Mirrorverse

~~Mirrorverse~~



This chappie is dedicated to two wonderful mates: Angela and Lady Geuna. Cheers, hugs and smooches luvs! :)

All right I've decided to add in this little tidbit (which is a slight 'spoiler' here but needed :sigh: I warn you all now, this fic is my typical 'at least-one-time-per-fic-must-make-Harry-feel-guilty' chapter. Yes he is going to be a very bad boy in this chap, though as you will find out it's not all 'his' fault. Before you killed though please remember...those who do know me know that I never have ended a fic 'badly', and true love ALWAYS triumphs in the end! :grins:

Cheers of course to all me readers and reviewers! :hugsand hugs:

~~Chapter Eight: Meetings Of A Clandestine Nature?~~

Harry was bored, and that at this particular moment in time, was not a good thing all told. It made him antsy and cranky, and that in turn made him temperamental, as the Gladrags worker was finding out all too quickly when she produced the clothing that had just come in from France as ordered. Harry took one look at the item he now held in his hands however, and didn't even stop to think, it was like something...or someone rather...took him over again.

'I told you I wanted this dress shirt in black Voile,' Harry said scathingly now to the girl, who was now cowering as he then glared coldly at her. 'This...' he hissed holding out the offending shirt, is made of deep blue Organdy. It is not only the wrong colour, but Organdy is a material for women's blouses and dresses, not men's dress shirts. Do I look like a woman to you, you imbecile?'

'N-no, M-Master Harry, of course not.I...err...t-there must have just...err...been a m-mistake on the order form. I-I'll have it fixed it right a-away,' the woman stammered and took the shirt from Harry's hand.

'See that you do, or I'll start taking my business elsewhere,' Harry snapped, and watched as the woman scampered off towards the back of the shop still cowering.

'You're in a right mood, what's wrong, Harry? Not like you to get so upset over simple fabrics,' Peter asked curiously.

Harry scowled and turned to Peter, a dark look in his eyes. 'When I want something done, I want it done correctly, Peter, not half-arsed. Can you really see me wearing something like that? It's appalling to even look at the thing let alone wear it!' he muttered.

Peter chuckled and then came over and began to massage Harry's shoulders lightly. 'You're too tense today, luv, maybe we should just skip the rest of this and just head over to Honeydukes, eh? Some of your favourites would be just the ticket I think,' he said firmly.

Harry closed his eyes a moment and relaxed into the massage, then shook his head and stepped away from Peter, turning to face him. 'Maybe you're right, I am a bit stressed today. Let's go, this can wait, I want some chocolates and Licorice Twists, among other things. That will perk me up I'm sure,' he said now smiling at Peter.

Peter chuckled and nodded, then together they walked out the door of Gladrags when Harry suddenly realised something and stopped short. 'Where's James and Sirius?' he asked curiously.

Peter shrugged and looked back at the shop, wondering the same thing now. 'Don't know, I thought they were right behind us when we got here.'

Harry thought on that a moment then shook his head. 'No, only Sirius was with us, James wasn't. Now Sirius is gone as well, I wonder what they're up to?' he mused, tensing up again and glancing round as if he was hoping to spot the pair.

Peter looked at Harry curiously for a moment then shrugged. 'Knowing those two, something nasty no doubt. I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure we'll catch up to them at some point. Let's get to Honeydukes before they have a chance to buy up all the good stuff eh?' he said now and started to head off towards the sweets shop.

Harry didn't follow right away however, he had a bad feeling about James and Sirius going missing, though he didn't know why that was yet. Shrugging it off however he continued on towards Honeydukes, a lot on his mind. When he noticed the gilded rooftop of the Three Broomsticks in the distance an odd smile came to his face and suddenly the day was beginning to look a bit brighter. That was until someone reached out and grabbed by the arm, pulling him into a small alleyway next to a cottage that was dark enough for the person who was kidnapping him not to be seen yet.

Harry was about to say something but the person put a hand over his mouth, and even in the darkness of the alleyway he could see the person shaking their head. The person dragged Harry off and didn't stop until they got to the very back of the alley, and then did something very strange. Taking his wand out he tapped on a brick wall and quietly said the words, 'Mysta Auris', and suddenly the wall disappeared and the person dragged Harry through a now open archway that led to a darkened corridor.

Harry instinctively stepped through the archway into a dark corridor, and turned round as the other person now stepped through himself. The other person had already closed the arch so the room was darker than the alleyway had been, and Harry had to blink to adjust to the lack of lighting. Before he could say anything however he was pressed back against the wall roughly and then a very hungry, needful pair of lips found his.

'You scared the hell out of me you twit,' he said breathlessly, pulling back from the not-supposed-to-be-so-wonderfully-dizzying kiss after a few moments.

The other person chuckled. 'Beats being bored though, doesn't it? It looked like you could use some excitement anyway,' the person said smugly.

Harry laughed and nodded. 'That it does. Where the hell are we though?' he asked now curiously.

'Ah, you mean the great 'Master Harry' doesn't know everything eh?' the person chuckled.

'Oh sod off, where are we?' Harry muttered.

The person only chuckled again and took Harry by the hand, leading him down a short corridor that ended at a wooden door with a black iron handle in the shape of a lion. The person lifted the handle and pulled open the door, then walked in the room, Harry wandering in behind him. 'Luminos,' the person then said, and Harry's breath caught in this throat as a few candelabras flickered up, throwing the room into a soft, golden glow.

Glancing round the room Harry was a bit impressed, he hadn't expected anything like this to be hiding behind a wall in Hogsmeade at any rate. Obviously it once had belonged to someone from Gryffindor, as the Gryffindor House banner was displayed proudly on one wall, above a queen-sized bed that also had a duvet on it with the Gryffindor House crest. A small bookshelf was in one corner along with an oak desk, and on the walls hung tapestries of famous battles of this world in which good actually had won. The rest of the furnishings were simple, some chairs and a small settee though no fireplace. Decked out in reds and golds it was certainly a well kept secret this place, and from the looks of it was still in use, or as if it was ready to be used again, though Harry couldn't image by whom and for what purpose.

'Peter...what is this place?' he asked now turning to his 'captor', a saw that Peter was already flopping down on the bed looking at him with a grin.

'A well guarded secret,' Peter said smugly.

'I think you have been hanging round James and Sirius too long, Peter, either that or you are truly turning into a Slytherin,' Harry said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. 'Seriously though, where are we?'

Peter looked at Harry speculatively a moment in decisiveness, then nodded as apparently he finally did decide what he was going to say. 'I can trust you...right, Harry?' he asked quietly now.

Harry looked back at him in debate himself, for right now he knew he had to be very careful what he did and said. 'I'm you're Master, Pete, if you can't trust me then who can you trust?' he said.

Peter nodded, accepting that answer. 'True. All right then, I'll tell you where we are. You know my parents were tagged as...traitors...right?' he said hesitantly.

Harry nodded. 'Yeah I remember, and?' he asked.

Peter sat up and fidgeted, turning his gaze down to his hand which were now clasped in his lap. 'Before Lord...before he...' he began with a slight shiver, 'found them, they were on the run for a while. Places like this were part of the underground movement by the resistance, used to temporarily shelter those who needed it. They stayed here for two weeks before it became unsafe and they had to move on. The person whose house this is attached to is what we call a 'Benedict', a Slytherin who switched sides and would help the resistance in secret, spying or whatever was needed. I was able to see my parents whilst they were here a few times before they moved on, thanks to Professor Riddle, but when they left here...I never saw them again...they were caught a week later by him...and executed,' he sighed.

'Oh...Peter...I'm...I'm so-err...oh hell, I am sorry, Peter,' Harry said quietly, and went over to sit down on the bed next to Peter.

Peter smiled softly. 'I'll take that 'sorry', only because I know you really do mean it. Just don't make a habit of it all right?' he teased.

Harry chuckled and nodded. 'Right. Is this room still in use though these days?' he asked now curiously, then glanced round again.

Peter shook his head. 'No, it's not really needed anymore now that...he...is gone. But Mr. Argent, he's man who owns the house, is getting it ready again. If what the resistance thinks is true...if your father really is going to...to bring him back...then the room might be needed again. Professor Riddle wanted me to check on it to make sure it was ready anyway, just in case, though I wasn't sure how I was going to until I saw you looking so bored. Figured...err...it would be a perfect time for it,' he said grinning sheepishly.

Harry grinned. 'Well you certainly know how to make an otherwise boring afternoon more exciting, Peter, give you that.'

'Actually...Harry...I was hoping to...spice it up...even more so...' Peter said looking up at Harry hesitantly.

Harry didn't need to translate what Peter meant by that, he knew full well what was meant. He looked at Peter for a moment and saw the needy and very pleading look in Peter's eyes, and listened as he could hear Peter's breathing was beginning to already speed up from already flushed excitement. Harry looked away and swallowed hard, his mind racing in a thousand directions, unsure of what to do, but knowing he had to make a decision and quickly.

Closing his eyes he tried to stop himself from the betraying thoughts he was now having, and then tried to focus on something else, or rather someone else, a silvery-blonde headed boy whom he needed right now more than anything in the world. Unfortunately as he began to think of his blonde-haired lover, a wave of sudden agonizing pain shot through him, and he fell off the bed to his knees with a strangled cry.

'H-Harry? Luv what is it? What's wrong?' Peter said worriedly.

'Stay...back...' Harry managed to breathe through gritted teeth, before another round of pain assaulted him when he again tried to focus on Draco. The more he tried to think of Draco in the hopes of taking away the pain, the more agonizing the pain became. He found that he couldn't think anymore, couldn't barely even breath any longer it hurt so bad. Finally he could take no more, and falling forwards on his hands he screamed. 'NOOO!'

'HARRY! Oh Merlin, Harry...what's wrong?' Peter cried out now, scrambling off the bed to kneel besides Harry, putting his hand on Harry's back trying to comfort him. 'Oh please, luv...what's wrong? What's going on?' he said half sobbing.

Harry gasped as he felt Peter's hand touch him, and found that the moment Peter did that a searing flame shot through him, one he was positive he didn't want to feel. He became dizzy, the room spinning round him, and he felt the world slow down and become sluggish. Time seemed to stop then, and words floated into his mind, words he now remembered.

*You can stop the pain, Harry. Stop fighting yourself...*

*Just let the powers guide you, accept them, embrace who you are and what you can do...*

*Stop fighting yourself...you can't win...*

'I can win...' Harry whispered into the air, thenhe closed his eyes and shivered, trying to fight back the words. 'I can fight this...I have to...' he whispered again, but as he did so another round of pain washed over him and he groaned in agony. He was tired, so very tired now, and the pain was taking all of his energy, draining him.

*Stop fighting it, Harry. This is who you are, who you were meant to be. Forget the half-breed, he is nothing, can be nothing to you. Your servant is whom you need now...take him...use him...control him...he's yours to do with as you wish...*

'NO! I will not! I will not forget!' Harry screamed out angrily at the invading voice, another round of pain wracking his body.

*Don't be a fool, Harry. Fighting who you are will only result in more pain, is that what you want?*

'WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY!' Harry cried out.

*The more you refuse to accept who you are, the more you will suffer. Stop the foolishness, stop thinking you can save the world...be who you were born to be, Harrison Potter. You are the only one who can stop the pain...no one else. You are the darkness, Harry...the sooner you accept that the sooner the pain will fade...*

'No...you're...you're wrong...' Harry sobbed, trying desperately to bring Draco back into his mind but failing miserably.

*You see? You can't even remember the half-breed anymore, because he can mean nothing to you. You are a prince of the darkness and soon enough you will be ruler of all. You're stronger, more powerful than your father ...you are now even as powerful as Dumbledore was...you do not belong with the light, Harry. Forget the half-breed, you don't need him...the only one you need is your servant...your body aches with need and you can satisfy that with your servant. Why look to a half-breed who doesn't want you?*

'He does...he does want...me...I know he does...' Harry said, suddenly unsure even of what he was saying.

*Enough that he marries the Mudblood? That she bears his child?*

'W-what? N-no...no...you're mistaken! He isn't...who...what child...?' Harry said in shock now.

*Ha! He doesn't care for you, only for that Mudblood Evans girl. You think he loves you when he sleeps with the her? When it's her name he calls out in the night? Her bed he sleeps in? When he fathered her child?*

'He...he wouldn't...he didn't...' Harry said angrily now, his thoughts becoming a tangled jumble of two different worlds. In the end he found that only this world was tangible, that this world was the real world, and images again of his life here become all too solid. The places in this world, the people in it, the lies and deceits becoming the only truths.

*Ah, but he most certainly did. Whilst you have been neglecting your adoring, faithful, loving servant, going behind his back with the half-breed, he has still been bedding the girl...impregnating her with his seed with the full intentions of marrying her*

'No...he...that bastard...he lied to me! He swore he loved me...me...not the Mudblood! I'll kill him for this...I'll kill him for betraying me like this!' Harry cried out now in anger, his green eyes blazing with a clouded, drug-like rage.

He remembered it all now, remembered how he had professed his love to the Gryffindor only a week before, positive of his feelings for the other boy. Of how he had for the past month been meeting him in secret, in an unused guest room on the third floor for a night of fulfilled passions. How he had been deliberately avoiding Peter in favour of the sliver-haired boy, placing sleeping spells on Peter so that he wouldn't know Harry was missing. How he had believed that the other boy loved him in return, only to find now that certainly wasn't the case. Harry had been lied to, cheated on, made a fool of by a lowly Gryffindor, and he didn't like that one bit.

*You can make it right now, you can fix this. Your servant needs you...as you need him now. He is yours to do with as you see fit, he alone bears your claim mark, wears the Potter Servant's Ring...you're personal Servant's Ring. Take him to bed and use him, Harry, use his body to take out your angers and frustrations...make him pay for the betrayals of his old Gryffindor friends...*

'Yes...I see that now...I was foolish...this is who I am...and those who go against me will suffer for it...' Harry said in a low, dangerous voice. He suddenly felt strange, no longer himself. Power coursed through him, anger filled him, need and desire flooded him, and he knew now the voice within him spoke true. The world then sped back up, returning to normal, and Harry got up from his hands and knees quickly. He then reached down and pulled Peter up and into his arms, looking at him with an intense, dark gaze.

'H-Harry? Are...are you all right now?' Peter asked hesitantly.

Harry nodded. 'More all right then I've been in a long time I think, Peter. Now, I believe you said something about 'spicing up' my afternoon, hmm? I warn you now though...I fully intend to hold you to that,' he smirked, and before Peter could even reply he was kissing him with a harsh, lusting need that surprised even himself.

'Harry...oh, Harry...' Peter breathed ecstatically, thrilled that for the first time in what seemed like forever Harry was again wanting him back in his arms.

'You're mine, Peter Pettigrew, mine, no one else's...my servant!' Harry said hoarsely, and then pulled Peter into the bed, his thoughts now on only revenge and the heated, angry desires that needed desperately to be fulfilled.

It would be hours later when Harry would wake up from a light sleep, finally coming back to his senses, and realising what had happened. Lying there in bloody, sweaty, cum soaked sheets he couldn't believe what he just had done. That he had succumbed to the darkness like he had. He felt so dirty, so ashamed, and he could barely breathwith the stabs of sadness and guilt that filled him. He realisednow that what had happened earlier, the voice that had been speaking to him causing this mess, was only a manifestation of his worst fears. That somehow it had managed to pray on him at an all too vulnerable moment, forcing him to give in.

Thankfully Peter was still asleep yet, Harry could tell as much by the light breathing he was hearing, and now looking over at Peter he gasped at what he saw. During their daytime tryst it was clear to him that he had been more out of control then even he thought he had been, and Peter now bore the brunt of that. There were blood caked gashes, bites and obvious fingernail shaped half-moons covering Peter's body. Criss-crossing all over his chest, arms, legs, neck and stomach like an animal had attacked him, and to all intent purposes that's what Harry felt like he had been.

Harry paled slightly, sickened by the thought that he had been responsible for this, that he had practically raped Peter more than anything else. The more he lay looking at what he'd done, there the more of what fully had happened started to filter back to him, and with a tiny sob he knew now what he had been like. He had taken all that anger, fear, and flat out pure rage of what that voice had said, and turned it on Peter to the worst possible extremes. Not even because he could do that as his 'master', but as punishment because Peter had once been a 'Gryffindor', and Harry had wanted him to indirectly pay for Draco's supposed 'betrayals'.

He remembered now how brutal he had been to Peter, taking him without even preparing him, without even using any lubrication to ease things. No, he had been too angry, too much in needed lust for that, he had abused Peter knowing that he wouldn't fight him back, wouldn't cry out, and would do whatever Harry had wanted of him. Harry silently groaned as he remember that he hadn't even let Peter find release until he himself had been fully sated first. Until he had caused Peter enough pain to satisfy the rage, until he had taken Peter so hard that Peter had bled freely, the blood running down his legs in rivulets onto the bedsheets. And only once Peter was enough pain and agony, when he was sobbing, even hoarse scream of agonizing relief.

Turning away from Peter he was nauseated by his actions, in all his life he had never been as cruel as he had been to Peter this day. What made everything even worse was that he had betrayed Draco, that he had done the unthinkable in bedding Peter, even if Harry hadn't quite been 'himself' at the time. He was afraid now too, because he knew he was going to have to tell Draco what happened, he was too guilt-ridden to hold something like this inside, not for long anyway. Draco knew him too well, and something like this would weigh on Harry's mind to the point where Draco would be able to spot that something was wrong a kilometre away.

'Harry? You awake yet?' a soft voice said now in concern.

Harry turned back to Peter hesitantly, he hadn't noticed Peter had woken up as lost in his thoughts as he had been. 'Yes, I am,' he replied in a tight, guilt-laced voice.

'You all right, luv?' Peter asked worriedly now.

Harry sighed. 'I think I'm the one that should be asking you that, Peter. I'm...I'm sorry, Peter...I'm so sorry...' he said in a choked voice.

Peter moved against Harry, taking him into his arms and kissing Harry on the cheek tenderly. 'There's nothing to be sorry about, luv. I'll be fine...'

'No, Peter, how could you be? I did nothing short of raping you!' Harry said in a strangled voice, again feeling ashamed of himself, feeling like nothing short of a criminal.

'Harry...oh, Harry, luv...no you didn't. True you've never been quite so...err...well, angry for some reason with me - ' Peter began but Harry cut him off.

'I wasn't angry with you, Peter, trust me on this. It...it was something else, something I can't exactly explain to you really. It doesn't matter, you should hate me for this, be disgusted...angry...anything but understanding!' Harry said guiltily.

Peter leaned up on his hands and looked down at Harry, brushing a lock of Harry's hair off his forehead. 'What good what it do me if I were angry with you, Harry. That's even if I was, which I'm not. You haven't touched me in over a month now, you've avoided me...ignored me...why would I be angry when I finally have you back in my arms? I've missed you so much, luv, I could never be angry with you no matter what you do. I...I love you...Harry...' he said quietly, his eyes showing exactly that emotion.

Harry sighed. 'Oh, Peter...' he said softly, and reached up to put his hand on Peter's scratched cheek.

Peter smiled tenderly at him though, turning his face so that he could kiss Harry's palm tenderly for a moment. 'I know you can't love me back...not really. I never expected you too. I'm just happy knowing that you want me again, that I can be there for you, and I've enough love for us both, Harry, always will,' he said quietly.

'You're unbelievable, Peter Pettigrew,' Harry said staring at him now. 'You know that?'

'Oh? How so?' Peter asked confused.

'After what I just did to you...you still love me. You still want me...I caused you pain...suffering...and yet you still love me. You're either incredibly mental or insanely suicidal...' he said shaking his head slowly.

Peter laughed and shook his head. 'Nope, just in love, Harry, just in love. Happens that it's with you is all, go figure eh? A lowly Gryffindor who's parents were traitors, somehow ensnared and bewitched one of, if not the most powerful dark wizard of the century. Heh, maybe I am mental eh?' he grinned.

Harry laughed and nodded back. 'Definitely mental. Look...we better get back, by now James and Sirius, as well as everyone else, are probably wondering what happened to us,' he said with a slight groan.

'Yeah, it's late, probably close to supper by now even. Not that anyone would dare ask where we've been though eh?' Peter said then made an attempt to get out of the bed, however he didn't get more than half a centimetreout before he moaned softly in pain.

'Peter?' Harry asked in concern, then throwing the duvet off got a better look at why Peter had been moaning. Sucking in a deep breath and exhaling sharply he saw why that was, and cringed again in both guilt, and anger at himself for what he'd done. Peter's lower body was caked in blood, and large purplish bruises were forming all up and down his thighs. Taking the risk Harry gently turned Peter halfway over and paled again, almost turning green from what he saw. Peter's lower half was nothing short of a raw, bloody mess, and what skin wasn't clawed, bitten and bloodied was turning purplish.

'Oh Gods...Peter...' Harry said nearly throwing up now. 'Oh, Peter what have I done to you?' he said choking back a sob.

'Harry...don't...don't all right? This is what I'm - ' Peter began to say in a tight voice, only to be cut off again by Harry.

'Don't you dare give me that 'I'm-your-servant-so-you-can-do-whatever-you-please-to-me' crap, Peter Pettigrew!' Harry said angrily. 'You didn't deserve this, not from me...not from anyone!'

'Right now that doesn't matter, Harry! We have to get back to the castle before they come looking for us, that's what matters right now, all right? I'll survive...just help me get up,' Peter bit back, though his voice was clearly more in pain then angry.

'Wait,' Harry said, then quickly walked over to his robe and pulled out his wand. As gently as he could he used the few healing spells he knew to clean up at least the blood, and try to heal some of the bruises best he could. 'When we get back you're going straight to Madam Pomfrey and get the rest healed,' he said firmly.

'No!' Peter said quickly, shaking his head rapidly. 'No...I can't do that.'

'What? Why not?' Harry said both confused and angry that Peter wouldn't do this.

'She'd ask questions, dammit you know how nosy she is! No...I'll...I'll talk to Severus...he's got healing potions...pain potions I can take, and he won't say anything. He's always been discreet when things have gotten this way,' Peter said, finally getting out of the bed, and with a few winces began to slowly get dressed.

'Hold up here...do you mean to say this has happened...before?' Harry said astonished now.

Peter turned and gave Harry an odd gaze. 'Well...it's never been quite this bad before...but...aw hell, Harry, sometimes you do tend to ahh...well get a bit rough, I just don't always let you know it, that's all,' he said apologetically.

Harry just shook his head dazed, he just could not believe this day was getting worse by the minute. Unfortunately he couldn't say anything to Peter either, not now anyway, not when he was supposed to be the 'Harry' of this world. 'Let's go, Peter, we need to go,' was all he could say now, and finished getting dressed himself.

'Yeah, I wouldn't want them to find this place, that's for sure. Not when it might be needed again soon,' Peter said sadly.

Harry turned back and looked at Peter for a moment, debating what to say to him on that. 'Peter, I will do what I can...while I can anyway...to make sure that my...Father...doesn't bring back his 'master'. I will fight, I don't know how...but somehow I will. Father is doing something to me, Pete, I can't explain exactly what it is, but it's making me lose who I am little by little. I promise you though, I will do what I can, for you, for the Gryffindors, for Professor Riddle, for everyone, for as long as I can fight him,' he said quietly.

'I know you will, luv, because that's who you are. If your father is doing something to you, we'll find a way round it...something anyway. You're not like the others, not really, I know that. I've seen the side of you that can be caring and protective, and I'm glad it's me you chose to be that way with,' Peter said softly. 'Come on, let's go huh?'

'Yeah, good idea,' Harry nodded, and together they started to head back out to the alleyway. 'Pity we never did get to Honeydukesthough, I could really have gone for some Licorice Twists,' he said wistfully.

Peter chuckled. 'We can always have them send up stuff to the castle, I'm sure they would for you,' he said firmly.

Harry grinned. 'Why don't I doubt that,' he said.

Just as they were rounding the corner to the Three Broomsticks they heard someone call out to them. 'Where the hell have the two of you been all this time?'

Harry and Peter stopped short, turning to face the person who'd spoken. 'Why? Been worried about us? Or there just wasn't enough excitement for you today?' Harry said back cooly, stepping a bit in front of Peter now.

James gave Harry a cool look, then shrugged his shoulders. 'You never turned up at Honeydukes, nor at the Three Broomsticks for our usual rounds. Just wondered what caught your fancy enough to keep you so occupied for an afternoon,' he said just as cooly, then got a better look at Peter and snorted. 'Well I guess that answers my question then doesn't it. Seems you found your excitements,' he smirked.

'Sod off, James, it's not your concern. For that matter you never showed up at Gladrags either, so where were you hmm?' Harry bit back.

James leveled an cold glance at Harry now. 'Nowhere that you need to concern yourself with either, little brother,' he said icily.

'Well then, seems we're at an impasse, because I know I am not going to explain my day to you,' Harry said back coldly. 'What do you want, James. You're not usually without your lap dog. Has Sirius find a better bone to play with?' he smirked.

James's eyes flashed with icy anger. 'Don't even start with me about Sirius, Harry, or I'll - ' he began but Harry cut him off.

'You'll what? Hex me, curse me? I thought you figured it out this morning that there's nothing you can throw at me that I can't counter. You want to go for seconds though? I'll be more than happy to accommodate,' Harry sneered, and pulled his wand out now, leveling it at James. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Peter had quickly dashed out of the way and was now half hiding behind a large tree, peering out at them almost expectantly.

James smirked at Harry and drew his own wand out as well, leveling it at Harry. 'So you want to play again eh? Fine then, I'm game. Let's see what new tricks you've learned today shall we, little brother? I'm so anxious to know,' he sneered.

Harry didn't really want to fight James, but like this morning, he felt a strange power flowing through him at the thought of duelling someone. That strange heat began to overtake him again, and now that he had little choice but to duel he did what he had earlier, and let his 'powers' guide him. A crowed had now began to form round the two boys as someone had obviously informed the townsfolk that a duel was to take place, and giving a wide birth the crowd now stood off to the side, watching in both fear and anticipation. It was when Harry saw a flash of silver hair amongst the crowd...no...two heads with silver hair, that he suddenly stopped short, astonished by what he was seeing.

Draco was there looking at him with a guarded expression, but definitely not a happy one, and on his right was a person Harry knew all too well, only much, much younger than he'd last seen him. It was clearly to him now that this other person had to be Lucius Malfoy, and he was as usual very well dressed, and very well groomed, reeking of wealth and oddly not so much 'power' but 'standing', a man in a very high position despite his age which couldn't have been more than twenty-one or twenty-two at best. Somehow Harry knew by the obvious youthful age on Lucius that there was no way in the world he was Draco's father here, more then likely he was his 'brother', just like James was his.

He didn't get much more time to dwell on Lucius however when he saw a flash of red, and then he nearly doubled over when he saw a woman with long red hair and green eyes slip through the crowd to stand next in-between Draco and Lucius. A woman that could only have been Lily Evans, his own mother that he had never known in his world, but what made him really feel ill is what he now remembered something the 'voice' earlier had told him. This was obviously the 'Evans' that it had spoken of, the woman that in this world was Draco's 'fianceé', the woman who was carrying Draco's child. He knew now of course that it wasn't really his Draco, but this world's 'Draco' that she was with. Just to be safe he turned his gaze away from her now, he wasn't going to let the 'voice' control him again, not now anyway, he couldn't, not with James still wanting to 'play'.

Somehow he knew these 'games' were common between him and his brother, more like 'shows' that they 'performed' for the public in order to keep them in queue and a chance to show off their 'powers'. This was their way of letting people know they were the 'Masters' here and not to be trifled with, but at the moment Harry wasn't sure he even wanted to play this 'game'. Not with Draco there, not with his mum there, and he had to cringe when he inadvertently glanced back over at Draco and saw Lily slip her arm through Draco's. He knew that because of what he had told Draco to do earlier that Draco was now forcing himself into putting his hand comfortingly on top of Lily's, and Harry felt yet another pang of pure guilt. He knew that later on he was going to have a hell of a lot of explaining to do to his true love, and only prayed Draco would forgive him.

Turning his gaze away from Draco and Lily, his eyes fell on Remus and Severus now, who were oddly enough holding each other round the waist all too lovingly, and he wondered what more he had missed out on since last night. He certainly didn't remember the two of them having any sort of 'relationship' back in their own world, so this was definitely news to him. From the looks of it though it was rather a 'newfound' relationship all told, and he made a mental note to ask Draco about that later when he would see him.

'You going to stand there gaping or we going to duel, brother? I don't have all day you know,' James said lazily now, cutting into Harry's thoughts.

It was with the left over remnants of anger and guilt with himself for what he had done earlier that he now turned back to James with a scowl. Suddenly he actually felt that he needed this 'sparing' session more than he thought he did, and noticing that his brother was now gazing off into the crowd, it was just the opportunity he need. 'En guarde, brother! Trifidus!' he shouted out then, and a flash of yellowed lightning shot out of his wand, and he could see James's hair stand on end as the lightning bolt shot just past his head.

James whipped round quickly, a smirk on his face. 'Aim's off today, you missed me, brother,' he smirked.

'Purely intentional, I assure you, my dear brother,' Harry smirked back, bowing slightly as if he was mocking James. 'Trying to get you to pay attention, not flirt with the crowd.'

James scowled and his eyes blazed for a moment in anger. 'Well then, let's get serious shall we? Expectoro!' he shouted.

Harry managed to dodge the spell by a hairs breath. 'Trying to banish me off somewhere's eh? Nice but no thanks, brother,' he sneered. 'Let's see here, my turn eh? Ah yes...I know just the thing...Incendium!' he shouted now, and seconds later a blue flame was dancing on the hem of James's robes.

James didn't even realised he was on fire until it was too late, and stamped out flames in a huff. Not before it was too late however, and the blue flames had now burned a nice size hole in the hem of his robe. 'You bastard, this is my brand new robe! It cost me a hundred Galleons, not to mention that it took two weeks to get it in, and now you've gone and ruined it!' he said angrily. 'That's it, your going to pay for this! Let's see if you can block this one, little brother! Avada Kedavra!' he screamed.

Harry however was surprisingly calm, somehow he expected James to cast that spell, or at least one of the Unforgivables anyway. Just like this morning though he felt that strange heated power flow through him, and he watched again in slow motion as the spell headed towards him. He knew he didn't need his wand now, it would be a hindrance for what he had to do, and let it fall to the ground. He then heard a gasp from those near him, though it sounded like it was coming down a long tunnel more than anything, but now wasn't the time to dwell on the fact he knew he had just surprised everyone that was watching this. Then just as the green light of the spell was about to hit him, he said in a calm, clear voice, 'Protectio', and instantly he felt himself surrounded by a shimmery film like substance that was like a second skin on him.

As he felt the spell complete itself the world suddenly sped up again, the spell once again zooming towards him at normal speed. He watched in an almost detached fascination as the beam hit him square in the chest, and then shatter into a million tiny specks, the green of his eyes reflecting the green rays of the sparks of light. There wasn't a sound now that could be heard, no one dared move, and even the birds in the trees didn't dare chirp as Harry then looked back at his brother, a slight smirk on his face. 'Well then, I guess I can block that one, brother. Seems this round goes to me,' Harry said in a softly mocking tone of voice, then reached down to pick up his wand, brushing it off non-chalantly.

James blinked at Harry, then walked over to him, shaking his head in amazement. 'You really did, I don't believe it,' he said in a strange voice.

Harry then put his wand back in his robe, whilst keeping a careful, wary eye on James. Crossing his arms over his chest then he said, 'You still want to play, James?' he said coldly.

James shook his head, and then surprisingly laughed. 'No, not today anyway, think I'm spelled out for the moment. Would be kind of anti-climatic after that fireworks display eh?'

Harry couldn't help it, the anger he'd felt drained out of him and he just shook his head and chuckled. 'No doubt. Next time you want to duel with me when I'm in a bad mood...I might not be so lenient on you, brother,' he said almost teasingly.

James chuckled. 'I'll be looking forwards to it.'

'So am I for that matter,' a new voice said from the crowd, and a man stepped forwards with a pleased look on his face.

Harry and James stiffened, then turned to face the man who was now walking over to them. 'Father,' they both said at the same time.

'Well done, both of you. Especially you, Harry,' Maximus said with a trace of pride in his voice.

Harry bowed his head slightly towards him. 'Thank you, Father. I haven't disappointed you then?' he said slowly.

'Of course not, it's what I would have expected from you, my son,' he said knowingly, oblivious to the scowl that crossed James's face at that comment. 'Seems I'll have to be more careful in the future.'

'Oh? And why is that, Father?' Harry said, noticing the scowl on James's face, filing that bit of information away for future reference.

'Well isn't it obvious, my son?' he said glancing over the crowd now with an odd glint in his eyes. 'You're already as powerful as I am now, so I suppose I'll have to watch my back from now on, hmm?' he mused, his words loud enough to make sure everyone present could hear what he had said.

Harry knew what Maximus was up to, and smirked at him. 'Perhaps you should,' he said cooly, and started to walk over to where Peter was still half-hiding behind the tree. Pulling Peter to his side he wrapped his arm round his waist, risked a very quick glance towards Draco who slightly nodded back at him, then turned to walk away. However he then stopped and turned back round to face Maximus, a strange glint in his emerald eyes. 'Father?' he asked.

'Yes, son?' Maximus asked in return.

'Two things. First off, get James a new robe since I ruined his new ones,' Harry said nodding at his brother who surprisingly nodded back.

'Very well, I'll do that, and the second thing?' Maximus asked.

Harry gazed intensely at Maximus for a moment before replying. Choosing his words carefully he said in an almost off-handed yet cool tone of voice, 'The second thing is very simple. You said I'm as powerful as you are, but your wrong.'

'Oh really, what am I wrong on then, son?' Maximus said raising an eyebrow towards Harry.

'I'm not as powerful as you are, Father...I'm more powerful than you are...or ever will be. There's only room in this world for one Dark Lord...you might want to keep that in mind for future reference,' he said icily, then he with a smirk on his face he whispered something under his breath, and to even Maximus's surprise he and Peter simply vanished into thin air.

'What the...? Where did they go?' James asked in surprise himself.

Maximus suddenly got a strange feeling he knew the answer to that, and reaching out with the magic bestowed upon him as Headmaster of Hogwarts found exactly where his son and Peter had gone off too. 'By Salazar...he's managed to by-pass the wards,' he said in a strange voice.

'What? How? What does that mean?' James demanded.

'It means, James, that your brother is now capable of doing anything he damn well pleases from now on,' Maximus then said with a dark scowl.

'You're not making sense here. What do you mean he get past the wards?' James asked crossly.

Turning to James, a dark look in his eyes he said in a cold voice, 'Somehow, James, your brother has managed to learn how to Apparateand Disapparate onto the school grounds.'

'That's not possible, no one can do that!' James argued.

'Well, explain to me then how it is that he is currently back in the Slytherin common room, hmm? It seems I've underestimated him...' Maximus said in a hard voice. 'I'll see you at supper, James, I must return to the school at once,' he said sharply then, and turned on his heel and quickly walked away, a strange, intense look on his face.

James watched him go and then shook his head in both confusion and awe. 'Well well, Harry...seems you've managed to even put Father at a loss for words. Well done, little brother, well done indeed,' he said quietly, then he too started to head towards the castle.

He decided to take a short cut through an edge of the Forbidden Forest, and had just come to a small clearing when he stopped short as he heard someone call out softly, 'Jamie?'

Turning round he saw a shadow in the trees, and he then followed it as the shadow went deeper into the forest. Not that much later he was suddenly grabbed round the waist and roughly swept into a pair of arms, and before he could even say a single word a pair of lips came down over his, and he melted into the now softer, warmer embrace of his captor. Minutes later he pulled back from the sweet kiss and said in a tender voice, 'I missed you...'

'Not half as much as I missed you, Jamie,' the other person said with a sigh. 'I know you said to wait till tonight...but I saw how you looked after he left, and figured you could use a pick-me-up,' the person said with a slight grin now.

James grinned himself and nodded, snuggling back into the arms surrounding him. 'Let's not talk about him shall we, I don't want to ruin this,' he said with a contented sigh.

'Oh? What would you rather be talking about then, my love?' the second person said with a chuckle, and kissed James's forehead gently.

'Oh...I can think of a few things...like how I am going to ravish you tonight...how I'm going to kiss, lick and tease every inch of your silky skin...how I'm going make you scream out my name in pure ecstasy when my lips are pressed round your pulsing, hard - ' he began only to be silence with a now very lust-filled kiss.

As the two lovers broke apart again minutes later the other man said breathlessly, 'Gods, Jamie...what do you do to me? You're making it very difficult to wait till midnight you know...'

James chuckled and put his hand up to gently trace his lover's cheek with his fingertips. 'I'm corrupting you, what else does a Potter do, my love? And I agree...midnight's just way too far away...I want you now...' he said hungrily.

'What...here?' the other person said startled, though it clear he really wasn't going to argue the point very much.

James laughed then pulled out his wand and placed a few silencing spells round the small clearing they were in, and then transfigured a makeshift bed out of some rocks. He pointed his wand at his lover and said a few well chosen words, then did the same to himself, and seconds later both men were completely naked, and obviously both very ready and willingly aroused. Pinning his lover to the bed, there was a strange expression now in his eyes. Not of lust, but of kindness, tenderness, warmth, as well as desire, need, passion and pure ache for the man beneath him. In a low, husky voice he said, 'You're mine, you know that...forever...only mine...'

'Yes...all yours...' the other person replied in an equally aroused voice, especially now that James was kissing the nape of his neck. 'I...love...you...Jamie...' he managed to breathe out as James had now moved on to nibble at his ear.

James paused his tender administrations only long enough to whisper something into that ear, 'I love you too, Luc...'

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A/N: Ah now, I know what you're thinking...:cowers as she's about to get killed: yes I did a very baaadthing here :sniffs: but...don't worry...it will all work out...have faith m'dears, you know I adore my boys too much to make them hurt for long! :grins:

October 15, 2002 3:16 AM ©Piriotessa/Piri Lupin-Snape/Piri Malfoy