One That Stood Alone

Harry paused in his stride into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when he recognized the black figure ahead of him. The person turned, lips pursed and eyebrows narrowed. Professor Snape did not appear to be altogther too pleased.

"Professor--"

"You will return to your previously scheduled appointments with Black beginning next week. I will not teach a student who fails to produce a patronus even in his seventh year." Before Harry could retort, the door to Luminos' office atop the stairs opened as he angrily stepped from his room, annoyance clear on his face when he noticed the Potions professor.

"Severus, what are you doing in my classro... Harry?" All traces of resentment melted away from the man's voice as he then noticed the messy haired Gryffindor who was also occupying the room. He was down the stairs in mere moments and next to the raven haired boy, nervously looking him over for any signs of injury. "Harry, are you alright? Have you rested?" Confused as to why Snape was there and his sudden refusal to teach him, Luminos' genuine concern only added to Harry's puzzlement. There was such anguish in Luminos' vibrant blue eyes he immediately stuttered out an affirmative to both questions without really understanding what was going on. The metamorphmagus let out a long sigh, turning to glare at the Potions professor.

"What do you want, Severus?" Snape's expression was a mask of indifference, causing Harry's curiousity and confusion to only heighten. Professor Snape normally would be angered, annoyed, verbal in some way at Luminos' actions. Yet the man seemed to wear no emotion on his face, not even meeting the heated glare from the Dark Arts professor.

"You heard me, Potter." Head held high, Snape strode past the two. Too many questions plagued his brain without a plausible answer to any of them. What did Luminos and Snape have to do with one another? Something was obviously between the two and--

"Professor Snape, wait." The receding footsteps stopped before reaching the door. Harry slowly turned so that he could see both men at once. "Can't the both of you train me?" There was silence before both men began to protest. Harry cut them off, his words killing anything they had to say. "I need as much insight into Voldemort as possible."

Luminos visibly winced, taking several steps away from Harry as if wounded. Snape quickly processed what Harry's words meant before storming to the front of the classroom, robes billowing dangerously about his person and a gleam in his eye that rivaled any predatory anger Harry had ever seen in the man.

"Potter, you have not told anyone about Luminos, have you?" The words were low and controlled, yet there was something deeper behind them. Harry faced the Potions Master directly without flinching, despite the initimidating shadow falling across him. Even with his growth spurt, Professor Snape still managed to loom over him just as he did in first year. Only now Harry was able to read the man a bit more, understand the intricacies in his speech pattern and body language to recognize when he was genuinely pissed off.

"No, professor." Snape's nostrils flared and he glared down from his long, angled nose at Harry. Green eyes glanced at Luminos then back at Snape, confusion slowly forming into a semblance of possible explanations. "I wouldn't have told anyone he's a..." It occurred to Harry he didn't know for sure that Luminos was a spy or not, but whatever he was Dumbledore already knew. The man knew everything that went on in Hogwarts, the mischievous twinkle holding much more than boyish fun. "...whatever he is." Luminos dropped his gaze to the floor as he seemed to gather himself against the remark.

"One would think you would show more respect to someone who has risked himself for years at your expense, Potter." The words hissed from Snape's lips like a snake about to strike. "Merlin forbid that you do not know everythi--"

"That's enough, Severus." Luminos placed a hand on Snape's shoulder, gently but firmly pulling the man away from Harry. "It's alright. He needs to know. He deserves to know." Snape bit his tongue, regarding the other man with complete silence. They held one another's gaze for seconds before Luminos nodded once. Snape breathed in deeply, clearly restraining himself from verbally chastising Harry once more. The coal black eyes regarded Harry again before the billowing figure of Severus Snape turned on his heel and left the room.

The sound of the door closing echoed quietly in the still room. Luminos let out a breath, rubbing at his temple with one hand. Harry's brows furrowed in thought, as though something had been shown for him that he should have noticed but still eluded him.

"You don't have to hear me out. You can walk out on me right now and tell everyone what you know." The somber expression on the man's face was disrupted with a raise of the lip and a wink. "But then you wouldn't be able to hear all the sordid details, now would you?" He took a deep breath before gesturing up the stairs to his office. "It's a long, dramatic tale of an absolute fool which requires a good amount of tea," he smirked again, "or stronger stuff, to properly tell. My office?"

Harry's lips tugged upwards ever so slightly before he nodded, following the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the truth.

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It glittered in the distance, the sun reflecting off its golden surface. Harry jerked his broom to the right, avoiding a bludger which had been sent his way by Goyle. The snitch fluttered in the distance and his eyes narrowed against the wind blowing sharply at his face as he plummeted to the grass after the elusive ball. Reaching one hand out in efforts to catch the snitch, the other holding his broom steady, Harry felt the gossamer wings batting against his fingertips. If he could just...

"Honestly, Potter, do you really think I'd let you win that easily?" Harry was knocked in the side by Malfoy, causing him to grasp his broom with both hands in order to right it so that he didn't hit the ground at a most unpleasant rate. Pulling the broom tightly upwards, he darted higher, heading back for his lookout position atop the field; the snitch was gone for now. Avoiding several more bludgers targeted at him, he only stopped when he was some hundred feet above the field. It was a clear day so he was able to see the game progress, but there was no way Goyle was going to be able to send anymore bludgers his way without the attack being obvious.

The blond head was soon at his level once more, Malfoy curiously close for usual matches. Anyone below would simply think the Slytherin boy was waiting to follow Harry for the snitch, blind to the conversation that began.

"Goyle sure is fiesty today, isn't he?" There was a light, almost sing-song tone in Draco's voice and Harry merely grunted in response. It was only twenty minutes into the game and he had already been attacked by nearly thirty bludgers from the Slytherin beast. When Malfoy didn't continue with any more witty commentary, Harry glanced over at the boy from the corner of his eye. At first he thought Malfoy was just looking for the snitch, but then noticed the path of the boy's cold, mercury gaze. It followed a number thirty-one--Gregory Goyle. Contrary to his light tone, the blond Slytherin seemed to be glaring so harshly at his fellow teammate it seemed he was attempting a mental Avada Kedavra.

"It's nothing I can't handle." Jerked from his attempt to simply will Goyle into oblivion, Draco raised a brow to look over at the Gryffindor Golden Boy. Harry's hair was messier than normal, the wind currently blowing it about his face and into his eyes, causing the boy to wrinkle his nose and give a shake of his head in efforts to displace the offending strands. The smirk on his lips remained the whole while. Malfoy raised one elegant brow before raking his eyes over Harry in a most obvious manner.

"Yes, you are quite good with balls, aren't you, Potter?" This sent a slight blush to warm the raven haired boy's already flushed cheeks, but his smirk remained.

"Never had any complaints." Draco rubbed his chin in thought before giving a shrug of his shoulders; no, he had no complaints. This morning he had felt awful, sitting in his room as though he had taken several bludgers to the head and was left with not much else to do but stare at the blank walls. It had only been when Pansy and Blaise came for him, insisting he come to breakfast at least for show--the Quidditch game against Gryffindor WAS today, afterall--that he had snapped himself from his spiraling descent into the darkness of his mind, which insisted on playing several different possibilities of tonight's 'ceremony.' Which was tonight, in a few mere hours. In the Forbidden Forest to be precise. Exactly 11:30 so that the ceremony could take place at the peak of power, right before the day ended and yielded its innate magic.

"Malfoy?" He realized he had been staring at the dark forest, now turning his attention back to his rival seeker. Harry didn't know what to say. He wanted to ask what was wrong but that sounded odd; too childish and naive. Now that Draco was looking at him, he couldn't seem to gather any words which didn't sound accusatory, annoying, or pleading. Pansy's warning had haunted him the entire day, only now hitting him once again at full force. Of course, Dumbledore wouldn't be the only one to swear those into his allegiance on such an important day. Voldemort was going to bring new inniates into his ranks, and it had only occurred to Harry now that he didn't know where Draco stood.

There was a rush of silver and green past his face. It took Harry mere seconds to spot the shining golden ball which Draco had sped after. Cursing under his breath, he flew after the blond head as fast as he could. Weaving in out of the players, he could just reach Draco's torso but the snitch was mere centimeters away from the Slytherin's outstretched hand. He was going to lose. He wouldn't make it in time. The snitch darted down suddenly, aiming once more for the grass. Harry closed that part of his mind off, that part which instinctively told him how to fly, how to speed up or slow down, and he freefell.

Gravity, you see, is a much more effective way of falling from an extreme height. It is much faster than any speed he could get on a broom, and it was gravity which sent him past Malfoy. He caught a glimmer of shock and something else in Draco's mercury eyes as the Slytherin seemed to notice that Harry had stopped flying altogether. The only problem with allowing gravity to bring you down from an extreme height was that it was damned near impossible to stop before you smashed into the ground.

Flashing emerald eyes remained on the snitch every second, the wind rushing so loudly in his ears he didn't hear the crowd's screams. So loudly he didn't hear the warning from Ginny. His focus so narrowed, he didn't see the bludger barreling towards him. He let out a gasped cry as it rammed into his side, shattering his ribs and causing lights to dance before his eyes. The stands rushed by him as the grass grew ever closer. Stretching one hand forward, Harry winced at the pain this caused in his torso. Something was tearing, ripping, breaking. The snitch fluttered a breath away and he was still freefalling. Still freefalling... he pushed all the speed of his broom into the freefall, sending the snitch into his hand just as the smell of the dirt and grass filled his nostrils.

There were screams and cries. Harry took in a shattered breath, clenching his eyes tightly shut against the pain which pierced his side. He lifted his arm against all protest of his body. The crowd silenced, several sobs and murmured whispers still heard throughout the stadium. Opening his hand, there was an eruption of cheers as the small, golden snitch fluttered delicately in Harry's palm. Madame Hooch blew the whistle. The game was over and Gryffindor won. Harry smiled before his arm fell and the throbbing in his head took over.

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It was dark and there was a particular smell which stung his nose, familiar and nauseating but unable to be placed exactly. A light illuminated the room and he wished it hadn't. There were crumpled bodies strewn about and it was then that he was able to identify the smell; dried pools of congealing blood.

"He has fooled me for far too long." The man kneeled before him, silver-blond hair cascading over his shoulder.

"Who, my lord?" There was a throaty laugh.

"You know exactly who, Lucius. Do not play a fool."

"Yes, my lord. Forgive me, my lord." He knelt near one of the bodies, the stained robe of an Auror the only identification. The pale hand danced along the face, a middle-aged wizard who had tried to lead his small team of subordinates near his domain. Foolish.

"Perhaps I should be rid of him tonight. I am, afterall, gaining a much more useful informant in his place." Lucius remained silent, head bowed. "Yes," it was the quiet hiss of a snake. There was silence before he stood, heading towards the door. " I do not suffer betrayal well, Lucius. You already know that."

His head bowed further, voice remaining controlled and subserviant, "Yes, my lord."

"I do hope he doesn't disappoint me. I only wish to deal with one traitor tonight." There was icy amusement in his voice as he planned the pain which would meet the one who dared to betray him this long.

"Understood, my lord." A twisted turning of the lips and he hissed in approval.

"Be rid of these." A gesture at the strewn corpses to the figure in the corner led Wormtail into the small light in the room. He readily accepted his task and bowed. "Come, Lucius. There is more that must be done."

Harry's eyes snapped open and he groaned, clenching them tight against the bright sterile light of the infirmary.

"Harry? Harry, are you alright?" Hermione's voice filtered into his brain but the memories of Voldemort were too new. He felt sick. He had the disturbing sensation that he knew who they were speaking of as their 'new informant'. Pushing himself up, Harry proceeded to swing his legs over the side of the bed despite every cry from his body. Aside from the dread coiling in his gut at the unsaid name, he knew that either Luminos or Snape were in danger. He had to warn them. "Harry! Stop! You have to rest. Harry!" There were arms around him and Hermione's face was in his chest. "Harry, please..."

He stopped in his effort to leave the room. His scar throbbed, the numb pain stinging at his eyes. Yet his heart was pounding furiously with the the panic of what he knew. Voldemort was going to get rid of the spy. He had felt the perverse joy at the thought. He had even been able to feel some of the things the Dark Lord planned for them; traitors were not dealt with lightly. Hermione was pressed against him and he felt her sobbing. It was only then he realized his head was bandaged along with his torso. Looking down at his friend, Harry closed his eyes against the wetness he felt against his chest. He knew he had been avoiding both Hermione and Ron for some time now--really since Sirius' death. Something was obviously going on yet he still couldn't face it. Not now. Not when he had to warn them. Not when the possibility of the new informant being Draco plagued his mind.

"At least take the potions Pomfrey left for you." Hermione let go of him and wiped at her face, masking her emotions into her mature Head Girl appearance once more. Harry regarded the girl standing before him. Her eyes seemed tired, small bags under them slowly appearing as though a glamour charm was wearing off. Her hair was far more frazzled than usual, her hands slightly shaking as she wiped once more at her tear-stained cheeks. He took each potion after another in several gulps, far too used to their horrid taste for it to bother him.

Before Hermione saw it coming, Harry had pulled her back into the hug, this one far more gentle and less desperate. He stroked her hair lightly with one hand. "Hermione, I'm sorry. I just..."

"Harry, you can tell me anything. Anytime. I want to know what's wrong." How could he tell her? How could he explain what he didn't know himself? He and Malfoy... Harry didn't know what exactly they were and the thought scared him; he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He hadn't intended for anything this big when he started. It had just been a way of sparking himself alive; it had been a sort of game. The game had taken a treacherous turn. He tightened his arms about the small girl and let his face fall against her shoulder.

"I know, 'Mione." Pulling back from the embrace, Harry wiped at Hermione's cheek with his thumb. "I want to tell you. I do. But I don't even understand most of it yet. I don't want you and Ron to get caught up in things anymore than you already have and..." He trailed off as he spotted the redhead entering the infirmary just as the potions seemed to kick in, piercing his torso like a thousand stabbing wounds.

"Hermione, I checked with Seamus and he's in--Harry? Harry!" Harry grinned despite the pain as he pulled away from Hermione. He didn't want either of them to notice or else he'd never be allowed out of the infirmary. "You're awake! That dive you took... It was bloody brilliant! I thought you were just going to smash right into the ground but you managed to pull up enough to roll off. Fancy that, and you were able to keep the snitch! Fantastic, Harry, really it--" Hermione elbowed him roughly and he changed his excitement into mock authority, "But you really shouldn't have done that, mate. It was mad. Far too dangerous." A short laugh escaped Harry's lips despite himself and, taking Ron by surprise, he wrapped the redhead in a brief hug.

"Thanks, Ron." Stepping past the both of them, he smirked at the confused look on Ron's face. His muscles clenched and unclenched in agony as they began to mend themselves where the bludger had done damage. "I'll meet you guys before the dance tonight in Hermione's room." Hermione nodded, taking Ron's hand in hers. With a small bow of his head, a genuine smile graced his lips before he turned and fled from the infirmary before they noticed the sweat gathering on his forehead.

He was heading towards Snape's office without understanding exactly why. He knew one of them, either Snape or Luminos, were in danger and if he told the latter he'd have to explain everything. Snape knew his visions of Voldemort were always right, and his oddly protective nature of Luminos would be enough to cover both of them. Opening the door to the Potions Master's office without knocking in his hurried state, he froze when he caught the conversation going on in the room.

"He deserved every bloody last one! He was going after Harry on purpose and I don't sodding care what the Snake Beast is going to think of it! Let the betraying bastard cry to his pathetic excuse for a master!"

"He won't be reporting back to Voldemort anytime soon what with the hexing you put him through; you should be more concerned about using an Unforgiv-- Potter what are you doing in my room?" Harry's breath came in ragged gasps, his arm wrapped about his torso. The potions had to be stronger than the average remedy Pomfrey gave him; he could still feel his bones mending themselves and muscles reforming. It wasn't pleasant.

Both Draco and Snape were looking at him now, the silence hanging heavy in the small office. Harry closed his eyes against the stabs of pain, gasping in several more breaths. "Potter, you should be in the infimary--"

"Voldemort..." This stopped any protest from either Slytherin. Harry forced his eyes open, leaning against the doorframe for support. "Had a vision... Snape... you and Lu..." He glanced at Draco, remembering exactly what had been said. There was a new informant... it very well could be Draco... He suddenly felt sick and desperately clung to anything and everything residing in his stomach.

"Harry, sit down." There were arms on him but he shook them off when he recognized the smooth hands.

"Let go of me, Malfoy." Draco froze. Harry forced himself to look at Snape only, pushing aside his notions about Draco for now. He had been able to feel Voldemort's emotions and there had been a twisted hunger at the thought of the new informant. Then a flash of Hogwarts in the Dark Lord's mind. It was too much to risk now. But Draco was here, talking with Snape about something. Surely he knew that the man was a spy? Even if he didn't, would Draco really join Voldemort's ranks? Somewhere inside Harry wondered why he wouldn't. It wasn't as though there was anything keeping him from it; it seemed to be the blond's destiny.

Severus glanced between the two boys who now stood in his doorway, Draco running his hand through his hair in worry while Potter seemed on the verge of words but refused to say anything. Something had obviously happened to bring the Gryffindor to his door and it didn't look as though he would say anything about it in front of Draco.

"Malfoy, if you would give Potter and I a moment." Draco had been looking at Harry the entire time, wondering if he knew. It was impossible, wasn't it? How could the raven haired boy have found out about tonight? Besides that, something kept him there wanting to help the shaking form before him. Draco had been shocked when he saw Harry plummeting to the ground during Quidditch, but when Goyle beat the bludger at him there had been an emotion so raw and terrifying that Draco didn't want to face it. He had thought Harry was going to die then.

"But, Sev--"

"Now." Draco bit back his tongue, slamming the door shut behind him. The silence was only disrupted by Harry's heavy breathing. The potions seemed to be wearing off, but his body was still pretty pissed about the sudden run over. There was a potion handed to him and he looked up to see Snape merely nod. Harry took it, letting out a breath as it worked its way through his body numbing the pain.

"What did you see, Potter?"

"Voldemort... he killed several Aurors. He was speaking with Lucius Malfoy about a spy, about getting rid of him. How he would no longer be needed now that..." His voice trailed off.

"Now that what?"

"Now that he was going to have a new informant." His throat was locking up, his body shaking now not because of a physical blow. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? It very well could be Draco... why else would Voldemort be speaking directly to Lucius Malfoy concerning it? Typically when he was thrown into Voldemort's mind it was Wormtail that had been his right hand man. It could just be a shift in the ranks but there was something heavy in Harry's chest that told him otherwise. It was what he followed whenever he was in danger, that little voice in the back of his mind that warned him of what was going to come before it did. This time, he didn't want to listen. Emotionless, he said,"It could be either you or Luminos. I... thought you should know."

Snape regarded Harry in silence. He had warned Draco about this. Nothing good would come of his relations with Potter. Whether the Gryffindor knew entirely who the new iniate Voldemort spoke of was, he would find out soon enough.

"I'll be sure to alert Black. One can never be too cautious concerning the Dark Lord." The entire time the thought had never occurred to Harry. But Draco had known about the attack on Hogsmeade. Even though he came to help him, he knew before it happened. He had been tied to Voldemort all along. All of this... whatever it was that was forming between them was his coveted information to feed to Voldemort. His eyes stung and he nodded once, turning to leave before his emotions betrayed him.

"It is best not to make assumptions, Potter." Harry looked up at the man, a glimmer of hope in his emerald eyes. Snape cursed at the memories those eyes evoked within him. He would not assume the role to let Potter know of Draco's decision; that was up to his godson to take care of. He waved dismissively at the Gryffindor standing in his doorway like a lost pup. "There are things I need to do. You are excused, Potter."

"Yes, sir." Unsure of anything, Harry turned and left the Potions professor.

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"You told him, didn't you, Pansy." The Slytherin girl tensed, covering it up with feigned nonchalance. Blaise sat in the armchair near the fireplace, watching the drama from a distance. Draco had called them both to his rooms, claiming that he needed to ask them something. Both knew it couldn't be good; Draco never sent immediate owls to wherever you were at any part of the day saying he needed to 'talk'.

"I don't know whatever it is you mean, Draco love." There was a low growl from the blond's throat causing both of his friends to freeze, calculating just how angry he was over once more. The glass he had been drinking from shattered against the wall behind Pansy but she did not flinch. Instead she met the heated glare of Draco Malfoy head on.

"Don't sodding tell me you don't know, Pansy! It was either you or Blaise, and seeing as how Blaise was snogging the Weasel--"

"Her name's Ginny," Blaise shrugged his shoulders when Draco glared at him for the comment, getting comfortable in his chair knowing he wasn't the focus of the anger and not wanting to be anytime soon. "Or Weasel.. Weasel works."

"That only leaves one person who knows what's going to happen tonight. Or did you not think I would find out?!" She glanced down at this, not even a second of hesitation but it was enough for Draco to know. She hadn't. At least not this soon. Gritting his teeth he was about to say something he would probably regret later when there was a knock on his portrait.

"Oh bloody fucking hell who is that?! Did you notify someone else of my initation tonight? Will Dumbledore be there to see me off?" He tore back the portrait only for every furious fibre of his being to sizzle into complete shock. Harry Potter stood at his door, a determined look on his face in the set of his jaw, the ferocity of his shining eyes.

"Get out, the both of you." Draco never took his eyes off Harry as he addressed the fellow Slytherins in his room. Pansy walked past him, head held high without so much as a glance at either boy. Blaise sauntered over, winking at Harry before stepping out of the room. Draco moved aside, allowing for Harry to enter. The portrait closed silently behind them both, enclosing them in the lavish room alone.

Draco forced himself to assume a relaxed demeanor. Sauntering over to the sofa, he fell back into it, casually looking at his nails. "How can I help you, Potter?"

"I need to know." Draco stopped, regarding the raven haired boy. He stood in the middle of the room, only a bit away from the door as though he was ready to leave any minute. Looking away, Draco ran a hand through his hair. Stay calm. Stay calm; just because you're overly aware of what's going on today doesn't mean that Potter knows. You don't know what he was told exactly so give absolutely nothing away.

"You're nervous." Draco opened his mouth to object but Harry's expression stopped all words from forming. The boy looked at him from across the room, his lips slowly turned upwards in the illusion of happiness but his eyes telling a completely different story. He looked tired and withdrawn, as though someone had just left him out in the cold all night. As though... as though he was afraid of asking what they both already knew.

"Honestly, Potter, why would I be nervous in my own rooms?" Harry smirked, causing a shiver to travel down Draco's spine. People said Harry Potter's smile was one of the best in the world, able to melt any heart. But it was his smirk that caused Draco to hesitate. Not many people saw it and there was something distinctively... Slytherin about it.

Standing from the sofa, he made his way over to the boy. His head was still bandaged but it seemed whatever Harry had been going through in Snape's office had passed. He only stopped when he was mere breaths away from the Gryffindor. "Really, you don't need an excuse if you want to see me."

Harry's breath caught at the proximity of Draco's body. He had wandered the castle without knowing where to go, who to talk to about the situation. It was too much to explain to anyone, he wasn't even sure if Hermione would be able to understand. The fact that he wasn't sure in his thoughts ate away at him. There was a hopeful voice somewhere inside that resisted all logic, insisting that he hadn't really found out anything one way or another yet. Draco's hands were in his hair, gently touching at the bandages around his head where it had met the ground this afternoon. His body responded to the light touch, eyes fluttering closed.

Lips were on his, arms wrapping gently about him. This was different. Usually they were desperate in their actions but this... Harry sighed into the kiss, deepening it as his tongue flicked at Draco's upper lip. The boy moaned against him, the slight caress growing into a heated pressing of lips against one another, tongues dueling as hands grasped the other boy's body in turn. Draco was so worried about Harry it scared him. He tried to tell himself he didn't care about Harry Potter. He didn't...

"Draco..." The blond pulled back from him, moving down to his neck to bite and kiss the sensitive skin. "No... Draco..." The image of red eyes filled Harry's mind. The dream he had nights ago, the dreams that had plagued him for weeks of Draco leaving him. Draco betraying him. Draco being taken away, killed, tortured... "Stop."

Draco paused in his adoration, closing his eyes against what he knew came next. He didn't want it to be said. He couldn't explain to Harry that what he was doing... that what was going to happen was for the sodding git himself. He couldn't tell him the real reason behind his initiation because there was still a part of Draco that refused to admit the feelings to himself. There was the ever mistrustful voice which constantly told him it was a weakness; anyone who knew that he cared had something against him.

"Are you..." Harry pulled himself away from the blond, his back brushing against the portrait door behind him. Both stood still as his words trailed off into nothing. The accusations were caught in Harry's throat, unwilling to be asked for fear of the answer. He had been dead this entire time. He realized it wasn't just when Sirius fell through the veil; sure, that was the final event that drove him over but Harry Potter was dying the moment he found out who he was. Locked away for eleven years, he only wanted to be let out and to be free. It had all been a rouse, this false freedom of the wizarding world. He had gone from one cage to the next and this one was slowly smothering him, choking the air from his lungs for their own survival. That had been fine once he found out about the prophecy, once Sirius was gone and his future with the man. Harry hadn't cared about anything after fifth year until...

"No." Emerald eyes pierced Draco as though trying to search his soul, desperately seeking out any lie in his words. But Draco left none there for Harry to see. Afterall, Malfoys were enigmas, the masters of lies. Draco had heard the dramatic tales of emotional awakenings in which the person goes through a journey and struggle to find the truth finally at the end. It would all happen in a life-altering moment, this magnificent flourish of words, thoughts, and strife. It wasn't that way in reality. It hadn't knocked into him, shocking him with the truth. There was no joyous epiphany; in fact, he almost wished he hadn't realized.

He loved Potter. He didn't know why and it didn't matter. He knew it as certain as he knew the answer to Harry's unfinished question. Draco Malfoy loved Harry Potter, leaving him only one option. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the silvery strands. Harry couldn't know.

Draco closed in, trapping the raven haired boy with his body. When Harry had stopped flying in Quidditch earlier... It had occurred to him then. Despite how much he tried to avoid it, despite how many times he told himself it was a fleeting emotion that he didn't need... His heart had plummeted with the raven haired boy towards the grass of the pitch.

A slender, pale hand traced the contours of the Gryffindor's face, cupping the side as he closed the space between them. He dove into the other boy, tongues twisting and sliding against one another. There was a gasp, neither knowing from who it came and not really caring. Harry pulled Draco closer, fingers grasping the strands of silken silver hair at the base of the Slytherin's neck. Biting at the soft pink flesh, the blond loudly moaned into Harry's mouth.

"Harry..." Pulling away from the kiss, a smirk played across Harry's lips as he slid from his position between Draco and the door. Pulling the puzzled boy by the green and silver tie, he pressed his lips against the other's once more. This time it was harder, a deeper exploration and possession. Harry backed his way into the room, keeping them pressed together the entire time. He only stopped when he reached the familiar door, pushing it open with his back.

There were pale hands over his, somehow not as rough even with similar years of Quidditch. Draco's breath was heavy as he glanced at his bedroom behind the Gryffindor. The mercury eyes narrowed in thought, reaching their decision as he pushed Harry into the dark room. Hands tore at clothing, disregarded in a mess as both moved where their bodies desired. The blond hesitated once more, hands on Harry's trousers. His gaze held the Gryffindor in place, his voice steady and firm in declaration, "I will never hurt you."

A smile flickered across Harry's lips, and he reached out for the boy. The Slytherin sighed into the kiss as though relieved, accepted. Turning in a half circle, they remained joined the entire time. Pushing the shirtless Slytherin onto the bed, the smile melded into a smirk as Harry noted the mild shock at the sudden act. Sliding his tongue against his lips, Harry slowly finished unzippering his trousers, slipping the material off one hip then the next. Draco took in Harry's arousal as he stood before him, his own straining against the silk and cotton restraints.

Crawling atop the blond, Harry kissed his way down the slender neck, down the hairless chest to take in one of the hardening nipples. Draco bucked beneath him, his erection pressing against Harry's ass. Biting his lip, he cried out and arched upwards when Harry's teeth bit down on the sensitive flesh. Growling, he rolled the Gryffindor over to reverse their positions.

Harry grimaced when his bruised ribs protested as he hit the bed. Draco paused in his position over him, hands flickering down to the bandaged torso. "Are you alright?" Pulling the Slytherin against him in response, Harry disregarded the minor pain from the bruises; this was so much more important.

Kicking his trousers off, Draco tore at the cotton of Harry's boxers. Licking his lips appreciatively, he took the boy in his mouth eliciting a cry from the Gryffindor. Harry's breath came in heavy gasps, his head thrown to the side when he noticed the blade glinting on the nightstand in the faint light from the common room. Clenching his eyes shut as the muscles in his abdomen tightened, Harry thrust into the warm mouth around him. Once, then again, and again as the blond's tongue swirled about his head then teased his cock. With one last buck upwards he came with a strangled cry, his muscles spasming with the orgasm.

Draco crawled upwards, dropping next to the Gryffindor. Pushing back the strands of hair which were stuck to Harry's forehead with sweat, he kissed the boy's temple then whispered in his ear, "Done already?"

Emerald eyes opened to glitter back at him, an eyebrow quirking up in challenge. "You wish." Rolling atop the blond, Harry leaned down to bite and suck at the soft skin of his throat. Rocking slowly atop the Slytherin boy, his lips traced the collarbone, nipping and biting at the flesh to elicit the desired moan from the blond.

"Harry... Harry, I want you," Draco gasped between the teasing nibbles from the teeth assaulting him. Shining emerald eyes looked up at him, a slightly puzzled shimmer in their depths. A blush stained his pale cheeks despite himself, his breath heavy as the strain in his boxers grew ever more desperate. He opened his mouth to speak, not wanting to have to say what exactly it was he wanted from the raven haired boy over him. There was a flash of teeth in the dark as Harry's lips spread into a wicked grin.

Sliding up the expanse of chest beneath him, Harry's lips brushed against the swollen lips as his hand snaked into the silk boxers below. There was a rush of air into his mouth, Draco responding to the kiss as Harry began to massage the heat under him. Pulling away from the kiss, he lightly trailed a path to Draco's ear. "Tonight you're mine."

Draco's cock twitched at the huskiness in the Gryffindor's voice, refusing to come simply at Potter's words. Harry's hand tightened around him and he gasped, arching into the touch. Removing his hand from the Slytherin, Harry deftly removed the boxers to toss them off the bed. His own hardness pressed against Draco's now and both boys gasped at the intimacy.

Grinning like the chesire cat, Harry slid one hand lower between the clefts of Draco's ass. The boy gasped beneath him when he felt the finger at his entrance, slowly tracing smooth circles as it burrowed deeper. Rocking his body deeper into the fingers, it caused the needed friction between their cocks resulting in an overload of sensations. Biting his lip, Draco pulled Harry into a deep kiss, his tongue plunging into the boy's mouth like his fingers were inside him. Their speed grew, tongues dancing and fingers twisting inside. Harry slid his digits out, lifting Draco's legs over his shoulders as he positioned himself at the warmth.

"Bloody hell, Potter, what are you waiting for?!" Grinning, Harry pushed into the boy beneath him causing Draco to cry out. He hesitated, the sweat glistening on the blond's forehead as he adjusted to the welcome invasion. He pushed himself against Harry giving him the sign, Harry pushing the rest of the way until he was seated deeply within Draco. He didn't even realize he had cried out along with Draco at the sudden tightness around his cock.

Grasping Draco's erection, he pulled out and thrust back in, causing another series of shouts. The rhythm continued, Harry speeding up as the friction grew. The tightness was wonderful, driving him mad. He hadn't known it would feel this way, this complete and whole. His thrusts became faster as he began to lose control. Spotting the metal glint in the light on the bedstand, he pumped Draco in time with his thrusts. Faster and faster still, the slapping sounds of flesh on flesh only adding to the heightened arousal of it all. Reaching for the knife on the stand, Harry flipped it so that it sunk into the skin of his wrist. It bit deeply into his flesh and he bit his lip with the familiar sensation of blood trickling down with that of the heat surrounding him.

Continuing to pump Draco in time with his thrusts, he desperately clung to the threads of thought which fueled his actions. Pressing his wrist to the blond's mouth, Draco drank in the other's essence as he rode the waves of pleasure. The taste of Harry's blood mixed with his cum, the power of it all nearly sending him over the edge.

"Contego de Malum," Harry whispered as Draco drank from his wrist. His plan carried out, he gave into his body's immediate demands as he thrust into Draco faster and deeper. Harry hit Draco's prostate causing the blond beneath him to come in his hand.

Leaning down to catch the boy's mouth with his, his final thrusts sent him over the edge and he deeply moaned into the boy's mouth with his release. His body shook with the last shocks of his orgasm before he pulled out of the boy beneath him, falling on top of him. Closing his eyes, his ear pressed against Draco's chest as he listened to the steady beat of his heart as he too came down from his orgasm.

Seconds passed into minutes as minutes ticked by, the two lying with one another in calm silence. This time it wasn't heavy with anger, accusation or arousal and they enjoyed it. Harry was pressed against Draco's side, arm thrown over the other boy when a hand began to play in his hair.

"I don't think we have time..." Draco sighed, briefly kissing the raven haired boy for spoiling the moment.

"What are you wearing tonight?" Harry's eyes flickered in thought and Draco groaned, this time not in pleasure. "Honestly, Potter, you're the center of attention in Hogwarts; one would think you'd at least give some sort of thought to your wardrobe."

"Back to surnames are we, Malfoy?" Rolling his eyes, Draco slipped from the bed.

"Harry darling, love, do clean yourself up before you leave." Harry smirked, raising his brows at the boy standing at the edge of the bed.

"There might be some time..." Smirking, Draco headed towards his bathroom with an extra swing in his step. Left alone in the bedroom, Harry's grin faded from his lips as he watched the slender back retreat.

"I said I'd protect you." Moving from the bed, he unwrapped the bandages on the way. Afterall, he wouldn't want them getting wet.