52Chapter 16
Chapter 16:
Draco's POV
Draco watched as Potter practically ran out of potions class. He cursed silently. He couldn't just chase after him. That would draw attention, so he packed away his supplies and tried to ignore how his father was watching Lupin.
He had no doubt his father was trying to piece together everything that happened. As he put his last book in his bag and left the class, he hopped his father stayed ignorant because it would cause too many problems if he actually managed to puzzle together Potter's dynamic or Lupin's secret.
Only when he was out side of the classroom did he picked up his pace. He had a feeling that Potter would head for their secret room. It was safe, and right now that would be what his instincts were calling for.
It took him longer then he would like to make it to the room and when he opened the door, he sighed. Potter was laying on the couch his bag dropped on the floor next to him. His arm over his head and Draco could smell fear.
"Potter," he said softly, lowering his own bag on to the floor and moving towards the Gryffindor.
"What's happening to me?" Potter whispered.
"Your inheritance," he answered sitting down at the other's feet.
"But I thought that it would just make me…" he stopped.
"Make you what?"
"I don't know…" Potter dropped his arm and looked at him. "Stronger like you or fuck clingy like back at the Leaky Caldron." There was a drawing of a deep breath. "But that.. that wasn't like that," he said softly and dropped his head back on the couch.
Draco sighed. "You're a submissive." Potter jerked up and looked at him, eyes wide.
"I don't know what class of creature you fall under, but submissive are common in a few."
"Oh god," Potter muttered. "Please tell me I'm not going to turn into a something like Pettigrew. Weak and begging stronger wizards to protect me."
Draco snorted. "That man is a coward. Not a submissive."
"Explain it to me."
He sighed, and looked at his lap. Not sure what to say to help the other. He knew Potter was confused and he wanted to help, he really did, but his father had only taught him about his own inheritance, and showed the manner in which to treat a submissive; it had been practically beaten into him but that wouldn't help Potter, at least not yet.
"Potter." He picked up the Gryffindor's legs and scooted closer, placing the legs over his own. He felt Potter stiffen. He was tempted to look up but refrained. Instead he started running his hands along the others leg in a gentle manner. The touch was slight, but he knew from experience it would help calm someone down. His father used to do it when he was younger.
Back before things got bad and his father had retreated behind the cold façade he presented to the world.
"Look, I'll tell you what I can," he tried. "According to legend a long time ago, there was a threat to magic. Whether it was to magic itself of wizards is unknown.
There aren't many books around from that time, so everything we know has been passed down from one generation to the next. Whatever the threat was, it's said that 13 witches and wizards gathered together and sought a new kind of power. Something to stop the threat. They must have achieved whatever it was they sot because they became extremely powerful. More powerful than any of the others and they didn't hide their power. Muggles that came across them mistook them as gods." He heard Potter huff and he pinched the underside of the Gryffindor thigh. There was a yelp and a slight pull of the leg, he held onto it until Potter sighed and stopped trying to move away.
"Anyways," he continued sending the other a glare. "As time passed not only did their powers grow but it changed them. None in the same ways. Some changed physically. They grew faster, stronger, even larger. Some gained new forms they could take on at will, but each one was changed. Father says, their behavior started to become strange and it made the others nervous. Leading many to think they had become creatures, dark creatures, or some kind of creatures they hadn't met before. They wanted to kill them. Get rid of the threat before it became one, but these wizards were too powerful. Some kind of battle came about and in the end a truce was reached." He took a breath, trying to remember all he could about the treaties, his father had told him about.
"A series of treaties were signed. New laws and regulations were added. Things about how to treat them, how to show respect, and law set to protect them from ever being attacked again. Over the years more have been added as knowledge of them grew." He stopped again. Looking down at Potter, who's eyes were on him, looking interested and intense.
"And?" Potter asked.
"And," he mimicked. "As they passed these new abilities and attributes to their children- which is where a huge percentage of today's inheritances come from -the families kept a lot about what they had become secret, but there were things they couldn't keep hidden. Like behaviors that would trigger them. There are some that if you show them disrespect, they will lash out. It is something instinctive and they can not help it. Others are so protective or possessive of their families and mates that they will attack or kill any possible threat. The biggest thing was how some became either submissive or dominant." He felt Potter shift at the mention of submissive. "These things had to be shared with the public world because people could get hurt or killed."
He switched his hand to Potter's other leg as he felt the other teen starting to get restless. "Now see while there are some general traits, which we all, there are also some that are only known to the family that carries them."
"As far as most purebloods know, submissive is like the term hints at, submissive. Don't mistake that for weak or cowards," he said pointedly. " According to my father, Dominants in our family are wired to take care and protect both our families and mates. They are physically stronger and faster than submissives. They can become aggressive even possessive if they think there is a threat to what they view as theirs. Submissives are a little different, father says they can be just as protective or possessive if they have to but they are more mild-mannered and gentle. They are protective, but differently, instead of fighting or acting out aggressively they will seek out those that need help and take them in, offering their family and their mates protection. While they aren't physically as strong their magic is often stronger."
"It's a balance I think." He let out a breath. "Doms want to shield their subs to protect them from the world and subs support their doms and help soothe some of our more violent qualities, protecting the world from us."
"I can't tell you much, Potter. There hasn't been a submissive in my family in generations. In fact, you are the only one I have met. I'm sorry." He stopped talking. He wasn't even sure if what he had said made sense to the Gryffindor.
He felt Potter shift and looked at him. "What about the order thing?" The brunette asked in a quiet voice like he wasn't sure what else to say. He gave the other boy's leg a squeeze.
"There is a power exchange amongst the two. Like the need to protect their submissive there is also the urge to be in control. You know me Potter, I like to be in control. I enjoy having others follow my lead and obey my commands. It's part of what I am. Submissives have a similar desire, they like the idea of handing over control to someone they trust. Knowing that person will keep them safe and care for them." Potter moved his legs and moved to pull himself on to his elbows.
"I don't want someone to control me," he growled, sounding a little angry, "everyone is always trying to control me. Telling me what to do. Saying that it's for my protection. It's bullshit."
"It's not like that Potter," Draco sighed. How did he explain this?
"It is!" Potter shouted jumping off the couch. "When Snape ordered me to stop. I had to!" Draco could smell the fear coming off the other teen and new he had to fix it.
He stood up but kept his distance, " Today in potions. Tell me what you felt?"
"It was strange when he told me to stop, it's like the word echoed in my head and my body just reacted." Potter looked away, "It scared the hell out of me," he whispered.
"Severus's mother's family comes from one of the 13 families. They don't have a dominant or submissive dynamic like some of the others, but they are known to trigger certain submissive behaviors because they give off the same presence as a dominant. Sev saw you were about to do something potentially dangerous and reacted. When he told you to stop, it set off your instinct to listen to him. Understand?" he asked.
"No, I don't," Potter growled.
Draco ran a hand through his hair, Potter was on the verge of running. He could see it in the way the other was standing and from the smell of anxiety and fear coming off him.
"Okay, think of it like this if there is a threat, a dom doesn't always have time to explain, so when ordered a submissive will obey." He sighed, please let this work. "Insuring they get away and that their dom can fight without worrying about their mates' safety.
Potter was looking at him with curiosity the fear still present but a little less so. Draco understood, the idea that he would have to obey someone just because they told him to would scare him as well.
"So, if he gives me an order I have to obey? What the fuck? What if someone orders me to do something against the law or hurt myself?" Potter started to move, pacing a few feet away.
Draco closed his eyes, reached down and took hold of his wand. Preparing himself for a pissed off Potter instead of scared.
"Stop," he commanded, letting his own dynamic show and Potter stiffened.
Then there was a fist flying at his face and he had to dodge it. He raised his wand placing a shield between the two of them. Potter only hit the shield once with his fist before he stopped.
"What the hell, Malfoy?" Potter glared at him.
"I was showing you," he said in his own defence.
"Showing me what?" Potter yelled.
"That you may have the desire to obey but there is a choice," he said, calmly.
The Gryffindor stopped and seemed to be considering what he said.
"But I still stopped," he said after a few seconds.
He sighed, "Only long enough for you to realize you didn't want to."
When he was sure Potter wasn't going to take another swing at him, he dropped his shield.
"You know it's not all scary or bad. Think about how you felt when your werewolf got all worried about protecting you?" he said grinning.
"What do you mean?" Potter asked moving to sit back on the couch. This time he sat facing the front, his feet on the floor and his head in his hands.
"Lupin's wolf probably smelled your fear when Sev ordered you and he reacted. He wrapped around you like a wolf protecting his cub, probably confused him too. It helped didn't it?" he asked sitting next to the other teen.
Potter nodded. "He felt safe," he muttered out.
"Fuck," the brunette muttered after, "I need to know more about all this."
Then Potter was up and rushing out of the room.
Draco watched him for a second before he rolled his eyes and got up to chase after him. Though as he left the room and noticed Potter nowhere to be seen, he regretted hesitating. It didn't take him more than a thought to guess that Potter was headed for the Library. So, he rushed after him.
He caught up to him in a hallway a short distance from the library.
"Evan," he was careful not to shout as he closed the distance between them.
"Look I know it's scary and we will figure it out okay." The other teen stopped and looked at him.
"How? I have no one I can ask about it." There was a soft smell coming off Potter that had him wanting to wrap him in a hug. He closed his eyes and took a small step back.
"You could talk to Lupin," he offered, because Lupin was a know it all and he was also someone that Potter trusted. The Gryffindor sighed.
"He would ask too many questions."
"So, don't answer them." It what he would do. Get the information he needed and not give anything in return, but he had a feeling that wouldn't sit well with Potter.
"Then why would he answer mine?" Potter snapped at him.
"Because he's a professor?" Potter actually smiled at that.
"Not yet, he isn't." The smile faded a little.
Potter chuckled, "Imagine that conversation, hey Remus, you're brilliant and I kind of know you're a werewolf want to help me learn about these stupid new instincts I've got?" Potter shook his head still grinning.
Draco glared at him. "I wouldn't ask him like that," he huffed. "He'd probably eat you."
That earned him a glare of his own from Potter. "Remus wouldn't eat me, or anyone else."
"So, ask him," he tried again.
"Why don't you just teach me?" Potter actually pouted at him. It was annoying.
"Because you idiot, all I know is how my own instincts react to you and how I'm supposed to treat you." He felt bad about losing his temper, but he really didn't know anything more than what he had already told Potter.
"Come on," he said reaching out and taking Potter's arm. Dragging him off towards the library. Maybe they would get lucky enough to find a few books that would give some useful information and help calm the chosen one down.