Chapter 21 - Pack

                                        

                                              
Published: 4/7/25
Art by: leilazayde
It was a week before the full moon, and Harry and Draco were invited over for Family Dinner Night at the Weasley home. Draco felt a lot better about going, now. They flooed over and Draco was assaulted by the smells. Weasley and Granger were in the den, too.
"Harry! Draco!" Hermione said, and she came to give Harry a hug. She paused and offered it to Draco, who, though surprised, accepted it.
"Thank you," he whispered. Her scent was kind and concerned.
"No problem, Draco," his packmember replied. He felt happy in that assessment. Even Weasley smelled like he was familiar... accepted. He offered a handshake to him, which he also accepted.
"Oh! There's Draco and Harry," Aunt Molly said, coming out of the kitchen. She went to Draco first, lightly patting his shoulders and touching his chin. "And how are you?" 
"I'm better, Aunt Molly. Thank you for the invite."
"Pish posh. You are always welcome. Harry dear, good to see you as well. It looks like you're taking care of him," she said.
"I try," he said.
"Good. I'm glad you came, but dinner's about to be served! Come in and sit down."
She led them to the kitchen, and he sat next to her. They ate dinner and Aunt Molly tried to get him to speak up more. He was handling it better than last time. The older Weasley children, Bill and Charlie, weren't there. Fleur also didn't come, so the scents weren't as convoluted. After dinner, Draco went with Blaise outside alone. He could feel Harry watching him for any issues.
"How's it going? You seem better," Blaise asked.
"I am a lot better. It was too soon last time," he said, looking at the garden. He wondered if he was safe here. The Weasleys were sure to have ward lines.
"It's not anymore?"
Draco snorted. "It's still hard, but I'm not as... scared."
"That's good. What about your wand? Harry did give it to you, right?" Blaise asked pointedly, and Draco went cold.
"I'm... well...  I don't... I can't...."
"Hey... calm down! I'm sorry I brought it up," Blaise said, concerned.
Draco was surprised that he didn't know. Granger must not have told everyone, but he couldn't have Blaise keep asking about it, or worse, he didn't know that Draco couldn't defend himself. His magic was gone and it wasn't coming back. Of course, Blaise was quite the Dark Arts master, as was his mother.
"Blaise, Greyback... he took my magic," Draco admitted, not meeting his eyes.
Blaise looked at him. "What? He can't...."
"He did, Blaise. He branded me with an ancient Celtic binding mark. No magic or transformations. I-I didn't even fully turn at the full moon."
Blaise's mouth dropped, and he gapped at him for a minute. "No... Draco... I... was it sealed?"
Draco snorted. If Granger was Harry's go-to person, Blaise was his. "Yes. The doctor is looking into it, but everyone says that I'm fucked. It's permanent, and it will magically heal itself if it's cut off."
"I'll see what I can find on it. I'm so sorry, Draco. Fucking hell! I wish that fucker hadn't died so quick!" he hissed.
Draco looked at the ground, again. He should probably tell him everything. "He... did... something else, too."