Dinner went as well as it can when you go from the bastard of the school to the mate of your best and worst enemy. Adults, peers, comrades, all looking at us as if we are delusional. The word spread across the entire school in a single meal. Most don’t know what to make of it but the Slytherins do. They’re mad, actually they’re pissed to over boiling gonna kill someone in particularly painful way probably including a large heavy blunt instrument, kind of angry. It’s a very dangerous kind of angry.

Weasley spent most of the meal eyeing me suspiciously while Granger continually asked me and my mate different questions, as if we were science experiments to be observed and poked at. Harry remained calm and unresponsive, seemingly absorbed fully into eating. He never really made full eye contact with me, I suppose I’m just acting like a spoiled child and want my mates’ attentions all to myself.

Stupid, but when there is only me and him then I can erase all doubts about myself, he seems to hold no prejudices to me or hatred. When we are alone I feel like a god and that seems so completely wrong, he’s dominate and dominates, hurt their mates. It’s been in every book I’ve read, every documented pair of mates, my father being no exception. I’m supposed to be the worshiper. Not him.

The meal ends and as everyone begins to leave, Dumbledore calls out to us, asking us to stay so that he can talk with us. Harry nods consent and we wait until all other have left the massive room, leaving me and my mate; and Dumbledore. Harry rises from the benches, I follow him more slowly. Dumbledore is smiling and as always his eyes contain the mischievous twinkle that makes you think he knows something you don’t, a secret.

Harry pauses before him a small smile on his face, You knew didn’t you? Dumbledore calmly readjusts his spectacles, I had my suspicions but I must say I wasn’t expecting you Harry, my boy. You’ve grown over the summer? Dumbledore’s eyes held suspicions, perhaps even a clue but one thing I knew about him was the fact that he never push one for an answer they weren’t willing to give. Maybe, Harry said, I had a little divine intervention. Dumbledore calmly gazed at Harry, I am not exactly sure how this union, came about and I certainly won’t dissuade it but both you and mister Malfoy have your own separate dorms and house loyalties. You must be careful with this, relationship, it may cause a stirring of troubled waters already unstable.

I waited for Dumbledore to pause and stepped forward, I knew he was right that we had to be careful but their was one thing he was wrong about, Excuse me Professor, I said trying my hardest to be as polite as possible, but I have no house or loyalties connected to the latter. Dumbledore blinked slightly, I felt a spark of compassion for the old man, he is, the wisest man that I can think of but even he couldn’t dream up what had happened in actuality. He should know, I don’t doubt that the word will get out anyway.

Professor Dumleodre, sir, I start, I think it is important you know of the circumstances in which you are dealing with. You know that I am three fourths veela and you probably know that I’m submissive, no doubt my father told you. Dumbledore nodded and I continued, What you might not know it that Harry is veela as well and dominate, through a series of unfortunate coincidences, and he has claimed me. I can’t leave him, you know very well why, as such I forsook my past ties and connections, I will stay in Harry’s dorm and I will join all his classes, if that is at all possible.

Dumbledore, for a second, looked shocked but soon after it was replaced with that amused twinkle, I can almost believe that he also wears a mask like Harry does. Dumbledore nodded and smiled. I believe you Mr. Malfoy, He says, I would, however, like to see the mark. I reach up and pull down my collar, tilting my head back so as it would be more visible. He nodded again and sighed. He seemed so worn down. He left soon after, telling us it would be best to retire, it being late and classes starting tomorrow. Although he seemed composed as he normally does I could almost feel his, I don’t know, his aura was shaky, that makes no sense. I need sleep.

Harry turns to me once Dumbledore is gone, his eyes search mine, but for what I don’t know. He tries to smile but it shatters. His face closes off, becomes blank and his eyes flat. He turns away from me and walks toward the door, I follow. What else can I do? His pace is brisk and I practically have to run to keep up with him. By the time he stops I have lost my sense of direction, I have no idea where I am.

He stops in front of a large dusty old picture, it’s occupant looking down upon Harry with a sad, reluctant smile. The plaque at the bottom of the picture reads a name but I know not its significance. A name plate covered in grime, rendering the name unreadable but I have this feeling that there is something incredibly important about it.

He speaks the password, I can’t understand it at all, not because he speaks to softly, but because the tongue he speaks is parsel. The portrait nods and swings open, as I draw nearer, following Harry, I see a signature at the bottom of the portrait, Voldemort .

I ask him if as I step in about the portrait, Who is it?, I ask. He doesn’t turn around, Tom Riddle, He says, It’s a portrait of Tom Riddle, A self portrait, before he became power-hungry. It was that portrait that inspired the name Voldemort and that’s what he signed it as. You know, Draco, he murmurs, I won’t force you to stay. You can leave if you want.

I feel shock coursing throughout my body and my heart aches as through its been pierced through with a knife. I am unfamiliar to this feeling. What, what do you mean? I manage to choke out. He continues to keep his back to me, eyes watching the fire before him, I mean, Draco, that you can leave if you want, I’m not forcing you to stay with me any longer. I should have never claimed you.

What?, I whisper. His fists clench to his sides, I should have never chosen you, Draco. I should have known it would be impossible for you to love anyone, even your mate. He starts to walk off, towards a door to the right, Wait!, I cry out, Don’t leave me, Harry, I beg you, don’t leave me. He turns back and for an instant I see his eyes, his soul breaking from within, Why shouldn’t I?, He growls. Because, I stutter, because….

Why do I need him? A million reasons and none at all. I open my mouth, once more and simply release every thought and emotion bottled inside me

…because you care, and because are the only one who does, maybe because you’re perfect and kind, the way you radiate happiness and hide pain. When you look upon a person and struggle within yourself to judge them as an equal. The fact that you’re perfect both inside and out, and that only when I’m around you can I feel good about myself, because, of these feelings growing within my chest and I don’t know what they mean…

He looks at me, sorrow covers his face and I know not why. I wish, He says, that you had left. The pain in my chest fluctuates, What do you mean? I ask. I mean, he says, that I wish you had left, Draco. I, I’m losing control, I won’t be able…I might hurt you, I’m afraid I will hurt you.