Summary: All out war is close at hand, yet hearts and feelings stir. There is hope left yet for Draco that Harry will be his... even though everyone and everything seems to be against him. DMHP. Side RWHG NLGW

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Warning: This will contain yaoi/gay/guyxguy relationships, so if you don't like that kind of stuff, don't bloody read it, okay?

A/N: Writer's block finally gone. Took long enough.

Love to my Beta, Toki.

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Destiny In War - Chapter Five

"I should have known you were the worst person for the job. How hard is it to join the Order? Honestly."

Lesar watched as Pansy Parkinson paced before him, his red eyes narrowed dangerously. Was this pudgy-looking human calling him stupid? He silently entertained the thought of just killing the woman and finding a different way into Voldemort's inner circle.

"You screwed up badly this time, Lesar. Someone needs to deflate that enormous pride of yours."

Was she seriously still talking? "Potter is allowing me another meeting to redeem myself," he hissed softly.

Pansy finally stopped pacing and eyed him carefully, finally taking in his threatening body language. Sniffing sharply, she turned her back to him and started picking through the Daily Prophet on the table before her. "Maybe you haven't mess up completely then. The Dark Lord may…"

She trailed off, her jaw hanging open in a particularly unattractive fashion. When she started making strangled noises, Lesar stood and stole a discreet glance at the paper in her hands.

Boy-Who-Lived Official Veela Mate

Yesterday Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter made and official statement to the public that, as of last week, they…

Lesar's lips pressed into a thin line. A small part of him was disgusted that he was just as upset as the now screeching female but that part was quickly overwhelmed by fury.

Harry Potter was his. He had already stated claim to him.

Pansy's voice started reaching higher octaves and she finally stormed from the room, the crumpled news paper clutched in her hand. Lesar stood there, allowing his fury to build until he couldn't take anymore. A second later, he was gone.

Harry was his!

---

When Harry woke, he was greeted with the quiet sound of breathing next to him and the feeling of fingers running through his hair. A smile tugged at his lips when he opened his eyes to see Draco watching him with soft eyes. After some stretching, Harry settled against Draco's chest, enjoying the extra warmth.

"How long have you been here?" he asked.

Draco resumed carding his hand through Harry's hair. "A while. You were having nightmares again."

"Ah." Harry pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, chewing mercilessly. He knew Draco didn't mind, but it bothered Harry that Draco lost so much sleep to calming his nightmares. He also knew by now that arguing about it with the veela was a battle lost before it started. Draco would rather Harry not resort to potions again and this was the only plausible solution. Harry still didn't like it.

Sighing, Harry sat up and looked down at Draco. "You stayed this morning."

Draco smiled and sat up as well. His fingers twitched like he wanted to touch the elf, but he kept his hands to himself. "You looked peaceful while you slept. I couldn't bring myself to leave such a beautiful sight."

Harry felt his face heat up and he quickly scrambled out of bed. "I'm making breakfast today," he said as he hurried out of the room.

Draco chuckled. "Still can't take a complement from me gracefully. Cute."

---

The trip to the ministry was as silent as ever, a simple tradition Harry still couldn't figure out how to break. He could only guess it had something to do with the number of stares they received, which was most likely because they were holding hands, which Draco insisted on. Any time it seemed someone was staring too long and too hard, Draco's lips would twist into a half snarl. In the end, Harry concluded that it must be a veela thing and resolved to help Draco relax some. So far his efforts weren't working and he was far too nervous to try something besides talking to him. Now and then Harry could feel Draco's allure surrounding him and he would nudge the veela's arm and murmur his name. Draco would apologize and Harry would threaten to hex him with his new wand if he didn't relax. Even with the threat, Draco wouldn't relax until they were finally in the office.

Ron greeted them with a solemn voice and an anxious expression. He was shuffling through reports distractedly and didn't pay close attention to Harry's concerned words.

"Ronald Weasley, what the hell is your problem today?" Harry ground out, trying to mimic the red-head's mother. When he got no response, he turned to Draco and settled himself snugly against his chest, his hands on the other's hips.

Draco could feel his heart hammering in his chest as he blinked at Harry in confusion. Harry stayed pressed against him but was frowning at Ron, who seemed oblivious to what was going on. "Oh, I see," he said softly, drawing Harry's attention back to him. When Harry's expression turned to confusion, Draco grinned widely and placed his arms low around the elf's hips and his head on his shoulder. Draco's lips flirted with his jaw line and Harry made a small startled sound.

"Draco!" Harry admonished when Draco bit down. "That's enough!"

There was a loud cough and a red-faced Harry not-so-gently pushed Draco's face away from his neck.

"Geez, you two," Ron snorted. "Get a room."

"You done sleep-walking?" Draco drawled as he pulled away from Harry, who quickly yanked on his hair to cover the red mark just below his ear.

Ron pursed his lips and waved at him dismissively. "I'm not sleep walking."

"Then what do you call it?" Harry retorted.

Grunting, Ron ran a hand through his hair. "It's about Hermione." He mumbled something else under his breath and Harry chuckled. Ron watched him warily, not expecting Harry to have heard.

"I don't find anything wrong with Hermione wanting children, Ron," Harry teased, tapping one of his ears in answer to the silent question.

Ron gave an exasperated sigh and mumbled something along the lines of "damn elf-blood". "Well, I do! Sure, another reason to have sex is great, but… but…" He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You're not ready for a baby yet," Draco offered.

Ron fell heavily into his chair. "It's the war. We risk out lives to often for me to feel comfortable about her running around pregnant. I worry about her already. A baby would just make me worry even more. She's not exactly the stay at home type right now."

Harry frowned at his friend, struggling for words. What Ron said made sense, but hadn't his parents had him in the middle of a war that threatened their lives? There had to be some very positive motivation that could overpower such a worry. Harry couldn't figure out what that reason was.

Again, Draco spoke. "Have you talked to her about this?"

Ron shook his head. "Not yet. I'm afraid she'll convince me it's safe."

Harry, still deep in thought, frowned at Ron's desk, silently begging it to tell him the answers he was searching for. Just as he opened his mouth to add his thoughts to the conversation, there was a knock on the open door to the office and a light cough. All three men turned to see a short woman standing in the doorway, looking anxious and slightly dazed.

"Harry Potter?" she asked, her wide brown eyes flicking briefly to the bolt-shaped scar before training on his eyes.

Harry turned completely and took a slow step towards the woman. Something in her eyes told him she should be treated gently. "Can I help you, Miss?"

"C-can I speak with you?" she stuttered. Her eyes darted to Ron and Draco briefly. "A-alone?"

Harry hesitated, looking back at Draco, questioning him silently. He trusted the veela to sense if there was any threat in the woman.

"P-please," she cried, her voice breaking. "I need your h-help."

Draco met Harry's eyes and nodded discreetly. There wasn't much this sickly looking woman could do to his mate besides cough on him.

Harry nodded back and stepped closer to the woman. "Alright. I think we should get you to a medi-wizard first. Are you okay with that? We can talk on the way there."

The woman nodded sharply. "O-okay." She winced and started coughing harshly into a ragged looking handkerchief.

After Harry had gently guided the woman out of the office, Draco moved over to Harry's desk and started sorting through papers. Business was carried out with silence between the two men until the door burst open and both reached for their wands.

"Draco Malfoy, how dare you!" screeched a very red-faced Pansy Parkinson. She stomped her way over to Draco, waving a crumpled news paper at him as she ignored his wand pointed at her heart. "What is this?"

Draco calmly scanned the moving paper, snorting when he realized why the woman was so outraged. "You know you risk being arrested by being here, right?"

Pansy let out a furious scream. "Does it look like I care? Explain this! Now!"

"It's exactly as it says, Parkinson," Ron spat. "Now leave before I call someone to come collect your sorry ass."

"I wasn't talking to you, blood traitor," Pansy hissed.

"He's right," Draco snapped. "I'm a veela, Harry's my mate. I hope you understand that I never liked you in the first place."

As Pansy's anger increased, so did the volume of her screaming.

---

"Alright, just a little further."

"N-no."

Harry was growing increasingly concerned for the small woman clutching at his arm. The hallway they were stopped in was empty and silent besides her panting breath. Harry was worried she would pass out before he could get her to someone with some form of skill in medical spells. Now would be a great time for Hermione to pop up.

"I'm so tired," she moaned, falling against the wall for the third time in two meters. Harry sighed and allowed her another rest. He was starting to wonder if he should be moving her around at all. She was showing some signs of blood loss.

When her hand moved to cup the side of her neck for about the thirtieth time, a chill ran down his spine, his mind finally linking things together.

Wasn't Lesar old enough to heal the wounds he made when feeding?

Before Harry could even think to run, he was thrown against the wall, breath knocked from his lungs. The wand he had scrambled for clattered to the ground. The woman he had been helping slumped to the ground, open eyes gazing unseeing at the ceiling as blood pooled behind her head. He growled in frustration and loud twin clicks echoed in his ears.

"It's lovely to see you again, my pet."

"Lesar," Harry hissed. Struggling was useless. The vampire had him against the wall and from the feel of cold metal around his wrists, Harry could tell that Lesar was more than prepared for his wandless magic.

---

With as loud and distracting as Pansy was, Draco could still feel an unfamiliar chill run through him. Fear pierced his heart.

"Harry," he breathed.

A screech and a thud drew Draco back to the situation at hand. Pansy lay collapsed on the floor and Ron was bewitching a piece of paper to fly out of the office.

"What…?"

Ron just shook his head. "I'll take care of the trash. I don't know much about veela, but I'm guessing your sudden vacant state means something's wrong. Go."

Draco didn't need to be told twice.

---

"Who did you kill to get bonds strong enough to stop my magic?" Harry growled.

"My, my," Lesar chuckled. "So accusing. I didn't kill anyone for these." The metal shifted against Harry's left wrist as Lesar caressed it.

"So you threatened them."

"Perhaps. But enough of that. I had thought to take you away from here, but now that I have you, I think I want a little taste first."

When strong, cold fingers started forcing his chin up, Harry jerked against the wall, struggling with vigor. "Coward!" he yelled. He threw out a leg, kicking and knocking Lesar off balance. Both men fell to the floor and, fighting his lack of breath, Harry hurried to his feet. The instinct to run had his legs moving as his hands fumbled with the cruel manacles around his wrists. One clacked to the floor just as he was tackled to the ground. The force of the fall broke his right leg with a sickening snap. Harry choked down a scream and, with effort, rolled the vampire off and attempted to crawl away. Lesar easily pinned him again. This time Harry could only struggle feebly as his strength melted and drained from him as he fought against the solid iron strength of the vampire. Pain make his face turn white.

"I like it when my prey gets feisty," Lesar purred as he ran his long fingers along Harry's throat. "It's arousing." He grasped his chin firmly and turned his head to the side. "Now, let's get started."

Harry gasped in pain as fangs pierced his neck and he renewed his struggle despite the dull throb in his leg that adrenaline wasn't covering. Beyond the pain, he could feel his body being drained, sapping the rest of his energy and strength.

Lesar was taking too much blood for just a "taste".

Was he planning on turning him?

Lesar slowly pulled away from Harry's neck and raised his own wrist to his lips. Panic pierced Harry's heart and he grabbed the wrist, pulling it down before Lesar could bite himself.

"I'll kill you," Harry hissed.

Lesar laughed and pulled his wrist from weak hands. "With what stake? Hmm?"

Suddenly the vampire was bleeding from the chest just below his heart and stumbling away from Harry. "Malfoy!" he hissed.

Draco clutched a bloodied stake in one hand and his wand in the other. "Damn. I missed." He raised his wand and Lesar shrank against the wall. "I wouldn't bother running if I were you. Igneus Solsolis!"

A bright jet of yellow light with the intensity of the sun shot from Draco's wand, hitting Lesar in the chest. A piercing scream ripped from the vampire's throat and Draco turned away as the perfect white skin turned to ruined grey. The veela ignored the thump of the body hitting the ground and the cracking sound as it crumbled into ash. All he could focus on was his injured mate lying unconscious and broken in his arms.