Transition

Draco brushed Stachrin's neck for a minute. Then he patted it gently to send the creature on his way. Draco looked slightly worried as he entered the house, and in his slight preoccupation, he did not yell out Harry's name as he usually did. The reason for his concerned expression was that he had found out about Shadow's odd behavior towards Knight and Hedwig.

He had been at the centre and had witnessed Shadow making a terrifying swoop on the hapless librarian. Draco did not understand his pet's behavior. Fortunately, Knight was not hurt by the unprovoked attack. Draco, who was normally reticent around the victim, apologized quite profusely.

Starry came to greet him and his eyes drifted immediately to Shadow's perch. His eagle owl looked as though he had just flown in and was busy preening his feathers.

I was right, Draco thought. His eyes flickered alternately from Shadow to Hedwig. I think Hedwig is sulking. But why? Draco proceeded to the kitchen and he smiled as he thought of how he should greet Harry. His mind went blank however, as he stood by the threshold and stared open-mouthed at the stranger who held his Harry.

Instead of feeling angry, Draco turned cautious. There was just something not quite right with the vacant look that Harry was giving the undoubtedly beautiful female. Is she a Veela? Draco thought immediately.

Then Draco saw Harry's lips move -- Harry was calling him.

The Veela -- if that was what she was -- gasped and wrenched her body away from Harry. She clutched at her temples and Draco saw some parts of her turning blue. He turned his attention back to Harry, who leaned tiredly against the counter. His lover looked strained and Draco thought he noticed anger flashing in the pair of green eyes.

Harry and the woman stared at each other for about thirty seconds before Draco decided to make his presence known. "I did not expect you to bring home company, Harry," he said loudly, and it caused Harry and the stranger to jump. Draco breezed into the kitchen as though he had not witnessed Harry's near seduction.

I know it is not his fault but the woman's, Draco told himself. "Who is this?" he asked Harry mildly. Harry looked at him blankly for a moment before his expression turned into a guilty one.

"Draco." Harry still gave him the wild-eyed stare. "This is Amira -- Bluestone's sister."

"Bluestone's sister?" Automatically, he raised his eyebrow at the information. Draco scrutinized Amira thoroughly. "I see," he said, after he noticed the likeness. Bluestone has better manners though. Draco smirked superiorly.

A pleasant aroma assaulted his sense of smell and his mouth watered instantly. "Caramel," he said dreamily and went over to check the pan with a wand floating above it. "Harry, what is this for?"

"I was baking something for you," Harry replied.

Draco took hold of the floating wand and lifted the pan with his other hand. He turned and saw Harry taking something that looked like a huge biscuit out of the oven. Draco immediately poured the hot caramel over the crumbly cake.

"So this is dessert?" He glanced at Harry, who nodded.

"Stoved chicken is also on the menu tonight. It should be ready when Elaviel and Bluestone are home."

"That's all? I think I should cook some rice then." Draco did not feel bad about ignoring Amira and bustled about in the kitchen. Suddenly, the cats started to yowl. A minute passed and the yowls grew louder and more alarming that it sounded as though a battle had begun in the hallway.

"What in the hell?" Harry exclaimed, grabbed his holly wand from Draco's fingers and exited from the kitchen.

Draco acted as though he was alone in the kitchen and started to prepare the rice. His suspicion that Amira was the one who had tried to seduce Harry was proven when Amira tried to flirt with him. Draco stared unwaveringly at the offensive woman.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, Miss Velera, but your charm is quite ineffective on me," Draco said flatly and gave her a cold look. Ah, it seems like she is not immune to my icy gaze. Amira had paled and she left the kitchen almost immediately.

The rice was just about done and it was unprecedented that he squeaked in surprise. "Merlin!" Harry nuzzled at his neck and squeezed his waist tightly. He turned his head and Harry kissed his cheek tenderly.

"Draco, I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

"It's okay. It wasn't totally your fault," Draco said with a crooked smile. Harry's chest felt really warm and strong, and it filled Draco with a certain kind of anticipation. I'm glad that the weekend is here. "What happened outside? Are Starry and Sneaky fighting again?"

"Draco, has Shadow been acting strange lately? It's just that your owl has slightly mauled Bluestone's pet."

Draco dropped his ladle. "Bloody hell. Bluestone is going to kill me."

"No, he won't," Harry said quickly. "Silent was just harassed."

"No injuries then?" Draco looked anxiously at Harry for a few seconds before bending down to retrieve his utensil. Harry nodded and Draco sighed with relief. "Well, Shadow had been acting rather peculiarly for the past several days," he informed his lover. "He seems to think Knight is a straw target. And he is not socializing with Hedwig."

Harry looked worried. "Is there something wrong with him? I mean, can he be ill or something?"

"Shadow? Ill?"

"You know, love, maybe we should go and send our pets for a checkup," Harry said gloomily.

"Hedwig too?"

"She swooped down on Knight, Draco. I nearly had a heart attack just now."

"Maybe..." Draco's voice trailed off, as he became lost in thought. Maybe they don't like him, Draco thought. But if Shadow dislikes someone, he would not go so far as to attack the person, unless the person tries to harm him.

"Draco?"

Harry's voice interrupted his musings and he smiled apologetically. Like the rest of their dishes, Draco performed a simple 'Keep-me-warm' spell on the pot of rice.

"How long were you two closeted in here?" he asked casually.

"Ummm ... thirty minutes?" Harry sounded nervous when he answered.

"And for how long did you hold her?" Draco asked archly. "Or is it the other way around?"

"She held me for about ... ten minutes?"

"Ten?" Draco seethed and looked dangerously at Harry.

"It felt like ten minutes," Harry corrected.

"Ten?" Draco repeated.

"Draco! It's not as if I enjoyed it!" Harry pleaded.

"Really?" Draco lifted his eyebrow and looked questioningly at Harry. He walked towards the black-haired wizard and cornered the latter by the sink. "Let's see." Then he calmly pressed his hand over Harry's groin and was surprised not to find an erection. So he was telling the truth, Draco thought grimly. I expected him to have a hard-on when that ... woman ... pressed her thigh against him.

Unintentionally, Draco moved his hand slowly up and down. Then he breathed sharply as Harry's manhood started to grow at the pressure of his fingers. He looked down to watch Harry's face as he continued to caress the hardening shaft. Draco moaned softly -- Harry looked beautiful, and desirable.

He licked his lips and slipped his right hand into Harry's trousers and underwear.

"Draco..." Harry whimpered, and clutched at Draco's shoulders as Draco started to stroke him languidly.

Draco bent his head and kissed Harry hungrily. He stopped when his own body threatened to explode. Harry hissed and jerked his hips upward. "Draco." Harry's eyes displayed frustration, and a wicked smile formed on the Slytherin's lips. Carefully, he released Harry and withdrew his hand.

"Your punishment for making me jealous," Draco said softly. He pulled one of Harry's hands and pressed it against the bulge in his trousers. "We'll do something about this later."

"Harry! Draco! We're b--"

Draco turned his head sharply and wondered why Bluestone's greeting was suddenly cut off. I hope it's not because of my lusty behavior. Damn -- but ... damn.

"Hello, Elaviel." Amira's voice was somewhat smug. "And how are you? Brother?"

"Get out of my house."

"Bluestone..."

"Get out of my house!"

Draco was stunned to hear Bluestone shout like that. His body quickly lost interest as his mind started to focus on the voices in the living room.

"Bluestone, she is still your sister," Starkmind was saying as Draco and Harry ventured cautiously into the living room. Draco gulped as Bluestone's features flickered.

Then, within a blink of his eyes, Bluestone's face took on a calm expression. However, his blue-gray eyes were hard. Then he walked briskly to the staircase and ascended it quietly. A few seconds later, the house shook as a door slammed shut with great force. Draco's eyes returned to watch a helpless-looking Starkmind.

Starkmind was looking from Amira to the staircase, as though he was trying to decide whether he should remain polite to his guest, or whether he should try to placate his angry husband. Starkmind saw the second option as the greater priority.

"Draco, Harry. Please?" Starkmind muttered as he hurried past Draco.

"I don't see why I should," Draco said softly. "Harry? Can you make sure Miss Velera is comfortable?"

Instead of replying to Draco, Harry turned to Amira. "If you don't need anything else, please excuse us."

Draco watched as Harry left the living room silently. It was a reaction Draco had not expected Harry to give. He started to move but something made him look back at Amira. She had a puzzled expression on her face and Draco smiled faintly. Harry is mine. Then he trailed after his partner.

Dinner was a frosty and unpleasant affair. Draco's appetite was lost in the tense silence of the dining room. It was just unusual for him to see and feel, firsthand, Bluestone angry. It was as though the latter had become an entirely different person.

"So ... let me get something straight," Amira spoke into the silence, and sneered at Draco. "You -- you and Harry are a couple?"

Draco told himself to remain calm.

"You felt it, didn't you?" Starkmind asked her.

"But you aren't bonded, Draco. People can take him away anytime."

"Why don't you stay out of other people's relationships, Amira?" Bluestone's voice indicated he was infuriated.

Draco grew more uncomfortable by the second. He had not known that Bluestone was capable of being tactless.

"Bluestone--" Starkmind stopped at his husband's glare.

"Elaviel, take Harry and Draco out. I want to talk to her. Harry, you and I will have a talk, later."

"No thanks, Bluestone. I'm leaving." Amira pushed her chair back forcefully.

"Sit down."

"The two of you -- come with me," Starkmind said quietly. "Now, please."

Draco's hands were trembling slightly. When he reached out to hold Harry's hand, his lover gave him a smile as tremulously as his own smile. The three wizards left the house via the back door. Draco half-expected Starkmind to take them to the small lab, but Starkmind brought them into the forest instead. As they walked, he started to explain to Harry and Draco why Bluestone's relationship with his youngest sister was greatly strained.

"Long before he and I got to know each other, Bluestone was going out with a childhood sweetheart," Starkmind began. "At some point when the two were about to get tied, Amira seduced Bluestone's ex with a somewhat, dangerous dance."

"Bluestone's ex doesn't have a problem being with a female?" Draco asked curiously. "Like Harry?"

Starkmind nodded and Draco pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"So ... it is really unethical, according to Veela customs. One should not go for someone who already has a partner. It would have been all right were Amira and Nightcat in love with each other, and in fair play. But Amira used the Dance -- it is just as wrong if humans use a love potion to deceive a person."

"Because it is deceit and not love?"

"Exactly, Draco. Bluestone had remained quiet because he thought they were serious. So he continued with life, took up teaching and--"

"Met you," Harry inserted with a gentle smile.

Starkmind nodded solemnly. "Yes. We met and things went along fine. I thought that by fourteen months, Bluestone could trust me with his heart. Little did I know that he still held reservations. Anyway, one night, Nightcat found Bluestone. But when he saw me coming to stand behind Bluestone, he just froze."

"Amira became bored and dumped him?"

"Yes. And I thought Bluestone was going to dump me." Starkmind chuckled weakly. "Well, I was lucky. Bluestone chose to remain with me."

"But if that's all that she did, why would Bluestone lose his temper? It has been years, right?" Harry asked. His face looked like a person who was tallying up numbers and found that it did not match the second time. Draco found himself nodding in agreement.

"I myself wish that it was all that had happened. Amira eventually found out Bluestone has found a new partner." Starkmind sighed mournfully. He sat wearily on a fallen trunk. Harry and Draco followed suit. "Then she started to work on me. Fortunately, I couldn't get strongly attracted to female Veelas."

Starkmind fell silent but he looked so depressed. Draco looked at him with great sympathy and patted the older wizard's shoulder somewhat awkwardly.

"This is going to be an uncomfortable night. I wish quiet people won't be so scary when they get mad."

"Elaviel," Harry called softly and Draco looked at the man beside him with curiosity. "How did Bluestone react when he found out about my relationship with you?"

Starkmind appeared startled by the inquiry and he glanced quickly at Draco.

"Elaviel, we talked about your relationship with Harry a long time ago, that time when you dragged us to the centre for the very first time," Draco said, trying to put the older man's conscience at ease. "And Harry had explained to me why you had a relationship in the first place."

Starkmind looked slightly sheepish. Then he gazed apologetically at Harry. "Well ... Bluestone was mad. Just a little. It was my fault that I did not tell him sooner. Do you know house-elves' gossip goes a long way?" Draco shrugged indifferently. "Anyway, Bluestone was quite understanding why I needed Harry, so he chose to let the matter go. I think that what mattered most to him, is that neither of us were hurt when the relationship dissolved."

Then he motioned them to go back to the house. "I believe he has already finished his lecture," Starkmind explained.

Draco chose that moment to voice out his thoughts and inquire a few things about Knight the librarian. "Elaviel, Harry, what do you think about Knight?" he asked casually.

"He's a fine chap -- reminds me of..." Starkmind frowned slightly. "Ah! Yes. Miss Lovegood."

"Harry?"

"He's okay ... I guess. Why do you ask?"

"Well ... I am just worried. Maybe I'm paranoid but I have a feeling Shadow doesn't like him."

"Hmmm." Starkmind scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Well, the principal commented that Knight is somewhat allergic to most animals, especially the feathered ones."

"I see." Draco pursed his lips. Truthfully, he did not see how Knight's allergies could have affected Shadow's behavior. Maybe he is wearing something that makes owls or creatures stay away from him, and that's why they don't like it.

The Lovenest loomed closer. I wonder if Bluestone and Elaviel noticed how much Knight resembles Harry from afar, Draco mused. Well, even if they think he's all right, I should keep my eyes open when I'm with him. I don't feel comfortable when he's around. Yes, I think I should remain wary of him.