Draco Malfoy, Broken

51 – Talk

Published: 7/9/2019

***TRIGGER WARNING*** for offensive terminology and sexual assault references

Draco woke up in the middle of the night when Harry started sobbing and thrashing.

"Harry?" Draco whispered, worriedly, and shook him gently. "Come on, love. Wake up."

Harry's eyes opened and he looked around in the dark in a panic. He knew Harry liked the light on.

"I am right here, Harry," Draco said, softly, trying not to sound anxious. He was very concerned, though. Harry was quite distraught and it was difficult to remain calm.

"Draco? Oh, Draco, I thought I lost you," he whispered, anguish in his voice. He was covered in sweat.

Harry turned his head to look at him and brought his shaking hands up. He made to touch his chest, but stopped. Even in the dark, Draco could see tears were coming out. Harry always remembered to be careful, even when he was in pain, even when he needed comfort. Draco grabbed his hands and pulled them into his body. Harry put his head on his chest. Draco squeezed
him tightly.

"Thank you," Harry whispered. He was still shaking.

"I'm always here for you," he whispered back and just held him for several minutes while Harry calmed down. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Harry shook his head.

"Are you sure?" he whispered.

"I just want to go back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you," Harry responded, his voice strained.

"I don't care, but Harry...."

"Let's just sleep... please," Harry pleaded.

"Okay, I got you...."

Harry snuggled into his chest and Draco wrapped his arms around him. He could feel Harry's heart thumping faster. It wasn't slowing down. His breathing was short, but controlled. He was hiding how hurt and scared he was. Salazar, how could he have said the other day that Harry wasn't afraid of anything? He knew better. He knew Harry's dreams haunted him, apparently more than they did to Draco. He hadn't been pulled into the pit in a long time, ever since Harry started sleeping with him.

"I'm right here, Harry," he said, trying to reassure his boyfriend.

He didn't want to push him, right now. He felt Harry's fingers clench his chest and, in the moonlight, he could see tears glistening as they fell down his cheek. Draco rubbed his back gently and a few of tears his own came out. Why hadn't he been paying attention? Harry was obviously distressed last night and he had been other nights, too. How much does Harry hide from him? That morning several days ago where Blaise saw Harry was in pain and he hadn't. What was wrong with him? Harry took care of him, but he wasn't doing the same. They were supposed to be partners.

They had to talk, communicate better, but that would mean... he would have to open up, too. He didn't think he was ready for that. They were so screwed. They couldn't talk openly and honestly. As much as Draco wanted, he couldn't think about the past. He couldn't talk about it, but he had to try and, at least, listen to Harry.

"I'm here," Draco said, again. He would always be there for him.

Harry finally relaxed and closed his eyes. He slowly slipped into unconsciousness, but Draco didn't go back to sleep. He wanted to make sure that Harry didn't fall back into his nightmare. He couldn't help but feel guilty about everything. He pressed Harry into him. His arms were sore from the effort, but he didn't want to let go.

Daphne and Theo woke up when the alarm went off. Daphne gave him a quizzical glance as she went to the bathroom. Theo didn't even look their way and followed her in, too. After a minute, the shower started. Draco smiled and pressed his lips to Harry's brow.

His boyfriend's eyes opened slowly and he pressed up against Draco's chest more. "Morning, already?"

"Yes, you need to get up, honey," Draco said.

"Fuck... I don't want to," Harry groaned.

"You want to skip the headmistress's class? That's ballzy," Draco said, lightly.

Harry snorted. "It's funny hearing you say ballzy."

"Sure," Draco said, and wandlessly put up the privacy wards, again. "You want to talk about last night?"

Harry tensed right up. "No, I don't really remember it."

Draco could feel Harry's heart rate increasing. He remembered. "You can talk to me, Harry. I don't want you to think that you can't. I'm here to listen... to help you like you help me."

"I know," Harry said, a few tremors escaped his hold.

"Please talk to me. You're holding back."

"Like you always do," Harry said, petulantly, and Draco frowned. "Sorry... I don't want to fight. I'm just so... it hurts so much, Draco."

"Harry... I'm sorry, and I have no right to push you, as you don't intrude on my... slips. But you always wanted to play the game... at my mom's place, remember? You wanted to talk... and I want more open communication between us," Draco pressed.

Harry pulled away to look at him. The secrets and the unsaid things between them were mounting. They were supposed to be together, but that connection had broken somehow. He couldn't even explain why, or whose fault it was, but he had to try. They had to talk, especially Harry. That was the biggest issue for him, after all the loneliness and the isolation he had gone through.

"Harry?"

"I... I... if you want," he said, finally surrendering. He was trembling. Draco didn't like seeing him like this.

"Want me to go first?" Draco asked and Harry nodded. "I've been sleeping alright. My nightmares are there, but they don't bug me as much anymore. I always sleep better with you here, but I'll tell you about a real memory, if that's okay?"

Harry's eyes were alert and watching him. He steadied himself. "Yes, you can tell me anything."

Draco sighed and picked one that was painful. Somewhere between the pit and his fave five. "My dad found out... about me... did you know?"

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "That you're...."

"Yeah... during Christmas break. The "news" was slowly making its way through my house and out. My aunt had found out first, when she was teaching me Occlumency. My mom had tried to keep her quiet, but it only worked for so long. My uncles found out, then it trickled on down to the Callows, Crabbe and Goyle. I don't know who was brave enough to tell my father... probably my aunt, but he tortured me for a long time using my own wand on me."

"I'm so sorry, Draco."

"It's okay. It could have been worse. I actually think my wand was holding back, cause Lucius... he was madder than I had ever seen him and it wasn't as brutal as it could have been. I wasn't really surprised that he found out. It was bound to happen eventually. But that's why I was so afraid about going back for Easter. He had four months to decide what to do with me. I thought he might kill me... or worse."

"What did he do?" Harry asked.

"At Christmas, he was intent on Crucioing me all day and calling me every name in the book. Fag, homo, pillow biter and a whole lot more. That I disgraced the family and he should kill me rather than live with the shame having of fucking faggot as a son. He said that...."

"Oh Merlin, Draco... I'm so sorry. He's...."

"... hang on... let me get this out," Draco said, tears in his eyes. "He said that... if he had another son, I'd already be dead, and, if I so much as touch another boy, again, he'd kill me and them. He said that he'd find a pureblood wife for me and I would do my family duty and impregnate her. If I was lucky, he'd let me live after my son was born. But that would only happen if I never did anything abnormal, again."

"Man, what a whack job! I wish I could have killed him, Draco... tortured the fuck out of him. Hurt him," Harry growled, anger pouring out of him.

"Don't get mad, Harry. He's gone," he said, stroking his hair.

"I just wish...."

"Well... I wish that you weren't hurt, too. That you didn't lose your family. But we can't fix it... ever. It's in the past."

Harry nodded, anger and frustration were in his eyes. "What about... Easter?"

Draco swallowed. "More of the same. He interrogated me a lot. Tried to get me to confess to... doing things. He talked about... what he would do if I ever wavered, again. But it was only a few days until... you came, so it didn't last long." He ended it there. Harry could never know what happened after he left. Draco knew that much. Harry's guilt would burn him even more.

Harry stared at him for a minute, but sensed an end to Draco's part of the conversation. "It's my turn right?"

"If you want..." Draco murmured. He had to give him the option.

"I..." Harry stopped and more tears came out.

"I'm sorry... I don't want to force it out," Draco said, hugging him.

"No... it might upset you... I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm okay... you can talk to me," he said, reassuringly. There was nothing that Harry could say that would hurt him right, now.

"I was... it was... in the bathroom... you know...."

Draco understood immediately. Their sixth-year confrontation where he had wound up in the hospital wing and Harry was effectively removed from the quidditch team. Sectumsempra.

"I just... did it... and you were bleeding. Snape never came, though. You slowly..." Harry whispered.

Draco pulled him in closer. It was one of his fave five highlights, but he never appreciated the guilt Harry carried for the incident. He only remembered his own fear and pain.

"... and you were gone. You wouldn't wake up and it was all my fault." Harry gripped his shirt tighter.

"I'm sorry... it was just a dream, Harry. I'm alright. I'm healed. I'm here with you. I forgive you."

"I almost killed you... I used that horrible curse. I'm so sorry... I didn't know what it would do. I was so scared that I had killed you. It felt like part of my soul was dying, too."

"Snape saved me. You don't have to apologize. I was trying to Crucio you."

"That doesn't make it okay... and in the dream... you were gone. I couldn't bring you back... like Cedric, Sirius, Re...."

"Don't, Harry. It was a dream! I know you've lost a lot of people you love too soon. They didn't deserve to die. You shouldn't have lost them or watched them die. It wasn't fair."

"Life isn't fair. That fucking prophecy... that prophecy that killed every thought of me having a happy life," Harry spat, anger now mixing into the guilt.

Draco didn't know what to say. He had heard about the prophecy since his fifth year. It certainly had broken his life, too. His father wouldn't have gone to prison, he wouldn't have been marked and Dumbledore wouldn't be dead because of his actions.

"Harry? What was the prophecy? Can I ask?"

Harry grimaced and nodded. "I guess I never told you it. Basically, it foretold my birth: born as the seventh month dies. It was either me or Neville, and Voldemort picked me... ain't that a kick to the balls?" Harry huffed. "Not that I'd never wish what I went through on him. But Voldemort tried to kill me to negate the prophecy and ended up making it worse."

"Worse?" Draco asked.

"My mother... she died trying to protect me and activated ancient magic... blood-sacrifice magic. When he tried to kill, it protected me and he was ripped from his body. But Voldemort had already split his soul, so he didn't die properly. What was worse was that when his curse rebound onto him, part of his soul latched onto me. I became a Horcrux."

Draco frowned. He'd heard that term several times as well. "What exactly is...."

"It's a vessel for part of a soul. Voldemort had purposely split his soul so he couldn't die. His Horcruxes had his desires, memories and they could act on their own without him, though they were still part of him. Remember the Heir of Slytherin thing in our second year? That was a Horcrux."

"That diary?"

"You knew about it?"

"Not until after. Mother said that father had done something with it. The Dark Lord was very angry about him losing it, but we didn't know why."

"Yes, Lucius planted it with Ginny and Voldemort possessed her. I destroyed it with a basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets," Harry explained, like he was talking about a trip to Hogsmeade. "The scar here on my chest was from one that tried to kill me and Ron saved me. Nagini was one, too."

"Really?" Draco said, shaking a little. That snake had been too creepy and intelligent for her own good.

"But... the important thing was that I was one, too. He even tried to possess me through that connection, but he failed. That was why I could see visions. I was linked to him as our souls were bound. I could see things. I saw him making you torture Rowle. You hated it."

Draco grimaced. Rowle was a bastard and Dolohov. Harry had mentioned these things before. The Dark Lord had talked about the connection during... he couldn't remember when, but it sounded so familiar. "I did hate it, but Harry... if you were a Horcrux...."

"I had to die. That's what that fucking prophecy said. 'Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives'. We both had to die. It was destiny."

Draco was quiet for a few minutes. "But you lived... again."

"I still died. I came back to kill him... and I worked out about the Elder Wand and yours."

Draco remembered Harry's speech. "And you became Master of Death...."

Harry shivered. "Yes."

"My mom told me the tale of the Death Hallows when I was a boy... and you acquired them all," Draco whispered in reverence. "The Deathstick, the Resurrection Stone and Cloak of Invisibility...."

"I only have the cloak, now."

"The one that you put on me?" Draco said, amazed.

"Yep, the very one," Harry said, lightly.

"Holy Salazar," Draco said.

Harry's smile faded. "But it was... I was so scared, Draco. I knew had to die for him to be vanquished. I had to let him kill me... I didn't think I was going to come back. My dreams keep taking me back there. I turned the Stone and my parents, Sirius and Lupin appear. They guided me to Voldemort... guided me to my death. I can never stop it and I keep remembering the feeling of my soul being ripped away. I was bound with him for so long... it was a part of me. Even if it was dormant nearly my whole life."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Draco said, clenching him harder.

"What if... what if... it took part of my soul, too?" Harry whispered, finally revealing his true fear.

Draco's shoulders dropped, hearing the pain and fear in his voice. He took a deep breath and pulled Harry off him to look into his eyes. He had to communicate that it wasn't true. "Harry... I have never met a soul as pure as yours. You remember when you came to take me from... Azkaban?"

"Yeah?" Harry said, in a small voice.

"I felt it... your Patronus. Your pure heart. It was the same as the one I felt on the battlefield when you chased the dementors away. It was the most amazing thing I ever felt. It pulled all the darkness out of me. You didn't lose anything! You became whole, independent from his tainted soul. It was only leeching off you like a parasite. You are your own man, now, Harry. No one else would have come for me."

Harry stared back at him and leaned in to kiss him. Some tears of what Draco hoped was happiness came out of his eyes and he whispered, "Thank you."

"Harry... you're the most brilliant, courageous person I've ever known. Never feel that you are anything other than perfect."

Harry was still a little shook up and his lips trembled. "I love you so much, Draco."

"I love you, too, my Master of Death."

"Oh, for the love of Merlin... don't call me that," Harry said, bashfully.

"So much better than Savior of the Wizarding World... or the Chosen One."

"Shove it, Prince of Slytherin."

"Prat."

"Git," Harry huffed. "I notice you don't call me by your old nicknames for me... like Scarhead?"

"I have one, too, now. It might get confusing," he grunted.

"Potty?"

"I don't want to insult you, anymore..." Draco mumbled, feeling his cheek blush.

"Oh... I see, Ferret."

"Hey!"

"What's wrong, Princess?"

Draco went redder. "Don't... that's not...."

But the door opened and Daphne and Theo came out showered and dressed. They avoided eye-contact and went to Theo's bed, out of sight due to their curtains. Harry's jaw dropped and he looked at Draco, inquisitively. Draco shrugged like, 'Yeah, that just happened'.

"Come on, get up, the Boy Who Lived... four times."

"Shut up, Drakey-poo."

Draco glared at him and rolled out of bed, muttering under his breath.

"I'm going to go change in my room. Meet you in the common room in ten?"

"Sure," Draco said, and Harry lifted the wards and left. Draco changed and went over to talk to Theo and Daphne. "So... have a nice shower?"

Theo glared at him and Daphne said, "You don't usually wake up to the alarm."

"Bad luck for you, but I was already awake."

"We had an excellent shower, thank you," Theo said, shortly.

"Bet you're regretting teasing me yesterday, huh?" Draco taunted.

"You really want to play that game?" Daphne said, smiling. "We do usually get up before you...."

"Humph, threat acknowledged. Ready?"

"Let's go," Theo grunted.

They went down to the common room and Harry was there with Hermione, Luna, Ernie, Seamus and Dean. Draco froze when he saw Dean, letting Theo get in between him. Harry looked at him and back to Dean, who crossed his arms.

"Let's just go see, Blaise," Harry said, obviously wanting to get Draco away from his former roommate.

"No, don't go, stay a little longer," Smith said as Wayne, Oliver and Michael came on down. "Nice seeing you, again, Nott. That eye looks good."

Theo glowered and clenched his fists.

"Detention, Smith!" Hermione said. "Report to Professor Slughorn. I heard the first years splattered flobberwurm guts all over the ceiling."

"Like I care," Smith said and Hermione put her hand on Harry to stop him from hexing Smith into next week.

"Transfiguration was canceled for today, so you can bugger off," she snapped and turned Harry toward the door and pushed the Slytherins out the door after him. Seamus and Dean stayed behind, but Ernie and Luna came down with them.

"Class was canceled?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I came downstairs and a bulletin appeared on the board. Her classes are canceled until lunch."

"Great, we can have a bit of a break after breakfast," Daphne said.

"We can stay with Blaise," Harry suggested and Theo nodded appreciatively. "But we should still go there before breakfast first. Neville is expecting us."

"I heard that Blaise is going to be healed today?" Ernie asked them.

"Yeah... it'll be great knowing for sure that's there's no permanent damage," Daphne said, and they began discussing the specifics of the healing process.

Hermione grabbed Harry's attention at the front of the group and whispered into his ear. Draco tried to listen but Luna pulled him to the back of the group, out of the other's easy-hearing range.

"Muffliato," she said and took his left hand as they walked. "You broke your promise last night."

Draco lowered his head. "I'm sorry... I was talking to Professor Weasley and... wait... how did you know? You felt it, too?" He lifted his hand, but his palm was trapped by her hand.

"Of course, I felt it. I took on your pain, Draco. I feel it every time you say those hateful words. We made a deal. You are not a Death Eater," she scolded.

Draco nodded. "I'm sorry."

"You promised... you break it, again, and I'm going to pay for it."

Draco looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" He didn't like that at all.

She showed him her left hand. The angry lines of the mark that he had originally had on his was on her palm, like it had been branded. He looked at her horrified. She didn't... no... it couldn't be....

"Don't worry, it'll fade, but it does burn. I feel your emotions, too. You don't deserve to be hurt by it anymore, Draco."

"Luna... take it off, please!" Draco begged, desperately.

"I won't. You promised, Draco."

"Luna..." he started, extremely distressed. "...you can't be hurt because of me!"

"I won't be... as long as you stop thinking and saying stupid things," she said, smiling.

"No! I won't allow you to take that risk."

"You already gave me your word. Our contract was agreed on," Luna pointed out, stubbornly pointing her finger in the air.

"Luna!" he began, but realized that they had stopped and were at the hospital ward. Harry and the others were looking at them, worried.

Luna dissipated her spell with a wave of her wand and smiled. "We're ready to go in!"

Draco lowered his head and didn't look at Harry. He merely nodded. He couldn't believe that Luna would do that... for me... a fucking death eater. Wince. He felt the shadow pain on his hand and Luna flinched, clenching her hand. She looked at him with sad eyes. I can't even think it? he thought.

"No, you can't," Luna answered his voiceless question, sadly. He could see the faint evidence of tears in her eyes, too. "Come on, Draco, Blaise is waiting for us."

Draco meekly took her hand and followed her inside. Harry came up next to him and whispered, "Are you okay?"

He only shrugged and looked at Blaise, who was grimacing in pain.

Neville looked up, slightly anxious. "You're here."

"Yes... with extra people," Madam Pomfrey chided. "These potions are going to be hard on you. Say good morning to your friends and then they will have to leave."

"All of them?" Blaise said, a little worried.

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips. "They need to go to class."

"Class was canceled this morning for us," Hermione said.

"What?" Neville said.

"Transfiguration... Professor McGonagall had to leave the school for the day."

"But... I...."

"Still have class to teach," Madam Pomfrey stated, though there was some softness in her voice. "Be off with you, Professor Longbottom. You have a job to do and his spine has healed up, nicely."

"You already healed it?" Theo blurted out, looking at Blaise, who nodded. Draco could tell it had been painful.

"Yes, he didn't want a crowd. But everything looks okay," the older matron said, giving Blaise a smile. "But Neville, you need to go eat breakfast and go to work."

Neville lowered his head and looked at Blaise. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"It's okay. Go, I'll be fine. I'm healed up, now," he said and Neville nodded.

He looked at Theo and at him. "Take care of him, then."

"We will, Neville," Theo said.

"He's going to be fine... shoo!" the matron said, pushing Neville out the door.

"Bye!"

"Bye, Slayer," Blaise said, as the door shut.

Madam Pomfrey moved around his bed to the cart and set aside the book Blaise's mother had given him. She had three large potions ready. "Alright... now say goodbye to your friends. You need to heal and I'm going to give you two healing potions and a pain one. Your body needs it."

"You really think that's necessary?" Blaise said. Draco heard the hint of fear in his voice and he didn't like it any more than he did in Harry's.

"Sweetie, you haven't healed from all your injuries, yet. Back injuries are painful. Your friends tend to keep you awake. No, they will have to go."

"But..." he started, but didn't finish.

Madam Pomfrey seemed to detect the surrender in his voice and she acquiesced. "Very well... two of your friends can remain with you, as long as they don't keep you up. But the rest only have five minutes to say goodbye."

"Thanks," he said and the matron went into her office.

"Hey, it's going to be alright," Harry said, to him reassuringly.

"Maybe. Either that or she's been drugging me up for no reason."

Theo took Blaise's hand. He was quiet and didn't keep eye contact for more than a few seconds. He didn't like the idea of Blaise in pain, either. He gripped his hand tightly. Blaise stared at him for a minute and then looked to his other guests.

"Hello, Ernie," Blaise said, looking at the proud Hufflepuff.

"Good morning, Blaise," he said, formally. "I just wanted to see that you were doing alright. I've been doing my best to try to make sure that your friends are taken care of."

Blaise nodded appreciatively. "I'm glad, thank you."

"It's not a problem... not a problem at all," Ernie said, in his own pompous kind of way, Draco noted.

Luna came forward and put her hand on his. "It's going to be alright, Blaise. This will be the hardest part and it's almost over."

"Yeah," he mumbled and then looked at everyone. He was deciding who was going to stay. Blaise then looked at Theo and he nodded, relieved.

"We'll only be able to stay for two hours. We have Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts today," Theo said, quietly.

Blaise frowned. "It's fine. Daphne?"

"Me? You want me to stay?" she said, surprised and looked at Draco. It was strange. Everyone figured Blaise would pick his two dorm mates.

"Yes, if you want," he said, not offended by her reaction.

"Of course..." she said, immediately, but still looked at Draco, who nodded. It was great that they were getting closer.

"Don't worry about Draco. We can go practice for the quidditch tryouts," Harry said.

"Here, here! I'll enjoy watching that!" Ernie said.

"Luna and I will come, too," Hermione piped in.

Draco smiled, but looked at Blaise. He didn't want to leave him. Blaise shrugged encouragingly.

Daphne was the one who said, "How about you and Theo stay with you for a bit? Then when you take your potions I can take your place. Is that alright?"

Blaise nodded, "Yeah... that's a good idea. Then you and Harry can go play."

"Okay," Draco said, mollified. Blaise said goodbye to the others as Daphne rushed the others out the door.

Draco lowered his head and looked at Blaise. He could tell that he was in pain. "Are you really okay?"

He snorted. "It hurts like a fucking Cruciatus Curse. Guess she was lying about waiting. This was after nearly five days of healing charms and potions... I can't imagine how much my legs hurt then," he said, tears in his eye and was holding his breath in. He sank his head into his pillows and growled a few choice swear words.

Theo took his hand, but still didn't say anything. Draco came to the other side, and Blaise gripped his hand tightly. He nodded.

"Are the potions going to help?" Draco quietly asked.

"They will... if he stops resisting taking them," she said, luring out. Blaise glared at her. "Well, they will. I want to examine you one last time before giving you them. Do you want your friends to wait outside?"

"It's fine."

"I'll be removing your blankets and exposing your legs."

"No, I want them here. They've seen them before."

Theo put his hand on Blaise's head and he looked up at him with his good eye. They exchanged some wordless dialogue.

She pulled up the blankets and there still were large ugly bruises on his legs from where the break opened. Draco grimaced.

"It just looks bad," Blaise muttered.

"Don't lie," Draco whispered.

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "No point in lying to them, they got your number."

"Like you?" he grumbled, staring at her accusingly.

"Oh... I've had that for a long time. Feel this?"

Blaise flinched.

"I'll take that as a yes." She chanted some spells over it and Draco saw the bruises diminish. "How about now? Is that better?"

"Yeah," he said, relieved.

"I didn't want to try these spells when you couldn't feel anything." She cast the Healing Charm a few more times, before covering him back up.

"Here, take this," she said, passing him the first goblet.

"Can't I...."

"No! You always put these things off. You need this, now. I waited until you saw them. They are here. They'll be here at lunch. They are in good hands. You need to take these to get better."

Blaise grimaced and drank the three potions without any more comments.

"You should be getting drowsy and you will be out in a few minutes. Try to rest. It's extremely important."

Blaise sighed and when she was gone, he looked at Draco. "Neville said he'd come get you as soon as he could from Defense Against the Dark Arts. He's explained to Professor Sprout the circumstances. It's going to be bad, but take care of him, Theo."

"I will," Theo said, quietly.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked Theo.

"I will protect him."

"I'm worried about you," Blaise said, staring at him. Draco looked at him, too, but knew it was pointless to try to talk to him. He was in do-everything-to-seem-normal mode.

"I'll be fine. I'll take care of him. I promise."

Blaise sighed, looking a little annoyed. He gave up though and his shoulders dropped.

"Theo and Daphne took a shower together," Draco announced, suddenly.

Blaise looked at Theo, who blushed. "That's my boy. I'm proud of you."

"I wish we had our own rooms," he muttered.

"Yeah, after we leave school," Draco said.

"That's too long," Theo muttered.

"You're complaining? I can't even... she wouldn't even check my legs with him here!" Blaise growled.

"I'm sorry," Draco said, trying not to laugh.

"I am, too. But go on, Draco. Go have some fun. I can't feel the pain anymore. It's kinda nice... a smushie... feeling."

"Smushie? She "hopped" you up good."

"Yeah... s'nice."

Theo smiled and kissed his forehead. "I've missed you... so much."

"Yeah... I bet. You guys are really getting along, huh? So... any questions? Like how to put it in?" Blaise chuckled.

Theo glowered. "I managed just fine, thank you."

Draco blushed. Thankfully, it went unnoticed by his best friends. Last night's conversation with Harry was on his mind. He was a little out of his depth.

"Ha ha... it's great, Theo. I wanted this for you. I was worried."

"Thanks... you didn't have to... invite her to stay... on my account," Theo said, awkwardly. They both knew that Blaise would have done anything if it would help Theo.

"No... not just for you. Harry and Draco should to be together, too. She's been a good friend. Put up with a lot of my shit. We got to put it all behind us. I should've known you liked 'er... I'm sorry," he slurred, starting to get drowsy.

Draco guessed that Blaise and Daphne had slept together. Their behavior toward each other last year was that of ex-lovers, but everything changed once Daphne became a victim. It made all the difference to Blaise for obvious reasons. Blaise wasn't going to let anyone touch her, again.

Theo just nodded and he turned back to Draco. "Go on... Dray. You can tell me all about flying when I see you next."

"You hate quidditch," Draco pointed out.

"I hated Flint," Blaise said, staring off. His eyes glazed over as he stared ahead.

Draco took his hand. His own heart painfully beating inside his hollow chest. "He's dead... he got exactly what he deserved."

Blaise let some more tears fall and he wouldn't look at them. Draco gripped harder, unsure of what to say. There wasn't really anything to say. Theo huffed expletives under his breath.

"Not quite," he said, quietly. "But my mom knows about... I mean she knows... the worst ones."

"How?" Draco asked, surprised that Blaise would tell her, much less talk to them about what had happened.

"I don't know... I don't know what she's going to do, either. I'm almost worried for them," Blaise whispered.

"I hope she flays them alive," Theo growled, angrily.

Blaise gave him a weak smile. "Maybe...."

Draco squeezed his hand a little. Sometimes he wondered if he had any right to feel so fucked up, when Blaise was talking about what had happened to him, in such a casual way. He had so many people hurt him, in much worse ways. Draco couldn't even comprehend it. But Blaise had never really dealt with it. Much like Draco. Now, he was writing down Salazar-knows-what in the book his mother had given him. He already had written nearly half the book.

"Go... catch the snitch, Dray. I always loved watching you. Maybe you'll make me like it, again? But don't switch brooms with Potter. You got to have faith in your abilities, too."

"He's faster."

"The Firebolt is, but you are a natural. If it was all about the brooms, we wouldn't need seekers."

"Yeah," Draco muttered, slightly embarrassed. He gave Blaise a hug and a nod to Theo, before going out the door.

***

Harry pulled Hermione away from the others as they waited for Draco to come back. She put up the charms, just in case.

"You think she'll find anything?" she asked, still whispering despite them.

McGonagall had left to make some casual inquiries on their behest. She had close contacts with several Wizengamot members and in the Ministry. She reassured them that she would use privacy and Binding Charms on the people she questioned. They needed allies, a new order. This wasn't just about Death Eaters anymore, it was about the war profiteers and collaborators. Those who supported Voldemort and stepped on muggleborns to get ahead, and now, were hellbent on covering their tracks.

"I don't know. With everything that Percy and Penelope have found out so far... this is getting dangerous. That's five more names to add to list. She's going to try to swipe as many of the trial records, the plea agreements, the summary judgments and interrogations as she can. She said that Draco's interrogation wasn't the only one missing. But I just don't understand why didn't he say anything?" Harry said, confused.

"Maybe he can't, Harry. His probation... maybe they ordered him? Or maybe he didn't talk to them?" she suggested.

"He had three multiple-hour interrogations, longer than most of the Death Eaters, she found so far. If he clammed up or refused to testify, then why were they so long?"

"Maybe it was just an accident? The wrong person was reported in his file?"

"Penelope and Percy both disagree. The holding cell logs confirm his absence during those times and they tested the timestamps for authenticity."

"Maybe they made a deal with him for his mother or his friends?"

"Why would he not tell me?"

"You need to talk to him about it, Harry. You've known since Sunday and haven't talked to him."

"How do I start that conversation... 'why didn't you make a better deal'... 'why didn't you tell me' or 'why did you not cooperate?' I don't see how that conversation is going to go well," Harry snapped, irritated.

"You just don't want to fight, right? We need answers. Someone took his records for a reason."

"It's not just that, Hermione. If he can't talk about what happened... legally... then he may be required to tell them that we are looking into it. He's trapped and I don't want to put him into that spot."

"Surely we can casually ask about his arrest and conviction," she said, giving him a look. "It might be uncomfortable...."

"It's not about comfort. It's about secrecy, Hermione. We have to keep this quiet as much as possible. I love him, I trust him, but he has to protect himself. He's still trapped in their system. He can't go to war with us, unless you have a better idea of how to free him?"

Hermione grimaced. "You're right. It's just... he might have all the answers, Harry."

"He might have nothing. Let's not pull that trigger until we have no other option."

"What are you going to tell him? He's not stupid. He gave us a look on the way down."

"That I can't tell him. Maybe I'll make it out that we are plotting to hurt Smith and the other dickwads."

"You're going to lie to him?"

"Stop... don't make it out like that. I trust him, but he's... we have to be careful."

"What about the others? Right now, it's you, me, the headmistress and our three spies."

Harry winced. "You are right... let's give Blaise a chance to recover and gather some more information. I don't want to sound crazy. Then we can call a meeting of our new order."

"The Order of the Phoenix or the DA?" she said with a laugh.

"Both are dead and this is our group. I'd rather start fresh with people we know and trust. We need a new name," Harry said, smiling.

Hermione smirked. "Potter's Army?"

Harry glared at her. "Ministry is Morons... was one of my favorites."

"Down with the Ministry?" Hermione suggested.

Harry gave her a look. Coming from the rule-abiding Head Girl to plotting the revolution with little prodding, Hermione was best. Though, considering the people she was going after... racist killers and torturers... he could see where she would get the motivation to track down the war criminals. The ones who got away with it.

"We'll figure it out later. What's next?" he asked.

"Wait to hear what our General has discovered," she said.

Harry chuckled. "Does that mean she's in charge?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, she's the one to set you straight. You're the leader and I'm your second. She has to be responsible for the school and everyone in it. If we are going to do this Harry... you'll have to go all the way."

"The 온라인카지노게임 of my life. Guess it wasn't over with Voldemort."

Hermione punched him. "No, idiot, and it won't be over after this, either. We have our whole lives to live... the right way."

"And what happens if we don't win, Hermione?"

"The same thing that would have happened if Voldemort won, Harry... death, torture and prison."

"Back to that, huh? Hermione... I have to say that my priorities have expanded. I have Teddy to watch out for and Draco. I'll have to protect them."

"I didn't say that you couldn't. But maybe you should put a Fidelus Charm on Andromeda's house."

"It'll be harder, if the Ministry is corrupted."

"Harder, but not impossible. No rogue agent is going to sneak in, though. They'd need a bunch of curse-breakers to try to find it. We won't register it either."

"Will you do it?"

"Me? Sure, I'll be the binder... and you the secret-keeper, then? I'd have to go with you."

"No problem. I'll ask Bill to stop and ask if she'll consent to it. I might have to ask Bill to put it back up on his place, too, but he has a lot more visitors. It's too bad I can't put one on Narcissa's flat."

"This is getting complicated. I just got my parents back. Maybe they'll willingly consent to visit our distant relatives in America," Hermione muttered.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Some things are worth fighting for. Fugitive Death Eaters, servants of Voldemort, torturers, killers and those who willingly helped them. We are doing the right thing... and I'm not quitting anytime soon," she growled.

Harry looked at her and gave her a hug. His best friend, his best supporter and his sister... she was amazing. She never let him down. "Thank you."

"Sure, Harry... umm Draco's back," she said and removed the charms.

"What's going on guys?" Ernie asked them.

Harry didn't know what to say, so he let the smartest witch he knew save him from answering.

"We were just talking about Blaise and when he comes back. We need to be vigilant."

"And some other mushy stuff. But you ready to fly?" Harry said, looking at Draco, who smiled.

Fifteen minutes later, after they grabbed a few bites from the Great Hall, they were flying. Draco didn't want to use Harry's broom, which made Harry a little proud. He was confident, flying determined, perfect. Harry found himself memorized trailing after him, Draco's long hair flailing in wind as he went into break-neck dives, evasive maneuvers, turns and flips. Harry had trouble keeping pace. Draco never stopped looking for a second. He didn't watch the bludgers, their audience and barely kept an eye on Harry or seemed to. He was trying to win.

Harry took to looking for it on his own, but he watched Draco like a hippogriff eyeing a jarvey. He didn't want to miss one second of Draco's abilities. He hadn't ever paid attention before. Draco had true skill. He had found the snitch quicker than Harry several times and maybe there was something to Bill's concern that he had won by simply having a better broom.

Draco suddenly plunged into a nosebleed dive to the ground and Harry shot after him, looking ahead, trying to locate the elusive tiny ball. Draco swerved abruptly taking a different tact, all together and Harry barely made the turn in time to hold it with him. He felt like he was out of his league with Draco so focused. He got in next to him and Draco gave him a cocky smile, before coming to a hover, fifty feet off the ground.

"You're staring at me too much," he accused and Harry noted that Draco had successfully feinted him.

"Well, you are a lot more interesting than a golden ball, Princess," Harry chuckled.

Draco glowered. "If I get the snitch first, you are not going to call me that anymore."

"Whoo-hoo... making it interesting, eh?" Harry shot back. "What do I get if I win?"

"A knock upside your annoying skull," Draco drawled.

"Nah... I get to start calling you it in front of everyone in our group whenever I want... and no complaining."

"I'm not going to agree to that!" Draco huffed.

"Till the weekend?"

"No!"

"A day?" Harry said, giving him his big, sad eyes. "And if you win, I won't call you that for two days...."

"Fine... doesn't matter. I'm going to win anyway," Draco said, haughtily.

"Oh yeah? You talk a goo-"

But Draco launched off into a smooth dive to the ground and Harry had barely got to speed before Draco wrapped his fingers around the snitch. He reared up and made his way back to meet up with Harry.

"You were saying?"

"That's cheating. We didn't say go!"

"Cheating is a part of quidditch, Potter. Haven't you learned that, yet?"

"I don't cheat," Harry said.

"You saying that I won unfairly?" Draco pressed, with a grin. "I said that I would be the first to get it... not after a specified start time."

"Slytherins," Harry swore.

"But I wouldn't want you to feel like I didn't give you a sporting chance," Draco said, letting go of the snitch with a smirk.

Damn, he was cocky today. More than he was last time. Harry felt the blood rush to his lower reign. Fuck, he was enjoying this too much and judging by Draco's smile... he was too.

"Alright... same bet?"

"Oh no... I won, already. But I'll let you out of it... if you win. You can still call me that. But if I win... you'll have to call me, 'your highness' for the rest of the day... when we are alone," Draco said, leaning in closer and Harry started shaking. Holy balls... when did he get so confident? Draco's eyes were looking at him, piercing through him. Shit, he was ready to call him that right fucking now.

"Sure," Harry breathed. Draco was less than a foot away.

"Ready... Chosen One?" he laughed, without a trace of fear. He was so different in the air. Free from his concerns, worries. There was nothing but them, the air and the drive to win.

"You going to call it, Ferret?"

"After you Savior-of-the-Wizarding-World," he retorted, turning around so he was in line with him.

"Git... and go!" Harry said, tearing off and beating Draco to the other side of the pitch.

He heard their audience cheering and he idly wondered what they made of their interlude in the sky. He shook it off and saw Draco was down near the grass line. Harry didn't track him, but keep looking for it on his own. After a few minutes, his eyes wandered back to Draco and Merlin, he looked amazing. What he would give to snog him right in front of everyone.

Draco suddenly took off upward and Harry was at his side in two seconds. His broom had speed, but with an increase in speed, there's a loss of maneuverability. When Draco did a clothespin turn, Harry shot past him and a took a few extra seconds to get back in line with him. Draco, again, reared off, forcing Harry to abruptly turn into a wider arc. This time, Draco straightened back to his original line, and reached out and grabbed the snitch, again.

Harry laughed and came over bumping into him, slightly. "What was that?"

"Me winning... obviously," he said, holding up the ball.

"Gi-"

"Nuh-uh... I won," Draco interjected, grinning.

"Your highness..." Harry cooed.

"That's better... it's clear who's the best flyer up here," he said, holding his head up proudly.

"I wouldn't go that far... your highness."

"Is that another challenge, Potter? Double-or-nothing?" Draco goaded.

"I always want another go. You're all talk," Harry said, getting closer. Merlin, he loved taunting him.

Draco let go of the snitch with an evil, sinister laugh that had Harry's hands shaking in excitement. "So, you want out of it, then?" he drawled

"No... I'll stick with my original request, your highness."

"That would negate mine."

"No, mine's just for when we are with our friends. Yours for when we are... alone," Harry murmured, sweetly.

Draco shuddered, as his face flushed. He was just as turned on by this as Harry was. Maybe they had time to stop off at their room... Draco's room.

"I accept... now my terms..." Draco said, as he straightened up on his broom, beaming wickedly at him.

"Are you going to just keep staring at me, or are you going to spit it out there, Fer-your highness," Harry challenged

"That seemed a little disobedient, Potter. You should address your superior with more respect."

"I'm definitely disobedient, your highness," he retorted, with a chuckle. "You got two today, not fifty."

"If I win, we are going to land where the others are, and you are going to kneel down and declare that I am the better seeker and I'm now the Lord of the Sky. Then you can kiss my shoes."

Harry's mouth dropped open, incredulously. He half-stuttered a response, before jerkily nodding. He was going to get that snitch. Damn Malfoy to a warm, cozy hell. He still liked embarrassing the fuck out of people. Harry couldn't help but smile.

"After you... cupcake," Draco taunted.

"Cupcake? Where'd that come from?"

"That movie you took me to," he said, smugly.

Harry was almost rendered mute. He could barely pay attention to the plot, but Draco remembered lines from it? Well, damn. He laughed freely. "Alright, your highness. Ready?"

"Always, prat!" Draco said, and they sped off.

Harry didn't waste any effort admiring Draco's performance and ignored him as much as possible. He was going to win. He looked fanatically this time. The game was on. He went from high to low, avoiding chasing after Draco, who again tried to bait him into following him. Those quick turns at the end last time countered his speed. Harry intended to fully utilize his Firebolt's limits. It was a little unfair that he had the better broom, but he had no desire to embarrass himself in front of Ernie, Luna and Hermione.

Harry finally spotted the snitch first and thrusted forward after it. He almost got within reaching distance before Draco slammed into him, nearly knocking him off his broom.

"Pay attention!" Draco chided.

"I almost fell, G-your highness!"

"There's no Madam Hooch here, cupcake. You should have seen me," he countered before flying off.

Seething, because Draco was right, he flew off in the opposite direction. He hadn't even realized that Draco was so close. He remembered to keep him in his mind as he tried to find it, again. He pulled up higher, overlooking the whole field for nearly ten minutes. Draco was near the opposite goal posts, but there was no sign of the snitch. Harry fleetingly glanced at his friends, still on the ground, before looking to see Draco diving down.

Harry thought he was feinting, again, but suddenly he saw it, too. Just a few feet off the ground and Draco was closer. He put on the speed, going from zero to a hundred in seconds. He pulled up on Draco as he was a mere foot away. He thrusted forward, increasing his speed, to beat him to it, but Draco leaned further down on his broomstick, limiting the air restriction, making himself cut through the wind easier. Draco shot his arm out, knocked Harry's hand out of the way and snagged the snitch.

Draco let out a roar of victory and Harry smiled, falling in next to him and flying down to the others. Draco kept a tight hold on the snitch. He had the biggest grin on his face. Ernie clapped and cheered when they landed.

"That was amazing guys!" Hermione said, and Luna hugged Draco, who didn't even stiffen.

"Thanks... but it was all him," Harry said, smiling.

Draco held up the snitch to illustrate that point.

"You did great, Draco," Luna said, holding his free hand.

"Thank you," he said, but turned to Harry, raising an eyebrow. "So... I won the bet, right?"

Harry rolled his eyes.

"What bet? Is that what you guys were talking about up there?" Ernie asked.

"Yep. Going to pay up, Potter?"

Harry sighed and nodded. He slowly knelt down in front of them. Harry felt his face going a little red as he knew the others were watching in stunned silence.

"Draco Malfoy..." Harry paused, imagining a different scenario in his mind, but pressed forward. "...you are the best seeker and I name you, Lord of the Sky."

His friends laughed at his words and Harry took a deep breath. He made to crouch down, but Draco stopped him. "I think that was enough, Golden Boy."

"Are you sure, oh Lord of the Sky?" Harry asked, sarcastically, and then Draco playfully tackled him to the ground.

"I'll give you... oh Lord," he said, and began tickling him mercilessly.

"Come on! Stop!" he said, breathlessly through the nonstop laughing. "Help!"

"Sorry, Harry... I can't interfere in these situations!" Hermione said, giggling like a first-year.

Draco finally stopped to ask, "You surrender?"

"Yes! Yes! Fuck Merlin, yes!"

"No thanks... he died a long time ago," Draco said, dryly.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said, with a chuckle. He got up and pulled Harry to his feet. "That's five to one... Harry. Who's the best now?"

"Shut it," Harry said, brushing off some grass.

Ernie was looking back and forth between them with a shit-eating grin on his face. He knew, but Harry didn't keep looking at him, though. Draco didn't need that stress. Harry wasn't really up to having a talk about his sexuality, either.

"Come on... let's head back, you've got to put your brooms away."

"Got it, depulso brooms!" Harry said and their brooms made a wide arc toward the South Tower and went through an open window.

"Hopefully, that was the right one," Draco tutted.

"Eh, I can buy us new brooms, if it isn't," Harry said, with a smirk.

"Prat."

"You guys, go on ahead. I'll take Draco to Herbology. I can't say that I'm worried about being late for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Harry, are you sure?" Hermione asked.

"Yep! I would like an escort to class, though! It's Hagrid's!" Luna announced.

"Then I shall escort you. I have Muggle Studies to get to. I'll see you, later, Draco," Ernie declared and took her hand.

"Thanks, Ernie," Harry said and Ernie and Luna headed toward Hagrid's cabin.

Hermione gave him a look and set off toward the castle with a knowing farewell.

"So, why are you sending them away?" Draco said, in a not-so-innocent voice. "You're not exactly being subtle."

Harry advanced on him slowly, making Draco back up until his back was against the stand entrance. Harry pulled him out of the line of sight of the school and pulled him in for a long, unrestrained kiss.

"Your highness..." Harry whispered. "I've been waiting to do that all morning."

"Me, too," he hummed and kissed him, again.

He didn't care if they were outside, in the open, at a school. He needed to taste Draco. He almost wanted to ask to do more, but that would be crossing the line. Draco had to initiate everything... except maybe kissing and hand holding. Harry needed this, especially after the talk they had this morning. Draco had been kind and patient with him, finally getting him through it. They went pretty deep and Harry hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time. He could only hope that it would continue. He hated asking Draco to help him, but he recognized that he needed it badly.

Draco brought him closer and pressed into his groin. It ended all thoughts of being on time for class.

***

Daphne didn't know what to think as she sat in Neville's chair, watching Blaise, who was now unconscious. Was Blaise actually opening up... to her? Was it for Theo's benefit? Was it because she yelled at him that one day? And why? Draco came out to get her and she had went back in, not knowing what to expect. Blaise was still awake and Theo was holding his hand, looking a little pale. She went around to the other side and his eye was still open. His pupil was enlarged and looking all around the room. She would admit that he looked sexier with the eye patch. Not that she didn't love looking at Theo's rugged face.

"Well, she gave you something good," Daphne said, as she assessed his dopey, smiling face.

"You got tha' right," Blaise said, with a grin.

"She said he should be out in a few minutes," Theo murmured.

"I'm sarrrry," Blaise said, listlessly, his one eye resting on her.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"I was being an asshole... to you... before," Blaise said, and there was no sign of sobriety, now.

"That was in the past. I was a bitch, too," she said, quietly. Blaise didn't even look at Theo. He stared right at her.

"No... it was just... you were with them... they were your friends."

Daphne frowned. Tracey, Millicent, and Alexus. Her group, her gang. It sometimes included Pansy and sometimes it didn't. Pansy wanted nothing to do with what they were in to and Pansy had been smarter than she had been. Daphne didn't realize it until it was too late. Crap, he was strung out, she thought. He'd never willingly even think about talking about them, even to Theo and Draco.

"Blaise... stop. It's the potions, making you talk. You don't have to say...."

"Do you know what they did to me?" he went on. His eye had a dead look in it. She felt like someone was squeezing her heart.

"I don't... I didn't know... then," she said, some tears in her eyes. She really still didn't know... just what her imagination came up with... and their stories. She didn't know that Blaise didn't like it and that they didn't care that he didn't.

"Tracey said tha' she was going to do..." he swallowed. "...it again. She was going to get the others to... just the other day... when I was trapped. I was... scared."

Her eyes went wide in shock. The potions must have really loosened his tongue to admit that. But that was why Draco had left his wand the other day. She looked up at Theo surprised. He looked sad and angry.

Blaise rambled on, possibly responding to the stunned look on her face. "When he hurt you, I knew that you weren't like them... I should've done worse to 'im."

She knew that she couldn't compare what had happened to her to what he had gone through. It had taken a bit, but she had come to terms with it. She had faith in her friends to help her. She whispered, "You did enough. He's dead."

"Like Flint," Blaise said after a long minute, and Theo was shaking so much. His black eyes were wide in fear and alarm. Blaise never talked about his past. None of them did.

Daphne didn't know much about what had happened. She had barely talked to Theo back then, much less Blaise and Draco. But Flint was a right bastard. He had failed his NEWTs and stayed an extra year longer. He was a tyrant, lording over the lower classes, making them do his homework and chores, but then Draco humiliated him in front of the whole house. Blaise never strayed too far from Draco and Theo for the rest of the year. Flint had even tried talking to Blaise, and Draco, not even fourteen yet, broke his nose and gave him a black eye for it in front of everyone. She remembered how scared Blaise looked, as Theo held him, while Draco beat the shit of nineteen-year-old Marcus Flint. She felt her heart ache just thinking about what the older Slytherin, an adult, had done to him.

"Yes, he is gone," she said, carefully.

"I couldn't face him, again. I could have hurt him... made him be in pain, take my revenge, but I couldn't. I didn't want to see him, again... ever again," he said, in a flat monotone, looking straight ahead.

Daphne clenched her hands into tight, white-knuckled fists.

"Blaise... don't think about it. You have to sleep," Theo finally whispered, desperately.

Blaise went on like he didn't hear him. "I was his bitch... in every fucking sense of the word. I didn't know how to recover from that... embarrassment. I couldn't imagine looking into his eyes, again. Not knowing if I could even stand up for myself or still be helpless. It doesn't really help that he's dead, cause I'll never know."

Daphne glowered. She released her hands and she moved closer to his bed. She had to reassure him. He was a different person, now, tougher. Her voice was firm."You're the strongest person I know, Blaise. None of us would be here if it weren't for you. Flint was a fucking coward and an idiot. He couldn't even stand up to Draco. You would have turned him into doxy chow."

Blaise gave a small smirk. His head lobbed to the side and he was staring at her, his eye almost shut. "Thanks, Daph. We should have been friends a long time ago."

She ran her hand through his short hair. He hummed, appreciatively. "We had some growing up to do. Sleep."

His eye shut and he whispered, "Promise me that you'll always watch out for him."

She glanced at Theo and back at Blaise, whose eye opened slightly. He obviously must have forgotten Theo was there. "I promise."

"He needs you. Please be careful with him."

"I understand. I'll take care of all you guys. You can sleep, Blaise," she whispered, tracing his face and finally his eye shut for good.

She breathed a sigh of relief and some tears fell from her eyes. She walked over to Theo's side and embraced him. Theo cried into her shoulder. He wouldn't be able to vocalize his fears right then. She just held him.

"He's sleeping... he'll be alright," she breathed.

Theo sniffled loudly and Madam Pomfrey poked her head out to look at them concerned. Daphne waved her off. Theo held on for several minutes before letting go to kiss her on the lips.

"Are you okay?" she asked, bringing her hand to his cheek.

Theo nodded, but still couldn't say anything.

"I don't want him to be alone. I'm not going to Divination or Defense Against the Dark Arts, unless he wakes up."

Theo straightened up and looked at her.

"I'm sorry. He just asked me to watch out for you... and that's what I'm going to do. But we can't leave him unguarded, Theo. What if Madam Pomfrey is called away or is in her office?"

"It's fine. I'd rather you be here. I'll be alright," Theo said, looking into her eyes. "I just need to know that you, Blaise and Draco are okay. I can handle anything else."

She could see how scared he was going to Dawlish's class alone, but he wanted to make sure Blaise was safe. She kissed him, again, and held him until Divination was due to start. Blaise didn't wake up and Daphne went to the matron's door.

"Madam Pomfrey... I don't feel well. I think I have Umbridgitis," she said, feigning drowsiness.

"Really? There hasn't been a case in three years," Madam Pomfrey said, with such a poker face that Daphne didn't know if she was joking or not.

"Yeah, I don't feel well enough to return to class," she said, clenching Theo for support.

She put her hand to her forehead and tsked. She looked at Theo's guilty posture and to Blaise, lying unconscious on his bed. "Well, you best stay here. I'll inform your professors."

"Thank you," she said.

"Anytime, dear. Why don't you have a seat? Off to class with you, young man."

"Yes, ma'am," he murmured, he looked at her with one more scorching gaze, before leaving out the door with a quiet, "I'll see you, tonight."

Daphne sulked over to the bed and she was sat down in the chair. Now considering Blaise's words and whether everything had changed between them. She wondered how upset Blaise would be when he woke up. He said that they were friends and he picked her to stay before he drank the potions. But surely he hadn't meant to go that deep into his past, with her, arguably called his ex. Of course, they hadn't had anything beyond sex. No foreplay, no dating or awkward morning-after conversation. At least she knew he was a decent guy. He had tried to talk her out of it. But she knew that the others would know and she didn't want to face them, saying that she had gotten scared.

She sighed pushing those bad memories of her poor life choices and stared at Blaise. It was dreadfully dull waiting. She had no interest in her textbooks. Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were a joke. She wasn't in the mood for Transfiguration. Her curiosity got the best of her and she picked up Blaise's book. Her eyes were wide with shock as she read. She was impressed. Blaise had found something to occupy his time confined to bed, though she wasn't sure why. She found herself absorbed into his creative writing style. He had found a way to effectively communicate his ideas. She was honestly surprised he didn't hex anyone who read it. His lack of a wand might have prevented it from happening. But he must have enjoyed writing as he had already written so much since he got the book.

She was nearly finished when halfway through the third period, none other than the bitch herself entered the infirmary. She at first headed toward Blaise's bed, but saw Daphne was there in the chair and stopped. Daphne's eyes widened as she realized that Blaise's fears were proven right.

"What are you doing here?" Tracey Davis snapped.

Daphne could tell that she had a lot of makeup on, more than usual and smiled. "I'm sick... and I'm watching out for vindictive bitches who should be fucked by a well-hung troll."

"Excuse me?" she shrieked, offended.

"You heard me."

"What seems to be the problem?" as Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

"He cursed me!" she almost screamed. Daphne was surprised that Blaise didn't wake up.

"He did nothing of the sort. He has been on bed rest and can't even cast minor spells in his condition! Are you sure there is anything wrong?"

"Yes... my face..." she broke off and glanced at Daphne. "There's a rash. It won't go away."

"Well, it doesn't look unusual. Best wait a few more days. I won't be having you disturbing my patients who are actually ill."

"No... fix it now!" she demanded, angrily.

"My dear... I don't see that there is anything wrong. Are you sure you aren't just imagining it?"

"No! I have make-up on, covering it! I'm not fucking imagining it!" she yelled.

"Well... I never! Detention! You'll be spending Saturday with me!" the matron said, with her hands on her hips.

"But...."

"Now, report to class! I've had enough of your attempts to skive off class. Twenty points from Slytherin! I won't excuse you either!"

Madam Pomfrey pushed her out of her ward and locked it. She gave Daphne a smile and went back into her office to brew salves and potions. Daphne thought that the matron definitely had a soft spot for Blaise. She then looked very concerned at her friend on the bed and was glad she had decided to stay. Thank Hecate, Morgana and Salazar, he was almost healed. He needed to have his wand, his confidence back. He'd come a long way from being Flint's toy to making the underclassman shake when he entered the room.

Daphne continued reading his book and wondered if he'd be mad if she offered editing tips. She was almost through it the second time, when she saw Blaise's eye was open and he was staring at her. She didn't know how long he was watching her, but she closed his book, sheepishly.

"Sorry... I was curious."

"S'okay. Neville's been sneaking peeks when he doesn't think I'm watching," Blaise murmured.

"It's amazing, Blaise," she said, and he gave her an assessing look.

"You think so?"

"Yeah... it's really great."

"I don't know if I'll try to get it published."

"You should."

"Maybe, I don't know if... umm... what are you doing here?" he asked, as he realized that there was no one else.

She blushed. She could probably count the number of times she'd been alone with Blaise on her hand. "I was feeling ill, so I stayed." Truth wasn't in Blaise's best interest. He wouldn't like being told that she was guarding him. She wondered if she should tell him about Tracey, but decided against it until he was more awake.

"Thanks," Blaise mumbled and avoided looking at her. "...and about before...."

Blaise had obviously remembered everything he had said and she cut him off. "Don't worry about it. Look... it was the potions. You couldn't help it, and we don't have to talk about...."

"I meant to tell you all that."

She jerked her head up to stare at him, dumbfounded.

"I mean... the potions helped it come out, but I wanted to tell you that."

"Why?" she whispered.

"I think... I just needed to... I just thought if I... opened up to you, it might make up for being a jerk to you last year... before it happened," he said, lowering his head.

"Oh Blaise, you didn't have to prove anything to me."

"I just wanted us to... connect... for us to be friends. Theo and Draco... they know so much about me. I trust them and I want to trust you, too. Plus... Theo's too important for us to be walking on eggshells around each other."

Daphne took his hand. "Blaise... we are friends. You didn't have to do that and I want you to know that you can trust me. I would never talk to anyone about you."

"You can tell anyone anything. Everyone knows."

"They know rumors, Blaise. Just like I did. I have no idea what's true and what isn't true. And that's how it is for everyone."

"Do you want to know?" he asked quietly.

Daphne shuddered. "I don't want to know... but if you want to... talk about it... I'll listen."

"I don't want to."

She nodded. "You don't have to hurt yourself, trying to make a dramatic gesture. I think we are past it, now. Besides, I thought you wanted to wait until you were free of your sick bed and armed with a wand, before going this deeper?"

Blaise smirked. "I didn't think I'd get it out after I was out of here."

"I'm glad you did... can I ask about the book?"

"Sure. It'd be nice to talk to someone about it. Neville is such a good Gryffindor, he wouldn't really have anything to offer. I need a Slytherin's advice, before I show it to anyone else."

"Well... I fit that requirement. I do have some ideas."

"Really? Let's see what you have for me, Daphne," Blaise said, settling into his pillows with a mischievous smile.

***

Draco was still on cloud nine in Herbology and through lunch, even with only Harry, Theo and Terry Boot for company. Hermione was there, but she ate with her boyfriend, Seamus and Dean. Draco wondered if Seamus had finally gotten through to his... boyfriend. Dean hadn't touched him since that day in the infirmary where Hermione flipped him in the air. He still glared at him at every available opportunity, but he had lost his bite. Draco didn't let his eyes remain on him, however. He needed to stay away from the vengeful Gryffindor as much as possible.

Harry kept giving him amused looks all through lunch, as he was sitting in Blaise's usual spot across from him. Draco tried not to let Harry get to him to break his poker face. They weren't supposed to be so brazen in public. Harry had managed to get put into detention by Dawlish, but Neville and Hermione would be coming to help escort him back to his room, if Theo was put into detention, too.

Dawlish was in a right asshole in class, finally breaking his mood by calling him a Death Eater at every available opportunity and sending him to the corner to stare at the wall, again. Dawlish made many comments about Blaise and Daphne's absences, and threatened detention as soon as he found her. Theo was put in it as soon as he walked into the classroom. Prick.

"Death Eater! Do not look at anyone! No one wants to be corrupted by your presence. Stare at the wall!" he ordered.

Draco lowered his head and closed his eyes, breathing slowly, to calm down. This wasn't the same as before. It wasn't the Imperious Curse. Ernie tried to help, but Dawlish was watching him. He wished his friends wouldn't be punished for helping him.

When Defense Against the Dark Arts ended, Dawlish told him to wait. He sent Theo and Ernie to scrub Filch's office in the dungeons and sent the others out into the hallway. This was new, as Dawlish never gave him detention, nor ask him to stay behind.

"Death Eater," he growled, but Draco was still staring at the brick wall. "Look at me, scum."

Draco turned, but did not meet his eyes.

"You disgust me. Just being in the same room as a criminal like you makes my blood boil," he sneered cruelly.

Draco lowered his head, more.

"Don't think that looking contrite and ashamed will get anywhere with me!" he growled, and Draco nodded. "Now, your probation officer is expecting you at six. She will not be sending you any more letters. Do not bring anyone, don't tell your friends. Do you understand me, Death Eater?"

"Yes, Sir," Draco whispered.

"If necessary, tell them that you had to report to me. You can even come here, to preserve your alibi if necessary, you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now... I want two rolls on the effects of the Full Body-Bind Curse by Thursday!"

Draco frowned and looked up into his dark brown eyes that had some familiarity. The Body-Bind Curse was a first-year curse with no significant variations that would merit even a half-roll of writing. Dawlish was wasting his time on frivolous assignments.

"You got a problem with that, Death Eater?"

"No, Sir," Draco said, feeling nervous as he stared into the hateful eyes of the Auror. There was something Draco couldn't quite place. Something was off.

"Why are you looking at me, Death Eater? Do you want three feet of parchment?"

Draco lowered his eyes and shook his head. He left the class as soon as he could. Thankfully, Neville and Hermione were there waiting for him, and about to go into the classroom to rescue him. They walked him back to the tower, where he told them he was going to stay for dinner and wait until the others got out. He had no desire to eat anyway. Umbridge was the biggest bitch he had ever known. He took a swig of his Calming Draught to get his emotions under control. He started on his pointless essay to keep his mind off his pending probation meeting.

At a half-hour to six, he Disillusioned himself and slipped out of the castle. He had to run once as he heard Smith and Wayne's voices. He got to the entrance gate and realized that he didn't tell the headmistress, but he didn't have time to go back, now. He walked quickly to Hogsmeade, keeping an eye out for his dementor. He really didn't want to deal with it right now. He just wanted to have his meeting and get back to school before anyone or anything noticed that he was gone.

He lifted his hand and knocked on the door to the second-floor meeting room at the Hog's Head. "Enter," came a sickly-sweet voice that he had come to loathe. He turned the knob.

"Madam Umbridge," he said, formally and sat down when she pointed to the chair.

"I've decided to increase our meetings, Mr. Malfoy. Auror Dawlish says that you and our friends are causing chaos around the school."

"No, ma'am. We are not," he said, quietly.

"Do I want your opinion? No, I wanted to have a candid talk about what exactly you and your friends have been doing. Do understand that you must tell me the truth?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Draco was thankful that he never paid attention to when they made plans. He answered everything she asked as truthfully as he could. But she didn't seem happy.

"I think that you are hiding things from me," she declared.

"No, ma'am. I wouldn't do that. They don't talk about their plans in front of me."

"I made us some tea, so we can have some open discussion. Would you like some?" she asked as she poured tea into a cup in front of him.

Draco froze. Alarms went off in his head. He could not drink what she was offering. "No, thanks. I'm fine."

"It wasn't an offer, Mr. Malfoy." Her voice grew darker.

"I don't want anything," he said, more clearly, already sensing what the cup possessed and that it would destroy him.

"I'm ordering you to drink that," she screeched.

Draco looked at the cup and back up to her. He would never willingly drink that, order or no order. Azkaban or not. He screwed up what courage he had and said, "No, ma'am. I won't. I do not consent to this." He thought he had the law on his side, for once.

"Consent? I don't need your consent. I own you, Death Eater!" she shrieked, and Draco started shaking. "You're lucky I don't hall you in for disobeying my direct orders. I can you know, but I'll first finish your interrogation. You are under probation and you do not have the right to refuse. As your probation officer, I can use whatever means I deem appropriate in order to ascertain the truth. So, drink."

"I won't..." he started, but she flicked her shunted wand and cords wrapped wound his hands and legs, securing him to the chair. His heart started racing faster than Harry's Firebolt.

Professor, no Madam Umbridge, got out of her seat and walked over to him. Draco was nearly frozen in fear. It didn't occur to him to defend himself. He wasn't ever allowed to do that, but he closed his mouth, in case she tried to force feed it to him. She pointed her wand at him and his heart rate exploded. She muttered the same spell that Dawlish had assigned him, and he couldn't move. She tilted the cup against his lips and forced them apart. The near boiling liquid trickled in and he felt different bindings wrap around him. He was going to be forced to talk and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

With a swirl of her undersized wand, he was released from the Body Bind, and she asked her first question in her false-nice voice. "Draco, how are you feeling?"

"I am terrified," he said, immediately. He definitely was. She could literally rip any information she wanted out of him.

"Good. Now, let's continue our discussion. Have you broken your probation?"

"No," his mouth thankfully said.

"Not at all?"

"No."

Umbridge didn't like that answer and her ugly, false eyes narrowed. "Have you killed everyone?"

"No."

"Who did you use the Cruciatus Curse on?"

"Rowle, Dolohov and...." Draco trailed off. He didn't remember doing it to anyone else.

"And the Imperious Curse?"

"Madam Rosmerta, and Katie Bell, indirectly."

Umbridge gnashed her teeth. "What didn't you tell the Wizengamot about your criminal activity?"

"I tried to Crucio Potter in my sixth year, I threatened the owner of Borgin and Burkes to assist my efforts to breach the wards of Hogwarts and I watched Igor Karkaroff die without stopping it."

She launched straight into his answers, digging more into the how and why, flushing out dates, which Draco would have never remembered without the Truth Potion. Then she went straight into his actions during Potter's escape, when he was at the battle and what had happened in Azkaban. Talking about the place, nearly sent his mind on fire, but he didn't fade out. She ended the twenty-minute interrogation with his mother's criminal actions and where she was staying.

She then extracted every faucet of information regarding the attacks against Smith and the others. It wasn't too damaging, but she could start building a case against Blaise. It took maybe another ten minutes to run out of questions for that. He was starting to relax. He didn't know how much she gave him, but any amount would burn out between one and two hours. Their time was almost up.

She smirked as she crossed her arms. "What secret don't you most want me to know?"

Draco tried not to answer. He knew it was possible to get control back. It was the reason why the use of Veritaserum is prohibited in interrogations without direct consent and never allowed to be admissible as evidence without it. But it required a lot of mental control and willpower to break through the truth serum's hold. Draco had none at this point.

Now, it was down to the specific part of the question: "most". That was his concern. He had so much to hide. His sexuality, his relationship with Harry, his wandless magic and, of course, the pit. He tried to keep his mouth shut, but he should have known that wouldn't work. You have to say something. It is possible to lie, but not abstain. He didn't have to choose between his secrets, his mind knew which one was the "most" difficult. The thing that he didn't want anyone to know. The thing that he didn't want to relive.

"I was raped," he said, in the same eerie, calm voice that he did when he was under the Imperious Curse. He was shaking though and tears came out of his eyes.

She smiled in delight at his distress, twittering her fingers excitedly, as his defensive walls came crumbling down. "By who?"

"Rabastan Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback and Lord Voldemort," his mouth replied easily, but his mind was another matter. He was breaking, his mind flashing back to the painful memories.

She tore at him, his control, his mental state by drilling question after question, ripping open fresh wounds and asking who did what and when. He was hyperventilating by the time she was done and couldn't even remember what his traitorous tongue had told her. The pit was reeling him in and there was no one to help him come back.

"Please... don't hurt me," he begged, the memory burning him. He was trapped in the moment, unable to snap back to reality.

"Tsk, tsk. I'm here to help you. Don't you trust me?" she said with a smile.

"No," he replied, nearly sobbing.

She laughed. The fucking bitch laughed and the anger he conjured brought him out of his near-crippling mental break. Fuck her.

"I want you to close your eyes," she said, still grinning.

That was an easy request. He hated the sight of the worst fucking human he had ever known. He didn't know how long that he remained there, but she suddenly said to open them. He felt groggy, uncoordinated, maybe from an overdose of Veritaserum. The cunt probably didn't know that three drops were enough.

Her cold, vicious eyes looked at him. "You will not talk to anyone about this, Draco. No one. That is an order. Are you going to tell anyone?"

Draco started to say "yes", but it turned into "y-no". He knew he couldn't.

"You will keep quiet unless you want everyone to know about what you told me. Cause... I'll tell everyone... everything. About being Voldemort's bitch, what your friends are up to, and what your precious mother did. I'll even charge you with violating your probation. Send you back to Azkaban and let the dementors feed on you. So... are you going to tell anyone?"

He lowered his head submissively, knowing he was trapped. "No, I won't tell anyone. Please, don't..." he begged, uselessly, but she interrupted him.

"I'm glad we reached an understanding, Draco. I thoroughly enjoyed our talk, didn't you?"

"No," he hissed, tears still wet on his cheek.

"Good. That's what Death Eaters get. Now get out of here and keep your mouth shut or your 온라인카지노게임 won't stay between us," she said, releasing the cords on his limbs.

He didn't waste a second and fled, again. He almost fell down the stairs in his haste to get out and scrambled out the door into the village, earning him a look from the barman and several patrons. He couldn't stop running, especially when he felt the icy chill, that he was all too familiar with. His dementor was hot on his heels, again. He hit the wards of the ground just as the dementor overtook him. Draco collapsed on the ground and was about to sink under, hearing the ruthless laughter of Lord Voldemort, when he heard the dog barking.

He opened his eyes to see the large boarhound bark and chase away the dementor, who apparently was unable to work it's evil on a dog. It glided into the woods and his savior came trouncing back, tackling him and licking his face, again.

"Come on, Fang! Get off me!" he said, quietly. 

"Fang!" Hagrid yelled.

Shit, he thought. He then tried to say the "the sky is red" but his mouth changed it to blue. He was still trapped under the Veritaserum's hold. He had to escape without Hagrid accidentally forcing him to talk. He tried to get up, but failed. His muscles were spent from the sprint back.

"Malfoy! Not 'gain! Come 'ere, lad! 'Re yeh alright?"

"No," Draco said, against the weight of the potion. He tried to crawl away.

"No, 'nough of tha'. Yeh're comin' wit' me," Hagrid said, pulling him up to his feet. "Wha' happ-"

"Please, Hagrid... don't ask me questions. Don't make me talk. Please!" he begged, tears coming back down his face.

"O'course, don' yeh worry. Come wit' me... I'll get yeh fixed up," Hagrid said, and guided him to his hut.

Halfway there, his legs gave way and the professor half-carried him back. He led him to the bed and sat him down, gently patting his back and saying things like "get it all ou' lad". Draco let the tears flow, abashed.

"Draco, 're yeh...."

"Please, Hagrid. Don't ask me anything... please!"

"Okay lad! Okay, calm down!" he said and continued to rub his back.

Draco just broke down crying and curled up on the bed. After a while, Hagrid got up to make his terrible, invigorating tea. It took almost an hour later, but his tea was gone and he was able to say 'the sky was red', despite the dark, navy blue color it currently was.

"Veritaserum is some nasty stuff," the gamekeeper said, suddenly.

Draco flinched and looking away. How? "Hagrid... please...."

"Yeh had yer probation meetin', 'gain?" he asked and thankfully the pull to respond was gone.

"I can't talk about it," Draco pleaded, more tears coming out.

"A'right, calm down, lad. I won' make yeh do anythin'."

Draco lowered his head and let the sobs come out. Hagrid hugged him, again. "I can't tell you."

"Well, I a'ready know, Draco... tell me wha's wrong."

"I can't. She said that she'll tell everyone what I...."

"Wha'? Wha' is she gonna tell?" he asked quietly.

"She knows what they... did to me..." Draco said, lowering his head.

He didn't know if Hagrid figured it out or just knew he needed comfort, because he bear-hugged him tightly. Draco cried into his chest, trembling and fighting against the wailing pain, threatening to take over. Hagrid held him so tight, that he could barely breathe.

"...and she said that she'll send me back..." he sniffled out.

Hagrid growled furiously, "No! They wouldn'! Yeh haven' done anythin' wrong!"

"She said...."

"Codswallop! They can' send yeh away for nothin'!"

Draco's shoulders dropped. Yes, they could. Hagrid grumbled a little more and returned to rubbing his back. Draco was content to stay in his arms. It was safe in the hut, maybe no one would ever find him there. Hagrid would protect him. But it wouldn't work. Harry and the others would soon be looking for him, if they weren't already. He had to leave. He slowly patched up his fragile, broken mind and stopped shaking. He leaned back out of Hagrid's hold and thanked the professor.

"It's not a problem, bu' Draco..." Hagrid started.

"No, I can't. I can't talk about it, for more than one reason. Please don't tell anyone," he urged, looking into his kind, gentle, obsidian eyes.

"I would nev'r... I've kept Harry's secrets all these years, I wouldn' tell anyb-"

Draco cut him off, "No one, Hagrid, please. Not Harry, Luna or Professor McGonagall."

"No one, I promise," he swore. "Bu' I wan' yeh ter come an' talk wit' me abou' wha' 'appened... or anythin' at all. I'll listen. Yeh, understand?"

"Thanks," Draco nodded, relieved. He felt no desire to wander back to his room by himself. "Will you walk me back?"

Hagrid smiled. "O'course. All the way ter yer dorm. Yeh shouldn' be alone."

Draco took his hand as they walked, glad to have someone to hold onto and realized if there was anyone who knew what had happened, he was glad it was Hagrid. He trusted him to keep his secret and he might be willing to talk to him about what happened.

Sorry 'bout the long wait! But I typed out near 15000 for yeh! I was so busy at Annual Training and then came right back to work. I basically have had two days off since June 8th. For AT, we spent 8 days in the woods, with no electricity, showers, chairs or heat or AC. I was stuck using my battery backups just to stay connected to 3G.

But sorry about the bringing down the high on the last POV. I almost made it a fluff chapter and then was like... nah. Draco was getting too happy there for a minute. Plus, I want to jump straight into the next chapter. Blaise is going to be back in force! "Hell haveth no fury"... I named it like 6 chapters ago. Time does fly, eh?

Just a random note... I managed to put "talk" into this chapter 51 times... might've been a little excessive. It was also completely coincidental, and therefore ironic, that it was 51 times exactly.

Also - Super happy smiley face with wavy hands! Hit 25K and we are almost to 30K!

Also also - I'm still deciding if I'm going to edit for the wattys2019, so if you see me updating the chapters, don't be alarmed. I'm only fixing spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes, no plot or 온라인카지노게임line changes. I may delete some of the author's notes at the bottom of the chapters, if they have no comments and are just information about updates.

**FYI – if anyone does point out my mistakes, I will tag you for your assistance. Although I've typed several long books, I still look at the darn keyboard when I type, so I make mistakes when I edit, 'cause I just keep on typing... and I'm usually half-asleep when I write.**