Harry gripped Malfoy’s arm behind his back, covering his mouth with is other hand. Malfoy struggled, and Harry muttered a spell that in moments had Malfoy crumpling at Harry’s feet where he was magically bound, hand and foot, and gagged. Harry pressed himself to the wall, trying to calm his breathing. Behind him, Malfoy whimpered. The ropes were a little too tight, Harry conceded in his mind. Malfoy could barely flex his fingers, let alone escape.
Harry dragged his mind back to the current issue. Where were Ron and Hermione? He needed to find them, and get out of here. He gripped Malfoy’s wand and his own in his hand, and took a chance. “Accio Hermione’s bag!” he whispered. He hoped that she still had it on her, and that she would follow it when it either zoomed away, or tugged her along.
Beside him, Malfoy let out a small distressed noise. He seemed to have realized there was no escape if Harry did not allow it, and he was now pushing angrily on Harry’s ankle with his shoulder. Harry looked back at the defiant, still proud boy on the alley floor, and took pity on him. We waved his wand, and the ropes did loosen somewhat. Harry saw Malfoy close his eyes briefly and slowly move his fingers and toes as clearly, feeling came rushing back into them.
Harry was just contemplating what to do next when he saw a bushy head of hair across the alley. Hermione was indeed being tugged along with her purse. She was having a hushed argument with Ron,
“And we’re just going to keep following it?” Ron said suspiciously.
“Yes, Ron. I told you, who else would know to summon my bag specifically? It’ not as if I have anything valuable in it. It’s got to be Harry.”
“She’s right, you know.” Harry said, standing up.
“Harry!” Hermione proclaimed, dashing toward him. Her purse reached him first, and slammed him in the chest. He had been right, it was waaaaaay too heavy for such a small bag. “Oh, Harry, I’m sorry, are you al-“ She cut off abruptly as she caught sight of Malfoy.
Ron caught up, and followed her gaze. Upon seeing Malfoy, he snarled- a low, animalistic sound- and stooped, catching Malfoy up by the hair. Malfoy cried out through the gag, and could only groan in pain as he hung in Ron’s grip, unable to get his feet under himself, and with Ron’s wand tip suddenly pressed painfully to his throat.
Where Malfoy had seemed unafraid of Harry in the slightest, he seemed downright terrified of Ron at the moment. Not that he meant to show it. He looked as though he was trying to hold back his fear, or conceal it, but one hard shake from Ron had him whimpering, and trying to pull away.
“Ron!” Harry yelled.
“Ron, no!” Hermione shrieked.
“Get off of me, Hermione! This smarmy git shot a killing curse at Harry!”
“No, he didn’t!” Harry interjected.
“What are you talking about!? I saw it Harry.”
“I thought so too, but it had to have been that bigger bloke, the blonde one. Malfoy hadn’t even stood up yet when the Curse missed me. There’s no way-!”
“But he did mean to do us harm.” Ron shook Malfoy again, who was seemingly attempting to be brave, and ignore the pain. However Harry, who had been snatched up by his hair and dragged around by the roots by Aunt Petunia, could see the pain building and see Malfoy reaching his limit for tolerance.
“But he didn’t. He’s tied up, Ron. I got him first.” said Harry gently, trying to pry Ron’s hand from the white-blonde locks. Malfoy was released, and sagged to the floor, kept from falling and slamming his head by Harry, breathing deeply though his nose.
“So what so we do with him? Tie him up and leave him with the others?” Ron asked, still clearly fuming.
“No,” Harry said. Malfoy snapped his head up at that. Harry was staring at him with incredible intensity. Malfoy dropped his gaze. Harry was thinking.
He remembered the vision he’d had. The one where Voldemort had decided Draco’s punishment should he fail him to such a degree as failing to kill Dumbledore again. Harry rather thought that letting Harry Potter slip though his fingers may indeed constitute a colossal failure in the eyes of the Dark Lord.
He remembered Malfoy trembling as Fenrir had breathed down his pale neck. Harry could see the faint line where Fenrir had cut Malfoy’s arm, just visible beneath his sleeve. He remembered too, the hungry eyes of Mcnair as he stared down Lucius’s son.
Harry gave his head a little shake. Ron and Hermione were staring at him.
“We can’t leave him.” Malfoy was slowly shaking his head. “We can’t leave him here for Voldemort, or some random death eater to find.”
“Why not?” Ron demanded.
“We can’t.” Harry said flatly.
Hermione laid a hand on his arm. She gave him a questioning look, and he nodded. Harry looked back at Malfoy who was shaking his head vigorously, looking terrified. He was pleading though the gag. Hermione waved her wand, and the roped retwisted themselves so that Malfoy was more tightly bound than before. Hermione added a blinding charm, and did away with the gag in favor of a silencing charm.
“You’re sure Harry?” She asked again.
Ron seemed enraged that his opinion wasn’t getting asked for. Harry nodded, and after nodding back, she gripped his and Ron’s elbows. Harry snagged Malfoy by his shoulder, and off they went.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Malfoy sat against the wall, trying not to move, afraid to draw attention to himself amid this argument. “He’s not a… a… trophy, Ron! He’s not a pet! You can’t treat him like an animal!”
Ron scoffed at Harry. “Oh, fuck off with your high horse, Harry! It was your idea to take him! What did you think you were gonna do with him?”
“Nothing! I didn’t mean for him to be with us this long! I meant to take him to Grimmauld place or something and turn him over to the Order. Obviously, that’s not what happened!”
“Then why do we still have him!?” Ron bellowed. He stomped over to Malfoy, who didn’t move away fast enough and was caught up by the hair. “Let’s be rid of him! Do what Lupin said. Snap his wand and leave him in a muggle village somewhere!”
Harry whipped out his wand and next moment, Ron pulled away from Malfoy as the stinging hex licked at his hand. Harry squeezed his eyes closed and took a deep breath. Again, he let flash before him, the leering death eaters, and Voldemort’s promise to punish Draco severely should he fail again.
“We can’t.” Harry said, his eyes closed.
“Why?”
Harry looked at Hermione, and she covered her mouth and nodded. Harry looked at Malfoy, who also watched him. He wanted to know why he’d been taken too, but under Harry’s intense gaze, he let his eyes drift to the floor.
“Because he’ll be hunted down if we abandon him. He’ll be tortured and killed if he’s found.”
Silence fell. Everyone was looking at Harry.
“It’ll look like he ran. He and those other death eaters who attacked us failed to catch me. And I didn’t tell you Ron but I had another vision from Voldemort’s mind.” Harry looked directly at Malfoy.
“I saw what he let McNair do to you, right at the start of July.”
Malfoy trembled and was wracked with silent sobbing and shame. He couldn’t meet Harry’s eye, and he hoped against hope that Harry wouldn’t go into detail.
“Ron, Voldemort promised that if Malfoy failed him again he would let McNair and Greyback have him and kill him.”
Ron looked conflicted. He glared at Malfoy and back at Harry. “What… what does that have to do with us?”
“Ron!” Hermione cried out.
“I can’t be the only one thinking it! He’s just an extra mouth to feed here!”
“So, what? You want to be responsible for his death? You want to let him die like that?”
Ron looked stricken. He looked between them, and glared again at Malfoy who flinched and pushed away from him toward Harry across the floor.
Harry knelt and untied Malfoy as Ron huffed off and plopped down in his chair. “Fine! Whatever!”
Ron continued to mumble protests and insults at Malfoy while Malfoy rubbed his wrists and Harry summoned a bowl of their thin broth for Malfoy to eat where he sat on the floor.
Harry ignored Ron, and continued to watch Malfoy as he feverishly ate the soup, as if afraid Ron would kick it over if he gave him more than five minutes to think about it. When he finished, Malfoy took a few long, slow breaths as if steeling himself, and with shaking hands, offered Harry his wrists to re-bind.
Harry shook his head. “I’m not going to tie you up if you don’t try anything Malfoy.” Harry said quietly. “Stick close by me, and do as I say, and you won’t be tied up or blinded anymore.”
Malfoy nodded, desperate to show he could cooperate. He followed Harry from the little kitchen to the sitting area, where Harry sank into his chair. Malfoy stood nervously, looking at the other two chairs. He moved toward the one next to Harry, but at a look from Ron, he paused, and sank to the floor next to Harry instead, on the side opposite the other chairs. He curled up on the floor, and once again, let the tears flow as he marveled at just how far he had fallen, curled at the feet of a boy weeks younger than him, like a pet. Like a pet, he knew he must do as he was told to curry favor to avoid harsh treatment. Unlike a beloved pet, his worst case scenarios if he failed to please branched from Harry allowing Weasley to hurt him, all the way to getting thrown to the Dark Lord’s feet, helpless, and already marked for death.
That moment, He once again felt the dark mark burn, and he hunched quietly over it, letting little more than a soft groan pass his lips as the pain built slowly, peaked, and then subsided. He didn’t know why the pattern was different now. It used to be sharp pain, and then a stinging as it subsided. This was much worse. As if the Dark lord himself was holding a hot poker to his arm for minutes at a time.
As the pain subsided, Draco became aware that he had begun to cry in his anguish. He turned his face toward the blanket he used as a pillow, and held it there until he felt his face must have dried. Then he relaxed, and finally drifted off to sleep.
When Draco next awoke, he was being shaken gently by Harry. Draco sat up when instructed. He noted with surprise that someone had moved him into Harry’s vacated armchair after he fell asleep. Harry had Draco sit beside him on a stump as he and Ron helped pack up the tent. Draco hugged himself nervously. It seemed Granger had agreed to let Draco go unbound, but still thought it a bad idea to give him any clues to their location. Thus as he sat silent, he was also blind and deafened so the other three could discuss openly where to head to next.
The lack of sensation coupled with his inability to communicate was unnerving, and he felt even more exposed then he had when tied up. He could only wait, and trust that Harry would not let the other two leave him behind just to be rid of him. Draco bit his lip. Would that be so bad? If he was left deaf, muted, and blind, certainly it would be. But if he were left wandless in some foreign land he knew not where? Would the Dark Lord bother trying to chase him down? Would anyone, if Draco was thought dead?
Draco shivered as a breeze swept over them. He hugged himself and rubbed his arms against the cold. Surely the tent was packed by now. Why was this taking so much longer than usual? Draco jumped when he felt a warm blanket placed over his shoulders. He knew he would have yelped in surprise if he were able.
A hand lingered on his neck. He was very still, clutching the blanket as he felt the others moving around him. He guessed it was Harry behind him. The hand began to twirl his hair at the base of his neck through the fingers absentmindedly. Draco thought this felt rather nice, took a chance, and leaned against the one petting him.
Harry rewarded his behavior by draping a hand over his shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. .
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Malfoy rolled his eyes, and took the spoon from Hermione. He stirred the mix, and then pointed some of the spices in the bowls beside her. “Oh!” Hermione jumped to listen, and handed him what he’d wanted. After a couple more moments where Malfoy stirred, and fiddles with the heat, and added spices- albeit minimally– he tasted the soup himself, gave it an approving nod, and then held it out to Hermione.
Harry watched them, amused, as she expressed delighted surprise. “It’s good!”
Malfoy smirked, and raised his chin just a fraction of an inch. Then from his place in his armchair, Ron shouted, “I don’t know why you’re just trusting him with our food, Hermione. He has every reason to just poison us and run off.”
Harry glared at Ron, and Malfoy himself seemed chilled by the statement. Quietly, he handed the spoon back to Hermione, and backed away.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Malfoy now lay in the corner, curled in on himself and tears dripping down his nose. He was trembling, his face hidden behind curtains of white-blonde hair. Harry reached for him, and if he could speak, he would have gasped. Harry gripped his arm as he raised it to protect himself, and with minimal resistance, pulled him toward the bathroom. When they reached the bathroom, Malfoy pulled gently away, and slid down the wall, watching Harry nervously.
“I’m not going to do anything,” Harry said. “Have I really done anything to hurt you so far?”
Malfoy glared at Harry, rubbing his chest. Harry knew he was referring to the stinging hex he’d fired to keep Draco from leaving the tent in the beginning. He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry about that.” Malfoy stared at him incredulously. “I know its not an excuse!”
Malfoy considered this. As he thought, Harry reached for him again. He flinched, and pulled fearfully away. Harry sighed again. “Look, you want a shower? That’s all I’m trying to do is help you get clean. It’s the only way Ron would agree to let you use the shower, is if you weren’t alone. You want him or Hermione in here instead?”
Malfoy looked horrified. He looked around desperately, as if looking for a solution, then, when nothing came, he hung his head, and nodded.
Malfoy stepped behind the curtain and, with shaking hands, he undressed, and handed his filthy clothes to Harry before stepping under the water. He hugged himself and let the water run over him for a moment before hurriedly reaching for the soap and cleaning himself quickly. While Malfoy showered, Harry ran his wand over Malfoy’s robes, to siphon the dirt away. He knew he wasn’t doing as well as Hermione would, but Malfoy would have to make do for now.
Malfoy stepped out of the shower, and Harry handed him a towel and his clothes behind the curtain, and Malfoy emerged, looking slightly more comfortable now he was clean.
Harry grabbed his arm again, and led Malfoy back to the sitting area. Harry sat in one of the chairs, and picked up a book. Malfoy watched him, fidgeting. “Calm down.” Harry said. “Ron and Hermione won’t be back for a bit. Read a book or something.” Malfoy looked at the stack beside Harry, and carefully extracted a volume on potions, and sat beside Harry on the floor.
“Don’t you want to sit in the chair?”
Malfoy glanced nervously at the chair Harry indicated, which Ron usually sat in, and shook his head. He bent over his book, and began to read. Harry shrugged, and settled into his book as well.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Malfoy was sitting on the ground again, close to Harry’s legs, and leaning away from Ron as he tried to read. Harry noticed his hands shaking on the book. He put a hand in Malfoy’s hair and stroked it gently. Malfoy leaned against his leg and sighed. Harry leaned forward and grabbed his hand, pulling him up, Malfoy complied, and when Harry pulled him down into his lap, Malfoy sighed again against his chest and the shaking stopped. Harry noticed he felt warmer than usual.
“So you’re just going to do that right in front of me then?” Ron asked angrily.
“I wouldn’t if you didn’t intimidate him every chance you got.”
“I don’t! I’m just doing things normally!”
“Oh, so you normally step on people’s hands and kick them in the ribs?” Harry answered coolly. Malfoy was hugging Harry’s neck, face buried in his shoulder. Harry felt his body start to shake again. He didn’t know Harry had noticed his injuries.
“I- Is that what he told you?”
“He didn’t have to tell me. It’s not like you let him move around enough to accidently hurt himself and Hermione and I didn’t do it, so if not you, who did? Did you forget you make me watch him shower? Did you think I wouldn’t notice the bruises?”
Ron jumped to his feet, and Malfoy gasped silently as Harry stood before him, leaving him in the chair. He was breathing fast behind Harry, glancing at the front of the tent, where Hermione was standing guard. He reached up to grip the back of Harry’s shirt. Harry looked back to see him shaking his head, eyes wide.
“You don’t want me to do anything? You want me to let him keep hurting you?” Malfoy jumped. He looked startled by Harry’s anger at him. He pulled away, and hung his head. “Do you!?” Harry demanded. Malfoy flinched, and shook his head. Malfoy sniffed, and guilt flooded Harry’s stomach.
“Oi,” Ron called his attention back. He looked livid. They were interrupted however when Hermione entered.
“What’s going on?” she asked. She looked between Harry and Ron, then at Malfoy, who was shaking and staring at the floor as he sat in Harry’s chair.
“Nothing.” Ron mumbled. He turned to Hermione, away from Harry. “What’s up Hermione?”
“I wanted to try that spell on Malfoy again.” She said. Harry noticed she was clutching the dark book again. “I think I know why it hasn’t been working. I want to try again.”
“No.” Harry moved to stand in front of Malfoy.
Malfoy looked up at Hermione, looking terrified. He shook his head as well.
“You don’t get to decide that, Harry.” Ron said. “His Dark Mark is putting us all in danger.”
“Yes, but so far, our protection spells are holding, and we have no reason to think that they’ll break just because he’s here. The wraps are working. And nothing Hermione’s tried has worked so far, so…”
“Yes, but that’s before I realized what we were missing.” Hermione said. “I think we need Malfoy move for it to work. Immobilizing him for the spell may be what’s preventing it from working.”
Malfoy was standing, backing up. Before Harry could stop him, Ron grabbed Malfoy roughly by the upper arm, and jerked him back toward Hermione. “Here, go for it Hermione.”
Malfoy staggered, and fell to his knees in front of Hermione. Harry yelled for her to stop, and Malfoy scrambled to get away, but Hermione raised her wand and started the spell. Malfoy stiffened, hunched over, clutching his arm. His mouth opened in a silent scream, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Stop!” Harry yelled. Malfoy wretched, writhing still. Tears began running down his face, and still, he could make no sound. “Stop!” Harry screamed. “Stop! Stop it! Protego!” His shield charm burst out between Hermione and Malfoy.
Surprised, Hermione was launched backward onto the floor. “Oi!” Ron bellowed. He ran to her. “You out of your mind, mate!?”
“Are you!?” Harry yelled back, as Malfoy vomited all over the floor, trembling. Suddenly, Malfoy scrambled to his feet, and toward the mouth of the tent. “Wait! Draco!”
Harry was hindered by his own shield charm, by time he got it down, Malfoy was gone, stumbling into the blizzard, bare-foot, terrified, and in pain. As he moved to follow, Ron caught his arm. He hauled Harry around, and before Harry could stop him, he was punched square in the face.
Harry staggered back against the bed, catching himself before he fell on Hermione’s bunk. “You lost your head?” Ron asked through gritted teeth.
Harry stood back up slowly. He looked back at Ron, whose fists were balled and ready for another round, and he looked at Hermione, who was massaging her hip and staring at him, looking pale.
“Have either of you ever been hit with the cruciatus curse?” Hermione paled. She had, at the ministry when Sirius had died. “I have. And Draco has. I know what it feels like to be tortured, and I know what it looks like when someone else is being tortured. That’s what whatever you’re doing to him is like. It’s torture.”
He left without another word, jogging out into the snow, grateful the snow was fresh and he at least had an idea what direction Malfoy had gone. Eventually, he found him, huddled against the back of a large oak stump. He was trembling violently and trying to rub at his- surely numb- fingers and toes. As he approached, Harry cast a warming spell over Malfoy. Malfoy gave a little jump Harry was sure was a soundless gasp, and looked up at him.
He smiled vaguely, and dissolved into tears again. He pointed back the way they’d come, and shook his head. “We have to go back.” Harry said gently.
Malfoy looked distressed. He shook his head again. He touched his ribs and gripped his arm. His meaning was clear to harry. I don’t want them to hurt me anymore.
“You’d rather die out here in the cold?”
Malfoy shivered and shrugged.
“I’ll protect you. Round the clock protego around a bunk just for you if I have to, I won’t let them hurt you anymore. It’s not an excuse, but that locket we trade off… I know i’s at least part of the reason he’s treating you like this. It’s… well, it’s not an excuse but… and Hermione means well, I’m sure she didn’t know just how much she was hurting you.”
Malfoy bit his lip so hard he pierced it, then gave another silent gasp at the sudden pain. He raised a hand and pressed his fingers to it to stop the pain. Finally he slumped where he sat, glanced up at Harry, back toward the tent, and nodded.
Harry bent, looking into Malfoy’s face. He looked vacant, scarcely aware that Harry was there anymore. Harry gripped his wrist and felt his forehead with his free hand. Malfoy had a fever. Even in this cold, Harry could feel his high temperature. He glanced around quickly, thinking. Finally, he shed his outermost sweater and his jacket and made Malfoy put them on.
“Come on.” Harry said. He bent before Malfoy, and let him climb on his back. Malfoy’s grip was weak, and Harry could feel his ragged breath on his ear. He trudged back through the snow, toward the tent.
When he returned, Hermione was wringing her hands looking worried, and Ron was sulking by the fire. Harry shot him another glare, before depositing Malfoy on their bunk. He curled up under the blankets Harry drew up over him, and coughed soundlessly.
After a moment, Malfoy’s eyes opened. He looked blearily up at Harry, and then tried sat up, coughing again. Harry pushed the pillows up behind Malfoy, and Malfoy lay back, propped up for easier breathing.
Harry looked at him, gently clearing the hair from his face as he began to sweat. “Harry?” Hermione said nervously. Harry turned. She was biting her lip and holding two mugs of tea. She offered them to Harry and Malfoy. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice small. “I’m really, really sorry I hurt him.”
Harry looked at Malfoy, who looked exhausted. Then he raised his wand. Malfoy’s and Hermione’s eyes widened, and Ron gave and angry, “Oi!” from his chair as Harry whispered, “Finite Incantatum.”
Malfoy let out a shaky breath, and tears filled his eyes as he lifted a hand to his throat. Harry looked back at Hermione. “Tell him directly.” He said, jabbing a thumb at Malfoy.
Hermione looked at him again, eyes wide still, and said to Malfoy, “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be so painful to try to remove the dark mark. I should have listened to Harry. We were basically torturing you. I’m so sorry.”
Malfoy mouthed noiselessly at her, and then stopped, blinking back tears. He cleared his throat, and Harry was glad to hear it. “I- I…” his voice cracked. “I’m… thank you. For apologizing.” He cleared his throat again and went into a coughing fit. Harry took the tea from Hermione, and offered it to Malfoy. He sipped it, and steam poured from his ears. He gasped. Hermione had obviously added a pepper up to his mug.
He laughed, and then laughed at the sound of his own laugh, then he was crying, sobbing in fact, into the pillows. Hermione was blinking a lot. Malfoy had been under the silencing charm for nearly half a year, of course he was feeling overwhelmed. He wiped at his nose, and Harry smiled at him. Malfoy lay down again, and Harry rested a hand on his shoulder.
He looked at Harry, grinning, and said, “Harry.” He laughed a little, and covered his mouth as he turned red. Harry felt a blush creep into his own face. He hadn’t realized, hadn’t known that at some point Malfoy had switched from calling him Potter to calling him Harry in his mind.
Harry was grinning too. Suddenly Malfoy hugged Harry. Harry was shocked but rubbed Malfoy’s back as he cried into Harry’s shoulder. Harry took a tentative look over his shoulder at Ron, who was watching, red faced and fuming. Harry ignored him, and climbed into the bed beside Malfoy. Malfoy was calming down now, and he was slipping into sleep beside Harry.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
“I’m sorry.” Harry hadn’t expected it, and he looked at Ron warily. Harry was on guard, with Malfoy sleeping beside his legs, bundled up in a blanket.
They’d moved a little further south tonight, and though the snow was gone, the wind still ripped through the trees, bringing an icy chill over them all. Harry and Ron hadn’t spoken as they’d packed up, and Malfoy hadn’t spoken again in days, though he kept closing his eyes and humming quietly as he rocked and hugged himself, almost to assure himself he still had a voice. He stopped whenever Ron was close by; as if afraid that Ron would beat him for humming a Weird Sister’s tune.
Ron was sulky all morning, and had now approached Harry only after a long whispered argument with Hermione. Hermione, Harry knew, was feeling immensely guilty, and was being overly kind to Malfoy to make up for it. It was she that had wrapped him in the blanket as he slept, after plying him with tea and a calming draught when he’d panicked at being blinded and silenced for the move. The spell for the blindness and deafness apparently also stole away voice, something that had not been a factor since Malfoy had already been silent long term. In the end, they had agreed (or at least Hermine and Harry had) that if Malfoy could leave the tent, and be trusted to come back he could be allowed his sight and hearing for the move.
Now, Harry stood to face Ron, and Malfoy jerked awake. He looked up and saw Ron standing over him, and scrambled back against Harry’s legs. He was breathing a little hard, and had one arm up to guard his face. Ron made a pained look. He took a deep breath, and knelt down to get on Malfoy’s level. “Look,” he said, “I’m sorry. I’ve been, well, cruel to you.”
Malfoy looked up at Harry, looking scared. Harry was surprised. He gestured to Ron. “He’s talking to you, not me.”
Malfoy looked back at Ron, and swallowed. “I-,”again, his voice gave out from disuse, and he cleared it before he tried again. “I don’t know what t-to say.” He said, not looking at Ron, gripping Harry’s trouser leg. “I- I guess, just, thank you also, for apologizing.” He looked extremely nervous as he looked Ron in the eye. Ron had enjoyed terrorizing a silent Malfoy, but now he could hear the ragged breathing, the terrified squeaks as he passed by, and the sobs of despair that came from knowing someone wanted to hurt you, but not knowing how or when they would- anticipation building for an attack he could not block. It was clear he was feeling the guilt. Apparently sound made his behavior more real than bruises and skittish behavior alone.
Ron smiled weakly. “Well, thanks for listening.” He stood up again. He and Harry shared eye contact for a minute before Harry smiled at Ron. Ron smiled back. “We’re good then?” Ron asked.
“Sure,” Harry said. He hoisted Malfoy to his feet. Malfoy turned from Ron, as he was prone to do, and hugged Harry, hiding his face in Harry’s shoulder. Harry patted his back. When Ron went back inside, Malfoy let out a shaky breath. Harry hugged Malfoy tightly before letting him go, and returned to his chair for watch. Malfoy returned to his position, sitting at Harry’s feet and wrapped in the blanket.
After a short stretch, Malfoy whispered, “Harry?”
“Hmm? What’s up, Draco?”
“I- I was wondering. This ah, mission you have to kill the Dark Lord, is… is there anything I can…?” Harry looked at him, and he turned away hurriedly, “No, of course, I thought you wouldn’t, um, I’m sorry, I won’t bring it up again.”
“No, no. That’s not why I was… You really want to help?”
“I- Yes, I do. As you said, he wants me dead. The only reason I’m alive is because you took me. My parents are still in danger, and I want to protect them. My mother…” He swallowed, “I’m sure she didn’t try to stop you taking me because she knew you wouldn’t kill me.”
“What? Your mother? She wasn’t there, was she?”
“I saw her. After Granger put the silencer on me. I was sure she would help, but she turned away. I was so confused. I wondered if she…” He sniffed, “but I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. I think she wanted to protect me. The death eaters will have assumed I’ve been killed. No one will be looking for me.”
“Dumbledore thought that would happen.”
“What?” Malfoy paled at the sound of Dumbledore’s name.
“He thought that if we could hide you, that the death eaters might not even come looking. He said they’d assume you were dead, remember?”
“H-how do you know?” Malfoy’s voice was shaking, his hands gripping the blanket. Harry looked into his wide, grey eyes, so bright, Harry was sure he was going to cry.
“I was there. Dumbledore had immobilized me. I was under my invisibility cloak.”
As Harry thought, tears fell fast and steady down Malfoy’s cheeks as he turned to watch the snow. He covered his head in his hands, hiding from Harry. As had become his habit, Harry reached down, pulled Malfoy up to his feet, and down onto his lap. He glanced back to see if Hermione or Ron were watching, then pressed a quick kiss to Malfoy’s forehead. Malfoy wrapped them both in the blanket, and continued to cry silently, shaking as he leaned on Harry’s chest.
By the time Hermione came to relieve Harry from watch, Malfoy was fast asleep. Harry was looking out at the snow, feeling an odd mix of affection and annoyance as Malfoy’s weight put his right leg to sleep. He nudged Malfoy awake and they both retreated into the tent. Hermione gave Malfoy a small smile, he didn’t return it, but he nodded to her as he passed.
Harry returned to the sitting area, to see a new armchair sandwiched between his and Hermione’s. Malfoy glanced at it, and when Harry sat down, hesitated, before perching on the edge. He looked unsure, and began fiddling with his hair. It had grown, as all of theirs had, but as Harry knew Malfoy was used to wearing it neatly slicked back, he was sure Malfoy must hate it now, as it hung all about his face, tickling his shoulders now.
Harry smiled encouragingly, and Malfoy sat further back in the chair. He brought his legs up to curl beneath him, and when Harry handed him the book he had been reading, he took it, and began to read.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Draco awoke in warmth. The feeling was familiar and yet jarring. He slowly sat up, and looked around his own room. Large, impressive, and at the moment, darkened. He started to get up, then he heard a small chime in his ear, and a voice spoke. He recognized it from his youth, a spell often placed on the children, the ill and the elderly to alert caregivers of the subject’s condition. If his mother cast it, she would have received an alert when he began to wake.
“Draco, my dragon, calm yourself.” Narcissa whispered in his ear through the connection of the charm. “I’ll be there in a moment. We’ll get you bathed, and fed. It’s over, my love. They cannot harm you anymore.”
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
There had been only moments before they were set upon. In a second, Harry pushed Draco down on their bunk, yanking his wand away. “Harry, what-?”
Harry whispered the words, and Draco’s hands were pulled above his head and his wrists were bound to the bedframe. Harry leaned over him quickly and whispered, “I’m sorry,” before pressing a quick kiss to Draco’s lips. Before Draco could react he was gagged and he struggled. He didn’t understand Harry’s plan if there was one, until the very last moment, when Harry raised his wand to Malfoy once more and whispered, “Obliviate.”
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Draco lounged in the bath, thinking of Harry. He wanted to get out, but if Lucius was still torturing Harry, he would hear it. He didn’t want to hear it happen… or was it that he didn’t want it to happen?
He looked at his wand, which the blonde death eater had returned to him moments after they were captured. Why had he raised it to defend Harry against the death eaters? Wasn’t he glad they’d been captured? He raised it, and cast a charm on the soap bottle, making do a little jig, which grew steadily more energetic until it slipped on its own suds and into the bath. Draco gave a half chuckle. He had missed doing magic.
He rubbed his forehead as his headache intensified.
He sighed.
He ran a hand through the water. One arm wrapped around his knees. He was mildly surprised to see his own hair swirling around him in the water. He ran a hand through it. How often did Harry do this same thing, and he’d never noticed that the Harry’s hand had begun to sweep over his shoulders and down his back with each swipe of his hair. Yet another inconsistency. If he’d been a prisoner treated like an animal, why had Harry treated him gently that time?
Harry’s hair had also grown, Draco noted. But not as much. Although, maybe it only seemed so because Harry’s hair curled in every direction? Harry’s hair lay over his forehead and was just beginning to curl over his shoulders. Draco lay his cheek on his knee. He missed Harry.
“Why?”
He missed Harry?
But Harry was locked away down stairs. Draco stood slowly from the water. Harry was suffering downstairs. Suddenly there was a piercing scream. Draco barely flinched, and looked toward the door. He took a breath, retrieved his wand, and dressed quickly, and sped quietly toward the cellar, heart hammering.
His father had said that he’d clearly been obliviated, and was missing months of his life, but if Harry had indeed been cruel to him, why were Draco’s feelings toward him warmth and concern? He needed answers, and Draco knew Harry had them.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Draco stood in the doorway, still with wet hair sticking down his face and neck and hanging limply down his back, looking nervous and unsure. Harry was bound to the others, clearly unconscious as blood dripped from his lips and forehead. Certainly Lucious had taken his revenge for the imprisonment and abuse of his son. With a shaking hand, Draco raised his wand and Ron hissed, “Stay away from him!”
Draco ignored this, crept close and whispered “enervate”. He jumped back as Harry groaned and stirred. Harry’s eyes opened and Draco breathed his name. Harry’s gaze snapped up at the sound.
Draco felt like he would cry. It hurt to see Harry hurt like this. “What did you do to me?” He asked, biting his lip.
Harry shook his head.
Draco, frustrated and impatient, pointed his wand at Harry’s throat. “What did you do?”
“Wiped your memory.”
“Before that, you idiot.” Draco snapped. Harry coughed, and blood splattered Draco’s grey shirt. Draco gasped, and gripped Harry’s shoulders. He bowed to consider Harry’s face and saw Harry was choking on his blood. Again, Draco glanced over his shoulder, bit his lip, and pressed his wand to Harry’s chest. He whispered the healing spells he could remember, and he felt Harry shudder.
Harry looked up at him in bewilderment. “When we were at Hogwarts,” Draco whispered, “I read that emotions aren’t as easily erased as facts and events. Memory charms are powerful magic that are like the unforgivable. You have to mean them.” He took a deep breath. “If I’m still feeling this, it means that these are feeling I had before you wiped my mind. I want to reverse it. If I don’t the dark lord will just break through it to find out what I know anyway and I don’t want my mind broken like that. But before you do I- I need to know why you did it.”
Draco wiped his eyes, and bit his lip as he looked up at Harry, feeling unsure.
Harry watched him, just as unsure. Harry was still aching from the after effects of the cruciatus curse trembled slightly where he kneeled, tied to the others. Draco glanced over his shoulder again and backed away.
“I’m waiting.” Draco said, reclaiming a bit of his old snappishness.
Harry chuckled. Draco looked annoyed.
“What?”
“Fifth year, vold- you know who- looked into my mind and saw how much Sirius black meant to me. He used that to give me a false vision to lure me out to save him, and… it worked. I was lured out, and the death eaters were waiting, and Sirius ended up coming to save me. And he died.”
Draco nodded, not sure what the point of this was. Harry looked up at Draco in earnest and said, “I didn’t want him to be able to use you too. I knew he would look in your mind, and see what you mean to me.”
Draco felt he could hardly breath. “What?”
“I love you, Draco.”
Draco fell back against the wall, covering his mouth. “You…”
I love you. Those words rang in Draco’s ears and the truth of them came through clear as a bell. He didn’t understand why, but he had to take steps to acknowledge this aching in his heart.
Draco carefully stepped over Wormtail’s corpse and he raised his wand, aiming it at Harry.
“Malfoy! You smarmy git! I knew it! I knew- “Malfoy’s charm cut Harry away from the others, and Harry fell forward, hands still bound. Draco hurried forward, and caught Harry by the shoulders.
“Draco?” Harry asked.
“Shhh.” Draco looked nervously back toward the doorway again. “They have Granger in the parlor above us.” Draco whispered. And with another severing charm, Harry was freed. Harry looked at Draco in surprise. Draco hesitated, then offered his wand to Harry, handle first.
Above them, Hermione screamed again.
Hesitant but feeling panicky, Harry took it. Draco helped Harry to his feet, then backed away hugging himself as Harry cut his friends free. Draco looked like he couldn’t quite believe he’d freed his captors. He avoided Ron’s gaze especially as Ron reclaimed Wormtail’s dropped wand.
He looked up when Harry offered him his hand. “Well, you do intend to come with us, don’t you?”
Draco nodded and took Harry’s hand.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Harry pressed his wand tip into Draco’s neck, and Draco gasped, as the pain was actually real. Harry was quickly losing his temper at the sight of Bellatrix. Draco tried to pull away from the wand, and Narcissa whimpered when she saw the small burn it had left behind. Harry looked at it too, with a pang of regret, and Lucius narrowed his eyes. He slowly leveled his wand again. Lucius had called their bluff.
Draco saw the jet of red light coming the moment his father had narrowed his eyes, and in a moment of panic, he wrapped his arms around Harry and pulled him down to the ground. Lucius shrieked with rage and aimed another spell at them. Draco gasped as the streak of yellow light grazed his cheek and hit the ground beside them with a crack.
Harry rolled them both over, shielding Draco from yet another blast, aiming his own at their assailants. Panting, Harry pressed a quick kiss on Draco’s forehead. “Thanks,” he said, “Stay here. Try not to move.”
Draco nodded, clutching his chest. He watched Harry dart out, sending a barrage of curses toward Lucius and Bellatrix. No sooner had Harry reengaged in battle, however, and then Draco spotted Greyback leering over Hermione’s prone form.
Fear gripping him, Draco dashed from his hiding place and tackled Greyback. The werewolf roared his displeasure, and slammed Draco into the ground so hard, spots started dancing before his eyes and the breath was swept out of him.
“Baby Malfoy,” the creature snarled in his ear, “I thought you were dead. Your mother has been right upset.”
Fenrir dragged his tongue over Draco’s neck and collar bone, then as Draco shuddered, he sank his teeth in. Draco gasped, pain gripping him. Frantically, Draco tried to push the monster away, but Greyback drew back and pinned Draco’s hands above his head. He squeezed, and suddenly there was a crack! And Draco screamed in pain. His wrist was crushed in Greyback's grip.
Harry heard Draco’s cry, and for a moment he was distracted. He paid for it when Bella’s jinx hit him in the shoulder, causing his arm to contort and convulse so painfully, the thought it was trying to tear itself from his body.
The pain was over almost as soon as it began, and Harry looked up to see Ron had obtained a wand and had rejoined the battle. It was he who had cast the counter curse. Ron nodded to Harry, who turned from his opponents under cover of Ron’s spells, and hurtled toward Draco in time to see Fenrir’s sharpened and apparently hardened nails rip into Draco’s torso. Blood splattered the ground, and Draco’s scream seemed to draw the attention of all the combatants. Lucius even wavered, his wand lowered a fraction, and he took half a step toward his son.
Harry’s cry of rage brought them back to the moment, and an instant later, Greyback keeled over under Harry’s spell. Harry cradled the bleeding and sobbing Draco in his arms. Draco gripped Harry’s hand, whimpering and gasping for air.
“H-Harry…” Draco stuttered.
From his position over Draco, Harry sent a disarming spell at Bella, and managed to remove her wand. He caught it, and with both his and her wand, aimed a leg locker curse and Lucius. He stumbled, legs suddenly stiff as boards, and his wand skidded from his hand.
Ron stooped and snatched it up. He retreated back toward Hermione, as Bella dodged his every attempt to bring her down.
Draco gripped Harry’s sleeve. “Harry, I d-don’t want… It hurts so badly! He was going to …. To Granger.. I-”
Harry hushed Draco, and behind him he heard the crack of apparition. Harry turned, and shouted, “Dobby! Get us out of here!”
“Yes, Harry Potter!” He squeaked.
He gripped Harry’s bloodied hand, and Ron gripped his other after grabbing hold of Hermione. Bella’s shriek as she threw he knife was the last thing Harry saw of the Malfoy manor.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Harry sat on the floor next to Draco. Draco was still pale, and tired looking. Fleur had patched him up as well as she could, but he had lost a rather lot of blood. And he was now sporting a scar where Fenrir’s claws ha ripped into his neck and shoulder. Bill said he doubted Draco would suffer the effects he himself had at Fenrir’s hands, but that they should be careful at the full moon anyway.
Draco turned on his side, and wiped some of the dirt off of Harry’s cheek.
“It’s not your fault, Harry,” Draco said softly. “I knew that elf as a child. He was kinder than the others and quite strange. He had patience for me when even my parents did not. I was sorry when he was freed.” Draco gave a little laugh. “I was so angry at you for it. He was the only one to make an omelet in a way I liked.”
Harry gripped Draco’s hand, and brought Draco’s newly healed wrist to his lips. Harry rose to his knees beside Draco, and ran his fingers through the soft, now clean, white blonde locks.
“I’m an excellent cook. I’ll make you the best omelet you’ve ever had when all this is over,”
Draco smiled, and looked like he was struggling between laughing and crying. Bill had lent Draco a nightshirt. Despite his mourning, Harry couldn’t help but admire Draco’s lithe form as he lay in the light blue garment. Draco seemed oblivious to his accidental seduction of Harry, even as Harry tangled one hand in his hair, and the other ran up Draco’s thigh, settling on the curve of his hip.
Draco shuddered, watching Harry’s lips as they descended. He closed his eyes at the last moment, and he and Harry shared a short, quiet, and intimate kiss.
After a moment, Draco drew back and lay back down. A small smile graced his lips. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be smiling.”
Harry shook his head, and pressed another kiss to Draco’s forehead. “Get some rest, Draco.”
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
“Harry,” Remus said quietly, “Is that Draco Malfoy sharing your bed?”
“Yeah. It is.”
“You’re together?”
“Yeah.” Draco shifted, and with a groan he turned over and propped himself up on his elbows beside Harry.
“mmm… Harry, why're you up?” Draco looked around, and spotted Remus. He gasped and pulled the blankets to his chest.
“I apologize Draco.” Remus said quietly, but without a smile. “We didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I love him,” Harry said shortly. He reached over and put a hand on Draco’s face. Draco grabbed onto the hand and kissed Harry’s palm.
“I love you, too,” Draco whispered quietly.
“How did this happen, Harry?”
“Why?” Harry asked, clearly annoyed. Draco could see Harry’s temper shortening, and with his memories newly unlocked, images of Harry and Ron shouting at one another over Draco bubbled to the forefront. It made Draco’s chest feel tight and nervousness was building there. Draco put his hand on Harry's arm.
“Calm down.” He said. “Please don’t fight with your friends.”
Draco’s trepidation must have shown on his face because Harry deflated almost immediately. “Sorry. Yeah, I’m sorry, Draco.”
Draco lay back down on his side. He was really exhausted. Bill said he would be while his mind recovered from the multiple intrusions. “I’m tired Harry.”
“Go to sleep. I’ll go down the hall to talk with Remus, and then I’ll be back.”
“Talking. Not shouting, right?”
“Yeah.” Harry leaned down and shared a brief kiss with Draco, before sliding out of bed and following Remus to the dining room. “I won’t fight about this.” Harry declared immediately.
Remus smiled. “True to your word, hmm?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve never seen you calm down so quickly.”
“You and Bill seem to think Draco just flipped out of nowhere and might be tricking me. It’s the opposite. We took him. We basically kidnapped him and he’s been with us since my birthday and the wedding.”
“Harry!”
“Ron and I argued about and around him a lot, he got hurt sometimes when one or both of us lost out tempers. When we were captured, he had every reason to betray us. I even wiped his memory of our time together, so he made the decision to save us on feelings alone. It’s messed up. I know it is. I- don’t… like how we got together. But I’m not giving him up, and I’ll defend him to anyone that doubts him.”
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Harry dropped his wand arm to his side, and in the moment of stillness before the uproar, he crossed to where Malfoy knelt, bleeding still from his forearm and face. He took his pale face in his hands, and kissed him, fiercely.
Malfoy have a startled gasp, then returned the kiss, rising slowly and shakily to his feet and embracing Harry. When they broke apart, the pandemonium rained upon them both, and Malfoy clung to Harry’s neck, hiding from the crowd that rained praise and thanks upon Harry’s back. He was their savior. No one seemed to care he was gay.
Hermione and Ron were there first, hugging both him and Malfoy, then the Weasleys, then strangers and friends all crowded together to get closer to Harry, to see him, to touch him, their savior.
Across the hall, Harry spotted Narcissa and Lucius hovering together just inside the hall. Harry gently extracted himself from Malfoy, and turned him round to see his parents. He gave a hysterical laugh, and turned to beam at Harry once more before making his way over to them. Harry watched them embrace their son. They both seemed to be crying. Narcissa waved her wand over Malfoy, and Malfoy shuddered. Harry assumed she was healing him. Then she collapsed into his arms.