Chapter Three

Harry began telling about how the Dursleys treated him. Draco already knew, so he just put a comforting arm around his mate. Harry saw the anger rising in Hermione and Ginny's eyes, but was surprised to see the same thing in Snape's.

Severus might have acted like he hated Harry, but how could he? He was Lily's son! How could he be treated like that?! Filthy muggles.

And when Harry was finished telling them about his home life, he told them that he had tried to go to Dumbledore for help. But the old wizard had just said it was some teenage phase he was going through.

"He told me that I had an active imagination and I never told anyone else about it again." Harry finished. He looked up from his hands.

He never told Draco about this part, so he was surprised as well.

"Well then. We won't tell Dumbledore about this then." The blonde growled.

The rest nodded and sat in silence for a while. Draco noticed that it was uncomfortable for Harry, so he stood up, pulling his mate with him.

"We're gonna go now, okay?" Harry nodded and started walking towards the door. Hermione and Ginny followed shortly after.

When they were out the door, Hermione and Ginny pulled Harry into a bone crushing hug.

"I can't believe you had to go through that!" Hermione cried.

"I'm fine, guys." Harry muttered, trying to detangle himself from the embrace.

"Go through what?" Came an annoying voice. Weasley.

Ronald came up to the four and sneered in disgust when he saw Harry's ears and tails.

"You look like a freak. No wonder your parents died. I wouldn't want a child like YOU."

Harry let out a whimper. Ron knew that his parents were a sensitive topic to him. Hermione did too.

"Shut up, Ronald! You're being an idiot! This is why I broke up with you! You've always been jealous of Harry! How many times has he told you that he doesn't like all the attention?!" Hermione shouted.

"Potter gets everything he wants! His life is perfect! He doesn't have to worry about ANYTHING!"

"My life is perfect?! Is that what you really think?! I don't have to worry about anything?! What about some crazy psycho Dark Lord that's planning to kill me?! Or the pressure on me that the entire Wizarding world is depending on me to save them! You clearly don't know anything about my actual life. If you were ever a good friend, you would notice!" Harry ranted before stomping away.

Draco shot a death glare at Ronald before chasing after Harry.

Ginny and Hermione left without saying another word.

***

Harry locked himself in a stall in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He felt tears prickling his eyes. What happened to Ron? His best mate? The one he thought would be loyal to him forever?

Harry never thought Ron would be homophobic, since he never showed any signs of it towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Myrtle appeared beside Harry and asked him what was wrong.

"Harry, dear, what's wrong with you? You don't look too well..." She asked, concerned.

"I'm fine Myrtle."

Draco ran into the bathroom then and looked around for his mate. "Harry, where are you? Are you okay?"

Harry went out of the stall and into Draco's waiting arms. All he wanted was to be with his lover.

"I'm fine. Can we go back to the Room of Requirements?" He asked.

"Of course, love."

They walked out of the bathroom and back to the ROR. Ginny and Hermione must have gone back to the Gryffindor dorms because the room was empty. The two boys sat on the bed together, fine with just cuddling each other.

I really want this war to end, Draco.

I do too, Harry.

I wonder if I could just convince Tom to leave me alone...

Tom? Draco asked, confused.

Yeah. Tom Riddle. That's Voldemort's actual name.

Oh. I don't think it's that easy. He's a psycho, Harry. He wants to take over both the muggle and wizarding world, and get rid of all muggles.

Harry sighed. I know.

The two talked for a bit more before going to lunch. They had missed some of their classes that day, but Severus had covered for them.

Everybody in the Great Hall watched the boys as they walked in together. Harry felt very uncomfortable with all the attention and didn't want to leave his mate. But if they wanted to keep their relationship a secret, they had to. So Harry walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down beside Hermione and Ginny. He had a hat on because for some reason, his ears wouldn't go away. His tail was hidden by a sweater around his waist.

Harry was 'talking' with Draco while he ate his lunch and tried to ignore everyone's stares at him. He already felt stressed enough, and it didn't help that Ronald went up to them just as lunch was ending.

"What do you want, Ronald?" Harry muttered, not looking up.

Ron didn't respond, but instead in one swift move, he snatched Harry's hat off his head revealing his ears.

Everyone in the hall gasped. Harry's ear flattened against his head as he felt everyone's gaze on him.

"What the hell, Ronald?!" He hissed, grabbing his hat back.

"Now everybody knows what a FREAK you are!"

Harry growled and his fingernails elongated. He began stalking towards the redhead with his fangs out as well.

Harry! Calm down! Draco tried to calm his mate down, but Harry didn't listen. So Draco had to go to the Gryffindor table himself to calm Harry. He grabbed Harry from behind and pulled him away from Weasley.

"Harry! Listen to me! You can't just go around scaring people like that!" Draco said, giving the brunette a little shake.

Harry gave a little whine. "But he's asking for it!"

"Harry..."

"Fine."

Draco and Harry returned to their seats at their tables and finished their meal. Hermione and Ginny kept an eye on Harry upon an unspoken command from Draco.

When lunch was finished, Severus told them that they were going to Malfoy Manor.

"What? But, Severus! That's where HE'S staying! You're going to bring Harry there?!" Draco asked, flabbergasted.

"My Lord has specifically asked to see you two, but he promised to not hurt you. And I wouldn't bring you there if it were dangerous! You're my godson, Draco for Merlin's sake!" Severus snapped, getting impatient. "Now let's go."

Severus apparated the two boys to Malfoy Manor. There were many death eaters there. But the weirdest thing was that they all greeted Harry like he wasn't their number one target. This made Harry very suspicious.

When they got to Lucius Malfoy's office-which was where the Dark Lord did his work-Harry was feeling really nervous. Why did Professor Snape bring him here?!

As if sensing Harry's nerves, (which he probably could) Draco grabbed Harry's hand and smiled at the Gryffindor. You could see Harry visibly relax. When the door opened, they entered. There was a cloaked figure at the end of a table, and Draco's father was sitting to his right.

At his left was the psychopath Bellatrix Lestrange. She had a crazed look in her eyes and was staring right at Harry.

Lucius raised an eyebrow when he noticed Draco and Harry were holding hands, but he didn't say anything. He didn't know why the Dark Lord called his son and Potter here.

"Father, why were we called here?" Draco asked.

Before Lucius could answer, the hooded figure did.

"I called you here because I need you two for something. And I am willing to make a deal with you."

The figure took off it's cloak and revealed the most utterly disgusting thing both boys have ever seen. It was Voldemort. But his face was horribly disfigured. He had probably tried to grow a nose, but all that was there was a revolting stub.

"Nice look, Tom. You look even more disgusting than before. " Harry sneered, pulling out his wand.

Severus and Draco stared open mouthed at the Gryffindor. Was he seriously insulting the Dark Lord right now?!

Tom stopped Harry's hand from drawing his wand before talking again.

"I told you I needed to talk about something, Potter!" He hissed.

Draco growled when he noticed that Harry was flinching in pain. He stomped over to the Dark Lord and slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch my mate."

"Draco! You're supposed to bow when He is in your presence! And do NOT disrespect our Lord like that!" Lucius cried. "And-did you say Mate?"

Severus held back the urge of rolling his eyes. So much for keeping it a secret.

"One, father, he is not MY Lord. He is yours. I will bow to no one! And second, yes. I did say mate. Harry is my soulmate."