Chapter Ten

Wednesday 2 September 1998

Harry

I appreciate the effort, I really do. After all, it's important for regular wizards to learn about the different inheritances and how to act around people who get them. But I would really rather not be here. I do, afterall, know everything they are saying and more. And with such a good alternative (spending time in a mate dream with my mate, for example), I would give anything to not be here right now.

However, it's interesting to see who has an inheritance, and I pay attention for that reason. Being a small year, there weren't that many; only two from Hufflepuff (Ernie Macmillan, a dominant fire elf and Zacharias Smith, a dominant coraniaid) and two Ravenclaw (Terry Boot, a submissive vampire and Morag Macdougal, a sub draconi). I try to catch Terry and Morag's eyes to see if either of them are my mate, but can't, as they're both looking down.

I'm the only one who goes up when they ask for werewolves, and it puts me on edge. I don't like being paraded in front of everyone, and I especially don't like that they would do this to subs, who would probably be scared out of their minds.

They point out my distinguishing features, although it's mostly in how I behave rather than my appearance. The woman then asks me in a hushed voice whether I trust my wolf enough to turn here.

If I give you control, you can't do anything, okay? Just grin and bare it, it will probably end up in fewer annoying questions later.

Fine, but I can't promise not to give them a scare. I don't being treated like a prize dog.

As long as you don't hurt anyone. I nod to the woman, and head out a side door to strip down before giving you control.

You plod back into the main hall, and immediately growl at the woman, baring your teeth, but don't hurt her. Both speakers gawk at your sheer size, and the hall breaks into nervous muttering.

You turn away, not listening to whatever the women starts saying, sniffing the air. What are you doing?

Trying to find mate.

You think they're here?

Maybe. I don't know, there are too many scents. I'll have to walk around the room.

Don't do that. We'll come into contact with whoever it could be soon enough. This isn't a good place to meet them, after all, wouldn't you rather we be in private? You grin wolfishly at the thought of having our mate to yourself, and I take that as agreement.

Eventually, they let us go, so you head back out the side door and give me control back. I change again and head back to my seat.

They start talking about Veelas next,  and Malfoy and his friend Zabini stand up. And oh Merlin, Ron was right; Malfoy's a sub. Not just that, he's incredibly submissive. He looks to Zabini before standing, and keeps his head ducked, and arms wrapped around his waist. He's obviously scared as well, not that I'm surprised. As Ron revealed on the train, many will probably take advantage of his submissiveness. And Zabini looks completely on guard, glaring at anyone in his vicinity who so much as looks at Malfoy.

And I want to do the same.

The thought catches me off guard, but it shouldn't; it's in my nature to help subs, especially those as submissive and scared as Malfoy, no matter who they are. Even so, I didn't expect to feel... like this. It's almost overwhelming how much I want to go over there and make sure he never feels as scared again, and you're even worse than I am: your thoughts aren't even coherent, just single words growled at me.

Eli, calm down. Look, Zabini will protect him, and no one's going to hurt him. If I go up now, it will just make everyone confused and he'll probably be made fun of for needing my help. There's nothing we can do, so just calm down, okay?

You growl, but acknowledge I'm right, and begin to calm down.

He's a good sub, very pretty. He's very sub, scared now. He needs strong dom, to protect. You should go over, protect him, yes?

I can't, Eli. It wouldn't help him. He's got Zabini, see? He won't be hurt here.

Hmm, don't know. Very sub, Harry. I think he needs us. We go over?

Eli, no. Stop asking. Remember what I said, okay? There's nothing we can do. You grumble, but back down, even though my own instincts don't. I still desperately want to go up to him. He's standing at the front of the room now, and the speakers are explaining the different types of Veela. Malfoy keeps his head down, deliberately not making eye contact with anyone, and seems to be trying to take up as little space as possible. I can't help but think he would make a great mate. His dom is lucky.

"Malfoy's acting weird," Ron mutters. "Don't you think?"

"He's a sub, Ron," I reply, my words clipped. If he says anything offensive I don't think I'll be able to restrain from hurting him. I watch his eyes widen, and he opens his mouth, but I growl at him and he closes it again.

"Really?" Ginny says, not maliciously, just curiously. "I would have expected him to be dominant."

"It's completely unpredictable, especially for other people. Only you can know your true nature," Neville explains.

"Are you trying to tell me that Malfoy is secretly timid and pathetic?" I can't help but growl at that, and see Neville flinch beside me. I put a hand on his shoulder, which he leans into, and scowl at Ron as you rant angrily in my head. "I mean, not that subs are pathetic, just, well, look at him." He nods his head towards where Malfoy stands, practically cowering and hiding behind Zabini.

Scared sub, Harry. Go help. Wizard being prick to sub, kill him, and save sub.

"He is not being pathetic. He is scared and his instincts are in control," I say, trying to stay calm, but the words still come out as growls.

"Right, right, sorry." He doesn't sound it, but I can't think about correcting him further; I'm distracted by the need to go and protect Malfoy. Funny, if you told me I'd be having that thought last year I would have laughed and directed you to Mungo's.

Finally, they allow Malfoy and Zabini to sit back down, and announce that we will be breaking for lunch. My eyes are locked on Malfoy. He murmurs something to Zabini, who doesn't look to happy about it, saying something back. Malfoy flinches, but replies. Zabini nods, seemingly reluctantly, and Malfoy stands up and leaves the hall.

I try not to go after him, I really do. But with both my instincts and you screaming at me, I simply cannot find the strength to stay in my seat.

"I'm going to go let Eli run around, he's getting antsy from sitting around all morning." Everyone nods, but I catch Neville's eye and it's obvious from the look he gives me that he knows what I'm doing. I ignore him, and set off.

I'm only part way down the corridor when I hear Zabini call my name.

"Potter!" I stop, turning around to find him behind me. I nod at him, a sign of respect, and he does the same. "If you're going to find Draco, don't."

"How... how did you know I was going to-"

"You weren't exactly subtle. And I guess I would have done the same thing."

"So you understand why I have to find him."

"I understand why you think you do, but trust me. He... for his whole life, he was so sure he would be a dom. He never started sub training until the summer." And I'm guessing he didn't put in as many hours as I did. "He's the most, well, submissive sub I've ever encountered. I think he's scared doms will abuse that, especially since you used to... argue so much." I feel a growl rumble in my chest. How dare he suggest I would do such a thing! "I don't mean to say you would," he continues quickly. "It's just... Draco's scared. I know you want to help, I do too, but the best way to do that is just let him have his space until he gets used to it."

I sigh. I don't like it, but he's right.

The fuck do you mean? There is a scared, alone and fragile sub, and it is our responsibility to look after him!

Exactly, and, like Zabini said, the best way to do that is to leave him alone. I would probably just scare him more.

"Alright. You know him better than me, I guess. I respect that. But if anything happens, I'll be damned if you stop me again."

"Sure thing, Potter." He holds his hand out, and I shake it.

"Tell Malfoy..." calling a sub by their last name doesn't seem right. "Tell Draco I'm here for him, if he needs me. Past forgotten, seriously."

"Will do. See you around."

I let go of his hand, and head back to the hall for lunch. Zabini comes back about half an hour later, grabs some food and leaves again, probably so Draco doesn't have to come into the hall again.

After lunch, the speakers say everyone with inheritances can leave, they don't need any examples for the next part of the talk and we know all the information, but tell us to go to McGonagall's office after dinner. I decide to go back to my dorm and take a nap. I'm pretty tired, and who knows, maybe I'll have another mate dream.

Turns out, I was right.

1650 words