Life Debt

"So, we just need You-know-Poo to return? That's it?" Harry said, happy that Draco's mission was more than successful.

Draco smirked at the name. "Oh, and take the potion, and you have to convince the Dark Lord to kill you by convincing him you're me. Appearances aren't enough. Oh and then we still have to kill the Dark Lord... and his followers."

"Easy Peasy!"

Draco sighed, and for good measure, he taught Potter to allude to his mannerisms. They even tested a small bit of the Polyjuice just to make sure nothing was out of place. He prepared a t-shirt and shorts for him to wear, and Harry got used to wearing Draco's clothes.

"It feels weird. If we get through this, can I still be naked all the time?" Harry said in a Draco's voice.

Draco gave him a look.

"Kidding," Harry-him said, blushing and looking at the floor. Harry definitely made a handsome Draco Malfoy.

"I won't be too unopposed. It's nice that you think we have a future, though. Now, stand up straight! Look evil. You're me."

"I'll sneer a lot and do that haughty head tilt thing you do."

"I don't have a haughty head tilt," he snapped and then did it.

Harry laughed. "Sure."

"We have to work on your spells. No more nice ones. Crucio, Sectumsempra, and Avada Kedavra. Nasty curses only. If you even think about Expelliarmus...."

"I got it, but that means... you have to use it," Harry chuckled as they slowly changed back. Harry took off his clothes.

"Fine. But show no mercy. You'll take my wand, and I'll get my mothers," Draco said, taking his "outfit" and hiding it under the steps.

"How are we going to convince him to kill you-well-me outright?" Harry asked, naked and leaning against his cell door.

"Challenge his claim. He's weak. He lost the war... you're a stronger, better and smarter Dark Lord? That should irk him."

Potter him nodded. "I can be annoying."

"Make sure to claim me... you."

Potter's eyes lit up a little more possessively than Draco liked. "I'll definitely do that. You're mine."

Draco nodded. "You are, master."

Harry sighed and said, "I'd rather not wait for the Dark Lord to decide to show up. Can we force him home?"

"I could have my father press his Mark?" Draco suggested.

Harry scratched his jaw. The Chosen One now had a stumble of a beard growing. Draco found it alluring, but Harry shook his head and said, "He may not answer it... or just pop in to kill him... which despite what Lucius has done, you don't want him to die."

Draco shrugged. "Well, there are his wards on you. You could try to leave? He showed up when you were critically injured, but that's not going to help you. Leaving... would certainly trigger a panic return home."

Harry smiled. "Good idea, Draco. Coordinate with Ron and Hermione to make a day and time. Then you can ensure a few Death Eaters are unable to assist."

"Not too many, master," he said, looking like he was resisting the urge to kneel. Harry felt powerful, but he also hated seeing Draco so meek. His head was lowered and he didn't make eye contact.

Harry's tone was softer. "I don't want to trigger the alarm too early. So be careful. If the Dark Lord shows up before the attack begins, he might cut his losses and run."

"Yes, master."

"How are we going to get me to the threshold? I don't want to be separated from you."

Draco lifted his head. "I have your cloak, sir."

Harry smiled and hugged him. "You do? Thank Merlin... I thought I lost it forever! I love you, Draco Malfoy."

Draco looked like he'd been slapped. "You... do?"

Harry could see tears in his eyes, and Draco was looking more vulnerable than Harry had ever seen him. "I do. Probably did from the second time you came down here, when you weren't scaring the shit out of me."

Draco leaned into him and hugged him, softly. "I love you, too. I'm not sure when... second... third year, probably."

"What?" Harry said, pulling back to look Draco in the eyes. He was telling the truth.

"You defeated the Heir of Slytherin, which, according to rumor, was a basilisk."

"Well technically, the Heir was Riddle. The basilisk was his pet."

"You are the most incredible, awe-inspiring person I have ever met."

Harry blushed. "I-we have one last mission... we can do this. I'll make sure that no one hurts you again. It'll be just us."

"You... really would want me?" Draco whispered, like he didn't believe him.

Harry hugged him harder. "I wouldn't want to live without you. No one understands me like you do... nor has given up everything for me. I owe you everything. The debt is repaid, Draco."

Draco winced. "Harry... you shouldn't have said that."

"I'm not going to have you feel obligated to give up your life to help me. You can flee. I don't want a life debt driving your actions. Or this brand."

"Harry, I would die for you regardless. I have nothing else. I don't think I can live without you, now. I was just barely surviving until you... you...."

Harry held him tightly. Their small bubble of happiness was about to burst. The world was going to tear everything they had down. They might not survive this.

"We need to make some promises," Harry said, grimly.

"No. You can order me, but I'm not promising anything."

"Please, Draco? One or both of us might die. I want you to know what I want."

Draco lowered his head, submissively. "I will tell Granger and Weasley anything you want."

"Make sure that I'm buried with my parents and that the other body is removed. That everything I have goes to Teddy Lupin... including my cloak."

Draco nodded. "I will do as you say."

Harry raised an eyebrow. He didn't like the zoned-out tone of Draco's voice. "What are you going to do, if something happens to me?" he asked, worried.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"I'm a marked Death Eater that helped kill Dumbledore. I'm sure they'll have no qualms about throwing me into Azkaban. I won't fight it. I won't fight them."

Harry felt his heart harden. "Draco... no... you can't...."

"Don't order me, Harry. It won't work once you're dead anyway," Draco said, his head bowed.

"Is that what you want me to do if something happens to you? Surrender? Live my life in St. Mungo's?"

"I already took care of it."

"It?"

"Hermione and Weasley won't give up on you. I don't have anyone else... but you do."

"You're mum?"

"She's gone already, Harry. She chose to not fight for me. She chose herself and father. She didn't have much choice in the matter, but she's a shell of herself."

"You're asking me to go on without you, but you won't go on without me?" Harry snarled.

"I won't kill myself. There just isn't anything for me. You're... all I have," Draco said, looking at Harry's feet.

Harry softly cupped his chin and forced his tear-filled eyes up to meet his. Draco, his guardian... his protector... his savior... his teacher... was breaking. Draco was so strong, but months-no-years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse have taken their toll. The master-slave link certainly wasn't helping either. Draco needed him. He needed that strength that Draco had given him. He plucked Draco's wand from his pocket. Draco didn't stop him.

"Legilimens!" Harry said. Flashes came through, but Draco was trying to desperately keep him out. "Stop fighting me," Harry ordered.

Draco's Mark flashed and he hissed. His willpower crumbled under the direct order. Images flashed through the link, and Harry could see the things that hurt Draco the most. Greyback and Yaxley raping him in his room, Lucius touching him, his mother watching and doing nothing while Voldemort tortured him, Bellatrix laughing at his pain, taking the Mark against his will, years of torture, ridicule and threats, and then the worst were memories of Harry. The screaming, how he looked when Draco found him, and how much it hurt watching Greyback and Yaxley rape him.

Draco couldn't stop any of it from going through with Harry's command in place, and his distress was becoming worse with every second.

"Please, master!" he whispered, begging.

Harry stopped his full-force mental attack and remembered how Draco had eased his mental breakdowns. He found Draco's worn-down wall. It was barely keeping anything back under the stress. Harry slowly built it back up, shoving the bad memories behind it. Draco's panic ebbed and he finally relaxed. Seemingly hours later, after Harry had sealed the torture and abuse behind the wall and carefully examined Draco's memories, he ended the spell.

Draco was on his knees in front of him. Harry was, too. However, he didn't remember how. Draco was crying and rocking back and forth. Harry understood how devastatingly alone he felt. He felt the loneliness, the isolation and the helplessness Draco felt. Harry felt that way most of his life. Draco was trying to inch his hands forward and tried to speak, but he was still too shattered to ask for comfort. Harry touched his hands first and slowly guided Draco into his arms. Draco wrapped his arms around him like he was salvation from the pain.

"Shh... it's okay. I'm sorry that hurt," Harry whispered, hugging him tightly.

Draco sobbed into his chest and refused to let go. Harry just let him cry and held him. Draco sniffled, "You're all I have left. I can't lose you... please!"

"You won't. We're going to get through this. We're going to survive and then we'll be together."

Draco looked at him. "Together?"

"I... umm... like boyfriends? I mean... I assumed...."

"Yeah... no... I meant... you want me?" Draco asked, looking at him, hopefully.

Harry's jaw dropped. "Yes, Draco. You're telling me that you couldn't feel my love for you when you entered my mind?"

Draco looked away, still weak from the attack. "No one would want me."

Harry tilted his head back and kissed him, long and hard, until they came up for air. Harry started to kiss down his neck and pushed him backward onto their bed. Draco spread his legs and let Harry straddle him.

"You are mine. I want you... your body and your mind. You saved me... you saved my mind. I am yours," Harry said as he trailed kisses down his chest. But then he stopped. "You... do want... this? Us?"

Draco's eyes widened. "I want you. This... us. I've always wanted you... it's just... no one has ever wanted me."

Harry kissed him, again. "You're mine. I owe you my life and mind. It's my job to take care of you, now. We are going to survive this. I'm going to make sure that."

Draco didn't look convinced. "It's just a theory... what if...?"

"It will work. I have to believe that. You have to believe that. We are going to survive."

Draco leaned up to kiss him. "You better."

Harry smiled and kissed him back as he stretched him open.