When I woke up the next morning I took the time to look around my new room to see what it looked like in daylight. It wasn't very different from the one I used to share with the boys up in Gryffindor tower, except it didn't have five beds in it, only one. It was a large four-poster bed, with a red canopy and red curtains trimmed with gold. Next to it there was a big closet made of dark wood, and on the wall opposite it there were two big windows, one of them with a desk underneath it. Both windows had the same view I used to have in my room up in the tower, which was slightly disconcerting when I knew I was actually underneath the ground. Oh the disturbing wonders of magic.On the wall to my left there was a door leading to the bathroom, and I could hear the shower going so I knew Draco was already up. Waiting for him to finish in the bathroom, I started putting my clothes into the closet. The previous night I'd been too tired to unpack, so my things were still in the trunk next to my bed. I also filled the drawers in the desk with parchment, quills and ink, so that I was completely ready for all the essays we would be assigned now that school had started. Even thought I didn't expect to do very many of them properly, it was always good to be prepared.
I had just picked out the clothes I wanted to wear that day, when I heard Draco exiting the bathroom on his side. I padded through the door and proceeded to do my morning toilette. The bathroom was really very nice, much nicer than the one we had up in the tower, and it was decorated much in the same style as the prefect's bathroom up on fifth floor. Everything was brilliantly white, and there was both a bathtub and a shower. The bathtub was of course a lot smaller than the one in the prefect's bathroom, and it only had two taps, but it was still one of the largest I had ever seen. You could easily fit at least four people in there at the same time, and they'd all have more than enough space. Hadn't I been a blushing virgin, I might have noticed that it was more than large enough for to people to have some fun in. But of course, the child hero of the wizarding world is much too innocent to notice such things. Erm, yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I took a quick shower and tied my hair back before exiting the bathroom to get dressed in my own room. After my transformation most of my clothes were suddenly too big, so Sirius had bought me a whole new wardrobe. Of course, he hadn't been the one to pick it out. Sirius, despite being flamingly gay, had no fashion sense whatsoever. Unless you call purple robes so tight they left nothing to the imagination and a rainbow coloured belt charmed to sparkle like mad for fashion sense. I most certainly didn't. Luckily, Remus on the other hand, that was a bloke who could dress. He had been the one to pick out most of my clothes, and they were all decent looking and in plain colours that suited me. Most were dark colours, mainly greens, reds and blacks, but there was also the occasional blue and a bit of grey or brown. Today I had chosen a pair of black slacks and a green sweater that complimented my eyes nicely. Yes, I know that sounded gay, but, as the future spouse of a Veela, I think sounding gay was the least of my problems. But of course, since the Veela in question was male, gay was also quite possibly the way I was supposed to sound. Especially since I was the submissive part of that union, and sounding gay actually means the same as sounding female. But back to the story.
When I walked out to the living room, as I had started calling it, Draco was already waiting for me. He was sitting on the couch reading something that looked like a potions book. Go figure. He looked up as I walked over to him, and his chin abruptly fell. I looked questioningly at him, but he only stared back. Feeling more than a little self-conscious, I reached up to twirl a bit of my hair. You see, there was one lock of hair that just wasn't long enough to go into my ponytail, and it often just hung in front of my ear. I had developed a nervous habit out of reaching up and twirling it around my finger, something Sirius teased me a lot about it, saying it was extremely girly. I suspect he was right, but I didn't much care. It was only another thing to add to the appearance.
After a while I couldn't take the staring any longer, and I almost screamed in frustration. "What are you looking at?" I exclaimed, looking confused at Draco. You would have thought I'd be used to people staring at me, but no such luck.
"You," he answered smartly, smirking slightly.
"Yes, I can see that. Is there something wrong with me, have I suddenly grown a second head?" I growled, not amused with his answer. I mean, hello, he could be a little more specific, thank you very much.
"No, but you did grow a fashion sense over the summer, you look good." He licked his lips and slowly let his eyes wander down my body, making me blush furiously. Yes, I did live by the belief that if I didn't blush at least ten times a day I'd end up looking ghastly pale.
"I, we, uh, we should go," I stuttered, turning my back to him so I wouldn't have to see him looking. Too late I realised that that was probably the worst thing to do, I could vividly imagine where his eyes were lingering now. Blushing even more, I made my way to the door, not waiting to see if Draco followed or not. As it was, he did, and soon we were walking the labyrinth of hallways that would take us to the Great Hall. More than once I had to run a little when Draco looked prone to jump me, but all in all it was a rather uneventful walk.
"I'll see you later," I murmured when we reached our destination, then I made my way over to the Gryffindor table. I was instantly attacked by a fierce something with bushy brown hair, which seemed intent on crushing me to death using only its arms. For a moment I felt sure suffocation was going to be the end of me, but then the something let go and revealed itself as Hermione.
"Harry!" she cried, guiding me to a seat between her and Ron. "How did it go? Did he behave? If he laid as much as onefinger on you, I swear I'll –"
Laughing, I patted her arm reassuringly. "It was fine, Hermione. He was a perfect gentleman." Well, sort of anyway. He did pounce me and try to snog me to death, but really, Hermione didn't need to know that. For hers and Draco's sake. Mostly Draco's.
"He better have been," she grumbled, making Ron laugh appreciatively. "Oh, but Harry!" she exclaimed as if she just remembered something. Which she probably did. "How are your new quarters? Can we see them afterwards?"
"Of course you can, and they're actually shockingly normal," Hermione looked a bit upset at this, as if hoping the rooms would be horrible so that she could demand my removal.
I started loading my plate with food, taking the time to look around at the people around me. It was great to be back at school, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with the setting. Everyone seemed to be staring off into space, only, they were all staring the same way. Towards the Slytherin table and… I scowled deeply when I realised that the whole student body was staring at Draco. "Hermione?" I said, still letting my eyes roam the hall. "Why is everyone staring at Draco?"
"Oh, that is probably the Veela allure, you know, the attraction he sends out." She answered matter-of-factly.
"So they're all staring at him because they want him?" I could feel my stomach churn at the thought, it was really rather unpleasant. But I was not jealous, nope, not me.
"Well, yes," Hermione nodded.
"But why aren't you or I feeling it?" I asked, a bit confused.
The question was directed at Hermione, but it was Ron who answered. "Oh! That's because Hermione whipped us up a Veela resistance potion last night, so we're immune. And you, well, you're his mate so naturally you're not affected." But of course, why didn't I think of that? Because it is perfectly normal to whip up a seventh year potion after dinner each day, really, it's the new groove.
I nodded absently in reply, not really listening. I was too busy glaring at Millicent Bulstrode, who had her hand on Draco's arm and was fluttering her eyelashes incessantly. I practically growled when she leaned in to whisper something in his ear, and smiled triumphantly when Pansy smacked her above the head and took her seat. Go Pansy! I silently cheered, and smiled at her when she waved at me. 'Don't worry' she mouthed and winked at me, then turned back to Draco leaving me blushing. I wanted to tell her that she was all wrong, I wasn't worrying. Because really, the great Harry Potter worrying? Ha, what a joke! Glaring menacingly at anyone who got too close to Draco was just an extra safety precaution. Yeah, safety precaution.
When breakfast was almost over, Professor Dumbledore rose and cleared his throat. "If I could have your attention please," he said and everyone turned their heads, with great difficulty I might add, away from Draco and towards the headmaster. "As some of you might have noticed, we have a half-Veela among us." Oh, you don't say? "This takes for certain precautions and every one of you will be expected to stop by Madam Pomfrey's office sometime during the day to receive the Veela resistance. We will know it if you didn't go, so please see to it that you do." Yes, do see to it that you do. "Thank you for your time." You're welcome. After all, it was for a good cause.
"You look happy," commented Hermione. "Any special reason why?"
"Nope," I grinned. "Just your normal back-at-school-with-potions-first-class kind of happy." But of course, Hermione being Hermione and bloody brilliant in general, she wasn't fooled.
"Uh-huh, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that after today everyone will stop staring at Malfoy?"
"Hermione, you wound me! Why in the world would I be happy about that?" I exclaimed, but the grin that spread on my face sort of gave me away. Damn.
"That's alright, Ron believes you, don't you Ron?" Hermione said, poking Ron in the ribs. The redhead jumped up from where he had been engrossed in his meal and sent a glare at Hermione before nodding.
"Sure I agree. Eh, what is it I'm agreeing to again?" Yep, it was nice to be back.