Freedom Chains

Chapter Two

This was his one shot, and he couldn't blow it. He hadn't seen Harry Potter in over two years, but the feelings he had for the boy still rang clear. He was obsessed with Harry, in truth, he loved him, but he had never told him that, he had always pretended to be what everyone wanted him to be, his enemy. Now today he would have to continue that façade.

It was a wedding for the littlest Weasley, Ginny. She was marrying Dean Thomas because Harry had left her a long time ago. She had moved on, Harry had not.

Draco was in the back of the party, hiding in shadows. The wedding was taking place out in a large grassy field, trees and tables everywhere. The place was now only lit by candles and moonlight, yet everyone partied on. The wedding ceremony had long been over, and now was the time for dancing and socialization.

He watched the dark-haired Gryffindor move his way to the bar for yet another drink. Harry had been there all night, drinking, and moping, groaning and shooting angry glances at the bride and groom. Now, Harry was alone at the bar, and it was the chance he had been waiting for.

He slipped out from the shadows and sat next to Harry on a stool.

"Hey," Draco said softly.

Harry turned to him, his expression curious but not angry.

"Y-You," Harry's word slurred. "Hey."

Harry reached up and put a hand to his face and he held his breath. Harry's eyes were so full of sorrow and Draco felt ill.

"Come with me," Draco said, taking him by the hand.

Harry followed him easily watching him as if entranced.

"You're like an angel," his voice whispered.

Draco laughed aloud. "Do you know who I am?"

Harry shook his head drunkenly and smiled. "You're perfect."

The words were left hanging in the air, and Draco stared at him for a moment, forgetting he had a job to do.

Hell, Harry was calling him perfect, Harry was looking at him as if he meant everything in the world, it was how he had looked at Harry since the first day he had met him.

"Kiss me," Draco whispered under his breath.

The dark haired boy didn't move for a moment and Draco sighed. "Come on."

Harry leaned up, and to Draco's great surprise, he kissed him briefly on the lips his breath heavy with alcohol.

"Take me away from here," Harry muttered. "Please."

He wanted to stop and ask Harry what he was running from, what he was getting so worked up over, but the boy's words took him over and he obliged silently.

He followed him away from the party and to a portkey in the shape of a rather lumpy looking sock. Harry and he took a hold of it, and there was a swift pull around his navel.

---

Draco sat with his hands on his knees as he waited for Harry to wake up again. This time, he had chained Harry's hands and legs to the bedposts; this time, he wouldn't be able to break free.

His eyes roamed over the boy's body, and damn, did he look good. He was shirtless and pants-less, with only boxers for cover, his untidy hair was as messy as ever and he had no glasses on, for Draco had taken them off out of curiosity.

Here was the boy, the one he had fallen for all those years ago. He was right in his grasp, and he had shared with him a moment so precious only a few hours ago, and now it meant nothing. Of course, he had known that it wouldn't mean anything in the morning. He knew Harry would forget everything, he also knew Harry had only acted out of grief and alcohol.

But still his mind raced and flashed the words, He's the one. He's the one.

Harry had always been the one.

He's the one who hates me.

Now the fact that he had taken advantage of the boy came flooding back. He had used Harry's state of loneliness to work his own whims.

Harry didn't trust him; he had no right to, especially after last night.

Draco curled his hands around his knees, breathing in deeply. How could he prove to Harry that he loved him? Would he have to move on and just live with the few moments that they had shared?

He wasn't supposed to love Harry; that interfered with his plan. The fact that he cared so much, loved so deeply, that was a huge problem. But he had to follow through with the plan, no matter what his feelings were, it was the only way.

Snape knew. Draco didn't like the fact that he did, and he didn't even know how he had figured it out, but somehow he knew. Snape was testing him, finding out how far Draco would push himself to live up to the Malfoy name. How much of a Malfoy was he?

If he really thought about it, he knew he defiled nearly all of the Malfoy unwritten laws. He had shown mercy to Albus Dumbledore. He had fallen in love. To top that, he had fallen in love with the enemy, who happened to also be a boy, the boy-who-lived as a matter of fact.

But there was only one clear choice that lay before him, and that was to use Harry to fix up everything. The thought of using the boy made Draco sick in the stomach.

Snape would ensure that he pulled it off. His mother would also ensure it. She didn't know about his feelings towards Harry. If she had, she would have disowned him. She would not stand for that kind of disloyalty and violation in her house.

Why can't he love me?

Harry shifted slightly on the bed, and the cuffs held tight. He let out a loud groan of pain and his hand twitched as he tried to move. Harry's eyes shot open startled when he realized he couldn't move.

"What the..." Harry's voice was panicked.

That panic, that fear; it was almost too much for Draco to handle.

"Silencio," Draco muttered, and Harry's voice cut off.

The boy sent him daggers through his eyes, but Draco just leaned over him.

"Listen to me. I know you're afraid, but you have to believe me; you're safest in the chains for now."

Harry looked disbelieving and aggravated.

"I need to talk with you. If I remove the spell will you listen?" Draco asked cautiously.

There was a moment where Harry didn't move, and then he nodded his head.

"Good," Draco said, and he removed the spell.

"Where am I, Malfoy?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Draco sighed. "My house, the Malfoy manor."

"Why am I here?"

I'm supposed to be asking the questions, Draco thought upset, but he couldn't help but answer.

"Because I need you to learn to trust me, I don't want anyone to get hurt, I need you to see that."

'You're lying.' The words echoed through his head, Harry's words, not his own. He frowned in surprise.

"How did you-" Draco started confused.

'Tell me the truth, Malfoy!' the echoing raced through his head.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked.

He was in his mind, how?

"I don't know," Harry said aloud. Harry looked nearly as startled as he did. "But I know you're lying, tell me the truth."

"I..." Draco frowned. He had been lying; someone was going to get hurt. "I just need you here, alright?"

"No! Not alright!"

"Oh bloody hell!" he shouted, realizing he didn't have to argue with him about this. "I need you to do as I say from here on out."

"And why the hell will I do that, Malfoy?" Harry growled.

"Because..." Draco took a huge sigh, he had to tell him, he wanted to tell him, but by doing so he was starting something he couldn't come back from... but hadn't he already started it last night? "Because I love you."

---

The wedding was about to start, everyone was seated. The isle for the bride was littered with rose petals and the air was filled with magic. Harry was walking down the isle, Gabrielle on his arm, but he wasn't the one getting married, no, he was one of the bridesmaids' escorts up to the front of the wedding.

He took his place beside Ron Weasley who gave him an amused smile. Neville Longbottom followed up the isle with Luna Lovegood in arm, they parted and Neville took his place beside Harry. Harry shot an angry glance at the groom, who happened to be his old classmate Dean Thomas. Why he hated Dean was for the reason that was coming up the isle next.

She was in a gorgeous white dress, light gold flakes and rose patterns along the waves of the dress. Her brilliant red hair was up and perfect. Her face was flawless and beautiful as ever. Ginny Weasley was the bride.

He had never thought that she would wait around for him, but he had certainly hoped. He also had never thought that she would go back to Dean. He hated her, he hated him. How could she hurt him when he felt so much for her?

She seemed so happy, so in love and this crushed him. He loved her, not Dean. How could she have moved on? How could he have let her go?

The ceremony took what seemed like ages, and when it was over Harry ditched the pictures - not that he was asked to be in a lot of them. He made his way up the open bar and started off with his first drink of the night. He watched the happy couple and the rest of the Weasley family taking pictures in the field below.

She kissed him, he held her hand. They were 'oh so adorable' as everyone in the party kept saying, but Harry wanted them to both drop dead. Harry ordered another drink, and moved his way to a spare room in the building where the bride had gotten ready.

He stayed in there for a very long time, thinking about his life, and how completely horrible it was.

There was a soft knock and when the door opened, Harry wanted to disappear. It was Ginny and she was looking for him.

"Harry," she said. "There you are."

"Here I am," Harry droned in a toneless voice.

Ginny frowned. "Harry, please, don't be like this. We both know things weren't working out between us."

Fuck you. He said nothing.

"What do you want me to say? What do you want me to do?" Ginny suddenly screamed out. "I love him! I loved you. You let me go, Harry. What was I supposed to do, be stuck on you forever?"

Yes.

"Please don't be like this."

"Be like what?" Harry shot her an angry look.

"Like you hate me, like I let you down. Because I haven't, and I refuse to let you ruin this day!"

"Then leave me the hell alone! Go be with your lover, have a smashing time!"

"I can't with you up here making me feel like a horrible person."

"If I'm making you feel that way, then maybe you are."

"Stop it!"

"Or what?"

Ginny slapped him, and Harry narrowed his eyes.

"Get away from me," Harry hissed under his breath.

Ginny turned away, her high heels making her exit even more dramatic. Harry wanted her so badly, but she was never going to want him again.

He stormed off out of the room, and went immediately to the bar.

After he had lost count of how many drinks he had had, the couple's first dance began. Ginny and Dean took center stage, her hands around his neck, looking into his eyes.

Harry wanted to do something dramatic, something big, and that's when he felt a presence join him at the bar.

"Hey," the figure said softly.

Harry turned his expression curious. This person was speaking to him; no one besides Ginny had done that all night. And the person was a guy, and he looked really good...but maybe that was the alcohol talking.

"Y-You," Harry's word slurred. "Hey."

Harry blinked a few times; the boy seemed familiar...Harry reached up and put a hand to his face.

"Come with me," the boy said, taking Harry's hand.

Harry thought for a moment. Maybe this was the moment he had wanted - imagine everyone's shocked faces when they'd see him with this guy. Maybe it was Harry's intoxicated brain that was causing him to think this, but he couldn't help but be entranced by the glow that seemed to be around the boy's face.

"You're like an angel," his voice whispered, and he meant it. He had never seen anything like this boy before.

The boy laughed, and Harry's heart fluttered.

"Do you know who I am?"

Harry shook his head drunkenly and smiled. "You are perfect," he told him. He wanted nothing more then to feel his body heat against his. Anything to make the pain and heartache disappear, anything to cause attention.

"Kiss me," the boy whispered to him.

Harry stared for a moment, trying to comprehend the words, and when he had, the boy had already changed his mind.

"Come on."

But Harry hadn't changed his mind; he leaned up and kissed him briefly on his soft lips.

"Take me away from here," Harry muttered. "Please."

The boy consented leading him away from the dance floor, and no one's eyes were upon them, just the beautiful happy new couple.

---

He loves me...He loves me...He loves me...He just said he loves me. Did I really just hear that right? Draco Malfoy could not have told me he loves me!

"What did you just say?" Harry asked horrified.

"I said I love you."

Harry shut his eyes terrified. This isn't happening, I'm dreaming, and when I open my eyes I'll be in my bedroom.

He opened his eyes and Draco was still there.

"You hate me! You don't love me!" Harry shouted.

"I don't hate you, I've never hated you," he whispered.

Why aren't I waking up?

"You've been harassing me since the day I met you!"

"I was doing what was expected of me."

"You've attacked me! We're rivals. You helped kill Dumbledore!"

"I know! And I'm sorry! A lot has happened since then, I want to make it up, I want for us to forget the past. I want you to be able to trust me!"

"I can't trust you! You fucking tied me to a bed, you're a Death Eater!"

Draco looked down to his feet. "Can you give me a chance?"

"Why should I?"

"Because I need you; I can't survive without you."

The handcuffs on his arms and legs tightened and he was overwhelmed with the feeling that Draco was telling the truth, but that there was also a lot more to that statement then he was leading on.

He didn't know how it kept happening, but whenever Draco said something Harry was able to identify if he was telling the truth. He was also able to send thoughts directly to Draco...

'What are you not telling me?'

Draco however, was not able to send thoughts back.

"How are you doing that?"

"I told you, I don't know, Malfoy!"

He hated him; he wanted revenge on the boy. It was he who had allowed the Death Eaters into the castle. Harry had lost a lot that night, and he blamed Malfoy. How could he be saying he loved him? He had never shown even the slightest hint of it before.

But Malfoy looked at him now, and Harry almost hoped to believe him. Draco could so easily be lying.

Which was truth, and which was the façade?

---

A flash and a group of full-hearted smiles. Ginny kissed her husband again and smiled giddily. This was the happiest moment of her life...or it would have been, if Harry wouldn't have been here.

"Has anyone seen Harry?" Ginny asked the fellow couples around her. Everyone shook their heads and Ron pointed up the hill.

"He went up there right after the ceremony."

"I'm going to go check on him," Ginny whispered to Dean.

Dean nodded somewhat reluctantly and kissed her forehead.

"Don't be too long," he told her.

She smiled assuredly and started up the long grassy field. Everyone stopped and hugged her, telling her they were happy for her. She smiled sweetly and made short small talk, but her mind was on Harry.

What right did he have to ruin this day for her? Why had did she invite him?

She didn't find him at the bar, and she didn't find him anywhere else...he couldn't have gone home, could he?

She entered a building, and found him moping in a corner.

Oh, make him be alright, please! Please let him forgive me. I didn't mean to lose him.

"Harry," she said. "There you are."

"Here I am," Harry droned in a toneless voice.

His words were painful, but she forced herself to be strong. She loved Dean, and they were together.

"Harry, please, don't be like this. We both know things weren't working out between us."

Harry shot her an angry look but said nothing. Ginny wanted him to talk to her, to understand why she had done everything, but Harry was so certain that she had ruined everything.

"What do you want me to say? What do you want me to do?" Ginny suddenly screamed out. "I love him! I loved you. You let me go, Harry. What was I supposed to do, be stuck on you forever?"

Harry didn't answer.

"Please don't be like this."

"Be like what?" Harry snarled.

"Like you hate me, like I let you down. Because I haven't, and I refuse to let you ruin this day!"

"Then leave me the hell alone! Go be with your lover, have a smashing time!"

Harry! Don't do this.

"I can't with you up here making me feel like a horrible person."

"If I'm making you feel that way, then maybe you are."

"Stop it!"

"Or what?"

Ginny was fed up; she wanted him to see things her way. Her mind raced and her hand came up and slapped him. Harry narrowed his eyes, and Ginny couldn't believe what she had just done.

"Get away from me," Harry hissed under his breath.

Ginny turned away, she had to be away from him; he was ruining everything.

The night went on, but Ginny wasn't concentrating on Dean, or her guests. Her eyes flickered often to Harry who stayed at the bar for the rest of the night. She had done this to him, was it worth it?

Ginny was instructed to the dancing floor with Dean for their first dance and everyone crowded around them; everyone but Harry. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, and as the music started, she allowed herself to watch him closely.

A boy came from the shadows and sat next to Harry. She watched this boy and knew he had an agenda...he looked familiar and he seemed set on doing something, but she didn't understand what. The boy whispered into Harry's ear, and took his hand...and Harry followed him! She nearly gasped in surprise as Harry leaned up and kissed the boy on the mouth.

No!

Ginny faltered and Dean let her go.

"Ginny, what is it?"

"Are you okay, Ginny?" Ron asked, stepping into her view line of Harry and the boy.

Ginny pushed past them, but when she arrived to the spot they had once been, they were nowhere to be found.

Who was that boy? And why had Harry gone off with him?

"Darling, what is it?" Dean came up behind her and she winced.

This was not how things were supposed to be, she should have been the one to run off with Harry this night, not that boy.

Where had they gone?