For 16 Galleons

Third year had been pretty darn great as far as Harry was concerned. He and Draco had repeatedly put Weasley and his friend Smith in their places. Extra studies were going well. Miss Millicent was doing fairly well in classes and her parents had backed off slightly. She seemed to bloom when they sent her notes of approval. As her confidence built, her grades improved. Hermione was quite devoted to study and pushed, not only her mistress, but also Harry and even Draco to get better grades. It had been quite humorous the first time she had scolded Master Draco for skiving off. Master Draco had looked at her like she had turned into a veela or something. He'd opened his mouth to remind her of her place when she clapped her hand over her mouth and apologized profusely to him. She explained that she was expected to do whatever it took to keep Miss Millicent studying hard and had forgotten whom she was talking to for a moment. Draco looked at her and laughed, exclaiming that it was the first time he'd been mistaken for a girl. The tension had eased and all was forgiven.

Hermione had given up on Justin that year and dated a couple of older slaves once or twice. What Miss Millicent thought about her slave having a more active social life than she did herself, Harry didn't know. He did know that Justin was fit to be tied. Rumour had it that Hermione had actually let one of the boys French kiss her in the stairwell. Hermione ignored all the talk and Justin pouted for weeks. Harry found it all quite amusing. At least the girls were leaving him and Master Draco alone. Of course, part of that was because Miss Pansy was a right harpy to any girl who so much as looked at Draco. At least the bint hadn't figured out that boys were more of a threat than any girl.

Harry didn't know if his master had tried kissing any of the boys but he thought it wasn't likely. After the night they compared notes on Professor Snape, the two of them had got quite comfortable talking about other guys and sex. Harry was sure that a couple of times when he'd been wanking in the shower, Master Draco had been doing the same thing on the other side of the wall. He was surprised to find just how much faster things went when he thought about that.

The summer, however, was not shaping up too well. The train ride to King's Cross Station had been fine. The welcome home had not. Mrs. Carter once again didn't meet him. She was really sick. He'd spent a bit of time every day visiting her in her rooms. It was depressing and scary. There were potions and equipment he didn't recognize all over and the room smelled funny. Medi-witches and wizards were there far more often than he was comfortable with. Mistress Malfoy had sat him down and explained what was going on but Harry still didn't quite understand. Mrs. Carter had Barnett-Wednesday's disease. It was very difficult to cure as it affected the base makeup of a witch or wizard and fed off the victim's own magic while adapting to the methods used to combat it.

One night late in July, Harry and his master were up in their rooms working on summer work for school when Harry became aware of the sounds of many people moving about in the mansion. He got his master's attention and they headed down the hall and to the balcony. They stood there, shocked by what they saw. The front door was open and medi-staff were rushing in and out. Shortly, a small group came out of the back levitating a stretcher with several monitoring globes floating above it. On the stretcher was Mrs. Carter. Master and Mistress Malfoy were following. Master Malfoy was deep in conference with a Healer and Mistress Malfoy had a hand on his arm and tears in her eyes.

Harry looked over at his master to confirm that he really was seeing this. Draco looked back at him, horrified. Harry rushed past his master to the stairway and raced down it. Before he could get close to the group Mr. Arieta grabbed him and wrapped one strong arm around his waist and, as he began to scream, placed a hand over his mouth. He struggled but it was no use. Mr. Arieta was speaking softly in his ear to not get in the way, not distract the medi-staff, not cause more harm. Harry barely heard him and gripped the man's arm tightly while tears poured down his face. As the stretcher was taken outside to the emergency portkey, Harry began to choke on his sobs. He turned and saw that Draco had followed him down the stairs and was standing next to him.

Mr. Arieta turned him around and held him tight. Harry gripped the man's robes and tried to focus on what was being murmured to him. "Shh, shh. It will be okay. She's had a turn for the worse and Master Malfoy immediately called St. Mungo's. They'll be able to help her. Don't you worry. It will be all right." Slowly Harry calmed down. He realized that Draco had his arms around him and Master Malfoy even had a hand on his shoulder while speaking to Mr. Arieta. When he pulled back from the man holding him, they all looked at him.

Master Malfoy kept his hand on Harry's shoulder as he spoke. "Harry, she'll be all right. I have the best staff working with her. Narcissa is already at the hospital and I need to hurry there. Are you going to be all right?"

Harry couldn't speak but nodded his head.

The hand on his shoulder squeezed firmly. "I'll contact Mr. Arieta as soon as I have news. You and Draco go up to your rooms so he will know where to find you."

"Yes sir."

Draco looked at his father worriedly and then gave Harry's arm a gentle pull. As they were going up the stairs Harry heard Master Malfoy softly say, "You aren't the only one who cares for her."

At the landing Harry stopped and looked back down at the scene below him. Master Malfoy was giving last minute instructions to the staff and trying to reassure them. There was a lot of sniffling and he could see most of them trying to dry their eyes. When Master Malfoy finally strode out the front door, Harry turned and continued to his and Master Draco's rooms. Once inside he just stood there, staring at nothing.

"Harry?"

"She's going to die, Master Draco."

"No, she's not. Father said they will be able to take care of her once they get her to the hospital."

"No. I know it. She's going to die."

"Harry, you suck at Divination so stop it," Draco yelled.

Harry looked up in shock at Draco. He took a few deep breaths. "Yeah, you're right. I need to think positive."

"That's right. She'll be fine."

Sighing deeply, Harry went over and sat on the couch looking at the empty fireplace. Draco put away their school things and sat down beside him. They just sat quietly for a very long time. Eventually Harry could hardly keep his eyes open. Draco was cracking his jaw with huge yawns. They both got up and got ready for bed. With no words spoken between them, Harry climbed into his master's bed and snuggled close.

Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and pulled him closer. Harry rested his head on his master and slowly drifted off to sleep with the other boy stroking his hair and back. Just as he was slipping under he thought he felt the soft press of lips on the top of his head.

For three days the Malfoy home was under a cloud of despair. Everyone loved Mrs. Carter and everyone was worried that they had seen her for the last time. Harry moped during the days and curled up in Draco's arms at night. He hardly ate or slept or even spoke. The master and mistress were home only briefly each day to clean up and rest a bit before heading back to the hospital.

Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Master Malfoy woke the boys up with good news. Mrs. Carter would be coming home today. It had been a constant battle for the staff at St. Mungo's but they had finally beaten the disease into remission. It would be a long time before Mrs. Carter was completely out of danger but things looked promising. For the rest of the summer, Harry spent part of each day with his surrogate mum and never once complained about the equipment or smell.

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At the end of August, the Malfoys decided to have a small dinner party. The Parkinsons, Professor Snape, and several members of the elite Death Eaters were invited. Of course the Great Lord himself would be the guest of honour. In the days approaching the dinner, Harry found himself extremely busy preparing his master's clothing and accessories. He wasn't sure who was worse, Draco or the Mistress. During the last three days Harry had gone through eighteen different outfits for his master. Eventually they decided on the one he had chosen for Draco the first time. He, himself, would wear the Malfoy staff uniform, which was rarely used. It just had to be cleaned and pressed and hung out of harm's way.

The night of the dinner, Harry called all his training into play. He strove to remain unobtrusive and observant. He opened the door for his master and followed him into the dining room. Almost immediately his scar began to itch. He struggled not to scratch it. Throughout dinner he stood beside Sally Ann and served Draco, who was seated beside Miss Pansy. He observed that Draco was a perfect gentleman to the girl but a bit cold. Everyone chatted, including Lord Voldemort. Every once in awhile he just couldn't stand it and would sneak a hand up to rub quickly at his scar.

As dinner came to an end, the adult men adjourned to one of Master Malfoy's studies while the ladies went out into the garden. The few children moved to another room and sat around and chatted about the schools they attended. Harry stood at the edge of the room waiting for the possibility that Master Draco would need something. He was listening to one of the girls expound about Durmstrang when Mr. Arieta knocked and entered.

The servant looked around the room and when he saw Harry, beckoned to him. Harry glanced at Draco, who nodded at him, and followed Mr. Arieta out.

"Master Malfoy would like to speak to you."

Harry nodded and gulped. He reviewed the evening for things he had done wrong but the only thing he could think of was rubbing his scar. His thoughts came to a quick halt as Mr. Arieta opened a door to a small study and ushered Harry inside. Inside he found Master Malfoy, Professor Snape and the Great Lord himself.

"Ah, Harry, come here," commanded Master Malfoy.

Harry quickly approached.

"During dinner I noticed that you kept rubbing that scar on your forehead. Is there something wrong with it?" Master Malfoy inquired.

"I'm so sorry, Master Malfoy. It has been irritating. I tried to ignore it but it keeps itching," Harry answered fearfully.

"I see."

The Great Lord held out his hand. "Let me see, boy."

Harry turned and approached the intimidating wizard. The itching was worse than ever. When Lord Voldemort reached out and touched the scar, Harry flinched.

"Hmm, this is a very interesting scar. Where did you get it?"

"I, I don't know, My Lord. I've had it since I was small."

Lord Voldemort exchanged glances with Professor Snape. "Let Severus have a look at it."

Harry approached his professor almost more carefully than he had the Great Lord. Snape also touched his scar. In fact he poked, rubbed and scratched it.

"My Lord, it is quite possible that you are right. I suspect there is a curse imbedded in the boy's scar. It would be difficult to discover who did it or what curse it is, unfortunately."

The Great Lord seemed to think for a bit, then looked at Master Malfoy, "Would you leave us with the boy for a few moments, Lucius?"

"Of course, My Lord," Master Malfoy replied as he left the room. Professor Snape sat back in his chair and crossed his legs.

When the man was gone, the Great Lord turned back to Harry. "What do you think of your life here, boy?"

Harry looked confused. "I beg your pardon, My Lord?"

"Are you happy with the Malfoys? Do they treat you well?"

"Oh, yes, sir," Harry brightened up. "They are wonderful to me. I'm much happier here than I was with my aunt and uncle."

"I see. Do you feel slighted that you are a slave?"

Harry cocked his head to the side a bit. "No, My Lord. If I weren't a slave I would be in the Muggle world and never have learned to do magic. I wouldn't have Master Draco or go to Hogwarts." He reached up and rubbed his collar. How could he explain to the ruler of the Wizarding World that he felt like he belonged?

Professor Snape seemed pleased with that answer. The Great Lord asked, "Do you have any memory of your true parents?"

"No, My Lord. My aunt told me my mother ran away and became a whore. She said that I was a bastard and no one had any idea who my father was."

"Does your scar bother you often?"

"No, My Lord."

"Very well. Would you like for Professor Snape to remove whatever curse is imbedded in it so that it won't bother you again?"

"Oh, yes, My Lord. I would be quite grateful." Harry wasn't sure why they would want to do that since this was only the second time the thing had bothered him but wasn't going to say anything to upset the Great Lord.

Professor Snape told him to see him on the second day of school, then dismissed him. On the way out the door he heard the professor tell his lord, "I'm not at all sure, My Lord. Whatever curse is there is obviously a powerful one and was placed many years ago. I can remove it so if it is a time-delayed spell that would threaten the Malfoy heir, it will no longer be a problem."

"Good, Severus. Draco seems very attached to the boy. I would hate to have to destroy him. Let me know the outcome."

Harry hurried back to the room he had left his master in. He wouldn't rest easy until the curse was removed.

To be continued.