spoke.

“Simply perfect” Draco said while kissing every patch of skin he could before coming back to the red raised area on Harry's neck.

“Too many clothes” Harry said pushing at Draco and the clothing that seemed to still be on his body.

“Too true” Draco said before moving quickly over the buttons to his robes and shirt while Harry fought with the belt and buttons on his pants.

“Shoes” Draco said stopping Harry's hands so he could take off his shoes and socks.

“Don't care” Harry said want and need filling his body to the max. Draco chuckled before both his shoes and socks were removed and Harry jumped back onto the buttons of the pants.

“Here” Draco said since it seemed that Harry's shaking hands were unable to undo the button on his pants. Once the button and zipper were undone did Harry attack him.

“Harrrrry!” Draco said surprised as he pulled down on top of the other man.

“Draco please”

“Take it easy love” Draco soothed Harry before he was running his finger lightly over Harry's body. He hadn't really thought about how he planned to enter Harry with no lube, but it seemed that the room they were in was full of surprises for when Draco looked on the night stand, where was a small potion bottle that looked very much like lube that he had seen the other boys in Slytherin use while pleasuring themselves.

“Hold still” Draco said once he had grabbed the vial and put some of the fluid on his fingers. Harry on the other hand fought hard to listen to Draco, but the thought of being owned by the blonde Slytherin had Harry squirming around in need. Draco laughed as Harry let out a keening sound as he placed a finger at Harry's entrance.

“Patience my love” Draco said before circling the hole with his finger, Harry decided that Draco was teasing too much and pushed his body back into the bed and Draco's finger.

“Harry” Draco said his finger now in Harry, and feeling the tightness that wrapped around his finger a tightness that would be wrapped around his cock soon enough. He soon leaned over and grabbed Harry's lips and began to kiss the other man as he worked his finger in and out of Harry's hole trying to make sure that he wouldn't cause any pain when he entered him. Once Draco was certain that Harry was used to the first finger in his body he added another finger, this time it stilled Harry's squirming, which had been going since the two had fallen into bed.

“Are you okay?” Draco asked concerned that he had possibly hurt Harry, his soon to be life-partner and bonded in some way. Harry shook his head afraid to speak, the second finger sort of brought him back to reality; and the reality was that he was going to not only have sex with Draco Malfoy, his school yard enemy but he was also about to bind himself to the blonde ex-Slytherin. How had things gotten that far and so quickly? Draco could see that Harry was thinking much too hard for him to be surprised by the second finger he added, so he slowly pulled his fingers out of Harry and then moved to sit besides Harry, all the while the other man never noticing that Draco had moved.

“Harry” Draco said reaching out and placing a hand on Harry's shoulder as he was still laying down.

“How did we come so far so fast?” Harry said, speaking for the first time in many minutes.

“It has always been this way with us” Draco said moving his thumb that was sitting on Harry's shoulder in a rubbing circular motion.

“Has it? We haven't been in contact in ten years”

“True, but we had never met that summer before Hogwarts either and you still pulled an extreme emotion out of me. I was a babbling idiot for days afterwards, I am pretty sure that my mother was the only thing keeping my father from crucio-ing me to make me shut up about you” Draco said before scooting down so that he was half-lying next to Harry now with both his hands running up and down Harry's body. It seemed that Harry craved the touch even if he was talking about them stopping their previous liaisons.

“Babbling idiot?” Harry said a smile crossing his face, showing Draco just how beautiful Harry was when not looking serious. He could remember times at Hogwarts when he would sneak around the castle in search of Harry, he would always lie to himself and say he was just ‘knowing thy enemy' but now looking back on it he had been a bit stalker-ish in his attention to Harry.

“I thought about you” Harry admitted, he had always had passing thoughts about what Draco had been doing while he was in prison and the thought that the blonde ex-Slytherin married and with a child on the way always made him sick to his stomach. So much so that he had begun to think of himself in the place of the witch or wizard that may have caught Draco's heart.

“Did you now?”

“I didn't have much else to think about since I would rather die than even think about those betrayers”

“Understandable” Draco said before pulling Harry's cooling body to his. The room was comfortable but he had noticed that when Harry thought of his time in prison that he always began to shiver as if remembering the cold and harsh conditions of the prison cells. Harry curled up into Draco's body resting his head on the toned chest before running a hand over Draco's sides. It was a good thing that Draco wasn't very ticklish there since he would have been laughing until tears came from the movements.

“I, I always had issues with the thought of you married when I got out. It always made me sick, so I began to think of you in others way. Coming home from work and greeting me at the door, or holding me tight as I threw up because of morning sickness” Harry stopped here waiting for Draco to tell him that it is in fact impossible for a male to get pregnant.

“I can see it” Draco said running his hand over the too flat stomach, thinking of it swollen with his child. He was instantly in love with the thought of Harry pregnant with their first or any child, so long as it was his.

“When I was able to go into the other's minds I would search out any information on you. None was to be had, or no bad news. There was plenty about you in general but never an announcement about your pending marriage”

“So I hoped that when I got out I would see you, even if you would curse me and call me ‘Scar Head' but things have a way of working out, don't they?” Harry said placing a kiss on the patch of skin under his lips.

“They do, for now that you were brought back into my life I realized that no on else completes me as you do. You make me think when fighting on a topic that we don't see eye-to-eye on. I can remember nights I would be in the library at Hogwarts researching about some fact that you would throw at me. Granger always thought of you as the weakest link, the one they could only rely on if it came down to pure magical strength. They never realized that you were more intelligent than the smartest Ravenclaw.” Draco said kissing the black head of hair an action that made Harry look into Draco's eyes with love and hope; hope that the blonde was telling him the truth and that his love was actually true unlike those that had betrayed him.

“Don't look so surprised” Draco said a smile on his face, in his research at the library he had figured out that Harry was much, much smarter than most of the world gave him credit for. He had all the characteristics of all four houses, with his courage for Gryffindor, his cunning for Slytherin, his intelligence for Ravenclaw and his loyal for Hufflepuff and yet he had been ten steps ahead of the rest of the school for which Draco had been surprised. Harry had known how to get a reaction out of people, whether good or bad and there were of course situations that had been out of his control but even then he managed to be ahead of his friends in creating the outcome for it.

“Ah” Harry said rubbing his scar, he was already beginning not to like being out of his magically dampened cell. It seemed that without that block that his link to Voldemort was much stronger, leaving him no real way to control when the man became too emotionally unstable. Draco watched Harry concerned.

“Are you certain he will be here Lucius?” Harry asked his voiced changed to show that he wasn't himself but the Dark Lord.

“Do not disappoint me” the Dark Lord said before Harry was able to pull away from the Dark Lord's mind.

“Harry” Draco said now pulling Harry closer to his trying to in some way comfort the other man.

“He is very, very eager” Harry said a frown on his face, that bastard wasn't going to touch what was *his* of that he knew.

“Well is there….I mean….” Draco was at a loss as to how to question if Harry was willing to continue or if he should prepare himself for the worst.

“He will not have you” Harry said before rolling on top of Draco and kissing him with all the passion and feelings he could gather together. Draco moaned his mate finally seemed ready this time. He could almost feel the content and confident feelings that his mate was feeling. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and then flipped the pair of them over; his mate wouldn't be the one to lead this time. Draco soon began to roam over Harry's body finding spots that would make Harry groan louder than he had been.

“Please Draco” Harry pleaded with the blonde he wasn't really sure on how much longer he would be able to last, but he knew that he and Draco would have to peak at the same time for the bonding spell to work properly.

“Patience” Draco murmured before coating his fingers with the slippery liquid from the potion vial. Ten minutes later had Draco pulling out three fingers and finally lubing up his cock, he wasn't really certain on how he had lasted this long but he knew once his cock was wrapped in Harry's tight hole that he wouldn't last much longer.

“Draco” Harry said seeing that Draco seemed to be thinking about something.

“I'm here” Draco said before lining up his cock to the entrance of Harry, he slowly guided his cock into the hole all the while watching Harry for any sort of pain he was experiencing.

“I won't break” Harry said running his hands up Draco's arms to his shoulders.

“I know but I'm going to make sure that you don't” Draco said before his balls met the skin of Harry's ass. Harry let out a moan then, he felt so full and the feeling was one of the most amazing things he had ever felt in his life. Even flying on a broom had nothing on the feeling he had running through his body currently.

“Okay” Draco said looking down as Harry, whose legs were now wrapped around Draco's waist.

“Perfect” Harry said before moving a bit which caused Draco to moan. Draco took this as his cue to start moving so he pulled his cock almost all the way out before sliding back in again making the pair of them moan. It was while Draco pumped into Harry's body that he began to speak the bonding spell that came to his mind.

Burn bright, burn true,
heart of Draco Lucius Malfoy

Here the glowing globes began to shine much brighter than before, something that neither man noticed while staring into the eyes of the other. Harry then spoke his response to Draco's words.

Burn bright, burn true,
heart of Harry James Potter

With Harry beginning the spell now the colored globes shattered being filled with so much power, while the silver globes seemed to expand with the power added in the room. It was then Draco's turn to speak again.

Burn bright, burn true,
heart of Harry James Potter

Draco pumped into Harry's body before Harry spoke his answering call to the spell. Once Harry had answered Draco's call, did Draco start the next part of the spell:

A meeting of our two hearts
if it is ordained
must come to pass.

Here Harry fell silent he had paid attention in his Wizarding Traditions and Etiquette class, he knew that the dominate partner had to continue the rest of the spell until the end. Harry could feel the power building in the room, but he became focused on Draco and the pleasure running through his body. He wasn't even sure on how Draco had the presence of mind to even know the words to the spell let alone speak them, but he would worry about that later since Draco had begun to speak again all the while pumping in and out of his body.

Let no-one and nothing
stand in the way
of the meeting our two hearts.

After a few quick pumps into Harry's body did Draco speak again, the spell had to be said while the partners were making love and at the end they *had* to peak at the same time. Draco felt nothing but calm, content and confident that they would be bonded by the end of the spell. There was a hick-up of the spell they were using but he would explain that to Harry later, when it worked for he was certain that it would work.

Two hearts beat as one
it is my will
and it is done.

Once Harry heard those words did the pleasure in his body spike to a point that he knew that he would falling over the edge of pleasure soon enough. ‘Just in time' Harry thought for he knew the ending lines of the spell and they both at to say them for the spell to work.

My will is transferred
my spell has been heard
As I will, so mote it be.

Harry spoke first as was indicated by Draco with a nudge of his nose to Harry's cheek. Sweat was pouring down both of them as the temperature in the room had risen a few degrees since the beginning of the spell.

My will is transferred
my spell has been heard
As I will, so mote it be.

Draco said closing the spell circle since he had begun it. Spell casting such as this were part of the ‘old blood' ways and had almost died out except for a class at Hogwarts and even then it was only an elective that not very many people took. Harry had taken it because he knew that Ron would steer clear of the class, being a pureblood and probably already knowing some if not all of it and Hermione would steer clear because it was to ‘backwards in traditions' for her to even think about taking it. Harry gasped at the new feelings running through his body, it was almost as if he was experiencing what pleasure Draco was experiencing as well as his own. It was all too much for Harry and he shouted out Draco's name while coating the pair of them in his seed. Draco feeling the constricting around his cock finally allowed himself to explode and he did with a shout of Harry's name and then attaching his mouth the spot he had been working on before.

“Draco” Harry said again feeling the most amazing feeling running through his body. It was almost as if he could feel the magic binding them together. Draco sucked and finally bit the patch of skin, drawing out blood to mix with his saliva; mixing their DNA and their magics. It was then that the pair felt a tremor shake the building, making Draco pull away from the skin looking at Harry with his swirling ice-blue eyes shining full of love. Harry smiled and ran his left hand down Draco's face, it was then he noticed a glint from his ring finger.

“Draco” Harry said putting his hand in front of Draco and watching as Draco brought his left hand up as well.

“We are bonded” Draco said showing Harry the glinting metal ring on his finger as well. It was nothing fancy, just a plain silver and gold looking band, with no gems on it. When Draco spoke a huge smile blossomed on Harry's face.

“We are bonded”

“Now what in Merlin's name was that tremor?” Harry said lying on Draco's chest since they had taken their previous positions as before.

“I have a feeling that was all us” Draco answered back, he had a feeling that his mother had probably left at least two to three messages on his defero, wondering if he was okay and if he had been near whatever had caused the power surge.

“Hmmm” Harry said already sort of knowing that it had been them to create such a power surge that was felt in both Wizarding and Muggle United Kingdom. In the quiet of the room it was then they heard the beeping sound coming from a corner of the room.

“Damn defero” Draco said before sitting up and bringing Harry with him.

“What is that beeping”

“My defero”

“Your what?”

“The communicator I used downstairs, it's called a defero”

“Oh”

“It's probably my mother, let me see what she has to say” Draco said getting up and then padding over to his robe. Harry on the other hand sat in bed watching his bonded, his husband, his life partner with lust and want in his eyes. Oh but Draco was an amazing piece of work, toned and lean and hung like a horse as the muggles would say. Draco threw a smirk over to Harry, knowing the other man was watching him.

“Like what you see?”

“Oh very much so” Harry said licking his lips, almost vibrating with need.

“Here we are” Draco said arriving back to the bed with the communicator in his hands and then dropping a kiss to Harry's lips.

“Five messages” Draco said before pushing a series of runes on the outer frame that held the communicator mirror inside.

“Draco, darling….” Harry growled at the girl that sat in the communicator mirrored glass.

“Asteria” Draco said before pulling Harry to him, letting his mate know that he was okay and that he didn't plan to go anywhere near the girl now since he had Harry.

“I spoke with your mother and we are to meet up tomorrow for lunch” Asteria had a smug look on her face, as if Lady Malfoy had any control over her grown son.

“Son of a ….” Draco said before deleting the message and then waiting for the next one to start.

“Draco, my son” The vision of Lady Narcissa Malfoy came on the screen, looking the part of the cool Lady Malfoy.

“Asteria has been,” here Narcissa paused not really certain on how to say what the girl had been since Draco had left her at the Leaky Cauldron.

“Rumor has it that Asteria is engaged”

“Good” Draco said before waiting for his mother to finish the message, as if he cared whether the bint was getting married or not.

“I have agreed on your behalf to a luncheon at the Glass House to congratulate her on her upcoming nuptials” Draco could only rolled his eyes, he knew that Lady Greenglass had probably fed his mother some line about her daughter getting married and wanting to ‘say goodbye' to Draco. Of course this was all a lie, but his mother was a bit gullible when it came to those sorts of things. The message soon finished and Draco deleted it, he would get more than enough information when he arrived back to Malfoy Manor for his weekly dinner with his parents.

“Draco” Here Pansy Parkinson appeared into the communicator's mirror.

“Parkinson” Harry said watched as the girl gave the mirror a glare.

“Asteria Greenglass? How could you marry that bint?”

“I must agree” Harry rasped before kissing Draco's shoulder before sliding his hands down his husband's body.

“I'm trying to concentrate Harry” Draco said a smirk on his face, who knew that Harry would be willing for round two so quickly.

“Hmmm, they can wait. I can't” Harry said before trying to grab the communicator out of Draco's hands.

“Harry” Draco said before he heard Pansy speak again.

“She's been ringing up all the Slytherins about it, and to think I was an associate of hers” Pansy said a sneer on her face at the thought of associating with the blonde girl she spoke about.

“Associate? Is that what they are calling friendship these days?” Harry said before laughing at the look he received from Draco.

“We don't do ‘friends' boy wonder” Harry made a face before nodding to the woman that was still glaring at the screen.

“You are to ring me the moment you get this and by Goddess if you are off shagging her make sure to not get the bint pregnant”

“I have someone else I need to get pregnant” Draco said before kissing Harry, while pushing the button that would allow him to delete that message.

“Draco!” A thick Italian accent came through the communicator now.

“How many more of them?” Harry said glaring at the communicator now. Draco had to agree he had much more pressing things that needed his attention and listening to his ex-Slytherin cohorts and his mother weren't high on that list.

“Snagged Greenglass did you?”

“He's a bit like Finnigan, quite excitable” Harry commented before laughing at the look on Draco's face.

“That drunkard of a boy from Gryffindor?” Draco asked almost insulted by Harry's comment.

“Yeah, he talks just like him” Harry said throwing his chin to the screen where a mocha color man was shown.

“I'll have to ask him about who he has been ‘associating' with” here Draco laughed at Harry's face before listening to the man ramble on about how he had landed the perfect wife in Asteria Greenglass.

“Will he shut up” Harry said running his hands over Draco's hard cock, he had to turn his head so that Draco wouldn't see the smirk that was on his face now.

“Ring me!” The man finally said before Draco quickly deleted the message. Now that Harry pointed out that Blaise was a bit excitable he could remember many a time that Blaise would bounce around the common room after a particularly great prank against the Gryffindor's or confrontation with the Golden Trio.

“Draco” it was Narcissa Malfoy again, this time an almost concerned look on her face.

“Are you well, I hope that you were not near where that power surge came from” here Draco snorted and commented to his mother's message.

“I was at the epicenter of it”

“Ring me the moment you get this and let me know if you are okay and if you have any news” here Narcissa then disappeared from the screen.

“Finally” Harry said pushing the communicator from Draco's hands to the floor of the bedroom. Draco didn't fight with Harry any longer; he had been rock hard since Harry had begun to run his hands up and down his body.

“Too true” Draco said now rolling on top of Harry and taking his marking of Harry in his mouth. Harry let out a groan and began to beg Draco to do something, anything.

“I will” Draco said before slipping a finger into Harry's hole which was still loose from their earlier activities. Draco was just about to slide back into Harry's waiting heat when the communicator started to shake on the floor.

“If you answer that” Harry warned before Draco leaned over the side of the bed to see who it was that was calling him.

“It's my father” Draco said looking back to Harry to see a look of concern on his face.

“Go ahead, but you might want to fix your hair” Harry said running his hands through Draco's hair making it look just like it had when he had first seen Draco at the Leaky Cauldron.

“There” Harry said pushing away from Draco a bit so as to not distract the blonde.

“Malfoy” Draco barked into the communicator after he picked the rune that would answer the call.

“Draco” Lucius Malfoy's voice filled the room making Harry snarl quietly against the headboard. Harry loathed the man; he was right after Voldemort and Dumbledore on his most hated list.

“Father” Draco said playing cool and calm, acting as if there was nothing going on just moments before.

“Your mother was most concerned when you didn't return her message” Lucius said and Draco knew the man was not telling the truth. Lucius cared about one person and one person only and that was the Dark Lord. ‘So the Dark Lord is concerned?' Draco thought before speaking.

“I am fine, I have been trying to gather information on the source of the tremor” Draco said praying that his father would leave it at that. He would have to leave Harry a bit sooner than he liked but he knew that his father and the Dark Lord would want something when he arrived to the Manor for dinner.

“Very good then; I will make sure to let your mother know you are fine and make sure that you are here on time” Lucius said before signing off without so much as a goodbye.

“I hate that man” Harry said before grabbing the communicator and throwing it off to a corner, where it went skidding across the floor and then a thud was heard where the communicator met a wall.

“Hmmm” Draco said in agreement since his mouth was full of Harry's tongue. Draco soon took up his previous position between Harry's legs and his cock lined up with Harry's hole.

“So tight” Draco said as he slid into Harry's waiting body, Harry on the other hand let out a keening sound before grabbing onto Draco's arms while Draco thrust in and out of Harry's body.

“Mine” Draco growled sucking on the mark that was now turning a purple color, and a trickle of blood making its way out of the wound. When the pleasure became too much Harry pulled a hand away from his hold on Draco's arm and began to pump his cock in rhythm with Draco pumping into his body. “I'm close” Harry warned before he exploded screaming Draco's name.

“My own” Draco said now exploding because of Harry's muscles clamping down on his cock and milking his orgasm from him. Draco was leaning over Harry's body breathing hard, while Harry looked up into Draco's eyes a smile on his face at the pink cheeks, mussed up blonde locks and the heavy breathing coming from Draco. He looked like sin personified, or maybe that was more like sex personified; Harry wasn't sure which.

“What time is it?” Draco said pulling out his limp member from Harry and then laying on his back, with Harry cuddling into his side.

“Four” Harry said after he had waved his arm and muttered a ‘tempus' spell, showing the pair of them the time.

“I should get ready to go to the Manor soon and I will also have to bring some sort of news about the tremor back to the Manor as well” Draco said not at all happy with the idea of dealing with his parents and the Dark Lord with the content and happy feelings that were running through his body being with Harry. Harry nodded his head in agreement, he knew that Draco would have to leave soon but he was worried about whether or not Draco would return to him tonight or even if ever. The spell may have bound them together, but for Harry his life was not complete without his dominate around and there was the possibility of him dying if the bond was strong enough to cause that sort of reaction. Harry was pretty certain that he would have that sort of reaction since their bonding had caused a tremor to run throughout the United Kingdom.

“I will return as soon as I am able, you know that right?” Draco said concerned that Harry was already thinking that this was just a way to save himself from the Dark Lord clutches. Harry nodded his head, not at all able to speak for he knew if he spoke his voice would crack and he would sound like some needy sap that Draco wouldn't want.

“Harry” Draco said before leaning down to meet Harry's eyes, the love and worry shining out of his ice-blue orbs.

“I will be back” Draco promised to Harry to which Harry nodded his head.

“Harry I promise” Draco knew that Harry didn't believe him and he could almost curse those idiots that followed the Headmaster of Hogwarts for turning Harry into this scared, unloved man.

“I love you, I will be back” Draco said before leaning-in slowly, giving Harry plenty of time to back away from his advancing face.

“I love you” Harry whispered as well before Draco brought his lips to Harry's in a confirmation of their love and promises to each other. The kiss was slow and passionate and both men knew that nothing would come from the kiss besides alleviating the fears that the other may have had about their bonding and whether or not it was right or too soon.

“I will be back” Draco promised after he broke the kiss. This time Harry met his eyes and nodded his head, a smile on his face to show that he believed Draco's words now.

“Let me take a shower and get ready to go off and see what I can find out about the tremor so that I may return to you quicker” Draco said kissing Harry one last time and then rolling out of the bed and making his way towards a door that he assumed with to the master bathroom. Harry watched before jumping up and followed his husband into the bathroom, Draco has just stepping under the water jets of water flowing from the shower head when he felt Harry wrap his arms around his waist.

“Couldn't pass up the chance to get your hands on me, again” Draco joked wrapping his hands around Harry as well pulling into the shower and the warm water running.

“Well it is a hard thing to pass up” Harry joked right back before he was pushed under the water, leaving him sputtering.

“Draco” Harry yelled before trying to push Draco but getting caught in Draco's arms, the pair were soon cleaning each other off with Draco spending a lot of time washing Harry's hair.

“Right” Draco said when he felt that he wasted enough time in the shower. Harry turned off the water at Draco's word and then made his way of the shower to the towels that sat on the sink counter.

“This place is alive, I swear” Draco said remembering the appearing lube from before.

“Why do you say that” Harry said grabbing a towel and drying himself off before wrapping the towel around his waist.

“The lube just appeared and I certainly don't carry that sort of thing around with me”

“What?” Harry said staring at Draco stunned, he knew that he had felt something off about the place and now he knew. The place was sentient which meant that it would meet the needs of its owners, sort of like Hogwarts did on occasion.

“Well I guess I should have known that” Harry said remembering something that goblin had said to him before he had been guided out of the office he had been in.

“Why do you say that?”

“It is a Peverell building, and they were powerful wizards” Harry said remembering yet another lesson from his Wizarding Traditions and Etiquette Class from Hogwarts.

“Supposedly the descendants of Merlin” Draco agreed with Harry before searching through some of the drawers on the vanity and finding a comb and brush. Draco combed his hair back quickly before moving behind Harry and beginning to brush out the long locks of black/brown hair, which was still matted in some areas. The process was something that Draco wasn't going to leave Harry to do, for he knew that Harry's hair was much longer than what it looked to be.

“I can do that” Harry said standing in front of the blonde man trying to pout but failing since he loved the feeling of being taken care of for no real reason besides the other wanted to do so.

“I know you can, but I want to do it” Draco said still brushing the ends of Harry's hair, a full ten minutes later had Harry's hair completely brushed and combed out. Harry's hair now reached to his waist with the front having long bangs almost.

“It's that long?” Harry said to no one in particular, he had known his hair was long. It wasn't like the guards in prison gave you haircuts and being in prison for ten years his hair had plenty of time to grow out. This of course made Harry wonder on how Sirius' hair was only shoulder length when he first met the man at the end of his third year, and the man had been in prison for twelve years.

“I like it” Draco said hoping that Harry wasn't thinking about cutting it; Harry nodded his head at Draco's words. He too liked his hair longer; it gave it weight which meant that it wouldn't stick up as his shorter had done even with brushing and charms to make it lay flat.

“Here” Draco said taking the hair in his hands and then beginning to braid it by hand. He knew if he had his wand he could have spelled the hair into a braid but he liked the feeling of Harry's hair had running through his hands. Harry sighed at the fingers working in his hair, before Draco kissed the nape of his neck to say that he was done.

“Is there a ribbon?” Draco said pushing the braid over Harry's shoulder to show him the unbound end.

“Here” Harry said waving his hand and a short black ribbon appeared.

“Nice” Draco said before pulling the braid back over Harry's shoulder and then tying the end. Harry turned around in Draco's hold and placed his head on Draco's chest. He knew that Draco had to go, but he didn't want to be left alone now that he had experienced the love from Draco.

“I will be back” Draco said knowing what Harry was thinking. Harry nodded his head as was his way to show that he was listening to Draco's words.

“Now come on” Draco said pulling Harry out of the bathroom and into the bedroom where the sheets and duvet for the bed were crisp and clean as if they had never even been in the room.

“This place”

“I agree” Harry said noticing that Draco's clothes were sitting folded nicely on a chair in a corner with his communicator sitting on top, while Harry's clothes were missing.

“Find something in the closet” Draco said breaking away from Harry and putting his clothes back on and then putting his communicator into his robe pocket.

“So what do you think” Harry said coming out in a pair of black pants and a black shirt, with bare feet.

“Very nice” Draco said pulling Harry into his arms, he just couldn't seem to get enough of his small husband.

“They are huge”

“They are, but I am sure the place will tailor them now that it knows your size” Draco said before kissing Harry on the nose and taking his hand before guiding the pair of them out the room. When they arrived downstairs it looked as if the place had never been vacant for the past who knew how many years.

“I think I am going to have a chat with this place” Harry said hands on his hips. He had planned to spend the time of Draco being gone by cleaning the place, and here the place was destroying his plans of keeping himself busy.

“You go right ahead” Draco said with a laugh, he could tell that Harry was not happy at all with the place and it doing things that a house elf would do.

“You!” Harry said pointing a finger at Draco and glaring, oh the blonde was enjoying seeing Harry acting like an unhappy house wife.

“I'm going, I'm going” Draco said putting his hands up a smile on his face the whole time. Harry tapped his cheek before waiting for Draco to do as directed.

“I'll be as quick as possible” Draco said kissing Harry's cheek and then walking towards and out the front door of the building with his communicator in hand. Harry watched him go a smile on his face until the door closed. He had a battle to do with this place. Before he was able to even start ranting at the place he heard a pop and there standing in the center of the living room was Groshpock.

“Groshpock?” Harry said surprised that the goblin was bid entrance to the place.

“Lord Potter-Perverell” Groshpock said with a bow to show his admiration for the wizard standing in front of him.

“What are you doing here?”

“The tremor” Groshpock said a smirk on his face, if goblins could smirk. Here Harry blushed beet red, he knew that people would question what had caused the tremor but for a goblin to come directly here was an embarrassment.

“I assume the binding went well?”

“Yes” Harry said looking at the floor as it had taken up the keenest interest in the world to Harry.

“Indeed” Groshpock said before deciding to get straight to business.

“Your wrists if you please”

“What, why” Harry asked confused but walking over to the goblin and showing him his wrists, which were clear of any marks which made the goblin frown he had been certain when Harry had accepted the role of Lord Potter and Lord Perverell that their marking would appear, it would seem that something else was at play here.

“Are you dominate?”

“No” Harry squeaked out, he knew the goblin wouldn't laugh at him.

“Where is your bonded mark” Groshpock said before Harry showed him the mark that Draco had made while they made love multiple times.

“No, not that” Groshpock said waving his hand, before pacing in front of Harry.

“Something is not right”

“What”

“You should have the marking for being Lord Potter and Lord Perverell and you do not, further more you do not have the markings of your bond mate's family”

“You lost me” Harry said confused before he made his way to the same loveseat at he had sat on when he first arrived with Draco.

“When a male heir comes of age, which is seventeen in the wizarding world, their family's mark or crest appears on their inner wrist in an outline. When that same heir becomes the Lord of his new family his mark fills in and his bond mate is imprinted with the mark. You are now not only the Lord of two families but you are also a bond mate to another family. So you should have three marks on your wrists, but you have none!” Groshpock said clearly disturbed by what he was saying and seeing.

“Oh” Harry said digesting the information and then wondering if they had been missing something. It was in the silence of the room that an answer came.

“Why didn't I think to check for that” Groshpock said before jumping down from the seat he had taken over to where Harry sat still on the loveseat confused as to what Groshpock was muttering under his breath.

“Let me check to see if there is the Prosapia Redimio charm on you”

“The what”

“Prosapia Redimio, a family binding basically” Harry nodded his head, he knew that the goblin would explain everything to him soon enough.

“As I thought” the goblin said before he began to explain to Harry was the charm was that was on him currently.

“The Prosapia Redimio charm is how another wizard or witch in some cases binds an heir to be unable to claim their rightful place as Lord or bond to their true love.”

“Why”

“In most cases to control the heir, which I think is what is going on in your case”

“Who” Harry said before shaking his head, oh he knew who but for that interfering old man to bind him in such as way made Harry want to go and find the old man and bind him and his magic as he had done to Harry.

“Never mind, can it be broken?”

“Yes” Groshpock said proud that he would be able to help Harry out of his predicament with this particular charm. Most pureblood families knew that goblins could break the charm, but since most thought that goblins were beneath them, they never asked instead bowing and cowering at the feet of the person who placed the charm on in the first place, as was intended by the caster.

“What do I need to do?”

“There are two ways to break the charm, the first is to go to the caster and asked for it removed”

“Hell will freeze over before that occurs” Harry snarled, he was not going to seek out Albus Dumbledore to remove a charm only to suck him into some other plot to get him under his control again. Ten years of prison had taught him that he was only a pawn to the Headmaster and he was very unwilling at this point to even consider coming near the man again.

“The second is something that very few even consider an option” Harry nodded his head, he understood that with the other option it could be seen as something very undesirable to the wizarding population of which Harry cared nothing about.

“I can break it”

“Really” Harry said sounding hopefully, this was sort of the reaction that Groshpock had expected but to hear it happening was a shock. It wasn't a disdainful “you” as some goblins had heard when a wizard had bothered to ask as a last ditch effort.

“I can”

“Wow” Harry said amazed that Groshpock was seemingly not only willing but able to break the charm.

“Would you like me to break it?”

“Of course, do you require payment or anything?”

“No” Grosphock said he was quite happy to be in the good graces of not only the most powerful wizard ever, but also the richest.

“Are you sure”

“Very”

“Okay” Harry said not sure on how he could repay the goblin for breaking the charm.

“Hold still” Groshpock said before chanting in gobbledygook Harry assumed, a light surrounded him and then a flash of yellow light died out.

“There” Groshpock said before reaching out for Harry's wrists again and now seeing the three family crest's on the inner part of his wrist.

“A Malfoy!” Groshpock said very shocked over the crest that was showing on his left inner wrist, the place where the bonding mark would show.

“Draco” Harry confirmed before looking at his inner wrist that lay in the goblin's clawed hands.

“Very well suited” Groshpock said before grabbing the other wrist and noticing that the two crests had merged into one.

“Very interesting”

“What?” Harry had a sense of déjà vu, he remembered saying the same thing to Ollivander's before his first year at Hogwarts.

“Your Potter shield and Perverell shield have merged into one”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No, in fact it was a very good thing. It means that you are very powerful and should be able to manage the mantle of Lord for both houses” Harry nodded his head in understanding before a thought came to mind.

“But with Draco”

“You will never be Lord Malfoy since you were not borne of the line, but any Lord titles that you had before your bindings are yours unless you wish to pass them onto your husband”

“I think I'll keep these for the moment” Harry said not wanting to burden his husband too much.

“A wise decision” Groshpock said before he began chatting with Harry about the rumors there were spreading around Diagon Alley as to the cause of the tremor. Most of the ideas were ridiculous in both of their opinions but they were talking about people who were willing to throw a sixteen year old teenager into prison for ten years. Meanwhile in Diagon Alley, Draco was making his way through the crowds of people that were gossiping over the tremor and what was the cause.

“I heard that it was the Headmaster finally gone over the twist”

“Well I heard it was the Dark Lord creating some sort of spell”

“Well I heard….” And it went on and on, from things as stupid as a potion explosion to something fairly close to the actual reason, which was that some wizard had bound himself to a Dark Creature of some sort.

“Malfoy” Draco heard being called down the Alley way; he could see a ginger colored mop of hair making its way closer to where he was currently trying to gather the rumors to bring back to his parents and the Dark Lord.

“Malfoy” Draco heard again before acting as if he hadn't heard his name being called. He had nothing to say to the ginger haired colored person making their way to where he was now on his way out of the Alley. He had enough gossip and rumors to satisfy his parents and the Dark Lord.

“You hear me you ferret” the voice yelled making a few people in the street stop and watch the drama that was unfolding between Draco Malfoy and some Weasley.

“Weasley howling like an animal” Draco said a sneer on his face as the approaching Weasley came into view.

“Shut it Malfoy, where have you been?”

“What are you my keeper? Don't worry about it” Draco said before trying to push past the Weasley to make his escape.

“Well I followed you and you disappeared” Draco laughed; oh this would be great fun.

“Stalking me now Weasley, I didn't know you had those types of feelings” Draco said batting his eyes at Ron which of course made Ron turn all sorts of shades of red.

“Shove off” Ron said before getting a hold of himself, the headmaster had not been happy when Ron had lost sight of Draco. He was almost certain that the blonde had seen Harry leave out the Leaky Cauldron but had been unable to prove it, so instead he had Ron follow Draco around hoping that the blonde would lead him to Harry.

“What do you want Weasley, besides me?” Draco said sneering at Ron all the while wanting to hex the man in front of him.

“Where's Harry?”

“Potter? Hell if I know, he's your hero” Draco said smirking at the flinch that came from Ron.

“Not so hero like is he?” Draco goaded Ron a bit more.

“Don't you dare talk about Harry like that! You don't know him!”

“Hmmm” Draco said before sneering at the two other people making their way toward where they stood now.

“Look your back-up is here”

“Hermione! Ginny! I can handle Malfoy by myself you know” Ron said embarrassed that he was now flanked by two witches.

“Not the case it seems” Draco said smirking at the two girls before rolling his eyes when both turned red at looking at him.

“I would just *love* to stay and chat, but I have an engagement to attend” Draco said before turning around and making his robes flare out like Professor Snape's robes had the habit of doing.

“Well are you just going to let him go” Ginny spoke, she wouldn't mind a piece of that but she knew better than to even comment on Draco's looks while in the presence of her brother.

“Arg!” Ron said stomping away leaving Ginny and Hermione standing in the center of the Alley.

“Hot”

“Indeed” Hermione agreed with Ginny's assessment of the blonde ex-Slytherin that had just left.

“I heard he was engaged to Asteria Greenglass”

“Really” Hermione said remembering the blonde haired girl from Hogwarts.

“Shame though”

“Hmmm” Hermione said before watching Ron make his way back to where they were still standing.

“I assume that you didn't catch him” Hermione said disapproval in her tone.

“He was gone by the time I reached the Cauldron”

“The Headmaster will not be happy” Hermione said spinning on her heels and making her way back towards Twilfit & Tatting's for her fitting for her bridesmaid dress, it was about bloody time that Neville and Luna got married since the pair of them had been mooning over the other for years now.

Draco arrived to Malfoy Manor just as Ron Weasley had shown up in the Leaky Cauldron looking for him.

“What do they think they will gain by following me” Draco asked before throwing in the floo powder to allow him to make his way to the Manor.

“Draco” Narcissa said greeting her son once he had left the flooing room.

“Mother”

“Your father and his guest are in the study”

“Thank you mother” Draco said walking towards the study that held his father and probably the Dark Lord. Draco knocked on the door before being bid to enter.

“Draco” Lucius said a frown marring his face, there was something different about his son but he wasn't sure what it was yet, at least.

“Father, my Lord” Draco said bowing in greeting to the Dark Lord.

“Young Draco you may rise” Voldemort said watching Draco like a prime piece of meat.

“Thank you my Lord” Draco said before standing straight and with his hands behind his back and his feet slightly apart. At ease in the Death Eater's ranks, of which Draco hoped to not be a marked part of soon.

“What news do you bring on the tremor from earlier today?”

“Nothing that has any merit” Draco said before passing on the rumors that he had gotten from his short visit into the Alley before coming.

“That was all you could manage to gather” his father said disappointed, he had thought his son would come with at least one feasible option as to the reason of the tremor.

“I do know that whatever it is, it has Dumbledore and his followers very nervous they even had me tailed by Ron Weasley”

“Is there cause for that?”

“No, the only thing that I can come up with is that today Harry Potter was released from prison and they assumed that I might have seen him when I arrived to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch with Asteria Greenglass” Draco explained before he noticed the Dark Lord's facial expression changed just a bit, enough for Draco to know that the Dark Lord had forgotten all about the Boy-Who-Lived and also not at all happy with the idea of someone else taking Draco's attention such as Asteria had been or was doing.

“Lucius give me your arm” the Dark Lord said not happy that Asteria Greenglass had the affections of *his* Draco.

“My Lord” Lucius said before sticking out his arm for the Dark Lord. Draco decided to throw the Dark Lord a bone since he was pretty sure that the man was about to summon the Greenglass family here to torture them for their daughter having his affections.

“I of course arrived to Asteria to break things off” Draco said in an off handed way, when the Dark Lord then pushed Lucius' arm away Draco knew he had him.

“Explain” The Dark Lord demanded of Draco.

“Asteria was just a bit too much maintenance for my taste” Draco said eyeing his father wondering if the man was unhappy with his words.

“Indeed” the Dark Lord agreed before standing up to get ready of dinner. The sooner dinner was over the sooner the youngest Malfoy would be in his bed.

“Let us convene in the dining room” The Dark Lord said before grabbing Draco's arm and guiding the youngest Malfoy out of the room with Lucius pulling up the rear. The trip to the dining room was quick and Narcissa met the three men at the door.

“Have a seat” the Dark Lord said before taking a seat at the head of the table while the three Malfoy's filed into their spots.

“No Lucius” the Dark Lord said not allowing Lucius to sit in the spot on his right hand side as he had been doing for many years.

“I think Young Draco can sit there tonight” the Dark Lord all but purred, Draco on the other hand was trying very hard not to throw up with the thoughts that were probably running through the Dark Lord's head about the pair of them.

“Of course My Lord” Lucius said before taking the seat that Draco was already sitting in. Draco could see that his father was not happy at all about the change. Soon after everyone was seated the food appeared on the table much like it would at Hogwarts. In the quiet din of their eating did the buzzing sound that comes with the defero going off in Draco's pocket. All faces turned to Draco since the sound was coming from him.

“Excuse me” Draco said pulling out the defero and seeing that it was a contact that he had spoken to while in Diagon Alley.

“A lead” Draco said before looking to the Dark Lord to see if he could answer it.

“Go ahead and I am curious to hear what they have”

“Malfoy” Draco said looking into the mirror and seeing a man stooped over and older than dirt looking back at him.

“Mr. Malfoy, I have a lead on the tremor”

“And” Draco said wondering if the man would have the information about the tremor right or not.

“I will require payment”

“The usual if it is good” Draco barked before waiting for the man on the other end to speak.

“I have reason to believe that Dumbledore has bound Harry Potter”

“Bound to whom”

“Of that I do not know, but the tremor was clearly from the Verus Diligo Redimio spell”

“How do you know this?” Draco said a bit worried that he would be found out much easier than he thought.

“Boy do not question me!” The old man said before Lucius was up and snatching away the communicator from Draco.

“You do best to know you place, Bryce” here the man on the other end paled at seeing the face of Lucius Malfoy.

“I'm sorry Lord Malfoy” the man said before trying to make good with the Malfoy family once again.

“I was just telling your son”

“I heard you quite fine, now how do you know that Potter has been bound using the Verus Diligo Redimio spell?”

“I overheard the Minister's aid speaking about it in Diagon Alley”

“And are we to believe the rubbish that comes out of *those* officials mouths?”

“When dealing with all things Potter? I would say yes and since the boy was released today, I can only assume that they speak the truth”

“Hmmm” Lucius said, knowing the man had a point. I wasn't like a Death Eater would be in the know of what was going on with the Potter brat and Dumbledore that was for sure.

“Payment will be delivered” Lucius said ending the conversation and then taking his seat again. Draco on the other hand wanted to laugh at the look on the Dark Lord's face; it was one of anger and amusement.

“Did you think that young Draco would be unable to handle that old man?”

“My Lord” Lucius started out, not really sure on how best to answer the other man's question.

“Lucius, Draco is twenty-six and a grown man in the eyes of the wizarding world. It would be in your best interest to allow him this freedom”

“I'm sorry my Lord” Lucius said clearly unprepared for the tongue lashing he was receiving from the Dark Lord.

“Make sure it doesn't happen again”

“Yes My Lord” once those words were spoken they continued to eat. It was then that Draco flicked his eyes to his left hand and saw his wedding band; he was quite surprised that none of the people in the room had commented on the band.

“Dessert?” The Dark Lord asked Draco, clearly eager about something.

“I think I will pass today” Draco said looking at his mother and father and seeing that both their faces had happy looks on them.

“I need to speak to Young Draco, alone” the Dark Lord said before standing and then moving over to where Draco still sat.

“My Lord” Draco said scooting his chair back and then standing as well while his parents sat and watched the scene.

“We shall retire” the Dark Lord said leering at Draco's body as the younger man stood next to his side. Oh how Draco wished he was with Harry, but he cleared his mind of those thoughts just in case the Dark Lord went fishing in his brain, what Draco did not know was that Harry had built walls around his husband's thoughts just as he had when dealing with the Dark Lord.

“Where are you taking me?” Draco said when it was very clear that they were making their way towards the guest rooms of the Manor.

“Silence” the Dark Lord said before they arrived to his guest bedroom. Draco stepped in and soon wanted to throw up, the Dark Lord had chains at the foot of the bed and the room looked more like a torture chamber than a bedchamber.

“Strip” the Dark Lord commanded of Draco, to which the blonde stood stunned. He had of course believed Harry when he said the man fancied him but to see it first hand was a whole other matter.

“I said strip” the Dark Lord said now sitting in a chair watching Draco's every move. Draco slowly began to unbutton his outer robe before moving onto his shirt, it was then that a glint was thrown off by his ring and the colored in family crest was on display.

“Stop! What is this?!” The Dark Lord said rising and making his way over to where Draco stood, his fingers on the third button of his shirt.

“My Lord”

“You are bound! When?”

“I have been bound for a while now” Draco bent the truth he had been bound for at least five hours, which he could say was a while. Now if the Dark Lord took it to mean that or for years that was on the other man.

“Certainly not to that Greenglass bint?”

“No my Lord” Draco said before getting a far off look on his face.

“He is mine, and I am his”

“Dominate?” the Dark Lord said thinking of how he could salvage this.

“I am” here the Dark Lord smiled; oh it would be easy to get rid of the submissive.

“Who?”

“Of that I cannot tell you my Lord” Draco said almost looking ashamed.

“Certainly not a mudblood”

“Oh no My Lord” Draco said looking shocked that the man would even suggest such a thing. “Then who?”

“Please my Lord, he is scared and I wish to protect him” Draco pleaded, or at least acted like he was pleading. The Dark Lord saw this as a good thing, so he let Draco slide.

“Fine, but you will bring him to me”

“Yes, My Lord” Draco nodded his head, before he watched the retreating back of the Dark Lord leave the room. Draco quickly redressed and then made his way out of the room and back down to the dining room to see if his parents were still there.

“Draco” Narcissa said standing up at seeing her son standing at the entrance of the dining room.

“Mother, father” Draco said nodding his head at the pair of them. He would have to tell his parent's about his bonding before the Dark Lord did.

“I'm bound” Draco said coming over and showing off the plain band and the filled in family crest.

“When” Narcissa said looking at the band and how utterly simple it was. Here Draco paused, he was very unwilling to say only a few hours but he knew that his parents would need to know at least part of the truth.

“A while”

“Hmmm, how utterly simple of a band” Narcissa commented before her husband was up and looking at the band as well, the style and look of the band always told a person much about the relationship. The plainer the band, the truer the love was that was in the relationship since gems weren't needed to show true love. That was why Narcissa's wedding band was covered in gems and made out of the highest quality metal there was, platinum. It showed off the money that was behind the Malfoy name and not the love behind the marriage.

“Bound or married?”

“Bound” Draco said before they were broken apart by the Dark Lord's arrival back to the dining room.

“We will speak about this later” Lucius said to Draco before bowing to the Dark Lord who was now standing by Draco's side.

“Young Draco will bring his mate to the next meeting” the Dark Lord said before dismissing Draco and Narcissa for some private business with Lucius.

“Now don't forget your meeting with Asteria tomorrow at the Glass House”

“Yes mother” Draco said before agreeing to go to the posh restaurant to congratulate Asteria on her pending marriage.

“Good night my son” Narcissa said kissing each of Draco's cheeks in the floo room.

“Good night mother” Draco said before waiting for his mother to leave the room to throw some floo powder in to make his way to the Leaky Cauldron before heading to Cadmus Labs. Draco left the Leaky Cauldron as soon as the floo network spat him out at his destination. It was a quick walk to Cadmus Labs from there and soon Draco was standing at the door of the labs knocking.

“Harry” Draco called out after pushing one of the front doors open when Harry didn't answer the door, and then looking for where his husband was.

“Draco” Harry said with relief in his voice. He had been going crazy with boredom after Grosphock had left after chatting with him for awhile about some of the goblin and wizard gossip going on at the bank and in the Alley.

“My love” Draco said pulling Harry into his arms and leaning in for a kiss.

“How did the meeting go?” Harry said looking at Draco and trying to see if there had been any damage done to the blonde.

“The Dark Lord wishes to meet you at the next meeting”

“Probably to kill me off so he can then have his wicked way with you” Harry commented before guiding Draco to the loveseat he had been sitting on reading before Draco arrived back.

“Indeed” Draco agreed; he and Harry both knew that Harry's words were true. The Dark Lord figured that Draco had married a weak wizard and it would be simple enough to kill him off once in the Dark Lord's presence. It would be a sad day for the Dark Lord when he found out *who* it was that Draco had bound himself to.

“Father was quite livid with finding out that I was bound”

“Did he do anything?”

“No, but I have no doubt that he will be summoning me soon enough to punish me for not keeping him updated on my sexual activities and relationships I may have been in before”

“Your father is….” Draco nodded his head; oh he knew his father was a self-centered bastard that would sell his own son, and had basically had done so, to get what he wanted.

“My mother on the other hand was utterly unimpressed with my bounding band”

“I like it” Harry said linking his left hand with Draco's.

“I too have no issues with it”

“So what else happened?”

“There was a call about the tremor during dinner”

“You don't look happy” Harry commented before snuggling up close to Draco, hoping that would calm his mate since the news he had to tell Harry about looked unpleasant.

“The man figured out that it was from a Verus Diligo Redimio bonding”

“Oh” Harry said a bit worried as well.

“And a bonding of you to someone, of the someone else he didn't know, but he overheard the Minister's aide talking about it”

“Is the bond registered at the Ministry?”

“Well it probably is, but the marriage part wouldn't be”

“Huh”

“Well any bonding that occurs is automatically registered at the Ministry. But just because you bond doesn't mean that you are married in the eyes of the Ministry, you have to actually fill out a piece of paper that will be recognized by the Ministry as your marriage certificate”

“Utter rubbish”

“True, but that is how the Ministry works” Draco said knowing only too well how the Ministry worked since he was a worker of said government. Draco drew Harry in a kiss before pulling back when Harry brought up his right hand to run through Draco's hair.

“What's that?”

“My Lord family shield” Draco took the wrist and examined the shield that now lay on Harry's inner wrist.

“A mixed shield” Draco said surprised, in most cases a wizard was only deemed strong enough for one family shield to be displayed, very rarely two and even rarer was the mixing of the two shields.

“Yes, Groshpock said it was a good thing”

“A very good thing now let me see my shield” Draco said taking Harry's other arm and examining his family's shield on Harry's left inner wrist. After approving of the shield did Draco pull Harry back into another kiss, one that had the pair set alight with passion.

“Bed, now” Draco said before dragging Harry back up to the master bedroom. The rest of the night Draco spent making love to Harry, with the pair of them shouting out their love for the other. The future forgotten for the moment, at least until they entered the wizarding world again the next day.

“Morning” Draco said kissing Harry's shoulder when he felt the other man stir from his sleep.

“Morning to you too” Harry responded back before rolling over and pulling Draco in for a kiss.

“You tempt me”

“Do I now?” Harry said a smile on his face, he felt amazing. He was waking up not only not in prison any longer but also waking up to Draco's beautiful face.

“You do, and I have no time to have my wicked way with you”

“Why” Harry asked, he didn't remember a reason on why Draco wouldn't be able to make him Draco's this morning.

“I have a meeting with Asteria at the Glass House for brunch and I have yet to actually return to my flat on Vauxhall Road”

“Oh” Harry said having totally forgotten that Draco had a life before he had literally bumped into the blonde ex-Slytherin.

“I need to go back to my flat” Draco refused to call it home now, since his home was with Harry at Cadmus Labs.

“….and pack up my things there, and then I need to go and meet Asteria for this brunch and then I should probably go to work” Draco sneered at the thought of going into the Ministry for work. He hated working there but since the Dark Lord had demanded that he be there he went, he could only hope to gather information about what Dumbledore and his followers knew about Harry and his possible bonding when he arrived to the hell hole that was his employer.

“You'll come back?” Harry asked afraid that once Draco was back out in the wizarding world he would realize that Harry was a burden and would leave him.

“Of course, you have my word on that but you know I need to figure out what Dumbledore and his followers know about you and your possible bonding and to do that I need to go to work and I still need to act as if I am the same Draco Malfoy as before”

“Makes sense” Harry said nodding his head at Draco's words. The words made perfect sense but for some reason Harry wasn't able to shake the feeling that Draco would leave and never return.

“Love, you think and worry too much” Draco said pressing a kiss to Harry's brow before rolling out of bed and making his way to the bathroom. Harry watched Draco go before deciding that Draco was right, there was nothing that worrying would ever solve and he would let Draco take care of him since he knew the blonde would do so, he had already proven that.

“See I tempted you” Draco said once Harry stepped into the shower where Draco was currently washing his hair.

“Doesn't take much” Harry said before kissing Draco and then grabbing a flannel and washing Draco's body.

“You spoil me”

“You deserve the best” Harry said meaning every word he spoke.

“And I have the best” Draco said pulling Harry up from washing his legs to kiss him. He wanted Harry to understand that he was exactly what Draco wanted and needed which made him perfect for the blonde.

“Come” Draco said turning off the water after the pair of them were clean. Draco dried Harry off while Harry did the same to Draco, with towels wrapped around them they arrived back to the bedroom only this time Draco's clothes were gone.

“Into the closet” Draco said before opening the closet doors and taking a look at that clothing that hung on hangers inside the small room.

“I think this will be fine” Draco said pulling out a pair of black pants and a plain black shirt as Harry had on yesterday. Once dressed Draco turned to see that Harry had managed to find a pair of causal looking pants in a heather grey and a t-shirt in a light purple; the outfit looked amazing on Harry even with his semi-ragged appearance.

“I'll be back after I collect my clothing from my flat” Draco said before kissing Harry and then making his way downstairs and outside to make his way back to his flat. Once Harry was alone did he explore the building more, upon first glance the building looked like a lab from the outside with the main entrance area looking almost as if a waiting area and not the main living area for the home. The second floor housed the bedrooms and guest room while the basement, something that Harry was avoiding housed the labs for the building. Cadmus Perverell had been a bit of a mad scientist when dealing with magic, whether it be potions, charms, transfiguration or any other branch of magic; the man had a thirst to understand everything and that meant that labs were required to make sure that tests were done in a controlled setting. It was there that Harry spent the time waiting for Draco's return from his flat.
Meanwhile, Draco appearated to his flat on Vauxhall Road an upscale version of Diagon Alley, with shops and living quarters boasting high price tags and exclusive entrance if you were from the right family or had enough galleons to buy your way in. Draco arrived to his flat to see the daily owl from the Daily Prophet sitting waiting for him.

“Got that rag of a paper do you?” Draco questioned the bird before taking the paper and putting two knuts into the pouch that was hung around the bird's neck. The bird soon took flight and never heard Draco curse Merlin to hell and back at the front page article on the newspaper.

Harry Potter Released! Boy-Who-Lived to save us from the Dark Lord?
by Zamira Gulch

It had been brought to this reporter's attention that yesterday Harry Potter, the famed only survivor of the killing curse was released after his ten year imprisonment for attacking Ministry official Delores Umbridge. It amazes this reporter that the Ministry failed to report such a prominent release of an inmate to the reporters here at the Daily Prophet. With such a release it has been stated that the Boy-Who-Lived will join forces with Aurors and the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore to rid Wizarding Great Britain of the darkest Dark Lord since Grindelwald; who was defeated by the Headmaster himself. But where is Harry Potter and why has he yet to make an appearance in the wizarding world?
I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to speak with one of the Aurors who were on site when Mr. Potter was released and I must say that the details shock and worry me.
“Yeah I was there when they released Potter…..he looked a fright and acted as if he didn't have a care in the world. When I presented a letter that Headmaster Dumbledore gave to one of us Aurors for Potter when he was released, I was quick to do my duty and hand over the letter. He told us to burn it! Burn a letter from the Headmaster of Hogwarts!” I was equally as shocked since it had been stated in numerous other articles that Harry Potter thought and looked up to the Headmaster of Hogwarts as a Grandfather he never had. What changed? Certainly he doesn't blame the Headmaster for his imprisonment? When I interviewed another Auror who was present for his land release, I was shocked even further.
“Potter acted as if he didn't care about the war that was going on. When he was asked about what he planned to do, he said it wasn't our concern! Not our concern, he is a convicted wizard and it is very well our concern!”
“He acted as if he could hear our thoughts, it was quite creepy” another Auror supplied to me from the release of Harry Potter.
One can only wonder if the Boy-Who-Lived will save us from the Dark Lord or if he will turn his back on all he holds dear.
Will Harry Potter betray us?!

Draco shook with rage over the article that was printed. They of course had the facts right in most cases but Draco couldn't for the life of him figure out how people in the wizarding world felt that Harry owed them some great debt, as if them turning their backs on him and sending him to prison for ten years was okay and that he was to just pop back out and be happy with the treatment and way his life was to be guided. Did they forget that article six years into Harry's stay when they found out that all things dealing with Harry and the attack against Umbridge had been a roués by the Minister, hence his impeachment the next day along with Umbridge. They had even stated that the Wizengamot would look into an early release for Harry, but nothing had ever come of it. Now that Draco thought about it he found it funny that the Headmaster, who happen to be on the Wizengamot, had continued to keep Harry imprisoned even after being found innocent. Was this a way that he thought he would have control over Harry once he was released? Fat lot it did him since Harry was one seriously powerful and unhappy wizard and he was willing to let them know it in his own time. Draco continued to glance through the paper, just so that he would be prepared when he actually made it to work to do damage control if need be, and there seemed to be plenty of that today since where was yet another article about Harry, in of all places the society section.

Tremor Related to Harry Potter being Married?!
by Winkus Oddpick

Could Harry Potter be married? This seems to be the rumor floating around Diagon Alley. It has been said that the tremor that occurred mid-afternoon yesterday was caused by the bonding spell Verus Diligo Redimio, which of course can only be done in cases of true love. But who is Harry Potter's true love? A Weasley family member that has been there for Harry Potter since he was eleven? Ginny Wealsey, the youngest and only female Wealsey? Or his rumored crush from Hogwarts, Cho Chang? And if the tremor was a result of the bond, can we expect great things from the partnership? Perhaps the defeat of the Dark Lord?
This reporter doesn't know much yet, but I will keep you updated on any news that we here at the Daily Prophet find out.

“Those bints will get nowhere near *my* Harry” Draco growled out before closing the newspaper not wanting to look at it any longer. Instead he stuffed the rag in his robe pocket before making his way to his bedroom, pulling out his trunk from Hogwarts and packing up all of the clothing and belongings he just couldn't live without. After a flick of his wrist the trunk closed and shrunk and Draco took one last look around the flat to make sure he didn't forget anything. He would have to ask Harry if there was a way to give the illusion that he was still at the flat while at home with Harry.

“Back to Harry” Draco said before leaving the flat and making his way back to Cadmus Labs. He arrived back to Cadmus and found Harry nowhere; he began to panic then, which sent a wave of panic down the bond that was between Harry and Draco.

“Draco” Harry called making his way up the stairs from the basement to see if Draco had returned or if the cause for panic was something that would send him into the wizarding world to save his love.

“Harry” Draco said with a sigh before pulling Harry to him and kissing him for all he was worth.

“Are you okay?”

“Could be better” Draco said before pulling out the paper and handing it over to Harry, who then read it and laughed at the articles. Nothing that a newspaper was going to say was going to sway him to help them get rid of the Dark Lord, there were only two reasons and one was standing right in front of him and the other well he knew the other. Draco watched Harry's reaction and breathed a sigh of relief when it looked like Harry wasn't going to take off to save the wizarding world because of some guilty conscience.

“Ginny Weasley and Cho Chang? That was the best they could come up with?” Harry said once he had gotten his laughing under control.

“Hmmm” Draco said his arms still wrapped around Harry. He very much didn't like the feelings that had run through his body when he hadn't been able to find Harry and now having the smaller man in his arms safe he began to see that maybe he had over reacted just a little bit.

“I'm here love” Harry said kissing Draco trying to get him out of the trace-like state he seemed to be in.

“I know, but I didn't see you right away and you didn't answer my calling of your name, I sort of assumed the worse”

“They won't find me here and I don't plan on going off to save the world” Harry reassured Draco before looking to the blonde's eyes and still seeing the worry and concern there.

“I hope so” Draco finally conceded before removing his arms and then re-enlarging his trunk.

“Is there a way to show my flat when I have a communication coming in?”

“I would think so” Harry said not knowing why Draco was asking him about magic when he only had a magical education of a fifth year at Hogwarts.

“Would you be able to hold the illusion?” Draco said before Harry nodded his head. Harry wasn't quite sure what Draco was trying to achieve but he knew that the blonde knew what he was doing.

“Let's put my things up and then food for you” Draco said before darting upstairs and swishing his wand so that his clothes and other items placed themselves in the correct spots in the master bedroom and bathroom. Once in the bedroom Draco changed into some of his own clothing, he knew that Asteria would be scrutinizing his every move and every look so he best come in his own clothes and look as if nothing had changed in the last 24 hours. When Draco arrived back downstairs he could smell that someone was in the kitchen making something to eat.

“Harry” Draco said amazed that Harry seemed to be a pro in the kitchen, for sitting on the counter were made sandwiches and Harry was just finishing with the soup that he had found in the pantry of the house.

“Eat up” Harry said grabbing a large bowl and filling it with soup, he knew anything heavier and he would be bringing it back up within minutes.

“You're not going to have a sandwich?”

“Too heavy” Harry said before sipping at his soup. Draco watched as Harry ate the soup, disgusted yet again at how Harry had been treated while in prison. Draco ate two sandwiches before checking the time and realizing that he needed to be at the Glass House in ten minutes.

“I'll have to go to work after my meeting with Asteria” Draco said not wanting at all to go the Ministry for the rest of the day.

“I know” Harry said sad at being left at the Labs while Draco was out and about in the wizarding world.

“Don't go out today; at least until I can figure out what is going on”

“I won't go out” Harry agreed, it wasn't like he planned to go out in the first place and now knowing that the Wizarding World was looking for him made him want to go out even less.

“I'll stick to the backyard” Harry said looking over to the large floor to ceiling windows showing an unkempt backyard.

“Good, now I have to go” Draco said before pulling Harry into a quick kiss before leaving for the Glass House. Harry soon set to work out in the backyard, all the time wondering how Draco's meeting with Asteria was going.
Draco arrived at the Glass House with a full two minutes to spare before he was to arrive late.

“Reservation?” A girl with a brown hair, cut into a pixie cut asked Draco.

“Greenglass” Draco said wondering if Asteria would reserve a table under own name.

“Let me check” the girl said looking over the list of reservations but coming back empty handed.

“I don't see that name here” Draco let out a sigh, so Asteria was going to play like that was she?

“Malfoy then” at the last name the girl looked up quickly before blushing bright red and searched for the name.

“Ah there we are party of two” the girl said looking around for the other person that would be with Draco today.

“They have yet to arrive” Draco said figuring that if Asteria was here that the girl in front of him wouldn't have to look for a reservation name.

“Right” the girl said before grabbing two menus and then leading Draco over to a table that was near one of the glass walls that looked out onto the busy Vauxhall Road.

“When the other member arrives I will send them on back” the girl said before blushing again and then leaving Draco to be alone while he waited for Asteria. Asteria of course arrived twenty minutes late, which had Draco wanting to slap the bint. She was the one to request the meeting and here she was arriving to her own meeting late.

“Draco, darling” Asteria said dressed in a brand new outfit Draco assumed since he had never seen the girl wear the outfit she had on before.

“Asteria” Draco said standing up and then pulling out her chair as a true gentleman would. Asteria took this as a good sign and smiled even brighter at Draco. She would have him back under her spell and he would soon realize that they were perfect for each other; Draco just needed to see the errors of his ways. The silence was a tense one before the server arrived to take their order. Asteria frowned when Draco didn't order anything to eat, but instead order a sparkling water.

“Are you not going to eat, darling?” Asteria asked watching Draco for a moment, noticing that there was something different about Draco than there had been yesterday. She couldn't put her finger on it but she knew it was there.

“I already ate” Draco said before glaring at Asteria when an angry look crossed her face.

“Where, when and with *who*?” Asteria asked not at all happy about Draco's words.

“Not your concern” Asteria could say nothing; for she knew that is she did her whole plan would fall apart.

“I hear congratulations are in order” Draco commented before seeing the shock written on Asteria face but it was too late, Draco had seen the emotion and now knew that the girl was up to something.

“So who's the bloke?” Draco questioned Asteria not willing to let her calm down enough so that she would be able to trip him up and agree to something at this meeting.

“His name is Anthony” Asteria said making up a name on the spot. She hadn't expected for Draco to find out about her spreading the word that she was engaged, she had assumed that Draco would come into this blind and she would be able to sweet talk her way back into Draco's life and hopefully his bed and her rumors would then become fact.

“I see” Draco said knowing that Asteria was lying, he could always tell when the girl was lying since she always had a tale-tell sign of flicking her hair back behind her like a horse; which she had done when she said who it is that she was marrying. Asteria was just about to speak when the server arrived with her order and the glass of sparkling water.

“Was this a contract?” Draco said wanting to see how far Asteria was willing to go before she broke down and told the truth. She had always been horrible at keeping secrets which was why most people went to her for any gossip. Asteria looked up from her plate and shook her head; she couldn't do this any longer. She had thought that once Draco thought she was getting married that he would be jealous and rage about how she wasn't to marry anyone but him; that had yet to happen and she had the feeling it wasn't going to start anytime soon.

“Draco” Asteria said placing her fork and knife down on the table and then giving Draco a look that told him she was about to say something that would be unpleasant for her to speak about.

“I'm not marrying anyone but you”

“Excuse me?” Draco asked, had the girl just told him what he was going to do.

“Draco, darling there is no use in fighting me on this”

“Asteria I didn't plan and I don't plan to ever bind myself to you, understand that” Draco said clearly not happy at all with the girl seated across from him.

“But your mother said” Asteria said confused, Narcissa Malfoy had assured her that lunch with Draco would do the pair of them a world of good.

“My mother does not rule my life, and you were a fool to believe any promises she made to you” Draco said bringing up his left hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“What in Merlin's name is that on your finger?” Asteria asked in a hysterical tone of voice.

“My binding band” Draco stated simply, maybe this would put the girl off.

“Binding band?” Asteria whispered looking at Draco and then the band, she did this twice before her world tilted to the side and she fell out of her chair.

“Went better than I had hoped” Draco said before standing up and going over to Aster's side and casting an ennervate to wake her up.

“Draco” Asteria said confused for a moment on why she was on the floor with Draco looming over her with his wand pointed at her.

“You're bound” Asteria said remembering the cause of her fainting.

“I am”

“But how, you only ended our relationship yesterday” Asteria said her voice taking on a bit of steel while she glared at Draco. Had he been cheating on her with someone else, and now they were bound. What did they have that she didn't?

“True, but my feelings for my bonded have always been strong” Draco said bending the truth a bit, he was telling the truth about his feelings about Harry, she need not know that those feelings were rekindled in a matter of bumping into the green eyed wizard.

“Unacceptable” Asteria said now standing up and then taking a seat in her chair all the while glaring at Draco.

“Asteria” Draco said; he should have known that Asteria wouldn't give up that easily.

“Unacceptable” Asteria said she wasn't going to take this laying down. Oh she had plans to raise holy hell if it came to it, but Draco would be *her* husband and he would be doing anything in his power to please her.

“Asteria Greenglass” a girly voice called from the station where the girl with the pixie hair cut stood.

“Sally-Anne Perks!” Asteria said before squealing and then hugging the woman that had long ginger colored hair, looking very close to Ginny Weasley in hair coloring and looks. Draco rolled his eyes, he knew a set up when he saw one and this was *very* much a set up.

“What are you going here?” Sally-Anne said peeking over Asteria's shoulder to see that Draco was standing like a gentleman while Asteria spoke with Sally-Anne.

“Having lunch with Draco” Asteria said a grin on her face, she was so glad that Sally-Anne had arrived when she had for she had been certain that she was going to do something that she would later regret but with the showing up of Sally-Anne, as planned she wouldn't step into any hot water. Sally-Anne looked over Asteria's shoulder and eyed Draco; he was fine specimen of man even if he was tied to the girl that she hung onto to still.

“Ms. Perks” Draco said in greeting before offering his seat to Sally-Anne, he figured if she took the seat he could excuse himself with the excuse of the pair of them catching up.

“Thank you Draco” Sally-Anne said taking the seat that Draco had been just sitting in, giving a look to Asteria as if asking how things were going.

“I shall leave you two to catch up” Draco said before excusing himself before Asteria could protest.

“Bugger”

“Asteria” Sally-Anne said looking at the other girl and wondering if all was not right in the world, she would gladly take Draco off her Asteria's hands; that was for sure.

“A slight setback” Asteria said waving her hand to get the attention of the server. She certainly wasn't going to pay for her meal that was for sure.

“Miss” the server said looking at the other seat and noticing that the seat had changed hands.

“Charge my bill to the Malfoy account” Asteria said as if she had some sort of power of the Malfoy accounts.

“Right away” the server said not questioning the woman that now sat with another woman. When the server went to charge the Malfoy account they were surprised to see that the charge did not go through.

“Miss” the server said coming back with a bill in hand.

“Did you not hear me” Asteria said glaring at the server, she had just been discussing the slight setback she had with Draco and now here comes this lowly server with a bill for her meal.

“The Malfoy account is closed to you” the server said setting the bill down and waiting for payment. They had seen this sort of thing a time or two and knew to stand right there until they got payment.

“Fine, charge it to the Greenglass account then” Asteria said exasperated over the meeting with Draco and now the paying of the bill.

“Right away” the server said before taking the bill away and charging the Greenglass account as they should have done before.

“Asteria” Sally-Anne said amazed that Draco had not offered to pay the bill.

“As I said a setback”

“I'll say”

“I had hoped that with your arrival things would go much smoother than they had”

“Do tell” Sally-Anne said sitting on the edge of the chair; wanting to know all the juicy details about how the meeting had gone before she arrived.

“He's bound”

“What?!” Sally-Anne said, shocked and amazed that something like that had gotten past them.

“I know! The thing is, he seems most adamant about keeping the identity of his bonded a secret” “You mean to tell me that Draco Malfoy is bonded and you don't know who to?”

“Yes” Asteria said with a sad sigh, she still didn't get how one minute it seemed as if her dream of becoming Lady Malfoy was within reach and the next she was basically yet another woman that Draco had broken up with, but this time, this time he had done the stupid thing and bound himself to some unknown person.

“Was he cheating on you?” Sally-Anne asked this was going to be some good gossip she could write up in Daily Prophet if she could get any more information out of Asteria.

“Yes…No…I don't know, but I am leaning towards no”

“Wow that must be some bonded”

“Yes, and that is where my problem lies”

“What? You're still going to go after him?” Sally-Anne asked amazed, any other person would give up but not Asteria Greenglass, no she would make sure that she got what she wanted and what she wanted was Draco Malfoy.

“Of course the man just doesn't know that I am a *much* better match than some willy-nilly bonded” Asteria said before rolling her eyes, Sally-Anne Perks was a great gossip queen but she was terrible with anything that required too much thought process. It was part of the reason why Asteria kept in contact with the woman over the years, not a lot upstairs but she could gather a piece of gossip like no one business.

“So what is the plan?”

“The plan is to first find out who the bonded is and then destroy them”

“How”

“By being caught with another” Asteria said a smug smile on her face, she had seen and set up too many a break ups that way and she knew that betrayal was not something that the Malfoy family took lightly.

“You Asteria are a genius”

“I know” Asteria said proud of the plan that she had come up with, she would be disappointed when her plan didn't come to fruition due to holes in said plan, but she was too full of herself to even consider failure. Sally-Anne and Asteria spent a few more minutes firming up the plan and what needed to be done to figure out who Draco's bonded was before departing from the Glass House. The server had watched and listened the whole time, becoming enraged when the plan that Asteria laid out trapped Draco in a loveless union.

“Draco Malfoy” the server said pulling out their communicator and ringing up Draco.

“Malfoy” Draco barked into the communicator when a name he didn't recognize flashed up on the screen.

“Mr. Malfoy I have some information you need to know”

“What do you want?”

“Nothing, just to let you know that the lady you had lunch with is planning to bring harm to your bonding”

“How did you come by this information?”

“I was your server today and she felt it not necessary to spell secrecy for her conversation with the other lady she was with”

“Hmm, did she say how she planned to do this?”

“Once she figures out who your bonded is, she plans to set them up so that you catch them with another”

“That simply won't do, thank you” Draco said before offering to pay the person for their information. They just shook their head and said that their continued patronage to the Glass House was all that was needed.

“Consider it done” Draco said before ending the conversation. He sat back in the chair he was in and thought about the information he had just been given. He had expected something like this, but for Asteria to show so little Slytherin qualities in making sure that things were untraceable to her showed him how put-out she was by their breakup.

“Lucius Malfoy” Draco said into his communicator, he needed to make his father aware of the situation just in case the girl went looking for sympathy from his parents.

“Draco” Lucius said before he noticed the unhappy look on his son's face.

“Asteria Greenglass is a menace”

“Explain”

“She is planning to break my bonding up by setting up my other half” Draco explained to his father.

“Hmmm” Lucius said, the Dark Lord would not be happy with the news. Asteria had always been a thorn in the Malfoy family's side since Draco had begun dating her. Now she was making even more waves and she wasn't even dating his son.

“I'll take care of it” Lucius said before ending the conversation. He needed to speak to his Lord to see what he wanted Lucius to do about the girl and her visions of grandeur. Draco sighed once he ended the call, he may not like the Dark Lord but he would serve a purpose and that would be to get rid of Asteria and the sooner the better in his books.

“Draco” Rufus Scrimgeour, current Minister of Magic said walking into Draco's office with his aid, Nymphodora Tonks.

“Minister” Draco said rising to greet the Minister.

“I am hoping you saw the paper this morning”

“I did indeed” Draco said offering a seat for the pair that stood.

“Most problematic that”

“Minister” Draco said confused on what the problem was for the Minister about the articles in the morning's paper.

“I was hoping to have a bit more favorable light about the Potter case, but it seems that someone there scooped the release”

“I see” Draco said, so the paper had been correct when it said that the Ministry hadn't said that Harry would be released yesterday to the press.

“So now we have to do damage control, but with no hide or hair of the blasted Harry Potter that could be a problem”

“Yes, it could be” Draco said already trying to think up ways that he could spin this to make the Ministry look incompetent while also doing his job, it sadly didn't take much to make the Ministry and most of the workers there look like idiots.

“Nymphodora we need to find out the where abouts of Harry Potter and we needed that information like yesterday” the Minister barked out to a woman with bubblegum pink hair.

“Right away” the woman said before making a note and then glaring at her cousin, oh how she hated that he was in the position he was in. It made her reporting back to the Order all that much harder since Draco Malfoy tended to keep anything the Minister said to him in confidence until it would be released to the press. Draco and the Minister spoke for a few minutes more before the Minister excused himself having to deal with a press conference on that very matter that they had been speaking about. Nymphodora glared at Draco before leaving, she knew that Draco had more power than he should but she had as of yet been able to talk the Minister into firing him.

“I have got to see this” Draco said standing up and making his way towards the appointed location for the press conference would take place.

“The Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour” a voiced boomed quieting down all the reporters in the room. Draco leaned against the back wall and took in all the reports and magazines that were represented at the meeting. Obviously the name Harry Potter was back on the tip of everyone's tongue, which made Draco laugh. Harry wouldn't be saving these sorry people, Draco could guarantee that but he wanted to see what lies the Minister would feed the vultures that now filled the room.

“Welcome, welcome” the Minister said in a calm voice as if he had everything in control.

“Let me first say that the Ministry felt it best not to give the details on the release of Mr. Harry Potter due to the possible reaction he would receive at his land release”

“That's not fair!” A reporter shouted with other reporters nodding their heads in agreement.

“Life is not fair; we wanted his release to go as easily and as smoothly as possible”

“For what reason?” Another reporter called out.

“To show that there is no animosity against him here at the Ministry”

“No animosity? He attacked a Ministry Official”

“Ah yes that, sadly Mr. Potter was imprisoned under false pretenses” the Minister said, Draco snorted the man had just buried himself and nothing that Draco or any of his aides would do could save him.

“Excuse me??!!” The room of reporters said while scratching out the Minister's words.

“The claim was under investigation when former Minister Fudge was accused of abusing his power. It was found by the Wizengamot that Mr. Potter's alleged attack had not taken place and that he was an innocent man”

“And you left him at Azkaban to rot?”

“Well uh” the Minister said realizing that he had said too much, he looked around the room and saw that no one was willing to help him out on this one.

“Explain it since the wizarding world will want to know, they need to know” a reporter said before sitting down quill in hand and parchment out waiting for the Minister to begin explaining why Harry Potter was in prison for over six years after being proven innocent.

“Well I can't” the Minister said not wanting to say any more, he was going to have Draco do some serious damage control now and he had been hoping to have the young blonde work with the papers to print up good stories about Harry Potter in hopes of bringing the Wizarding Hero back to them if he was reading the papers.

“Oh no, we're not leaving until we get some answers” another reporter said, they were fed up with the way the current Minister acted. As if he was being led by someone behind the scenes. The Minister looked around the room and saw that if he didn't say something and soon he would probably be carted off to Azkaban himself. So he took a steadying breath and prayed to all the Gods out there that Albus Dumbledore wouldn't strike him down by the words he was going to speak.

“Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore thought it in the best interests of all parties involved to leave Mr. Potter in prison until his release date” the Minister looked out into the crowd of reporters and saw quills moving as fast as he spoke, he could see the shock and in some cases outrage that Albus Dumbledore, the symbol of all things good and light had allowed for a boy, a mere *boy* to remain in Azkaban after finding out that the former Minister had doctored an account of Harry attacking his undersecretary Delores Umbridge.

“What?!” A few reporters exclaimed wanting to know more about the scheme that the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Minister of Magic had in regards to one Mr. Harry James Potter.

“Lord Dumbledore along with the Wizengamot decided that it was best for Mr. Potter to serve out his term at Azkaban” the Minister restated, he hadn't gotten many details on the hows and whys, he had just been told that Harry Potter was to remain in prison until his release date at which time he would be released and would join the Aurors in the fighting against the Dark Lord. He hadn't questioned it at the time since he had been new to the position of Minister, but now looking back he should have questioned more and followed less.

“That is all I have to say” the Minister said before stepping off the podium and then leaving via a side door back to his office. He knew that he would have bags and bags full of howlers waiting for him tomorrow on his desk, along with a visit from one Albus Dumbledore. He had, had to say something and since it really wasn't in his power to release an inmate he had placed the blame on the one who sent the verdict to him, to approve.

“It's going to be a long day” the Minister muttered before sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, he didn't know how long he would be Minister given the current information he had just given. Nymphodora Tonks followed behind the Minister a glower on her face, she had just watched first hand as the Minister of Magic threw the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the one man she *knew* could defeat the Dark Lord to the wolves, reporting wolves which was even worse than regular wolves. ‘How could that man?' She thought before stomping her way to an open floo connection so that she could warn the Headmaster of the impending backlash that was sure to come from this.

“Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's Office” Nymphodora, “call me Tonks”, said after throwing the floo powder into the fireplace and watching as grates went by before arriving to see the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts.

“Nymphodora” the Headmaster said a twinkle in his eye at seeing the bubblegum pink haired woman.

“Headmaster” Tonks said before taking a deep breath and then giving the Headmaster the bad news.

“Minister Scrimgeour has implicated you on the imprisonment of Potter when it was proven that he was innocent of the crimes he was placed in there for” Tonks said watching as the twinkle that had once been in his eyes left and a look on pure anger graced the man's face. ‘Take that Minister!' Tonks thought before she continued on:

“I have no doubt that it will be in *every* major newspaper and probably as special edition magazines by end of day tomorrow”

“Anything else Nymphodora?”

“I fear that the only person that would be able to spin this in a positive light for you and the Order would be my spoiled cousin, Draco Malfoy” Tonks hated saying those words but Draco Malfoy was one of the most talented spinners she and the Ministry had ever seen. She was pretty certain that her cousin could sell you a lump of coal by saying it was a diamond in the rough and you would have no problems believing him while forking over your hard earned galleons.

“Hmmm” the Headmaster said stroking his beard wondering how best to handle the situation. He could and would of course put out a statement about the situation but he knew he had better tread very carefully or his plan to get Harry back under his control would fall apart.

“I have to go the Minister is looking for me” Tonks said before saying goodbye to the Headmaster and then making her way to the Minister's office.

“Auntie Tonks” Draco said stepping up to the woman who was walking towards the Minister's office.

“Shove off cousin”

“As you wish” Draco said, he had heard a bit of the conversation that his Aunt; and he used the term lightly, since she was no aunt to him, had with the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He had been surprised to hear that she thought he would be the only person able to get Dumbledore out of the mess that the Minister had created to save his own hide. Tonks eyed her cousin before sighing; there was nothing she could do until she got orders from Dumbledore. Draco walked away with an almost bounce in his step; oh the day could only get better in his estimation.

“Hermione you have to listen to me” Draco heard as he neared a corner on level one of the Ministry.

“I do not!” Draco heard Hermione answer back, sounding like the knew-it-all she had been said to be at Hogwarts.

“You do about this!” Ron practically yelled.

“Keep it down would you?!” Hermione whispered/yelled at Ron.

“You can't just walk into the Hall of Records and demand to see Harry's marriage and contracts records!”

“And why not?” Hermione said hands on her hips when Draco peeked around the corner, there was no way in nine hells he was going to leave until the end of this fight was over.

“It's…it's breaking the law that why” Ron said clearly angry about Hermione's attitude over the Hall of Records.

“Breaking the law? How is me asking for marriage and bonding records on Harry breaking the law?”

“Because it is breaking a wizards or witches privacy and to do that there must be a *very* good reason”

“There is!” Hermione yelled before shifting her eyes up and down the hall before speaking again.

“There is, you don't think finding out who Harry is married or bonded to is not a very good reason?”

“It won't be to the Ministry”

“But we know that tremor was caused by a bonding of some sort from Harry”

“We don't know that for sure and I'm not willing to risk time in Azkaban to find out”

“Azkaban, who said anything about that place?”

“That's where you will go if the Ministry finds out that your cause for searching very private and very personal records was only for personal gain” Ron said feeling quite proud that he knew something that Hermione did not, it wasn't very often that occurred.

“It's not personal gain”

“I think so” Ron said a look of unhappiness on his face, Draco had to cover his mouth at the look that the pair were giving each other. They looked like two little kids fighting over one toy, and it seemed that neither was very willing to give up said toy. Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared right back at Ron, she was not going to back down on this, her future was at stake here and she wasn't going to allow Ron to go into one of his jealous fits about Harry now.

“Well that doesn't mean much” Hermione said before spinning around and continuing her march to the entrance of the Magical Law Enforcement Administration Office, and to the Hall of Records. Ron rolled his eyes but followed her, there was no way he was going to miss when Hermione got thrown out on her ears for asking for personal and confidential records about Harry.

“Oh this I have to see” Draco said before making his way to the door of the Administration Office to hear Hermione asking for permission to see any marriage or bonding or contracts against Harry Potter.

“Are you serious?” The witch asked Hermione before the door closed, but after Draco had cast a spell to be able to see and hear what was going on inside of the office now. Draco made his way to a spot where he would be hidden and then listened and watched as Hermione was denied entry to the Hall of Records.

“Well yes I am” Hermione said her ‘I'm superior to you' tone coming out. The witch wasn't at all impressed with the woman standing in front of her. She had been given strict instructions from the Minister himself to not allow anyone to view Mr. Potter's file in the Hall of Records. He had stated it was a matter of great importance and she planned to stick to her guns from whatever the girl and her friend cooked up to try and see the record.

“Do you have a cause to see Mr. Potter's record?”

“Well…” here Hermione hesitated, she hadn't really thought of what she would say if asked the question. She figured that once she asked they would allow her entry and that would be that, but it seemed that the witch in front of her was giving her a hard time.

“Get out” the witch said before glaring at the pair trying to make them leave.

“Now you see here” Hermione said before Ron took her arm and dragged her out of the office before she could land herself a cell in Azkaban.

“What did you do that for?”

“She wasn't going to let you in and I don't fancy coming to visit you in Azkaban” Ron said dragging Hermione as far away from the Administration Office for the MLE as possible. Hermione sputtered the whole time she was dragged away.

“Look there is only two ways you can see that record and the first is by Harry granting that permission”

“Harry would” Hermione said as if she had just spoken to Harry the other day.

“Hermione are you stupid? It's not like you have seen or heard from Harry in the past ten years”

“But Harry would…..”

“You don't know what Harry would want at this point in time!” Ron said in disbelief that Hermione was acting as if Harry hadn't been in prison for the last ten years and that she helped to put him there.

“Neither do you!”

“So” Ron said crossing his arms across his chest.

“Harry may want us to know what's in that file”

“No, you want to know if he's in the free and clear to marry”

“No!” Hermione said her cheeks turning bright red at Ron's words.

“It's true”

“Well don't be calling the kettle black yourself” Hermione said and watched as Ron's face changed from pale white to pink, which clashed horribly with his ginger colored hair.

“I won't deny that I fancy Harry and have fancied him for a while but you on the other hand refuse to own up to the fact”

“I do not!” Hermione said before glaring at Ron and stomping away, she had a letter to write and she wasn't going to get caught up with fighting with Ron. He always managed to get under her skin in the totally wrong way.

“You keep saying that” Ron commented before making his way off to go back to his flat so that he could plot and plan a strategy to get in Harry's good graces and then his bed.

“Granger and Weasley fancy Harry?” Draco said coming out of his hiding hole shocked over what he had just heard. Draco just shook his head before continuing back to his office, where upon arriving he saw that the Headmaster of Hogwarts was standing in his office looking over the little trinkets he had picked up while on his holidays from work.

“Headmaster Dumbledore” Draco said coming into his office fully and then offering the old man a seat in front of his desk.

“Young Mister Malfoy” the Headmaster said his eyes twinkling as if he knew that Draco would be agreeing to do whatever it was that he asked.

“What brings you to my neck of the Ministry?” Draco knew that the man would come, since his aunt had suggested that he would be the only one to clean up the mess that the Minister had made of the old man's name.

“I assume you heard that the Minister has named me the prime person for the continued imprisonment of Harry Potter after he was proven innocent” the Headmaster said looking directly into Draco's eyes trying to get into the blonde's mind to see where he stood in the war and what he knew about Harry.

“I was at the press conference” Draco agreed before cheering a bit in his head when he saw the Headmaster lean back into his chair. ‘Take that!' Draco thought, knowing the Headmaster was locked out of his thoughts, his father had taught him one useful thing.

“Your name was offered up as a person who could help me get the word out about the whole situation”

“Hmmm” Draco said not really wanting to say no too quickly for fear that the man would wonder why he turned down his proposal so quickly.

“I work for the Ministry” Draco threw out to the Headmaster knowing this would give the man a chance to try and explain his actions. Draco really wanted to know why the Headmaster allowed a totally innocent man to rot away in Azkaban before he was released after serving his sentence. There was something he was missing and he knew that the only one who knew the answer was the old man sitting in front of him.

“You do, but you need not be in attendance for any meetings I may have with the press”

“Well” Draco paused, what would Harry want him to do? The more he thought about it the more he decided that it was just plain unsafe to agree to help the man.

“Malfoy” a head called from the floo fireplace in his office. This would allow him time to think over his answer to the Headmaster a bit more.

“Minister” Draco said as he made his way over to the floo connection, he saw out the corner of his eye the Headmaster leaving a note and then leaving the office.

“Were you with someone” the Minister asked before receiving a response that they were just leaving. After a brief conversation with the Minister that was totally unproductive, Draco made his way back to desk to see the note that the Headmaster had left when he had seen the Minister in the fireplace.

Mr. Malfoy,

If you are amendable to offering your services, please owl me at Hogwarts.

Albus Dumbledore

“Crazy old man” Draco said before putting the note in his one of his desk drawers and getting back to work on some spinning that the Minister wanted done for the newspapers and magazines about the Boy-Who-Lived. Draco arrived back to Cadmus Labs dead on his feet that evening, he always hated when the Minister and his cohorts screwed up. He usually had to spend all of his time first making sure no more damage was done and then figuring out a way to make the mistake seem as if it was something that was unavoidable and in some cases for the good of the wizarding world.

“Draco that you?” Harry called out after hearing the front door the Labs open and close.

“Yeah” Draco said before pulling off his robe and putting in on the floor, he just couldn't be bothered with hanging the thing up.

“Oh Draco” Harry said seeing how tired his bonded was.

“Gods I'm glad to be home” the words made Harry's chest fill with a warm feeling.

“Me to” Harry said walking up to Draco and then kissing the blonde lightly on the lips.

“Hmmm” Draco said pulling Harry closer to his body, relishing the warmth coming from his bonded.

“How was work and the meeting with Asteria?”

“Messy on both accounts” Draco said before he was guided to a small dining room where Harry had dinner waiting for the pair.

“You cooked dinner”

“Didn't have much else to do” Harry said shrugging his shoulders.

“I love you” Draco said kissing Harry again and then taking a seat and then loading up his plate with the food that smelled delicious.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Asteria is hell bent on being Lady Malfoy”

“That doesn't sound good”

“It doesn't but my father will take care of her, it's the Headmaster and his cohorts that worry me the most at this point.”

“Why?”

“As you know the current Minister is a fool”

“Yeah” Harry said rolling his eyes, this Minister of Magic wasn't any better than the former one.

“He was stupid enough to hold a press conference before I could express how bad of an idea that would be”

“Where he let it slip that the Wizengamot with the Headmaster at the helm allowed you to stay in prison even after being proven innocent”

“What?!” Harry said, he was hoping that he had just heard wrong and that Draco hadn't just said that he had rotted away in the cell for ten years for nothing, he of course knew of his innocents but it seemed so did many others and they deemed it not necessary to release him.

“They knew you were innocent and continued to let you rot”

“They will die” Harry promised before tearing up at the thought of having spent all that time in Azkaban and for nothing, it had been for nothing to begin with, but now the whole Wizarding World or soon the whole Wizarding World would know that as well.

“In time, they aren't worth it” Draco said before standing up and going over to where Harry sat tears running down his cheeks.

“Come here” Draco said pulling Harry into his arms and then taking a seat in the chair Harry had vacated.

“Why? Why would they do that to me?” Harry said heartbroken, he had spent many waking hours over the reasons on why the people he called family had abandoned him and so easily.

“I have my suspicions” Draco said rubbing Harry's back trying to calm his bonded down.

“What?”

“I think the Headmaster thought you a bit too independent and a bit too stubborn so he decided that the best way to get you back under control would be to punish you and since ex-Minister Fudge had it out for you, well the Headmaster didn't have work to figure out a way to put you in the one place that once you were released you would be forever grateful to the person that released you.”

“But I did nothing wrong”

“In his mind you did when you began to think for yourself and deny him his whims. You weren't the foolhardy Gryffindor of previous years; even I saw the changed that were occurring with you.”

“That old goat” Harry said knowing that Draco spoke the truth. The blonde may have not known Harry as he thought his friends had, so he hadn't seen the full rebellion that Harry had begun to put up in fifth year. Draco hadn't seen the huge screaming match he had with the old man about the lies and secrets that he was determined to tell Harry when he deemed in necessary and he hadn't seen when Harry would fight with his friends when they would push him to the limit about keeping a secret to himself.

“Indeed but in the end he will get what is coming to him”

“There's more, I can tell there is” Harry said nodding his head, closing the subject of the Headmaster for the moment.

“Granger and Weasley seem to fancy the hell out of you”

“Huh”

“The other two-thirds of the Golden Trio, fancy you in a strictly ‘more than friends' way”

“You have to be kidding me”

“Sorry but no, Granger felt it was her duty to make sure you were still single so she made her way to the Hall of Records”

“She didn't get anything did she” Harry asked worried, he wasn't looking forward to the day that the Order and his ex-friends found out he was bonded and to Draco Malfoy of all people; there would be a huge fight when that occurred.

“No of course not, it isn't allowed unless she was willing to go to Azkaban”

“There are laws about that”

“Yes and they are very strict about it right now since you have just been released and now people know of your innocents. You will be the hottest bachelor in the Wizarding World”

“Bonded” Harry said showing Draco his ring before kissing him, it was more to calm himself down than anything else.

“That you are, but to finish my story about the Headmaster, he was waiting for me in my office when I arrived back from my detour of listening to Granger and Weasley”

“What could he possibly want?”

“He wants me to spin this to make him look like a good guy and also to probably see if I can spin this to where you will feel guilty and come back to him with open arms.”

“That won't happen”

“I know it won't but he will try any means necessary to get you back under his control and him back in the spotlight in a good way”

“Did you except?”

“No, the Minister decided to floo in at that moment and he fled”

“Are you going to do it?”

“Well, I don't want to do it for the pure reason of the man is known for his tracking charms and he is not tracking me here and I am certainly not going to have the old goat hold this over my head when things don't work out the way he wants. I have no doubt that the old man would throw me to the wolves and not even think twice about it.”

“There's a but though, I can see it”

“But I know if I don't do it might make him suspicious of me and we don't need that either. I refuse for that man to find out that I associate with the wrong crowd” Draco said knowing that Harry would know what he wasn't saying.

“So what do you plan to do?”

“What do you think I should do?” Harry silently thought about Draco's options. On the one hand there was the benefit of being close to the Headmaster and his Order so that he would be able to find out what the Order and Headmaster were up to. On the other hand though, he would be closely watched and there was the very real chance that the Headmaster and his Order would find out that Draco not only was an unmarked Death Easter but also was bonded to Harry. Did the benefits outweigh the costs? Harry wasn't too sure and for that he answered:

“I say tell him no” Harry said wondering what Draco was thinking.

“I agree” Draco said glad that Harry had agreed with his initial gut reaction of saying no. The Headmaster was just too sneaky and to ‘for the good of the many' for Draco to allow himself to be put into a position that would compromise Harry's safety or his own.

“I'll owl him tomorrow” Draco said before pulling his plate closer to the pair of them and loading it up with the amazing meal that Harry had cooked. Dinner was a quite affair that had the pair learning about each other's likes and dislikes on food.

“To bed with you” Harry said when he could see that Draco was barely able to stay awake while eating dinner. Draco didn't disagree; it had been a long and life changing twenty-four hours; one that he would never change but long none the less. Harry guided the barely awake Draco to the master bedroom and then stripped his husband of his clothes before putting him to bed; he could already tell that he would love taking care of Draco.

“Stay” Draco said reaching out a hand to Harry, which he took and nodded his head.

“I didn't plan on leaving” Harry assured Draco before stripping down to his boxers and getting into bed.

“Good” Draco said before pulling Harry closer to him and then falling into a deep sleep.

“My dragon” Harry said before kissing a part of Draco's chest that his lips were lined up at. Harry fell asleep shortly after that, he was still recovering from Azkaban and getting a full night's rest was high on his priority list. Morning came much too quickly for both Draco and Harry, and they were woken up by a shrill bell going off.

“What the bloody hell?” Draco said sitting upright taking Harry, who was still lying on his chest with him.

“This place hates me” Harry muttered into Draco's lap. Draco groaned when he realized that it was morning and time for him to get up and ready for a long day at the Ministry.

“Morning you” Draco said looking down at a glaring Harry Potter.

“Morning to you” Harry responded before glaring at a wall and muttering under his breath.

“Come on” Draco said wanting to spend a bit of time with his husband before going into work and spending entirely way too much time fixing the Minister's screw-ups.

“Hmmm” Harry said as Draco ran a hand through his hair. Once the pair was out of bed they made their way into the bathroom, where Draco started the shower and Harry took care of his morning business before jumping in the shower once Draco had taken care of his needs as well.

“I so don't want to go into work today” Draco said hugging Harry from behind.

“I don't want you leaving either, but there is nothing that can be done about it”

“True” Draco said taking some shampoo and washing Harry's long locks. Harry moaned at the tender touches his husband gave him and all too soon the shower was done with Draco stepping out dragging Harry along with him.

“You could venture out into muggle London today” Draco said before shaking his head and speaking again.

“Maybe not” Harry understood Draco hesitation on him going out and he was more than willing to wait until his husband was free to come along before going out. Once the pair had dressed they made their way down stairs to see that an owl was tapping at one of the large glass windows incessantly, Draco knew instantly that it was the Daily Prophet bird delivering the morning newspaper.

“Bloody Daily Prophet owls” Draco said letting the owl in and grabbing the paper and putting two knuts into the sac as he had done yesterday.

“Let's see what they have to say today” Draco said opening up the paper and seeing the huge headline:

Boy-Who-Lived Innocent!
by Zamira Gulch

In a press conference held by the Minister of Magic yesterday, it was released that Harry Potter was actually innocent of the crime that he was thrown into Azkaban ten years ago for. The information stemmed from a slip-up by the Minister when he was asked why the press had not been informed of Harry Potter's release, two days ago. He said that it “was to show that there was no animosity against him at the Ministry”. When questioned about why, as he had supposedly attacked a Ministry official; the Minister stated that “…..sadly Mr. Potter was imprisoned under false pretenses.” False pretenses that it seems that the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore “thought it in the best interests of all parties involved to leave Mr. Potter in prison until his release date.” How could a gross miscarriage of justice go on for so long?

Mr. Potter has spent ten long and hard years in Azkaban and it had been known not only to the Minister of Magic but also the Wizengamot that he was innocent. Lord Dumbledore has always been the sane voice within the Wizengamot, but it seems that his un-biasness did not come into play in Mr. Potter's case. Is there a cause for concern? Should we worry what Lord Dumbledore is teaching our children?

This reporter would like to offer an apology to Mr. Potter, it saddened me that such a miscarriage of justice can occur and to someone as young and impressionable as Mr. Potter was. We here at the Daily Prophet will be collecting any cards and gifts on behalf of Mr. Potter and will deliver them to him as soon as he reveals himself to us.

“It saddens her?” Harry said before barking out a laugh, saddened wasn't even the tip of the ice berg on what Harry was feeling at this point in time. He had known that there would be an article declaring his innocents but to see how flaky the wizarding world was about him, still even to this day amazed him.

“Oh and the best part is that they are going to collect cards and gifts for you”

“Are they stupid?” Harry said rolling his eyes, he pretty much knew that answer but still, wow for the Daily Prophet a newspaper that had maligned his name on more than one occasion to act as if they would be in contact with him or had already been was shocking. Draco snorted while reading the rest of the articles that told Harry's life up until he was arrested in the summer before his sixth year. Harry cooked breakfast while Draco read, that was until he heard Draco groan.

“I should have known”

“What” Harry said walking over with a pan in his hands that had eggs cooking in them.

“Sally-Anne Perks works for the Daily Prophet”

“Who”

“Asteria's friend that showed up to the Glass House yesterday”

“Oh” Harry said before going back over to the stove to finish making Draco's breakfast.

“So what did she write?”

“An article about my bonding, in the society page”

“Oh boy, that doesn't sound good”

“Well you tell me, here is what she said”

Malfoy Heir Bonded!
by Sally-Anne Perks

In exciting social news, it was found out that the Malfoy heir is bound. That's right witches and wizards; Draco Malfoy is officially off the market. It had been rumored that Asteria Greenglass, Draco Malfoy's latest lovely, would become the next Lady Malfoy. It seems it was not to be, for when the pair met up to have lunch, at the Glass House-a posh restaurant in Vauxhall Road shopping district, Draco walked in with a bond ring on his finger and his family shield on his wrist filled in. “I was shocked to hear that Draco had bonded, I had thought that we were made for each other.” Asteria told me yesterday, after Draco had left to attend to his duties at the Ministry of Magic. When I asked Ms. Greenglass if she had any hard feelings towards the newly bonded Malfoy she said, “no of course not, when you find your perfect match there is nothing that should hold you back, even the relationship you may be in.” Most if not all of the wizarding world would agree, but for a bonding to occur so quickly is astonishing.

So I and the rest of the reporters here at the Daily Prophet wish Mr. Malfoy and his new bonded all the best!

“Well that was….” Harry wasn't really sure what to say. He could hear the nasty remarks against their bonding but he was also proud of the fact that it was now known that Draco was off the market. That of course wouldn't stop some people, like Asteria, but where was nothing that he or Draco could do to stop those people.

“Utterly uncalled for” Draco said before taking a bite of his eggs and glancing at Harry, wanting to see his reaction to his words.

“Yes, but I have a feeling this was just a move in Asteria's plan to make you hers”

“Probably” Draco agreed before taking a sip of his tea while continuing to read the newspaper.

“I better get going” Draco said after casting a quick tempus spell to see the time.

“Don't forget to owl the old man” Harry said refusing to call the Headmaster by his name or given titles.

“Oh I won't” Draco said before standing up and then kissing Harry goodbye before leaving out the front door to walk the short distance to one of the employee's entrances to the Ministry of Magic nearby.

“Cousin” Tonks said waiting outside of Draco's office for him.

“Auntie Nymphodora” Draco said knowing how much his aunt hated being called Nymphodora.

“Don't call me that!” Tonks said through gritted teeth, she knew her cousin was only doing that to get a rise out of her and the Headmaster and the Order really needed Draco on their side for this whole Potter in prison when innocent thing. Draco said nothing as he unlocked his door and made his way into his office, where there were already three paper airplanes flying around waiting for his arrival.

“What is it that you want?” Draco said reading over the memos from the Minister and some others in the Ministry about some spinning issues.

“The Headmaster wants to know if you have made a decision”

“I have” Draco said before writing something on one of the paper airplanes and sending it back to the sender.

“And” Tonks said her hands into fists at her sides. Draco looked up and smirked, as if he would allow his aunt to somehow rope him into helping the Headmaster by sending his response through her verbally.

“Just a moment” Draco said before pulling out a blank piece of parchment and then scratching out a short and curt denial to the Headmaster.

“I can tell him you know” Tonks said looking affronted that Draco had written a message to the Headmaster instead of telling her.

“I know” Draco said passing the parchment to Tonks after he sealed it with the Malfoy family crest. Tonks stomped her foot and snatched the parchment from Draco's hand before leaving. The Headmaster had asked her to find a way to get her cousin roped into helping him if he didn't accept, and the best she could come up with was passing Draco's verbal response to the Headmaster. He would have to surely help them when the Headmaster would threaten to expose him for some less than lawful infraction, of what she and the Headmaster didn't know, but there was bound to be something since this was a Malfoy they were speaking about. Tonks glared at her cousin before leaving without even a goodbye.

“Goodbye to you too” Draco said to the door as it slammed close, his aunt was acting as if she knew that he had declined the Headmaster's request. Then again if he had agreed he wouldn't have had a problem with having his aunt pass the acceptance onto the old man verbally. Draco soon settled in at his desk and began the daunting task of cleaning up the mess that the Minister made at the press conference yesterday.

“Mr. Malfoy” Dumbledore said as he stepped into Draco's office.

“Headmaster what a surprise to see you here” Draco replied not at all happy that the man had shown up to his office. “I received your response”

“Yes” Draco said sitting back in his chair wondering what it was that the Headmaster was going to say to make him change his mind.

“Is there a reason for you not agreeing?”

“I stated my reason why in the parchment I sent along with Ms. Tonks” Draco said properly, not at all comfortable with the Headmaster in his office.

“Yes, wanting to spend time with your bonded is a very good reason but I really don't think this will take up that much of your time” the Headmaster said trying to find a way to get Draco to agree.

“Be that as it may, I am still going to have to decline” Draco said his ice-blue orbs hardening when it looked like the Headmaster was going to try one more time to make him agree. Draco was saved when he heard a large crowd of people making their way to the atrium of the Ministry in the hallway where his office was located.

“Excuse me” Draco said moving to his office door and watching as witches and wizards ran down the hallway to the lifts that would take them out to the Ministry's atrium.

“What's going on?” Draco asked a passing witch.

“Someone said they saw Harry Potter!” She yelled before continuing on her journey.

“They said they saw him over in Vauxhall Road's shopping district” Draco and the Headmaster heard as a group of women made their way down the hall as well.

“I think I shall take my leave” Dumbledore said quickly before following the stragglers that made their way to the atrium. Draco was almost certain that Harry hadn't left the house, but with no real way to communicate with him there was no way of really knowing.

“….they said he was buying books from the new bookstore over there” Draco shook his head before heading back to his desk and continuing on with the mound of parchments stilling on his desk. There was really no reason for him to follow the masses to the atrium only to find out that the witness that had seen Harry had been either mistaken or lying.

“Mr. Malfoy” woke Draco out of his work stupor as the Minister walked into his office with his aide following behind, with a smug smile on her face.

“Minister” Draco said putting down his quill and giving the Minister his full attention.

“Nyphodora” the Minister said sticking his hand out waiting for his aide to place the parchment she was carrying into his out stretched hand.

“I have decided that you will help clear the bad press about Headmaster Dumbledore” Draco wanted to scream, he had thought that once he had declined that it was the end of the story.

“Here are your spending account details”

“Spending account?” Draco asked confused there was only one reason that an employee was given a spending account and that was when a Ministry employee or official would be conducting Ministry business while not located in the Ministry its self.

“Yes, you will be spending your time at Hogwarts of course” Draco could only grit his teeth, over his dead body would be he going to Hogwarts for Gods only knew how long.

“Minister”

“No” the Minister said not wanting to hear any of Draco's arguments about him not helping the Headmaster with is reputation. The smirk on Tonk's face turned into pure malicious glee when the Minister had denied Draco the chance to give his excuses for not wanting to go to Hogwarts.

“Here you are” the Minister said before placing the parchment on Draco's desk and then leaving with Tonks following behind.

“Why” Draco said while picking up the parchment and seeing that the spending account had a hefty sum of money in it.

“How long do they think I am going to be there?” Draco asked his empty office before setting aside the parchment and finishing off the rest of the paperwork that had been sitting on his desk before leaving for home.

“Cousin” Tonks said as she made her way around the corner and saw that Draco was locking his office.

“Aunt” Draco said eyeing the woman and wondering what it was that she wanted now, she and that old man of a Headmaster had gotten their wish for Draco helping.

“The Headmaster always gets his way”

“Hmmm” Draco said figuring out that his aunt was only there to rub in the fact that Draco now had to help the Headmaster in his face, and to also goad him for a reaction.

“Heading home to the wifey” Tonks said fishing for details about Draco's other half.

“Not your concern” Draco said glancing at his aunt and then making his way towards the lifts so that he could go home to Harry.

“Well it will be soon enough” Tonks said before breaking off with Draco when they arrived to the lifts. Draco said nothing as he stepped into the lift and then pressed the button of the atrium. The ride in the lift was a quick one and before Draco knew it he was arriving to the front door of Cadmus Labs.

“Harry” Draco called out as he made his way into the building.

“In the kitchen” Harry shouted before sticking his head out and giving Draco a grin. It was then that Draco finally relaxed, he had been tense all day with the arrival of the Headmaster unannounced and then being told that he would staying at Hogwarts for an unspecified amount of time until he could clean up the mess that the Minister had made. Seeing Harry made all of his worries go away, or at least they were pushed to the back of his mind.

“You okay” Harry said once Draco arrived to the kitchen staring at nothing in particular.

“The old man got his way”

“Bloody hell!” Harry said wrapping his arms around Draco and holding onto him, he wasn't sure if the comfort was more for Draco than for himself.

“The worst part is they want me stationed at Hogwarts while cleaning up the mess”

“No” Harry said holding on tighter to Draco, he didn't know what he would do if he was left alone in Cadmus Labs for who knew how long.

“We'll figure something out” Draco said before kissing the top of Harry's head. There was no way in nine hells that he was going to leave Harry alone, but there was also no way he was going to allow Harry to return to Hogwarts and within the Headmaster's reach. Harry nodded his head; he knew that they would figure something out.

“Come, dinner is ready” Harry said pulling out of the embrace to grab the dinner that he had prepared for Draco.

“You're too good to me” Draco said a grin on his face, who would have known that Harry Potter was an excellent cook? His potions skills left something to be desired and since cooking and potions were closely related Draco had thought that Harry would have been a terrible cook. He was quite pleased to be wrong.

“So what else happened?”

“Someone said they saw you on Vauxhall Road”

“Doubtful” Harry said with a snort before taking a seat and loading up his plate with as much food as he thought he could stomach.

“I figured as much, I will have to make sure to get you a defero before leaving to go to Hogwarts” Harry nodded his head in agreement; he had thought the same thing. Once dinner was complete and Harry cleaned up the kitchen, both Draco and Harry made their way to the study for a bit of relaxing before heading to bed.

“I know you don't want to talk about this but since I'm not sure on when they think they are going to shipped me off to Hogwarts, what do you want to do?” Harry was surprised by Draco's words; he was asking him as if his feelings actually mattered not like when the Weasley's or Sirius and his friends would ask. It was more of a telling him what he was going to do and then acting as if they heard his concerns or feelings on the matter.

“I don't want to be here alone” Draco nodded his head, he understood. The place may feel like home but there was something about the place that seemed to put Harry on edge when he was alone at the Labs.

“Well if you come to Hogwarts as you are they are bound to take you away from me”

“That they will” Harry said thinking on if there was a way to go to Hogwarts and not be noticed by the Headmaster and his Order.

“How about…..” Harry hesitated; he always hated giving ideas since usually they were shot down by Ron and Hermione when he gave them.

“What”

“Do you think I could use Polyjuice and go as someone else?”

“You could but the problem with that is that Professor Snape would know right away that you were under Polyjuice”

“How”

“Well he has this sense about potions and when one is in use”

“Oh” Harry said before thinking about if there was a way to get around the potion obsessed man of a professor.

“What about a glamour”

“Not powerful…………” Draco stopped his words, in *most* cases a glamour charm wouldn't be powerful enough to hide a person's true looks but with Harry nothing was ever straight forward.

“That might just work” Draco said before thinking of a few charms in the glamour family that he knew would be able to conceal Harry's true identity. Harry was surprised that Draco seemed to think that his idea just might work.

“The only issue is that there is the chance that the Headmaster would be able to see right through it”

“Oh” Harry said not seeing any other way for him to go with Draco if the glamour charms didn't work.

“How about we give it a try tomorrow and see how it goes?”

“What, how?”

“I'm going to owl the Minister and tell him that I won't be into work tomorrow since I have to prepare to leave for Hogwarts. Of course that will mean a shopping trip” Harry eyes lit up, Draco was willing to go out with him and test his idea; it still amazed him that Draco seemed to enjoy spending time with him.

“Now come on” Draco said pulling Harry up and out of the study to the bedroom. He hadn't made love to his husband for over a day now and he was in great need of it tonight, since he was uncertain on what tomorrow held for the pair of them. The next morning Draco and Harry sat in the study deciding what Harry would look like. Harry refused to change his hair color, stating that if he changed other features that people wouldn't even think twice about the possibility of him being Harry Potter.

“And I'm not going female”

“You can't anyway; your family shields won't disappear even under glamours”

“That could be a problem” Harry said thinking that if someone got close enough that they would recognize the shield.

“No, you have a merged shield and one of the families was rumored to have died out years ago, so they have no way of recognizing that shield.”

“But the Potter”

“Was merged with it, which means that there are certain items that are from the shield but the dominate family for your Lordship shield is of the Perverell family”

“Oh” Harry said not really understanding all that much about the family shields; he only knew what he had learned from Groshpock and from his Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions course at Hogwarts.

“Eye color?” Draco asked closing the matter on the Lordship shields until another time. He could see that Harry was confused but getting into explaining how the whole system worked would take more time than he was willing to spend right now.

“I…what do you think?”

“I have always been drawn to your eyes so to see them go would be horrid in my opinion”

“But what about others”

“I think that this is a case of less is better, like you said most people won't even think twice that you aren't Harry Potter because you will not have glasses on and the scar won't be seen” Draco said running a finger of the famous scar and wondering how Harry planned to make that disappear. It had been rumored that the scar would never disappear even if the Dark Lord was defeated. Harry leaned into the touch and thought of the scar disappearing and his forehead clear of any blemishes that others might notice that only Harry Potter had.

“What” Draco said watching as the scar disappeared and Harry's face took on a fuller and less haunted look.

“What do you think” Harry said opening his closed eyes and showing Draco those amazing verdant green eyes.

“Beautiful and mine” Draco said leaning down to Harry's shorter height and kissing him on the lips. Harry looked like Harry only not, and for that Draco was happy. He knew they would probably get a few double looks but that is fine with him, so long as they didn't think that Harry was really Harry.

“You're going to need a name”

“Hmmm” Harry said thinking about a good name to use. He didn't want to even consider using any of his family's names, such as James or Evans but he wanted to make sure that his name was just different enough that Draco would approve.

“How about Antonin?” Harry watched Draco's face for what he thought about the name since he was unable to read his bonded thoughts.

“You do know that Antonin was one of the Dark Lord's first Death Eaters?” Harry shifted at Draco's words, he had heard the name many times while in Azkaban and he had thought the name was unique and in a weird way so much more different than his common name of Harry.

“Yes” Harry answered slowly looking at Draco's face trying to figure out what his bonded was thinking.

“That might rise a bit of suspicion on us”

“Oh, yeah” Harry said a bit sad at not being able to use the name. It wasn't the name's fault that its owner had been a horrible person.

“How about Aumand”

“Aumand” Harry said trying the name out and seeing how well he liked it.

“Say it again” Harry said to Draco looking into his bonded eyes and getting a shiver when Draco whispered the name in his ear, with a slight French accent.

“Aumand Malfoy” Draco said again before nipping at the side of Harry's neck, for some unknown reason choosing a name for Harry was making him want his husband even more than he usually did.

“I think…” Harry got out before dragging his bonded into a passionate kiss.

“Bed now” Draco said as he broke the kiss, before he dove back into kissing any patch of skin on Harry's body.

“Yes” Harry hissed out before jumping a bit and wrapping his legs around Draco's waist. He was certain that Draco would be able to handle the extra weight, his bonded after all still had an amazing body with a toned and lean torso showing the years of Quidditch practices along with Draco's activities as a Death Eater. Draco managed to bring the pair of them to their bedroom before Harry was able to realize that they had changed locations.

“Draco” Harry said with a whine, he didn't know how much longer he would be able to last if Draco didn't stop teasing him as he had been doing as they made their way to the bedroom.

“My love” Draco said before looking into Harry's eyes and seeing the need in them. He would never deny his love anything and it looked as if Harry was almost in physical pain because he seemed to be taking too long.

“You're too slow” Harry said before waving his hand and vanishing their clothes, Draco gasped at the skin on skin contact.

“In me, now!” Harry said before blushing after registering the words that he had just said. He had just demanded that Draco enter him, it was something that he had never thought he would ever be doing.

“Your wish is my command” Draco said before saying a few spells wandlessly and then slowing entering his bonded. He knew the pair of them wouldn't last much longer and taking the time to prepare Harry would probably push the pair of them over the edge, something that he wanted to do firmly in Harry. Harry moaned at the truly full feeling, he was lucky in that Draco seemed to take it slow; for Draco was very well endowed and knew that if he moved too fast that he may hurt Harry and that was something that he would not do. Once Draco was fully seated in Harry, he waited until Harry gave a signal to show that he was ready. It came moments later in the form of him tightening his legs that were still wrapped around Draco's waist.

“Aumand” Draco said not really thinking of the name he was using before pulling out and sliding back into Harry. Harry groaned at hearing his new name falling from his bonded lips with such passion. The pace was soon set when Draco realized that he wouldn't be able to last too much longer, Harry canted this hips meeting Draco's every thrust with his own and was soon screaming out Draco's name as he climaxed. When Draco felt Harry's muscles clench around his cock, Draco climaxed with a shout and then bit down on Harry's neck; marking him for all to see.

“Hmmm” Harry said a warm feeling running through his body, that had probably been one of the most intense love making the pair of them had since being bonded; their bonding being the most intense love making the pair had, had.

“My love” Draco said before rolling to the side so as to not crush Harry with his weight, his bonded was much smaller than him and he knew his extra weight was probably more than his bonded could handle, along with his own.

“Draco” Harry said snuggling up to Draco's side, content with staying right where they were for the rest of the day.

“We should shower and go” Draco said running a free hand through Harry's hair.

“Don't wanna” Harry said before his fingers found their way to Draco's chest.

“I am in total agreement with you but I think it would be in our best interests to do so”

“Hmmm, okay” Harry said not moving from his spot. Draco allowed a few more moments for the pair to be naked before rolling out of bed and making his way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Harry watched him go before deciding that it might be a good idea to figure out where he had vanished their clothes to.

“Coming?” Draco called out to Harry when the other man didn't arrived right away.

“Yeah” Harry said shaking his head before making his way to the bathroom where his bonded waited for him. After a quick shower the pair made their way back out to the bedroom to see that their clothing was sitting on the bed with the bed made and looking as if they hadn't been in it just minutes before.

“This place” Harry said shaking his wet locks and then getting dressed.

“It must really like you” Draco said with a wink before getting dressed as well. It was while Harry worked on his hair that Draco noticed that Harry's glamour charms seemed to have stayed even when they were making love, something that only a powerful wizard or witch would be able to do.

“Draco” Harry said looking at his bonded in the mirror he was standing in front of. He had been thinking while they had been in the shower of a name change and he wondered how Draco would take the idea.

“Harry” Draco said before taking the ribbon that was in Harry's hands and tying it to the end of the braid that he did once he completed.

“Would you be offended if I changed my name?”

“Your last name”

“Um, yeah and my first as well” Harry said not looking at Draco in the mirror.

“To Aumand” Draco said trying to get his bonded eyes to look at him. Harry nodded his head, he hated being Harry Potter and when Draco had suggested the new name he had felt like another person and it had felt amazing. He would always be Harry Potter, but he wanted to start a new life with Draco and one of the things that he knew would help him would be to have another name, something that no one knew.

“Do you want to change your name?” Draco asked he could tell that this was very important to his bonded, and he could understand why. Being Harry Potter was much harder than just being Aumand Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's bonded. There were expectations for Harry Potter that Aumand Malfoy wouldn't have to worry about or deal with.

“Aumand Malfoy nee Perverell it is then” Draco said before kissing Aumand's nape. At those words Harry looked up with tears in his eyes.

“I love you”

“And I love you” Draco responding turning Harry around and kissing him on the lips.

“That's how we ended up here” Harry said wiping away the tears with a huge smile on his face. The fear that Draco had only bonded to him because he was Harry Potter was finally put to bed and he now fully trusted Draco to do the right thing if there was ever a need.

“It is” Draco said before kissing Aumand one last time before taking a step back and looking at his bonded and how happy he looked.

“You're happy”

“I am” Aumand said before grabbing Draco's hand and guiding them out of the bedroom, downstairs and then out of the building. Draco couldn't help the smile that graced his face, he was so happy that Aumand was happy and with him no less.

“Do you want to walk?”

“How far is it from here?” Aumand questioned while the pair walked down the street taking in the amazing summer day.

“Oh, I don't know” Draco said now remembering that he had apparated to his flat when he had gone to pack his things.

“Then I think apparition would probably be best” Aumand said squeezing Draco's hand.

“Here” Draco said ducking the pair of them into an empty alley way.

“Hold onto me” Draco said wrapping his arms around Aumand and then thinking of the entrance to Vauxhall Road. He wanted Aumand to get the full experience of Vauxhall Road shopping district while they were out today. With a crack the pair arrived with Draco running his hands up and down Aumand's back and whispering that they were there and that everything was fine.

“Don't like that much” Harry said a bit green after apparating, it was almost as bad as Portkey and since the last time he had Portkeyed was when he was thrown into jail it wasn't something he looked forward to doing in the future.

“We'll find another way home then” Draco said before taking Aumand's hand and walking the pair of them down the shopping district of Vauxhall Road.

“You lived here?”

“Off of the shopping district actually” Draco said before pointing out the building that he lived in while they walked along the road. Many stopped what they were doing when they saw Draco Malfoy walking with someone that looked sort of like Harry Potter, but couldn't have been since he was holding their hand and everyone knew that Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were schoolyard enemies.

“Do you think that's Malfoy's bonded?” Both Draco and Aumand heard as they passed a particular loud witch asking her friend if she thought that the man with Draco was his rumored bonded.

“Oh joy” Aumand said rolling his eyes as a few people seemed to be watching them now.

“Don't worry about them, enjoy the day. So where do you want to go first?” Draco said looking down the road and seeing multiple clothiers that would be able to handle his requests for Aumand.

“There” Aumand said pointing out a small shop that had a plaque hanging over the door that said ‘Angés B fine maker of robes'. Draco nodded his head in approval before the pair made their way into the shop.

“Welcome to Angés B, is there anything I can help you with today?” A tall golden blonde male said with an easy smile on his face as he took in the pair that had just walked in the door. Draco nodded his head in greeting while Aumand took a look around the store not really hearing the other man speak.

“Are you looking for anything in particular” the man asked when it seemed that neither of the pair planned to speak; he had to work hard to keep the scowl off his face.

“Lordship robes” Draco said knowing that the blonde man wasn't going to leave them alone.

“Right this way” the man said with an almost bounce to his step, Lordship robes were not cheap so he knew if he made a sale that he would be getting a very nice commission.

“I like this one” Aumand said pulling out a black robe that had silver stitching and a mandarin collar with what looked like a spots for the family shield where the two ends met up in the front. Draco nodded his head in approval; the robe would look fantastic on Aumand that much he knew.

“Anything else” Draco said before moving closer to Aumand when the employee took to taking small steps towards him. Did the man not see that he was bonded? And to the man that he was with?

“I like these” Aumand said pulling out another robe that had a similar style of collar but was much shorter than the first. This one only reached what looked about mid-thigh instead of it being full length and reaching the floor.

“I agree and I think green or silver stitching would be best” Draco said before taking the robes out of Aumand's hands and putting them into the employee's hands.

“A room” Draco said before returning to Aumand's side to guide him over towards the shirts that should be worn under the robes he had picked out. The employee made a sound like he was going to speak but one look at Draco and he was speeding away with the robes in his hands.

“Everything okay” Aumand said noticing the tail end of the employee's thoughts as he sped away.

“Fine” Draco said before pointing out some shirts with mandarin collars that he thought would go well with the robes.

“What about this” Harry said pulling out a standard looking dress shirt.

“Hmmm” Draco said not really able to see Aumand in that type of shirt. Aumand was just about to speak when he picked up the thoughts of the employee that had greeted them making his way back to them.

‘Draco Malfoy looks much, much hotter in real life than those pictures in the Daily Prophet' the employee thought before noticing that he seemed to notice that he was being watched.

‘And who does he think he is?' the man thought before sneering at Aumand and making his way over to where Draco was standing looking at some vests that he thought Aumand should add to his collection of clothing.

“Mr. Malfoy” the man said in a husky voice.

“Yes” here Draco flicked his eyes down the man's front to see if there was a name tag, sadly the man took this as an invitation that Draco wanted him.

“Boyd” the man said breathlessly, it was obvious to anyone watching that Boyd was trying to get into Draco's pants, literally.

“Back off” Aumand growled before coming over to where Draco and Boyd stood. That seemed to wake Boyd out of his stupor and he backed away thinking nasty thoughts about Aumand the whole time.

‘Sin like that can't be bonded and to…that, that' Aumand was almost to tears, from anger or the hurtful words he didn't know but he was ready to cry.

“Aumand” Draco said concerned he could tell that something wasn't right with Aumand and it seemed that Boyd was the one causing the issue.

“The room” Draco said pulling Aumand towards a row of curtained off cubes that he assumed where the fitting rooms.

“Here” Boyd said still thinking nasty thoughts about Aumand. Once inside the fitting room Draco pulled the curtain closed and cast a silencing spell so the man outside couldn't hear what he was saying.

“Aumand” Draco said pulling the shorter man into his arms.

“He, he, he” Aumand said before he let the tears fall, how could someone think such hurtful things when he didn't even know him?

“Will be dealt with, now try these on” Draco said before kissing Aumand and wiping away his tears. He would make sure that Boyd, their helper, would understand never to piss a Malfoy or their bonded off. Aumand slowly took off his shirt and robe, sniffing every now and then as tears still slipped down his face.

“I'll make sure that he is taken care of” Draco reassured Aumand once he had put on the shirt and was buttoning it up.

“Promise” Aumand said looking into Draco's eyes.

“Promise” Draco said before grabbing the shorter robe off the hanger and slipping it on Aumand's back.

“So how do I look?” Aumand said his arms raised slightly and then turning around to show Draco the whole picture.

“Perfect” Draco said running his hands up and down the front of Aumand's body. Aumand blushed, happy to have pleased Draco so much.

“Try the other robe on” Draco said before taking the first robe and putting it back on the hanger, they would have to have the robes tailored since Aumand was much smaller than this clothier thought would be a normal size.

“Bit long” Aumand said looking at the extra fabric that flooded the floor due to his short height.

“Tailoring will correct that, but I think it looks perfect. A good cut for you” Draco said before walking around Aumand wanting to take in the full effect the robe had on his bonded.

“Stay here” Draco said kissing Aumand and then leaving the cube to find someone that would be able to help them instead of Boyd.

“Mr. Malfoy” Boyd started out before sliding up close to Draco as if he would welcome the advances.

“Get me the person in charge here” this of course shocked Boyd but did as he was told since he was almost certain that Draco had no issue with him.

“Mr. Malfoy” an older man with graying hair said as he made his way to where Draco stood waiting for Boyd to return with the person in charge.

“Young Lord Malfoy actually” Draco corrected the man; he could remember coming into this same shop with his father and having this man help them. He had been one of the few wizards that his father thought highly of and for Lucius Malfoy to think highly of you was a great honor.

“Ah yes that is correct” the older man said before waving Boyd away noticing that Draco was unhappy with the younger man.

“He has greatly distressed my bonded” Draco said before sliding open the curtain and showing the older man Aumand who was fidgeting with the collar of the shirt and robes.

“I see, consider the matter taken care of”

“Thank you”

“I will see to your bonded personally” the older man said before turning to retrieve some items and to tell Boyd to not go anywhere near Draco and his bonded fitting room. The put-out look on Boyd's face showed that he got the message loud and clear but was very unhappy with the message.

“My nephew” the older man said before stepping back into the fitting room and asking Aumand to stand on the raised platform near the three-way mirror in the corner.

“A very flattering cut for him” the man remarked before tape measures were measuring and he was marking with his wand on the robe.

“The other” the man said pointing to the other robe and then waiting as Aumand took off the first robe and then placed the next one on. He watched how Draco helped his bonded and seemed to say something before the other man calmed down a bit.

‘A perfect match' the man thought, happy to see that Draco was so happy; he could remember Draco as a child coming into the shop with his father and being unhappy and lonely but it seemed that the younger man had found his other half, something that the older man always found amazing. A small smile lit up Aumand's face at hearing the older man's thoughts.

“Happy thought” Draco whispered to Aumand and received a nod in response.

“Up you get” the older man said before repeating the process he had done before on this robe as well.

“I want four black, one dark green, one royal purple and one silver of the robes and I want only black or white shirts. I think ten will be a good start” Draco said while helping Aumand take off the other robe watching his face for the shock that was sure to come.

“Draco” Aumand whispered he didn't want Draco spending all that money on him. Draco just shook his head, now was not the time for them to fight over the cost of the new clothing. Aumand knew better than to go against Draco, so he closed his mouth and waited until the older man left before finishing undressing and beginning to try and fight with Draco about the cost of the robes.

“It shall be done” the old man said before chuckling, he could see that Draco's bonded was a spitfire and wasn't going to take the casual way that Draco had spent more money than some people made at the Ministry in a year only in a day and in one store.

‘A spitfire is just what Young Lord Malfoy needs' the man thought before his thoughts disappeared from Aumand's head.

“Draco” Aumand said as soon as the curtain closed and he was certain that the man unable to hear the pair of them talk.

“Aumand just let me do this” Draco pleaded with his bonded. Aumand looked into Draco's eyes and could see that this was something that the other man really wanted to do. Aumand couldn't figure out why but he figured that if it made his bonded happy then he would allow it, he could always repay Draco by buying an expensive gift or giving his body over to his bonded for a period of time. A kiss from Aumand told Draco that he wasn't going to fight him on who was going to pay.

“Thank you” Draco said before helping Aumand finish redressing in the shirt and robe that he came into the store with. After Aumand was dressed the pair of them made their way out of the fitting room and towards where the older man now stood waving his wand while bolts of fabric floated around him. Boyd stood off to the side a happy smile on his face.

‘All that money!' Boyd thought which made Aumand frown; he hoped that the man wasn't going to get a commission off of them.

“All right”

“He thinks he's going to get a huge commission” Aumand murmured to Draco, while pointing his head in Boyd's direction.

“I'll take care of that” Draco said before making his way over to where the older man stood and spoke to him in low tones so that Boyd couldn't hear them.

‘What's that hot piece of Lordship doing? Asking for permission to take me to lunch I bet' Boyd thought happy that it seemed that Draco had realized he was the better option than Aumand was.

“Understood” the older man said before glaring at his nephew, so far the younger man had been more work than he was worth. He always seemed to arrive late to work and only decided to work when it looked like there was either a rich client coming in or a client that met his specifications in dating material.

“Thank you” Draco said before making his way back over to where Aumand stood glaring at Boyd as he preened waiting for Draco to come and ask him to lunch.

“He thinks you're going to ask him to lunch”

“I already have a date for lunch and dinner, and breakfast tomorrow morning and everyday there after” Draco said before leaning over and kissing Aumand, hoping that Boyd would get the picture and leave thoughts of himself and Draco out of his mind.

‘What the bloody hell?!' Boyd practically yelled in his thoughts which had Aumand wincing.

“Wasn't happy about that” Aumand said before pulling away when he noticed that the older man was done with the making of the robes and gathering of shirts for them.

“Charge it to my account” Draco said passing over a black card with a large script G on it. The older man took the card and charged the amount to Draco's account never stating the amount owed for he was certain that if Draco's bonded knew how much he had just spent there was bound to be a fight, even if he had agreed to allow Draco to buy the robes and shirts.

“Here you are” the older man said handing over a bag that contained the shirts and then two garment bags that held the two styles of robes in the requested colors.

“Thank you” Draco said with a tilt of the head before heading out of the shop with. Aumand smiled at the man and followed Draco, who was carrying one bag and having the garment bags that held Aumand's robes floating behind them.

“I can help you know” Aumand said once they were out of the store.

“No, this is your shopping trip”

“But”

“No buts” Draco said before walking down the road with Aumand at his side. Word of their arrival seemed to have circulated the road since it seemed to be filled with more witches and wizards than it had been before.

“Word got around” Draco commented before ducking into another shop that had a plaque hanging over the door, only this time it said ‘Reiss, fine wizarding clothier'.

“I think we should be able to find some pants and other more casual items here”

“More clothes” Aumand said shocked that Draco wanted to spend more money, and on him!

“Of course, Angés B specializes in Lordship robes and I didn't know if you wanted to wear them all the time”

“Oh” Aumand said before following Draco into the store.

“Hi” a man about their age said an easy smile on his face.

“Hang these up” Draco said passing the bags to the man and watching Aumand's face to see if the man would be any trouble.

“I like him” Aumand said tipping his head in the man's direction. He had thought nice thoughts even when Draco had been a bit much in handing over the bags from the other store.

“I hope not too much” Draco growled into Aumand's ear which made him squeak.

‘The rumors are true, I do hope Young Lord Malfoy is happy; he deserves it' the man thought before asking the pair if they needed help with anything. Aumand was only too happy to have the man help them unlike Boyd at the other store.

“I would suggest some summer weight casual robes” Draco said pointing to the large rack of summer weight robes that were out.

“Right” Aumand said before grabbing a few robes to add to the already large collection of pants and shirts he had to try on.

“Quite the shopper” the attendant said to Draco with a smile on his face to say that he meant no harm.

“Who would have thought?” Draco joked back before making his way over to Aumand, who was in the process of picking out something that Draco was never going to allow going home with them.

“You will leave those alone” Draco said putting the horrible orange colored shirt back on the rack.

“I had to get your attention somehow” Aumand shot back before pulling Draco into the fitting room that the attendant had set up for them. Many changes and a tailor later had Draco and Aumand walking out of Reiss with even more bags than before.

“Hungry” Draco asked noticing that many of the restaurants that lined the road were filling up with the lunchtime crowd.

“A bit”

“You need to eat more” Draco commented before steering them over to a small café that was known for their quick service and quiet atmosphere. Aumand knew that Draco spoke the truth, but he had never eaten much even growing up at the Dursley's so it was going to be a long process before Aumand would actually eat an amount that would satisfy Draco.

“Two” the girl at the podium asked when Draco and Aumand arrived in front of her.

“Yes” Draco said before the pair followed the girl to a small cozy booth away from the windows of the restaurant.

“Your server will be right with you” she said before bouncing away thinking about something totally not related to the pair of them.

“Wow” Aumand said laughing a bit at the girls thoughts.

“She okay”

“She was more concerned about if Tina knew that Luke was seeing Tracy than about us”

“Hogwarts drama lives on” Draco said knowing that the girl couldn't have been older than maybe sixteen and that was pushing it in his estimation. Aumand just shook his head and laughed, one good thing was that it seemed that the glamour charms seemed to be literally working their magic since no one had really commented on his looks and he had been listening to the people's thoughts when they walked by. Most of their thoughts centered around who he was not who he looked like, which was a very good thing Aumand thought. He was brought out of his thoughts by their server arriving to take the order.

“My name is Katie and I'll be your server for today” this had Aumand looking up and into the eyes of Katie Bell, ex-Gryffindor Chaser when he had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

“I'll have the rib-eye sandwich with a side of chips” Draco said after looking over the menu and deciding what to get.

“I'll have the French Onion soup and the garden salad” Aumand said after he too glanced at the menu before ordering. He knew he was in for it when Draco frowned at him, not at all happy with how much he had order.

“Is that all” Katie said surprised that the man was ordering so little, her best friend's daughter ate more than this man and she was four.

“For now” Aumand said hoping that would placate Draco, it seemed it did for the frown that was on Draco's face slid off to be replaced with something a kin to acceptance.

“Anything to drink”

“Butterbeer” Draco said before handing over the menu and watching Aumand.

“I'll have the same”

“Excellent, I'll get this right out to you” Katie said before taking the menus and making her way to the kitchen to place the order. At no point in time did her thoughts even go towards Aumand looking like Harry Potter.

“Is that Katie Bell?”

“Weasley now, she married one of those twins” Draco said a sneer on his face; he had never been a fan of the Weasley family and even less of a fan of the Weasley twins.

“How's their joke shop business” Aumand asked remembering that the shop had been doing a brisk business before he was thrown into prison.

“Last I heard it was fine but I try not to keep up with anything dealing with the Weasels” Aumand nodded his head that he understood. He too wouldn't have kept up with the family if he disliked them as much as Draco's family disliked the Weasley's. Katie returned to the table with two Butterbeers, setting them on the table and then leaving to another table that had just been seated.

“Draco!” Draco and Aumand heard yelled across the café, at which time Draco groaned.

“Parkinson?” Aumand said watching as the woman made her way pushing people out of the way to the booth where they sat.

“Make that Nott” Draco corrected before pasting his Slytherin smirk on his face, Aumand understood the silent move that Pansy was not to be trusted and could become a problem if given the chance.

“Pansy” Draco said standing up and kissing Pansy on the cheeks while the woman tried and failed to get a kiss on the lips from Draco.

“My bonded” Draco said pointing out Aumand who was now standing as well, since it was only proper for him to greet an ‘associate' of his bonded.

“What?” Pansy said acting surprised by the news, Draco along with Aumand knew that the woman had read the paper and the article so there was no reason for her to act as if this was news to her.

“My bonded, Pansy I know that you read the article in the Daily Prophet”

“Of course but I don't take anything Sally-Anne Perks says to heart” “Well in this instance you should have” Draco said before grabbing Aumand's hand from the other side of the table where they stood. Pansy watched the other man with hate shining out in her eyes and her thoughts.

‘Who the bloody hell does he think he is? Draco is mine!' Pansy raged in her thoughts while staring at Aumand, a small flinch that only Draco noticed told him all he needed to know. That Pansy needed to leave or else she would be cursed with something very, very nasty and he wouldn't care about the effects.

“Pansy” Theodore Nott said as he made his way to where his wife stood staring at the man holding Draco's hand.

‘So the paper was right' Nott thought before grabbing his wife and shaking her a bit.

“Pansy what do you think you are doing? Draco is having lunch with his bonded”

“Get your hands off of me Theodore” Pansy said through gritted teeth, not at all happy with the small scene that Theodore was making.

“Pansy come” Nott said before apologizing to the pair.

“I'm sorry about that, she tends to not know her place” Nott said before glaring at his wife and then giving a shrug of the shoulders to the pair before pulling his wife out of the café.

‘Bint thinks she is better than anyone else, one of these days she is going to end up in a heap of trouble for it and I won't be the one saving her' Nott thought before his thoughts died out as they left the café.

“Nott's a good guy with a horrid wife”

“Arranged” Draco said before sliding in after Aumand in the booth.

“Too bad”

“Here you go” Katie said placing the orders at their owners and asking if there was anything else she could get them before leaving. The pair ate in silence until Draco pointed to the soup and asked:

“Let me try some”

“Draco” Aumand said wondering what his husband was up to; he could see that Draco was up to something his eyes gave him away as they always had done while they were at Hogwarts, but what he didn't know.

“A spoonful my lovely” Draco said before Aumand filled the spoon and slipped the soup and spoon into Draco's waiting mouth.

“Hmmm” Draco said before Aumand was assaulted with almost every person's thoughts that was in the café and watching them.

‘Oh my Gods!'

‘So sexy'

‘I wish I was the spoon' were just some of the thoughts running through some of the people's minds. Aumand gasped at a particularly visual thought that a woman was having about Draco, silk and spoons.

“All right” Draco said watching as his bonded face turned bright red.

“They love you” Aumand said summing up what it was that the people were thinking.

“Of course, I'm Draco Malfoy”

“Draco” Aumand said knowing that Draco was being silly and understood what he wasn't saying.

“They can't have me, you do” Draco said before tipping his head and opening his mouth for another spoonful of soup.

“You tease” Aumand said before slipping the filled spoon into Draco's mouth again.

“Could be, good soup” Draco said before going back to his sandwich wanting to leave and get back to the Lab as soon as possible since his pants had gotten much too tight for public observation. Once the pair had finished their meal and paid did they make their way out of the café and back onto Vauxhall Road.

“Draco” the pair heard as they made their way down the road looking at the little shops boasting about unique trinkets and baubles.

“Asteria” Draco said knowing that voice instantly; it seemed that Pansy worked quickly.

“Is this your bonded?” Asteria said sizing up her competition, and she didn't think she had much in the way of competition.

“It is” Draco said not offering Aumand's name to the witch.

“Pleased to meet you, Asteria Greenglass” Asteria said with a curtsey to Aumand to which he replied with a small bow and his name.

“Aumand Malfoy”

“French” Asteria said surprised by the first name, she had been certain that Draco had sullied the Malfoy name with some half-blood or worse yet a ‘blood traitor' but it seemed she may have been wrong. Draco could tell that Asteria was waiting for his old last name to be given; this of course would rate where his bonded stood in the eyes of the wizarding world social elite and pureblood families.

“Perverell” Draco said his French accent changing the last name just enough that she wouldn't realize the familiarity of the last name to the same last name thought to be the descendants of Merlin. Asteria nodded her head in semi-approval, she was impressed with his status with being French, but she was still unhappy that Draco wasn't bonded to her as he should be. Aumand Perverell, she would not think of the other man as a Malfoy, would have to be taken out and paired with someone who wasn't *her* Draco.

‘A match with Daphne could work' Asteria thought, not knowing that Aumand was listening to her every thought and that her plans would fail because of this little gift of Aumand's.

“Out shopping” Asteria said changing the subject about Draco's bonded since she had nothing positive to say about the man, he was with *her* Draco and there was nothing he could do, well besides breaking things off with Draco, that would make him okay in her book.

“A bonding gift to my bonded” Draco said knowing that if he kept throwing Aumand's and his bond in her face that she would soon disappear from their faces.

“Ah” Asteria said not happy, she should be the one getting shopping sprees for being Draco's bonded not some French wizard.

“If you'll excuse me” Asteria said before making some excuse about meeting her sister and then dashing off to whine about Draco's bonded to someone who would listen.

“She isn't happy” Aumand said knowing that Draco probably already knew that bit of information.

“I figured as much” Draco said before they continued making their way down the road looking at the shops and then stopping in front of one that had a large display of defero sitting in the window.

“Let's get you one and then we are heading home” Draco said before opening the door to the shop and guiding his bonded in for a defero.

“Young Lord Malfoy” the shopkeeper said in greeting the pair.

“Cignus” Draco said with a tip of his head.

“Bonded!?”

“Yes, Aumand this is Cignus Ackerly” Draco introduced before the man before them started to prim under Draco's words.

“Pleased to meet you” Aumand said before looking to Draco for some sort of cue as to what to do.

“Cignus we're here for a defero”

“Oh of course, hot seller those” the man rattled before going in the back in the back and grabbing a special defero that families with dark ties purchased.

“Here you are” Cignus said handing over the defero with a smile on his face at selling a dark defero instead of those nasty light defero that most of the population wanted and used. They were so easy to make with a few spells that didn't even challenge him, but the dark defero those were a dream to make with spells and charms weaved together to make sure that all communications were secure to only those that the message or communication was intended for. Aumand heard all of the man's thoughts and could only shake his head; he should have known that anything that related to magic would be of the darker nature with Draco.

“Thank you” Draco said passing some coins to the man and then pocketing the defero and then guiding Aumand out of the shop.

“It was nice to meet you” Aumand said before Draco blocked Aumand from Cignus.

“Pleasure” Aumand heard from Cignus before the door closed behind Draco. Draco wrapped his free arm around Aumand's waist and kissed the nape of his neck.

“Home” Draco said not wanting to go to another shop.

“Home” Aumand agreed leaning against Draco's body.

“Knight Bus”

“Yeah” Aumand said before Draco removed his arm so that he could get his wand to call the Knight Bus, with a bang the bus arrived and Draco and Aumand quickly got on.

“Where to?”

“Soho” Draco said before handing over the required amount to Stan and then taking a seat in one of the chairs with Aumand following suit. Moments later the bus arrived to Soho where Draco and Aumand got off and then walked the short distance to Cadmus Labs, which was located at the entrance of the factory district located there.

“Home sweet home” Draco said once they had made their way into the Labs, Draco then waved his wand and sent the bags of clothing to the bedroom so that they could put it away or there was the chance that the building would do it for them.

“Come here you” Draco said finally able to kiss Aumand the way he wanted. He had to be reserved when showing public displays of affection; he was after all a Malfoy and a pureblood. There were certain rules he had to abide by and public displays of affection were to be kept to a minimum and if at all possible not shown but he wasn't going to abide by the no public displays of affection. He was certain that he would be able to get away with just a bit of a display just to show people that they were in fact bonded and quite happy about it as well, instead of the arranged bonding which really wasn't a bonding at all but a marriage. There was no love in a marriage that was arranged and so the magic that would bind the two together would never occur, it was part of the reason why Draco was so proud they were bound. It wasn't a common thing and he wanted to make sure that all knew and understood that his bonded was of his choosing that they really did love each other. Aumand wound his arms around Draco's neck and kissed back just as passionately as Draco was him.

“Gods I didn't know if I would make it home before having to take you” Draco said moving his mouth away from Aumand's to nip and suck on his neck. Aumand could only moan and groan out his response, there would be no coherent words coming from him at this point in time. Draco was in the process of unbuttoning Aumand's shirt, since his robe had been removed the moment they arrived, when an owl arrived bearing the Ministry of Magic symbol.

“What do they want” Draco said pulling away from Aumand and moving over to the impatient bird sitting on the back of a chair in the living room. Draco untied the parchment and then began to read what it was that they wanted at his place of employment, he had sent his letter about not being in today early that morning so there was no way that they were contacting him about that.

Draco,
Please find enclosed a Portkey that will take you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on the tenth of this month at 11:45 AM. If for any reason you are unable to make the appointed Portkey time, please notify the Department of Magical Transportation for a new Portkey. You will check-in with the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress when you arrive. The Headmaster was also kind enough to offer quarters of you and your bonded, since you are newly bonded; I do hope that this is acceptable.

You will be at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry until such time that the opinion of the Headmaster is restored to its formal level.

If you have any needs or concerns, please feel free to contact my aide and arrangements will be made if we are able.

Regards,
Rufus Scrimgeour
Minister of Magic

“Well we at least get a bit of time before we are shipped off to Hogwarts” Draco said before handing over the letter to Aumand and looking at the Portkey that the Minister spoke about in his letter. The Portkey was a small phoenix, the meaning behind the item not lost on Draco or Aumand. Draco's stay would also be a recruiting mission for the Headmaster and his Order.

“That's in two days time” Aumand said before handing the letter back to Draco not at all happy with the short notice of when they were to leave.

“It is but I have a feeling they want me off balance when I arrive to make me more susceptible to their advances for me to join their club” Draco said sneering at the word ‘club'. Aumand agreed with Draco's thoughts, he knew they would try and suck him into thinking that their way was the best way and that they should join and fight the good fight, as if that would happen; Draco's defero starting vibrating in his robe pocket.

“Father” Draco said after he saw that the incoming communication was coming from this father.

“Draco, I hear you were out and about with your bonded”

“Yes a bit of a shopping trip since it seems that I will be stuck at Hogwarts for an unknown about of time”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“The Headmaster's reputation” Draco said knowing that his father would be not happy with him being shipped off to Hogwarts to make the opinion of the Headmaster better than it was. Lucius shook his head he knew there was nothing that he could do that would make the Ministry back down from sending his son to Hogwarts.

“And is your bonded going as well?”

“Yes, that is why we went out today. To do a bit of shopping, he could stand to get a new robe or two”

“Hmmm” Lucius said before asking about when Draco and his bonded planned to have dinner with them.

“Tomorrow since we leave in two days time”

“Short notice”

“Aumand thought that as well” Draco commented knowing that his father would pick up the name.

“I'll let your mother know” Lucius said acting as if he hadn't heard Draco say the name of his bonded.

“Tell her I said hello as well” Draco said before ending the conversation with his father.

“That went better than expected” Draco said before placing the defero on the small side table that was in the living room.

“Did it”

“It did, but I know there will be hell to pay when we get to Malfoy Manor for dinner” Draco said wrapping his arms back around Aumand. That night Draco made slow and passionate love to his bonded, happy with the results of their tests and also happy that Aumand seemed to be on the mend from his stay in Azkaban. The next evening after Draco returned from work did the pair make their way to Malfoy Manor for dinner with Draco's parents.

“Everything will be fine” Draco said reassuring Aumand yet again that his father wouldn't recognize that Aumand was in fact Harry Potter, if the population that had been out and about yesterday hadn't noticed there was no way that his father or his mother would.

“Draco” met the pair's ears as they were guided by house elf to the sitting room where Narcissa and Lucius sat waiting for their son and his bonded.

“Mother” Draco said releasing the hold he had on Aumand's hand and kissing his mother's cheeks.

“And you must be Aumand” Narcissa said a French lilt to her voice just as Draco had when speaking his man.

“Lady Malfoy” Aumand said kissing Narcissa's hand in greeting. Lucius watched with a critical eye, the Dark Lord had given him orders to watch Draco's bonded to see if the man would be a problem to get rid of when the time came.

“Lord Malfoy” Aumand said bowing to Lucius when Draco introduced the pair to each other.

“Aumand….” Lucius was now fishing for a last name, he hadn't heard from any of his contacts in France that there was an available wizard with Aumand's coloring available for bonding. His son always had the most unique taste and when he began an obsession with Harry Potter, Lucius figured that Draco would bond or marry someone of that particular coloring and it seemed he was right.

“Perverell” Aumand said watching the Malfoy parents and listening to their thoughts.

‘Powerful' Narcissa thought while Lucius thought the same thing but with a slight twist.

‘Powerful but he is no match to the Dark Lord' Aumand wanted to throw up; they were comparing him to the Dark Lord.

“Masters, dinner bes ready” a house elf said before popping away as the Malfoy family made their way to the dining room for a formal dinner. It was a good thing that Aumand and Draco had gone shopping yesterday since they were already getting use out of the Lordship robes, which it seems his father and mother hadn't noticed yet.

“You're doing fine” Draco whispered to Aumand as they followed Narcissa and Lucius into the dining room. Draco pulled out the seat for Aumand and then seated himself next to his bonded. Once all were seated did the food appear and the slight clatter of the silverware was the only thing heard while the four ate. It was just as dessert was going to be served that Lucius excused himself, and then returned with another guest.

“Bastard” Draco swore under his breath, he was not happy at all with his parents or the Dark Lord. He should have known that his father would go off running to the Dark Lord to tell him that they would be meeting his bonded. Aumand watched the man enter the room and he could only stare, the last time that he had seen the man had been when he was restored in his fourth year. The man standing in front of him looked almost like he would have if he had been allowed a loving and caring home, with the eye color being the only real different; where his would have been a vibrant green there was ruby red.

“Bonded of Draco Malfoy” the man practically hissed to Aumand, everyone could tell that the man was not happy. Aumand continued to sit while Draco, Lucius and Narcissa all bowed to their Lord. Draco watched his bonded with worry in his eyes, only Harry Potter dare to not cower in front of the Dark Lord.

“My Lord” Aumand said before standing and then bowing deeply, not showing the disgust that was running through his thoughts.

‘He is powerful and very beautiful' the Dark Lord thought, quite happy with the idea of taking both Draco and his bonded into his bed.

“Rise” the Dark Lord said allowing the Malfoy family to sit back down and have dessert which had arrived.

“My Lord this is my bonded Aumand Malfoy nee Perverell” Draco introduced to the Dark Lord since it seemed that his father was at a loss as to what to do.

“Perverell you say?” The Dark Lord said surprised by the last name, he was almost certain that the Perverell line had died out many, many years ago. He had been trying to recruit from all the famous bloodlines and when he came across the Perverell line and the rumor of the witches and wizards being descendants of Merlin he had searched far and wide to find any from the line. He had been unsuccessful but it seemed that Draco had found someone who bore the name, now to figure out if it was only in name and not magic would be the next step.

“Yes my Lord” Aumand said bowing his head, he could read the Dark Lord's thoughts and so far none of them boded well for either himself or for Draco.

“Hmmm” the Dark Lord said watching Aumand and wondering if the man was loyal to the cause or if he was loyal to Draco and by extension the Malfoy family and its beliefs.

“We were just about to have dessert My Lord” Narcissa said indicating the table that was loaded with desserts of every kind.

“I think I'll stay” the Dark Lord said taking the seat next to Aumand on the other side of where Draco sat, this was highly unusual since the Dark Lord always sat at the front of the table to watch the others sitting at the table. To sit on the side and allowing Lucius to continue sitting at the head showed just how much Aumand's presence had affected the Dark Lord.

“My Lord” Lucius said stunned, who would have thought that Draco being bonded would actually work out in their favor? Aumand was hesitant on what to do, he absolutely hated the man sitting next to him but he knew that he had a part to play and only when the time was right should he reveal himself as Harry Potter, not something he was looking at all forward to and if the Dark Lord's thoughts about bedding both him and Draco continued, he would be running to the loo to empty the contents of his stomach.

“My Lord” Draco said realizing that his father had probably forgotten to tell the Dark Lord that he would be stationed at Hogwarts for an unknown amount of time.

“Young Draco” the Dark Lord said not looking at Draco but instead at Aumand's face.

“I am to be stationed at Hogwarts for an unknown amount of time to clear up the mess that the Minister has made of Dumbledore's name” Draco said sneering at the thought of helping the old wizard.

“I see and when do you leave” the Dark Lord said still staring at Aumand and now thinking that if the bonded was away how he would bed Aumand and then take Draco to bed when he returned and learned of his bonded's activities.

“Tomorrow evening after I return back from work” Draco said looking at Aumand and seeing that he was turning green at whatever it was that the Dark Lord was thinking, for he was certain that it was the Dark Lord's thoughts that was turning Aumand's face green.

“Excuse me” Aumand said pushing back his chair and speeding out of the dining room hoping to find a bathroom quickly.

“Excuse My Lord, mother, father” Draco said before he followed Aumand out of the room. He was lucky enough to find his bonded leaning against a wall crouched over with his head almost between his legs.

“Come here” Draco said slipping an arm around Aumand's waist and guiding him to a loo nearby that he could use.

“Thank you” Aumand said once they were in the loo and he made a beeline to the toilet where he proceeded to throw-up the contents of his dinner and dessert. Draco placed a hand on Aumand's back trying to sooth the other man but knowing that he wouldn't be able to until Aumand told him what the Dark Lord was thinking to get such a violent reaction from him.

“He wants to bed the both of us, and in his dream world at the same time” Aumand said before he began to dry heave since his stomach was now empty. Draco grimaced; he figured that it was something close to that since the Dark Lord had taken up the perch next to Aumand instead of at the top of the table as he usually did.

“Won't happen” Draco said knowing that Aumand would know that it was a promise.

“Gods I hope not” Aumand said before slumping over with his back against a wall.

“Aumand” Draco said sliding down the wall and bringing Aumand into his arms. The mere thought of Aumand with another set his magic and his emotions on edge, and that was never a good thing since usually things always happened when emotions ran high in witches and wizards.

“In a way I am glad we are to be leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow” Aumand understood Draco's words; they would be far removed from the Dark Lord and his ministrations to bed Aumand while he was away.

“Ready” Draco said a few minutes later when it looked as if Aumand was about ready to fall asleep.

“Yes”

“Then let us say our goodbyes and be on our way” Draco said standing and then helping Aumand to rise off the floor. Aumand carefully put himself back together, smoothing out his robes and freshening his breath with a charm before the pair made their way back to the dining room where the Dark Lord and Draco's father and mother sat waiting for the pair to return.

“Young Malfoy is your bonded all right?” The Dark Lord asked concern almost reaching his eyes; it was a shock to all present.

“Feeling a bit under the weather it would seem” Draco responded holding onto Aumand to show that he was not feeling all that well still.

“Then return home” the Dark Lord said dismissing Draco and Aumand by his words.

“Thank you my Lord and good night” Draco said before backing the pair of them out of the room and making their way to the floo room to return back to Cadmus Labs.

“Draco” Lucius called just before the pair was about to leave.

“Father”

“You have pleased me” Lucius said before smirking at his son and then swirling away from the door back to where the Dark Lord was still sitting in the company of Narcissa. Draco shook his head, only his father would be proud of him choosing a bonded that the Dark Lord wanted to bed. Priorities for the Lord Malfoy were obviously a bit off, but there was nothing that Draco could do, as usual.

“Cadmus Labs” Draco said throwing the floo powder into the fireplace and stepping in with Aumand wrapped around him. The green flames soon had them sliding through the floo system to Cadmus Labs, which it seemed was hooked up to the floo system but only allowed its owner and bonded through the connection.

“We're home” Draco said to Aumand, who looked dead on his feet. Aumand sighed in relief; he was finally home and away from the horrible thoughts of the Dark Lord and that of Lucius Malfoy as well. Draco's mother was more concerned about their status in the wizarding world and the Death Eater ranks to care about her son's bonded possibly being bedded by the Dark Lord.

“Rest” Draco said guiding Aumand to the master bedroom and helping him prepare for bed.

“You're not staying”

“I have to get a few things ready for our stay at Hogwarts” Draco explained before kissing Aumand and telling him that he would be along shortly. Draco made his way down to the study once he was certain that Aumand would be alright alone.

“Malfoy” Draco barked into the defero that had gone off as soon as he arrived to the study.

“Draco” Blaise Zabini's voice purred while his defero showed the mocha colored man looking like sin with no shirt on and eyes half open. It was very clear to Draco that Blaise was either drunk or high as a kneazle in cat nip.

“Zabini what do you want?” Draco asked he knew that when Blaise got like this that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted and it seemed that it was him that Blaise wanted. The other man had been warned about even trying to get into his robes but it seemed that he had forgotten for some reason.

“Bonded?! And I have to find out via the Daily Prophet”

“And your point being” Draco said knowing that Blaise probably had a plan on how to get to Draco even at this late hour.

“But your mine”

“No, I am my bonded and you best remember that” Draco said glaring at the man and seeing that it was having no effect on him at all since he started to lick his lips and a glazed look came over his face.

“I'm coming over” Blaise said before ending the conversation with Draco letting out a swear, he wasn't at his flat and if the idiot went over there he would have to explain the reason for the near empty flat.

“What” Draco said a moment later into the defero as Blaise had called back to whine to him, no doubt.

“I can't get in”

“Good” Draco said ending the conversation this time and going back to work on the few items that he wanted completed before they left for Hogwarts tomorrow.

“Draco” Aumand called out when Draco arrived to the bedroom and was taking off his clothing.

“Sssh” Draco said throwing his clothing on the floor and making his way to the bed in only his boxers. Draco wrapped his arms around Aumand and kissed the nape of his neck before evening out his breathing and falling to sleep quickly, Aumand following soon after. The pair woke up the next morning with dread running through them, they didn't want to go to Hogwarts but they certainly didn't want to stay and be within the grasp of the Dark Lord either.

“I'll see you after work” Draco said sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast, which was more like picking than actually eating it. Aumand nodded his head also picking at his breakfast; he was still feeling a bit green about the thoughts that the Dark Lord had last night swirling around his mind.

“Look on the bright side, even the Dark Lord didn't even notice your looks”

“One good thing” Aumand said before standing taking both Draco's and his plate to the sink to be washed.

“Come here” Draco said wrapping his arms around Aumand from behind and kissing the neck that was exposed to him.

“Everything will be fine” Aumand turned his head and looked into Draco's eyes and saw the truth, even if they weren't, Draco would make every effort to make sure that everything would be alright and that seemed to relax Aumand.

“Now I better go before I'm late” Draco said before spinning Aumand around and giving him a kiss on the lips and then leaving for his office.

“Cousin” Tonks greeted her younger cousin as he made his way to his office door.

“Aunt” Draco said in greeting before unlocking his office door and seeing that there were ten paper airplane memos flying around his office.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were to meet with the Headmaster this morning?”

“I pushed the arrival time back, I have things that have to be taken care of before I leave” Draco explained opening up the airplane memos and reading through them before responding and sending them on their way. Tonks huffed, she hated not being in the know and for her cousin to change the time of meeting with the Headmaster was a bit of a problem since the Headmaster had planned out how the arrival of Draco and his bonded would go.

“Does the Headmaster know?”

“Tonks I am busy, I don't know nor do I care if the Headmaster of Hogwarts knows. I changed the time with the Department of Magical Transportation as instructed and I can only assume that they would notify the proper people. It isn't my job to do so” Draco said before scratching out another answer on a airplane memo and then sending it back to the sender, before he began looking at the stacks of parchment still on his desk. Tonks huffed again before stomping her way out of the office to find out if the people in the Department of Magical Transportation had notified the Headmaster, it would not do for the man to make a fool of himself because someone failed to notify him from the Ministry. The rest of the day for Draco was spent getting the stack of parchments on his desk gone and for any matters that would require his attention pressed on to someone else with the threat of death if they contacted him for any reason that was not life or death.

“Cousin” Tonks said walking into Draco's office without knocking a smug smile on her face.

“What do you want now woman?”

“Here” Tonks said passing the letter than the Headmaster had given her when she notified him that Draco and his bonded wouldn't be arriving at the appointed time since Draco had rescheduled their Portkey time. Draco took the letter out of his aunt's hand and placed it on the desk before going back to work.

“Well aren't you going to open it?”

“Later” Draco responded before going back to work. Tonks had been certain that once she delivered the letter that Draco would open it and read it, but it seemed she misjudged and was now standing in her cousin's office waiting for him to open the letter.

“Is there a reason you are still here”

“No” Tonks said before turning around a frown on her face and then making her way back to her desk so that she could wait until it was time to go him. The Minister was home today so she hadn't had much to do today and pissing off her cousin had seemed like a good thing to do to pass the time. Once Tonks was gone did Draco open the letter to see that familiar loopy scrawl that was the Headmaster's:

Mr. Malfoy,

I was notified by Ms. Nymphodora Tonks that you have delayed your arrival time, it saddens me to know that you felt that you need not notify me about the change. When you arrive we will have to discuss some rules and regulations that you and your bonded will have to abide by.

Regards,
Albus Dumbledore

Draco snorted at the note, as if it was his concern to notify the old man that he had changed the time of the Portkey. He knew then that the Headmaster had probably planned something that would bend him to do something that he probably didn't want to do. Draco burned the letter and then continued to work for another hour before it was time to head home and get ready for the ‘meet and greet' that the Headmaster was no doubt going to have once he and his bonded arrived. Tonks was standing outside of Draco's office as he made his way out of it.

“So?”

“What” Draco asked, did she actually think he was going to disclose the contents of the stupid letter that the Headmaster wrote to him to her of all people?

“What did the letter say?”

“Not your concern” Draco said before slipping past Tonks and making his way towards the lifts.

“I delivered it”

“Good job do you want an owl treat for it?”

“Draco Malfoy” Tonks said through gritted teeth not at all happy with the way that Draco was treating her. He had better learn his place and soon since once he was inducted to the Order he would see that she was high in the chain of command that ran the Order.

“Good night Nyphodora” Draco said before getting on the lift and riding it to the atrium so that he would make his way home and to Aumand. Draco made his way home quickly knowing that Aumand was probably having a full out panic attack at the thought of returning to Hogwarts.

“Aumand” Draco called once he stepped through the front door of the Labs. Aumand didn't respond so Draco went out in search of his bonded. He found him laying on the bed with his eyes closed and his hands rubbing his temples.

“Here let me do that” Draco said replacing Aumand's own hands with his own and rubbing his temples in a circular pattern to relive the headache that Aumand had.

“Draco” Aumand said opening his eyes and smiling at Draco.

“Nervous”

“Very much so”

“It won't be all bad” Aumand didn't respond, if he had to pick between the Dark Lord and the Headmaster as to who was worse he wasn't sure who he would pick, both were horrible in their own ways. After a few minutes and Aumand had relaxed to the point where his head didn't hurt much anymore did the pair of them get ready to leave for their stay at Hogwarts.

“All packed”

“Yes” Aumand said pointing to the large trunk he had borrowed from Draco. Draco eyed the trunk before nodding his head and seeing two more trunks sitting next to Aumand's.

“Let's go” Draco said grabbing hold of the trunks and Aumand before saying the words to activate the Portkey.

“Phoenix” Draco said sneering at the word while holding onto Aumand and the trunks. A pulling sensation behind their navel was felt and they were soon landing in the entrance hall of Hogwarts.

“Yous bes needing help” a house elf asked pointing to the trunks and then shaking like a leaf when it saw that it was Draco Malfoy.

“Take these to our quarters” Draco demanded of the house elf before continuing to stand where they had landed. He figured that the Headmaster and his cohorts would be along shortly and he wasn't wrong since not a moment later the Headmaster came around the corner with the Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall and Potions Professor Severus Snape in tow. Aumand took in Hogwarts, feeling the warm greeting as one of her former student's returned home.

“Mr. Malfoy” the Headmaster started only to be corrected by Draco.

“Young Lord Malfoy, actually” Draco said before shifting to signal that Aumand needed to meet the three professors.

“Ah yes that is correct you are recently bonded” the Headmaster said as if he had forgotten the special quarters he had set up for the pair.

“Aumand Malfoy” Draco said introducing his bonded to the other three standing in the entrance hall. The Headmaster along with the Deputy Headmistress and the Potions Professor regarded Draco's bonded before the Headmaster decided to speak.

“My name is Albus Dumbledore and I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts”

“I know that” Aumand snapped he wasn't stupid and for the Headmaster to think that way rubbed him the wrong way.

“Oh well yes” the Headmaster said his eyes twinkling even though he was thinking not so happy thoughts.

‘Who does this man think he is, treating me like that?' Aumand snorted before deciding to play with the three Hogwarts professors.

“You're Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration professor and head of Gryffindor House and that is Severus Snape potion professor and master and head of Slytherin House” Aumand said pointing to each of the other professors as he spoke their names and what class they taught and what titles they held.

“I see you know about Hogwarts” the Headmaster said a bit put-out with the attitude of Aumand.

“My bonded did attend this school” Aumand said staying very far away from even the mention of if this was the school he had gotten a magical education from.

“And where did you attend school at” Dumbledore said trying to look into both of the younger men's minds and coming up against a huge brick wall.

“Not your concern” Aumand said knowing that his words would piss off the Headmaster. Professor McGonagall's lips thinned out, she was not at all happy with the way that Draco's bonded was treating the Headmaster.

‘He is the Headmaster of Hogwarts and should be respected and if this little upstart thought that disrespecting him would earn him points he has another thing coming.' McGonagall thought glaring at the man next to Draco, she would have to take him aside and explain to him how things ran at Hogwarts.

“If that is all, can we be shown our rooms?” Draco said not wanting to deal with the Headmaster and his cohorts about either his or his bonded's attitude towards the Headmaster.

“Oh, yes” the Headmaster said not at all happy with the way things were going. He had planned on having Draco and his bonded introduced at the Professor's meeting that was held that morning, but he had been notified by Tonks that Draco had pushed back the time and would not arrive to Hogwarts until later that evening and now here he was with his bonded and they were acting as if they were unimpressed with him.

“Headmaster” Severus Snape said slinking up to the side of the Headmaster with a smirk on his face, he was not at all happy with Draco showing up with his bonded. He had, had his eyes set on the boy from the day he arrived to Hogwarts and before and now here he was with his bonded on his arm looking every bit like the Malfoy heir that he was.

“Ah Severus, why don't you show Young Lord Malfoy and his bonded to their quarters” the Headmaster said a twinkle in his eyes, he knew about his Potions Master obsession with Draco Malfoy and he figured this would be the step in the right direction to getting Draco on their side. Severus nodded his head before sweeping past the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress towards the third floor where Draco and his bonded had been placed.

“Good evening” Draco said before he placed a hand on the smalls of Aumand's back and guided him where Severus stood standing at the bottom of the steps that would lead them to their rooms.

“Young Lord Malfoy, please see me tomorrow morning in my office” the Headmaster said a pleasant smile on his face, which didn't relate to the horrible thoughts running through the old man's mind.

“Of course” Draco agreed before he took the stairs behind Aumand and Severus, who stood glaring at each other.

“Professor” Draco said arriving to the glaring match, his words breaking the silent battle that had been occurring.

“Draco” Severus said his voice having a purring quality to it, before he leered at Draco's body.

‘He shall be mine' Severus thought before guiding the pair down a corridor to where a painting of a pair of wizards stood laughing at a joke of some sort.

“Isis” Severus hissed out before the picture swung open and the three entered the quarters that would be the home for Draco and Aumand while staying at Hogwarts.

“Thank you professor” Draco said while Aumand detached from him and made his way around the small quarters that they had been given.

‘Draco is mine and he will soon be in my bed' Severus thought a smirk on his face not noticing that he was being dismissed by Draco to leave the quarters.

“I think Aumand and I will settle in and retire to bed early” Draco said before guiding Severus out of the rooms without the man noticing, since he seemed to thinking deeply about something.

“We need to change the password” Aumand said standing near a couch that was in the rooms they had been given.

“Of course” Draco agreed he wasn't comfortable with everyone knowing the password to their quarters.

“Snape wants you”

“What” Draco said stunned, he had always assumed that Severus Snape's almost maniacal over bearingness when he was at Hogwarts was because his father had threatened the man if he didn't see to it that Draco was content at Hogwarts and that he was his godfather.

“He is quite certain about whom you belong to and it is not I that you belong to” Draco shook his head at Aumand's words, it seemed like he just couldn't get a break. First the Dark Lord wanted to bed him and now his ex-Potions Professor, what next the Headmaster?

“Let's not worry or think about that right now” Draco said looking around the room and being impressed. Aumand nodded his head before he set about unpacking the trunks that they had brought with them.

“Let the house elves do that” Draco said before running a hand up his bonded's side and kissing his neck.

“At Hogwarts” Aumand questioned before Draco kissed him, making him forget where they were and why they were there; the next morning dawned much too quickly for the pair. Once dressed and ready for the day did they make their way down the Great Hall for breakfast.

“Oh wonderful, wonderful” the Headmaster said when Draco and Aumand arrived to a table full of Hogwarts professors.

“Headmaster” Draco said before finding an open spot for himself and for Aumand. The conversation at the breakfast table was tense and silted, none of the professors were fans of Draco and to see the ex-Slytherin back at Hogwarts helping the Headmaster set them on edge. Aumand didn't seem to be helping alleviate their fears since he seemed just as snotty and snarky as the Malfoy heir.

“Young Lord Malfoy” the Headmaster said when it looked like Draco was done eating, his signal that he would see Draco in his office now.

“I'll be back to the rooms after my meeting with the Headmaster” Draco whispered to Aumand before giving him a quick kiss and then following the old man to his office. Aumand sat at the table and continued to pick at his breakfast for a few more moments before giving up and deciding to go back to their rooms to wait for Draco's return, he most certainly didn't want to spend his time with the professors here.

“Mr. Malfoy” Severus said standing in an alcove in the entrance hall, this eyes boring holes into Aumand's back, and hate rolling off of him in waves.

“Professor Snape is there something you needed?” Aumand said in a neutral tone of voice, he knew it was just a matter of time before the Potions Professor began speaking again.

“Your bonded will tire of you, he always tires of toys that he has.” Severus Snape said smirking at Aumand acting as if he knew the inner workings of Draco.

“Hmmm” Aumand said trying not to believe what the potions professor had said, he had been thinking similar thoughts since bonding to Draco, but so far things had been going well.

“And once he tires of you, because I know he will, I will be there for him” Aumand had nothing to say to professor Snape's words. When Aumand didn't respond professor Snape's smirk got bigger. It seemed that he had hit a nerve of Aumand's and that was something he planned to take full advantage of.

“You are after all some lowly half-blood or maybe even a lowly ‘blood traitor' pureblood, whatever you are you are not what Draco truly seeks” Aumand was just about to rebut when the doors of the Great Hall opened and out walked Minerva McGonagall, when she saw the pair she made her way over. She had a few words she wanted to say to Aumand and she had best do it while Draco was away from his bonded.

“Mr. Malfoy” McGonagall called out while also wondering what Snape was doing speaking to Aumand.

“Professor McGonagall” Aumand said in greeting, he was quite happy to get rid of Snape so that he could brood in peace and if that meant with putting up with Minerva McGonagall then so be it.

“A moment of your time” McGonagall said eyeing Snape to see if the man was done speaking to Aumand.

“Of course” Aumand said before stepping away from Snape and towards McGonagall, he in no way wanted to deal with the old woman but he felt like he had no other option. Snape smirked at Aumand before gliding away to his dungeons.

“Remember what I said” Snape said before taking the stairs down to his office in the dungeons.

“Mr. Malfoy” McGonagall said while squaring her shoulders as if she was readying herself for battle.

“You are a guest here at Hogwarts and as such should show the Headmaster as well as, the entire staff here respect” Aumand stared at McGonagall impassively, how dare this woman tell him what to do, it wasn't as if Draco and he had a choice of being here.

“Further more…” McGonagall started out only to be cut off by Aumand.

“I may be a guest at this school but it is not of my own or my bonded's free will”

“Mr. Malfoy” McGonagall said shock that the man standing in front of her was acting as if Hogwarts was the last place he wanted to be at the current moment.

“Professor McGonagall” Aumand said before turning and making his way to their quarters. He had no urge to deal with the staff at Hogwarts at this point in time. Meanwhile in the Headmaster's office Draco was being chatted up with the Headmaster.

“Young Lord Malfoy” Dumbledore said a twinkle in his eyes that told Draco that the Headmaster was up to something and that he needed to be on his guard.

“Headmaster” Draco said waiting for the old man to speak, if he thought that Draco would crack with waiting for the Headmaster to speak, he had another thing coming he had grown up in Lucius Malfoy's house and that taught one never to push a person to speak until they wanted to.

“I had hoped that you would have arrived yesterday morning”

“I had items that needed to be addressed at my office before arriving here” Draco said watching the Headmaster and wondering what the barmy old man was thinking, it would have been nice to have Aumand there with him to tell him what was running through Dumbledore's head.

“Yes, yes Nymphodora told me”

“Is that why I am here? Because I didn't personally tell you that my bonded and I would be late? I have other things I could be doing, like the reason I was brought here in the first place” Draco said standing up, he wasn't going to have his old man divert his attention from the reason that he was here and he could tell that was exactly what the old man was doing.

“Please sit” the Headmaster said pointing to the seat that Draco had just gotten out of. Draco decided to have mercy on the old man and sat back down waiting for the Headmaster to tell him the reasons for this meeting.

“Since you are staying here at Hogwarts, I thought that it might be a good idea to”

“Stop right there” Draco said putting up a hand to make the Headmaster stop his ramblings about him being a professor for a class that was held at the school.

“I was sent here by the Minister to help with your reputation given the circumstances surrounding your part in keeping Potter in prison even though he was innocent” Draco thought that he would remind the old man that there was a reason for him being there and it wasn't to teach some class to children.

“Young Lord Malfoy” the Headmaster said shocked that Draco felt that he needed to remind him of the reason why he was there. He hadn't forgotten, if anything Draco would be needed more now than before because of Harry Potter. The Headmaster had no doubts that Harry was hiding away somewhere holding a grudge against him and the Order, but it had all been for the greater good. Harry had needed to learn that the Headmaster was the true ‘leader of the light', there had been rumors going around while Hogwarts was in session that Harry would one day take his place, and with the formation of ‘Dumbledore's Army' that role seemed to be closer for Harry than ever before. That was something that just couldn't and wouldn't occur while he was alive and so he had taken Umbridge's account of Harry attacking her and twisted it to make it seem like he was on a path to be the next Dark Lord. No one not even Fudge was willing to admit that the Dark Lord was back, so they had thrown Harry in prison and the plan would have worked wonderfully if Voldemort hadn't shown up a few years later in the public eye. That had called for Fudge's resignation and the secret of Harry Potter's imprisonment became the next Minister's problem. It was a lucky thing that even this Minister of Magic was under his control somewhat, what he hadn't expected was for the man to let it slip that Harry was innocent and had been innocent the whole time. Now here he was with no Harry to speak on his behalf and people were beginning to question whether he had the wizarding world's children in mind in his position at Hogwarts.

“Headmaster, let me do my job” Draco said before standing and leaving the office, he wasn't willing to put up with the Headmaster's schemes. Not while Aumand was housed at the school, he had no doubt that the Headmaster would try and use his bonded against him but he would be sadly mistaken when Aumand wouldn't take the bait that would be thrown at him. Aumand was nothing short of stubborn, which had been one the things that kept Draco obsessed even at Hogwarts. Draco made short work of returning to his chambers where Aumand sat staring at the flames held in the fireplace.

“Aumand” Draco said worried, he could tell that something was on Aumand's mind.

“I spoke with Snape”

“What did he want?”

“Besides you?” Aumand said turning his head to stare directly into Draco's eyes.

“Well he can't and won't have me, because I have you” Draco said pulling Aumand into an embrace hoping that he could feel the love that he felt for the other man through the gesture.

“He said that you would tire of your toy”

“You are *NOT* a toy” Draco said fiercely, he could see that this was a huge concern for Aumand and he could see why, with the way that the Headmaster and the Weasley treated Aumand before his imprisonment, he had to think that he wasn't worth anything and once someone tired of him they would leave him and never think about him again just like a toy. Aumand looked into Draco's eyes wanting to know if he spoke the truth, he wanted to believe that Draco spoke the truth for he wasn't sure on what he would do, if he could tell that Draco was lying to him.

“You are my heart, even in this short time we have been together” Draco said his emotions finally breaking through so that Aumand could see them for himself. Tears soon began to flow down Aumand's face; he could see the truth of Draco's words in his eyes; a truth that he had always been searching for even before his entrance into the Wizarding World.

“You have me”

“And *you* have *me*” Draco answered to Aumand's words. The pair kissed but were broken apart by a knocking coming from the door to their chambers. Draco pulled away and made his way over to the door, only to see that the Headmaster along with the Deputy Headmistress and Professor Snape all stood at the door.

“Young Lord Malfoy if we could have a word with you and your bonded” the Headmaster said looking at Draco with a twinkling in his eyes that Draco knew meant nothing good was going to happen.

“Enter” Draco said opening the door further to allow for the three to enter their chambers. Aumand sat on the couch he had been sitting on when Draco arrived, looking at the fires as he had before.

“Mr. Malfoy” the Headmaster greeted Aumand only to get a nod in response. Aumand had no urge or desire to speak with the three that had just entered their chambers, but he knew that until Draco or he, himself agreed to whatever the Headmaster was proposing that they would have no peace and quiet. The Headmaster, McGonagall and Snape frowned; it was very unlike a wizard or witch of Wizarding Britain not to acknowledge the Headmaster.

“What do you want?” Draco said moving to stand in front of his sitting bonded; he would not have these three bully either his bonded or himself into something so that they would be able to keep an eye on him.

“Well I was speaking to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape about having to cancel the Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions Class due to not having a professor”

“So” Draco said gritting his teeth, he could see where this was going and he just couldn't stop it from happening, he had of course forgotten that Aumand had the ability to read the other's minds and so knew what the three where thinking the whole time that the Headmaster spoke.

‘This is a perfect opportunity to get the pair away from each other, I can see that Mr. Malfoy's bonded is a powerful man but to what point? Would he be willing to find Potter for us?' the Headmaster thought the whole time rambling on about the traditions that were taught to the children of Hogwarts via the Etiquette and Traditions class.

‘Once the Headmaster has the man busy will I make my move on Draco' Professor Snape thought eyeing Draco and imagining how good he would look in the throes of passions. This made Aumand almost gag, as if seeing a naked Snape was a good thing.

‘I will teach him to respect us' McGonagall thought all the while smiling a smiling that Draco had seen one too many times, and it was usually reserved for Slytherins that had wronged one of her Gryffindors.

“So you see, I had hoped that your bonded Young Lord Malfoy would be able to help us out”

“No” Draco said simply, he wasn't going to allow Aumand in close contact with the Headmaster.

“Young Lord….”

“I said no, now be gone with you”

“Draco” Aumand finally spoke, rising from the couch as he did so.

“Aumand” Draco said trying to convey to the other man that he need not agree to anything the Headmaster was proposing. “He will learn” Aumand whispered to Draco, a twinkle in his own eyes at the plans he had for the class and for the Headmaster. Draco knew then that he wouldn't be able to talk his bonded out of his plans; he would just have to hold on and hope for the best.

“This class that you speak about”

“Yes” the Headmaster said pleased to have the attention of Aumand, he could later come to regret it but right now he didn't.

“I will have full control over what is taught”

“Of course” the Headmaster agreed, he needed to not only keep Draco's bonded busy but Draco as well. He figured that the ex-Slytherin would be one of the few people that would have unrestricted access to files that only Ministry Officials had access to, and since the Minister himself was being difficult with getting Harry Potter's record for the Hall of Records, he needed someone else and that someone was Draco.

“Hmmm” Aumand said thinking of the possible topics he could teach to the children of Hogwarts. Oh were they in for a change.

“I will consider teaching this class of yours” Aumand said knowing he had the Headmaster hooked.

“Excellent, excellent” the Headmaster said as if Aumand had agreed right then.

“Be gone with you” Draco said now pushing the three out of the room so that he could ask Aumand what he was up to.

“Draco” Snape purred as he exited the chambers.

“Professor”

“Dinner with me tonight” Snape said before looking over Draco's shoulder and sneering at the still standing Aumand.

“A private affair”

“Sorry, but no” Draco said purring back just as easily, he was after all a Slytherin and he knew the game that the professor was playing.

“Another time then” the professor said before gliding out of the chambers and back down to the dungeons to plan his next move since his first one didn't work as he had intended it to.

“He will try again”

“And he will receive the same answer, and what in the bloody hell do you think you are doing?” Draco said hands on his hips as he glared at Aumand.

“Giving Hogwarts and the Headmaster a taste of their own medicine”

“Explain”

“Oh the old man is under some impression that you will gladly go and get Potter's records from the Hall of Records and from there he will be able to sway Potter with a marriage contract” Draco sighed at the words, he had feared this when he had been given the order to return to Hogwarts but hearing it from Aumand's mouth made it all the more real.

“He is also going to start searching about me, he has a feeling that I am much more than I seem”

“Too true” Draco said wrapping his arms around Aumand and kissing the top of his head.

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Take me to bed and punish me” Aumand said a smirk on his face at the words he spoke. Oh if only Snape could see the pair of them together.

“I can indeed do that” Draco said leading Aumand to their bedroom. After two rounds of love making did Draco roll to his side and ask Aumand if he was okay.

“I'm as okay as one can be” Aumand said looking around the room, noticing that something was off about the magic in the room.

“But….” Draco stopped when Aumand started to shake his head. He then mouthed the words: ‘Eavesdropping charms' to Draco, which made Young Lord Malfoy fume. How dare they listen in to their conversations!

“All will be well my beloved” Aumand assured Draco before pulling Draco into a kiss, which lead to another round of love making. Aumand wasn't stupid and knew that the Headmaster and probably Snape were the only two listening, and that they were.

“He's mine!” Snape raged as he listened to Draco and Aumand moan as they made love yet again.

“Severus calm down” the Headmaster said his eyes twinkling at the emotions coming from his usually stoic Potions Master.

“Shall I end it?”

“Yes” the Headmaster ended the charm and watched as Severus Snape paced the Headmaster's Office in a rage.

“They are newly bonded”

“I don't care, he is mine!”

“Severus calm yourself” the Headmaster said a hard edge to his voice; he couldn't have Severus flying off the handle before he was able to gather information from either of the bonded pair. Severus shuttered before taking a seat, wanting to know what he had to do to get Draco in his bed, he knew the Headmaster would follow through on his promise. It was something he was looking forward to actually, the day that Aumand whatever his last name was, would walk in on the pair and his heart would break leaving him to pick up the pieces of a broken hearted Draco.

“I need to find out more about Mr. Malfoy's bonded” the Headmaster said knowing that Severus would probably be one of the few people that could gather the information for him. The rest of the Order were too brash, as Gryffindors, to collect such information.

“Of course Headmaster” Severus said nodding his head before leaving the room to go and get into contact with Lucius. He knew the man would know *all* about Draco's bonded, it would just be a matter of getting it out of the man and if not him then Narcissa.

“They're gone” Aumand said once Draco had rolled the pair of them over to cuddle one another.

“What is going on?”

“Nothing yet”

“Aumand” Draco said a warning in his voice, he hated when he didn't know something and he was definitely not in the know about something here.

“The Headmaster and his Potions Master will learn to not listen into this room”

“You have to be kidding”

“No, and I think they are listening to see if you have any news on Potter. I wouldn't be surprised if he charmed the room to activate the eavesdropping charm at the name Potter….” Aumand said thinking if there was a way to do so, he of course wouldn't know if there was but he had no doubt the Headmaster had his ways of doing things that might seem impossible.

“Why”

“You are probably the one person that was more obsessed with him then a normal person should be”

“So” Draco said defensive at Aumand's words.

“So you would naturally search out anything that you could use against Potter even after ten years of not seeing him”

“As an enemy” Draco said nodding his head at figuring out what Aumand was saying. Once an enemy always an enemy and Draco would always be an enemy of Harry Potter's at least in the eyes of the wizarding world.

“So you of course would get things that are shall we say, restricted to the general public, just to gain the upper hand when dealing with Potter”

“I see” Draco said before kissing Aumand, the man really was a Slytherin genius when it came to devious plans such as this one.

“And the class”

“I can't have wizarding children at a disadvantage now can I?”

“No, I can see your point on that. The old ways seem to be dying off with each new group of mudbloods” Draco said sneering at the words, he hated that the traditions that he had grown up to had slowly been murdered by the Headmaster with the Ministry backing, saying that it was ‘evolution'. Draco found it to be a load of bull but since there were only a limited number of pureblood families that even practiced the ‘old ways' it was hard to put up a fight.

“They will rue the day that they agreed to my conditions”

“My beloved” Draco said kissing Aumand before getting out of bed.

“Where do you think you are going” Aumand said glaring at Draco's perfect form as it made its way to the ensuite bathroom.

“To clean up, there is much work to be done”

“Hmmm” Aumand said rolling onto his back and running a hand down his chest. He could quite happily stay in bed all day, but he knew that Draco was right. There were lesson plans to be made and Headmaster's plans to destroy, and of course a potions professor to piss off. Draco watched Aumand and groaned; he didn't know how he planned to survive if Aumand ever decided to leave him. Aumand was literally a force of nature and one had best be on his good side, for being on the bad side would land you in the ninth ring of hell or at least Draco thought so.

“Come” Draco said holding out a hand and waiting for Aumand to rise and come to him. Aumand did so and soon the pair was in the bathroom taking a shower getting ready for the day once again.

“We'll work in the office that they gave me” Draco said holding Aumand's hand as they walked down the third floor corridor to a small office that a house elf had pointed out to him when he had been returning from his visit with the Headmaster that morning. Aumand nodded his head before peaking inside the room and sneering at the Gryffindor banners that hung on the walls.

“Easily fixed” Draco said pointing his wand at the banners and having them become alight with green flames as the colors of the banner changed from Gryffindor Red and Gold to that of the Malfoy family colors, which were silver, ice-blue and black.

“Much better” Aumand said before making his way over to an open chair at the desk that sat in the center of the room.

“Here” Draco said waving his hand wand again creating another desk for Aumand to work at.

“I really need to get a wand” Aumand mumbled to Draco, he wasn't going to say *that* very loud just in case the old man or one of his ‘club members' were listening in.

“Tomorrow” Draco agreed before resizing his briefcase and pulling out the papers that he had packed for the trip.

“Could you give your bonded a parchment and quill?” Aumand said batting his eyelashes at Draco, which made the other man laugh while kissing him as he passed the requested items to him.

“I won't deny you anything my beloved” Draco said before going back to his desk and pulling the rest of the items out of his bag. Aumand laughed before dipping his borrowed quill into ink, and began making a list of all the topics that he planned to cover while teaching.

“How long”

“With them?” Draco knew what Aumand was asking, how long it would take before they figured out that Aumand Malfoy was in fact Harry Perverell-Potter.

“Six months” Draco said knowing that stating a date would only make the person who could be listening more curious as to what they were talking about.

“Hmmm” Aumand said agreeing to Draco's words, he wasn't really sure on how long it would take for the Headmaster and his Order to figure out that Harry had been at Hogwarts the whole time but he knew once they did that they would be fighting to keep him away from Draco and instead fighting the good fight. Draco and Aumand worked in silence for at least an hour before Severus Snape came gliding into the room.

“Draco it is lunch time” Snape said figuring that Aumand was in the chambers that the Headmaster had given the pair.

“Ah Professor” Draco greeted Snape before looking over to where Aumand sat still scratching away on the parchment with his quill.

“Ah” Snape said not at all happy to see Aumand in Draco's office. He had planned to put his latest plan into action and that had included having lunch with the blonde ex-Slytherin since he had been unable to get any information about Draco's bonded from his father or his mother. They were both pleased with the pairing and so had said little about Aumand and his family history.

“Aumand lunch” Draco called out before leaning over his bonded shoulder and reading what he had written on his parchment.

“A fine topic” Draco said pointing to one of the items on the lists on the parchment.

“You think” Aumand said looking up to Draco and receiving a kiss in response. Snape could only growl, he didn't need to see the lovey-dovey crap that the pair seemed quite happy to put on display.

“I do, now come” Draco said pulling out the chair and pulling Aumand towards the door of the office.

“Professor” Aumand said acting as if he hadn't heard the man enter the office trying to take Draco to lunch.

“Mr. Malfoy” Snape said very hard pressed not to growl at the other man.

“Shall we?” Draco said breaking the tension and guiding his bonded and Snape down to the Great Hall for lunch.

“Ah just who I was speaking about” the Headmaster said before smiling and greeting the trio of men that had arrived.

“I was just telling the staff the excellent news about your taking up the post of Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions Professor, Mr. Malfoy” the Headmaster said his eyes twinkling, it was going to be so easy to convert the bonded of Draco Malfoy's.

“I see” Aumand said clearly a bit surprised that the old man thought it a good idea to tell the entire staff of his pending addition to the staff.

“Have you any lessons plans” Flitwick said to Aumand, eyeing him suspiciously. He had heard Minerva ranting and raging about Draco's bonded lack of respect for the Headmaster, but he had figured that he would see the evidence for himself and so far the man had done nothing that screamed disrespect.

“He's working on a list of topics just as we left my office” Draco answered for Aumand, he could see that his bonded was clearly uncomfortable about being around so many people that had betrayed him, even if they didn't know that Aumand was Harry Potter.

“I see” the small man said turning back to his lunch, he figured that the other man was a bit shy and that in no way screamed the disrespect that Minerva had spouted on and on about to anyone who would listen.

“Please have a seat” the Headmaster said before taking a seat himself at the head of the table that sat in the middle of the Great Hall. Draco and Aumand sat side by side with Snape taking up the other side of Draco, a move that everyone noticed.

‘He is crazy?' Flitwick thought, wondering if Snape had finally lost his marbles with sitting next to Draco and so closely.

“Eat” Draco said placing some things on Aumand's plate, knowing that they had to make a show or else questions would be raised and that was one of the things they didn't want right now.

“He can do that himself” Snape said his voice snide as he watched Draco mother Aumand.

“He can, but I choose to do this for him” Draco answered back his voice colder as he spoke to the Potions Professor. Snape colored at the words, he had overstepped his boundaries on that comment. The rest of lunch past in tension silence with no one else daring to speak to either Draco or Aumand.

“Back to the daily grind” Flitwick said before hopping off the cushion he had been sitting on and making his way towards the doors of the Great Hall.

“May I ask you for help?” Aumand said, finally speaking to the small man.

“Of course, Young Lord Malfoy knows where my classroom is” Flitwick said before skipping out of the room, he was quite happy that Draco's bonded felt that he could ask him for help should be need it.

“That was kind of you” the Headmaster said acting as if Aumand was just trying to be nice.

“Hmmm” Aumand said not really replying since he could hear the old man thinking about how best to get Flitwick to turn him against Draco.

“I better get back to work” Draco said before standing and then looking at Aumand as if asking if he planned to stay.

“I'll walk you to your office” Snape said standing as well, just as Aumand had.

“I think I'll walk with my bonded” Draco said his voice cold, he wanted to be as far away from the Potions Professor as possible, he had insulted his bonded and he was not happy in the least with the man over his comment.

“Severus if I could have a word with you” the Headmaster said ending any sort of fight that may have occurred with Snape trying to walk with Draco and Aumand back to Draco's office.

“Of course Headmaster” Snape said before bowing a bit and sweeping his way to the Headmaster's office.

“Will he never learn” Draco said with a sigh as they arrived to his office.

“He is certain that you will see that I am not worth the effort”

“Oh you are very much worth the effort Aumand Malfoy” Draco said kissing Aumand before getting back down to business, the sooner this was over the sooner he could take Aumand back home to Cadmus Labs.

“Do you think I should have something about the pureblood tradition of bonding?”

“Yes of course” Draco said not even thinking on why Aumand wouldn't teach that. It of course hadn't been taught, or at least much, about the pureblood tradition of bonding versus marriage. It seemed that with the more half-bloods and muggleborns entering the wizarding world that the tradition of a true magical bonding had been thrown to the waste side, and Draco thought it was high time someone teach the children of the wizarding world that things had not always been the way they were now; which Draco found to be a very bad thing. Progress was a good thing but only when that progress didn't hamper other traditions and the concept of bonding and marriage had been totally change since the induction of muggleborn and half-blood. Aumand nodded his head making a note on how best to sedge way into that topic from another topic, the Headmaster had promised complete control but he knew as soon as the man heard what he was teaching that he would be at his classroom door telling him to make changes to his lessons plans.

“I will need to have a contract with the Headmaster to make sure that he can't go back on his word”

“I'll make sure to get that done” it was as the dinner hour approached that Draco decided to call it a day. He had spent most of his day trying to figure out a way to get the Headmaster's name back in good graces, he had so far come back empty handed. The other members of the Wizengamot had played dumb, as he knew they would, about Dumbledore's deception so they had been very unwilling to allow Draco to even hint that it had been a group decision to keep Harry in prison.

“Ready” Draco said coming to rub the shoulders of his bonded.

“I am” Aumand said before rolling up the parchment he had been jotting notes down on about the subjects he had planned out for the class.

“How about we have dinner in our quarters?”

“Sounds splendid”

“Draco” Snape said walking into the office without knocking his time.

“Professor”

“Please call me Severus” Snape said watching as Draco's rubbed Aumand's shoulders angry that he wasn't the one getting a shoulder massage.

“I'll think about it” Draco responded while rubbing Aumand's shoulder a bit harder than he planned.

“Dinner” Snape said glaring at Aumand, something that Draco did not miss.

“My bonded and I plan to have dinner in our quarters tonight” Draco said pulling out the chair that Aumand had been sitting in, letting him know it was time to go.

“The Headmaster wishes for your presence”

“Send him my regrets then” Draco said before making his way with Aumand following to the door of the office. Snape was shocked that Draco wasn't bending to the Headmaster's demands. It was just as Snape was moving out of the way to let Draco and Aumand by that he noticed the banners that hung in the room.

“Malfoy family shield?”

“Gryffindor red and gold isn't something I plan to subject myself to when working” Draco explained before guiding Aumand out of the room and locking it once the three stood outside of the office.

“I agree” Snape said looking for some sort of reaction to Draco's comment from Aumand, almost as if expecting him to do something at the comment.

“I shall see you tomorrow” Snape said before gliding down to the Great Hall to let the Headmaster know that Draco and his bonded would not be in attendance , he knew the Headmaster would be unhappy but there wasn't much he could do about it besides let the Headmaster Draco's words. As Snape made his way to the Great Hall to tell the Headmaster Draco's words, Draco and Aumand made their way back to their quarters hoping for a little peace and quiet. Dinner in the Malfoy chamber was a quiet one, each one lost in their own thoughts. That was until a knock came on their door.

“The headmaster” Aumand said already able to read the old man's thoughts since he was very unhappy with the bonded Malfoy pair for not showing up for dinner.

“Any one with him?” Draco asked, wanting to know what sort of fight he needed to put up and with whom. Aumand tilted his head to the side and then listened to the thoughts that were running around on the other side of the door.

“McGonagall” Aumand said before looking at Draco and frowning a bit, it seemed that the headmaster and Deputy Headmistress were coming to have a chat with the pair of them and the attitude that they were to present to the school, when it officially began. The children had already arrived but school didn't officially start until Monday morning when timetables would be given out to the student via their Head of House.

“Ready?” Draco asked Aumand seeing the frown and wondering what the pair of them were thinking on the other side of the door. All Aumand could do was nod his head and wait for the headmaster and his backup to enter their quarters.

“Headmaster” Draco said in greeting as he opened the door to their chambers.

“Young Lord Malfoy” the headmaster greeted Draco, he did so hate having to address the blonde as such but if it got him what he wanted he was willing to play along until such time that he got information on where Harry was hiding out.

“Mr. Malfoy” the Headmaster greeted to Aumand only to get a nod in response, the Headmaster didn't quite understand the reasons on why the young man disliked him so much. He was after all the ‘leader of the light' and anyone who was anyone knew that if you wanted to get somewhere you had better have Albus Dumbledore on your side.

“Professor McGonagall” Draco said acting a bit surprised that the woman was running as the Headmaster's back up.

“Mister Malfoy” the older woman said, clearly showing her feelings on dealing with the bonded Malfoy pair. Aumand notice the slight and raised an eyebrow to Draco, as if asking what he planned to do about the slight.

“Is there a reason you are here Headmaster?” Draco asked while closing the door and going to stand next to Aumand wanting to protect his bonded from the old man and woman that had invaded their quarters.

“I wanted to speak to your husband”

“Bonded actually” Draco corrected the Headmaster, knowing that this would surprise the old man. It was after all almost a dead practice of finding your bonded mate. Instead many opted for the muggle tradition of marriage, which had caused a huge spike in divorce, something that rarely if even happened when dealing with a bonded pair.

“Ah” the Headmaster said put-out by the words, dealing with a bonded couple was much harder than dealing with a married couple.

“I would like to speak to your bonded then about the contract that was sent to me via owl post just this afternoon” the Headmaster said looking at the pair and wondering which one thought it a good idea to get a contract for Aumand Malfoy teaching the Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions class.

“Yes” Draco said, he had put in a quick call to his father about the whole contract and making sure that Aumand was able to teach what he wanted with no fear of the headmaster or the Board of Governors' going down his throat when something was taught that didn't agree with their beliefs.

“I felt it be best that things were written in a contract, so there is no misunderstanding on how my bonded will run his classroom and class as well as how much he plans to get paid” Draco knew that the headmaster had probably skipped right over the part about compensation do to the look on his face now.

“Paid” McGonagall said for the headmaster, she along with probably the rest of the staff believed that the Malfoy bonded wasn't to be paid since his husband was working to repair the headmaster good name.

“Yes, my bonded will not work for free” Draco said before chuckling a bit, the look on both of the older wizard and witch made it hard to fight off the laugh that kept bubbling up.

“Young Lord Malfoy” the Headmaster said looking to Aumand and seeing that he wasn't going to get any help there.

“Headmaster make no mistake, I may be here to clear your name but my bonded will not work for free”

“I hadn't…”

“I don't care what you did or didn't do” Draco started only to be cut off by Professor McGonagall.

“You will show the headmaster some respect!”

“I will show it once I am shown the same courtesy” Draco said now crossing his arms over his chest. He was quite tired of the old woman shouting at him about how he was to treat the headmaster, he was no longer a student and she had right to treat him they way that she was.

“He's your elder” McGonagall stated hands on her hips and looking very much like a small child having a temper tantrum over not getting their way.

“He may be, but that does not give him free reign over everything” Draco said knowing that there was a bigger issue than him treating the headmaster as he had been treated.

“Minerva” the Headmaster said seeing that nothing good would come out of Draco and she fighting, if anything that could lead to only very bad things, things that couldn't occur at the present moment. Once the woman heard her name being said she backed down and then began glaring at Draco as if daring him to say something else to her.

“Now back to the reason we are here” the old man said before reaching into his robes and pulling out the contract and then making his way to a chair that sat in the common room of the quarters.

“Please let us sit and discuss this”

“There is nothing to discuss, take it or leave it” Draco said before he sat next to Aumand who was seated on the small love seat in the room.

“I am concerned over the clause about either myself or the Deputy Headmistress not having any say so in the class”

“That is for Aumand's protection, should some student decide that they feel that what he is teaching isn't what they want to learn about and go and complain to mummy and daddy about it” Draco explained easily it was after all the truth, a half truth but a truth none the less. The headmaster eyed Draco wondering what was the real reason on why that clause had been put into the contract, for he knew there was another reason than that of some child crying to their parents as Draco stated. Draco and Aumand both could see that the Headmaster and the Deputy were having a hard time swallowing the line that Draco had fed them.

“I refuse to have my classroom run by those that spend no time in said room” Aumand said knowing that the Headmaster wouldn't leave until he got a reason that he thought was acceptable out of the pair.

“I'm the headmaster of this school” the Headmaster said and it was decidedly the worst thing he could have said to the pair sitting across from him.

“Then he doesn't teach” Draco said now smirking at the old man and the woman that stood by the side of the man's chair.

“Mister Malfoy” the headmaster started before backing up and restating who he was addressing. It wouldn't do for the Malfoy bonded to leave the grounds; there was no way he was going to let that occur now that he could feel the level of power washing over him from Aumand. Whoever Aumand's family was they were powerful and with that sort of power coming from the Malfoy bonded he was pretty certain that he would be able to find Harry Potter. The power may be enough to defeat the Dark Lord but with the prophecy from Trelawney, he knew that only Harry Potter could defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort.

“Headmaster, you either sign that contract or you will be cancelling the Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions class.” A grim look took over Professor McGonagall's face, she was very clearly not happy with the way that things are going. Aumand sat back and listened to the pairs thoughts wondering how either of them planned to sway him against his husband and to the bidding of the Headmaster's. The old man looked at Draco and then Aumand and began to think about all of the possible outcomes, he knew that if Draco's bonded left, Draco would soon be behind his bonded with or without orders from the Minister of Magic. It was then that the Headmaster asked for a quill and then signed off on the contract. The magical document made copies for all parties involved and then disappeared to the Hall of Records at the Ministry of Magic.

“Well now that, that is taken care of” the Headmaster said already to ask Aumand to start doing his bidding for him.

“You will now leave” Draco said standing up and then making his way to the door of the chambers. He was not going to allow the Headmaster any more time in the presence of his bonded. He could see the strain of having to hear the pairs thoughts were putting on his bonded something that he didn't want to happen.

“We need to discuss….”

“We discuss nothing tonight” Draco said being firm on making the Headmaster and Deputy leave their chambers. Draco could tell without even looking at Aumand that McGonagall was about to say something.

“Leave” Draco said not wanting to hear McGonagall screaming at him about how he was to treat the old man in their chambers.

“Of course” the headmaster said knowing that he had best leave before Draco decided to do even more damage than he had in the short amount of time he had been there with his bonded.

“Good night” the Headmaster said before dragging McGonagall behind him as he left the room.

“Finally” Aumand said slumping on the couch and rubbing his temples. He hadn't expected this sort of trouble with hearing others thoughts, but now that he had the full effect he wanted to hide in Cadmus Labs.

“Are you alright” Draco asked concerned, he had never felt like this with anyone else which made him realize that he had done the right thing in bonding with the now Aumand Malfoy.

“I could be better” Aumand said before sighing when Draco picked up Aumand's head and placed it in his lap, while running this fingers through his bonded's hair.

“It will get better” Draco said hoping that his words were true.

“It will” Aumand agreed before falling asleep as Draco ran his fingers through his hair. A few hours later had Draco picking up his bonded and putting him to bed while he himself got ready for bed as well. The next morning had Draco and Aumand going down to the Great Hall to finally greet the students that had arrived two days previously.

“Think of a wall” Draco muttered to Aumand as they made their way to the Great Hall, they had been trying for the better part of the morning on how best to block out the thoughts of the tons of children and adults that would be in and around the school. Aumand nodded his head while building a brick wall in his mind, muting the thoughts that had only moments before been shouting at him, causing a massive headache.

“Ready”

“As I'll ever be” Aumand said before the pair gliding into the Great Hall, which stopped most of the noise coming from both professors and students.

“Here” Draco said pulling out a chair towards the end of the Professor's table near the Slytherin table. He knew that Severus would be making his way in soon enough but Draco refused to have his bonded seated anywhere near the old man and his entourage. It was once they were seated that Draco got the full effect that his bonded was having on the population at Hogwarts, for almost every student and professor's eyes was on his bonded. Draco couldn't deny that his bonded was a beautiful creature, but this sort of reaction was leaving Draco a bit speechless. It was in the din of silence that the Headmaster stood to address the students of Hogwarts.

“Welcome, welcome” the headmaster said before smiling at the students, showing how caring he was. Draco and Aumand both knew it was a show, but said or did nothing.

“Another year of students and another year of learning” at these words Aumand rolled his eyes, could the old man lay it on any thicker?

“As you may have noticed we have a few guests at the Professor's table” the old man said before directing his gaze to where Draco and Aumand sat.

“Young Lord Malfoy and his bonded will be staying here at Hogwarts, with Young Lord Malfoy's bonded teaching the Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions class offered” the old man said before a buzz began in the Great Hall. Aumand and Draco both knew that this was exactly what the old wanted, for the students to begin the Hogwarts Rumor Mill about how best to get into the class so that Draco's husband would have to stay until the end of the school year. That would be nine months that he would be able to sway the blonde's bonded. The headmaster then cleared his throat showing that he had not done speaking.

“Professor Malfoy” the Headmaster said putting Aumand on the spot, something that Aumand was not happy about. Aumand stood looking out at the sea of children watching him with curiosity.

“As the Headmaster said I will be teaching Wizarding Etiquette and Traditions” Aumand said before taking a seat, he had nothing to say to the students of Hogwarts and he definitely didn't have anything to say to the adults of this school.

“Thank you” the Headmaster said not at all happy with the short introduction Aumand had given.

“Let the feast begin” the Headmaster said and soon after the food appeared on the tables and the students began to load up their plates while talking about the latest addition to the Hogwarts staff.

“All right?” Draco whispered into Aumand's ear making everyone wonder what the blonde was saying to his bonded. Aumand nodded his head and Draco was soon loading up his bonded's plate. Aumand still ate way too little, which could cause the Headmaster or someone else on the staff to notice which would be a very bad thing.

“Eat up” Draco said knowing that the professors and students were watching the by-play between the pair of them. Soon breakfast was complete and the students were making their way out of the Great Hall and back to their dorms to grab the books that they would require.

“Draco” Snape said before coming into view of the two that were making their way to Aumand's classroom, which just so happened to be right across the hall from where Draco's office had been set up.

“Professor Snape” Draco said his voice cool to the black haired man. Draco was still very uncomfortable with the idea that his godfather wanted to get into his pants.

“May I speak to you privately” Snape said knowing that Draco wouldn't be able to refuse him.

“No” Draco said before spinning around and guiding Aumand away from where Snape stood stunned that Draco had just brushed him off. His plan had back fired on him and he was a bit uncertain on what to do next.

“He was planning or is still planning to drug you” Aumand said as they traverse the corridors that help not only students but professors and moving portraits. Draco could only shake his head, this was much too weird for him.

 

TBC....

 

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