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( Chapter X )

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The very next morning at breakfast, Draco received the shortest note that he had received all term. The note contained only one word: Tonight. There was no signature . . . but the letter was delivered by the Malfoys very own eagle owl, so it could have only been sent by one person. Draco was hoping that the plan (which he had secretly been arranging with his father over the past few weeks, albeit with no enthusiasm) would be put off for at least a few more days, but since it hadn't, he knew he had no choice but to carry it out.

"Forgive me, Harry," he thought anxiously, burying his head in his hands.

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Later that day, Draco saw Harry sitting alone, reading a book about Quidditch. The Gryffindor's feet were in the lake; nearby, the giant squid's tentacles waved lazily about the water. Gathering up what little strength he had for his task, Draco approached his lover for what he hoped would not be the last time.

'Meet me tonight,' he said simply, making Harry start.

'What?' Harry asked, confused.

'Meet me tonight,' Draco repeated impatiently.

'In the room?'

'No, by the front gate,' Draco said, already turning away. 'At midnight. Bring your Invisibility Cloak. I don't want you getting caught by Filch before I've had my fun.' he added, glancing over his shoulder suggestively.

Harry blushed and watched as Draco walked away.

 'Wait!' he suddenly called out, jumping to his feet.

Draco turned around.

'Why do you want to meet me by the gate?' Harry asked, walking towards the Slytherin.

'I want to show you something,' Draco replied after the briefest of pauses, which Harry noticed nonetheless.

'Really?' He looked at Draco with his deep, green eyes. 'Is everything all right?'

'Of course,' Draco replied as coldly as he could. 'Why wouldn't it be?'

Harry shrugged.

'I don't know . . . It's just . . . different from what we usually do,'

'Well, I'm getting bored of you,' Draco said. 'If there's a chance of getting caught, it makes this thing between us more exciting' He grabbed Harry's chin in his hand and forced it upwards.

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Hold me . . .

Kiss me . . .

I'm yours . . .

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'Doesn't it?' he asked, allowing his lips to brush over Harry's.

Harry shivered in response.

'So you'll come tonight?' Draco asked, slipping his tongue out to lightly lick Harry's mouth.

The Gryffindor nodded.

'Good.' Then they kissed. It was as if time stood still. It was just them, two teens . . . two enemies . . . in love . . .

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Don't ever leave me . . .

Don't ever let me go . . .

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At quarter to midnight that night, Harry excused himself from the game of Exploding Snap he was playing with the twins in the Common Room. Feigning sleepiness, he made his way upstairs to retrieve his Invisibility Cloak . . . where two familiar faces greeted him.

'Getting ready for bed?' Ron asked suspiciously.

'Not exactly,' Harry said, pulling out his cloak from his trunk.

'You're going to meet Draco?'

'Yeah,' Harry replied. 'Are there any other questions? Or can I just go?'

There was a brief pause in which Ron looked like he wanted to yell at Harry, but when he spoke, his words were quite calm. 'We don't think you should go.'

'Why? Because we're supposed to be "enemies"?' Harry asked coldly. 'We've been through this before.'

'It's not that!' Ron snapped angrily.

'We think that Malfoy is up to something, Harry,' Hermione said.

'You always think that,' Harry said impatiently, 'just because of who his father is .'

'That's Ron you're thinking of,' she muttered.'

Harry sighed.

'Still . . . I trust him, Hermione.'

'We don't,' Ron muttered. 'But fine! If you want to go meet him and do the nasty and get hurt and whatever, that's your business!'

'Yes, it is!' Harry almost screamed.

'Stop it! Both of you!' Hermione said loudly.

The two teens went silent, but continued to glare at each other across the room.

'Say whatever you want to say, Hermione,' Harry said, 'but make it quick or I'm going to be late.'

'The room isn't that far from here, is it?'

'No, it isn't, but I'm going to meet him at the front gate tonight.'

Hermione paled visibly.

'Why?'

'He said he wants to show me something,' Harry said. 'In Hogsmeade, I guess.'

'Do you really believe that crap?' Ron muttered under his breath. 'It's obvious he's just trying to lure you away from the school.'

'That might be what you think, but I trust him,' Harry said again, rounding on Ron. 'I love him.'

'Does he love you back?' Hermione asked seriously.

Harry did not answer.

'Look, I have to go,' he said instead.

'Fine, then we're coming with you?' Hermione said stubbornly.

'What?' Harry and Ron asked together.

Hermione glared at them both.

'Well, if Malfoy really does just want to show you something, then us being there will be harmless.'

'I don't remember agreeing to go,' Ron said, crossing his arms.

'Don't be such a baby, Ron. You know that we can't just let Harry go alone.'

' And why not?' Harry asked, affronted. 'I am more than capable of taking care of myself, and what if he wants to show me something personal? You know, for my eyes only?'

'Eurgh!' Ron exclaimed, wrinkling his nose.

'I didn't mean that!' Harry snapped.

 'Oh, come on, Harry,' Hermione said. 'I know that you can take care of yourself . . . but just humour me, okay? In case it's something . . .'

'Evil?' Ron suggested. 'Personally, if he's being this stubborn, I don't want to go.'

'Ron!' Hermione said. 'Remember the other stuff we talked about? You're as worried about him as I am!'

'I highly doubt that.'

'What other stuff?' Harry asked. 'Are you talking about me behind my back?'

'There seems to be a lot of that going on these days . . .' Ron muttered.

Hermione ignored him.

'Harry, something happened this morning. Malfoy received a note from home.'

'Ooh, how surprising,' Harry said sarcastically.

Hermione continued, unfazed.

'He just received a note from home . . . No packages . . . Nothing!'

'So? Maybe his owl lost it.'

'No . . . I think it was something else. Something . . .'

'Evil?' Ron suggested again.

'Shut up, Ron!'

'So? What am I supposed to say to that?' Harry asked. '"Thank you for spying on him for me"? "Maybe his package was invisible"? Give me a break . . . I'm leaving.'

'Not without us, you're not!' Hermione said. 'You can either let us go under the cloak with you or we'll follow you the entire way and let Filch catch all of us!'

'You wouldn't!'

But from the look in Hermione's eye, Harry knew that she was serious.

'Fine, get under the cloak!' he snapped. 'Quick! I'm already late.'

'Can't leave Mr. Dunghead waiting,' Ron muttered, rolling his eyes.

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'Where is he?' Bellatrix asked Draco impatiently.

'I don't know, Aunt Bella. He should be here by now,' Draco replied, glancing over at the bushes on the other side of the gate where Avery and the other Death Eaters were hiding.

"Don't come, don't come, don't come," Draco pleaded in his head. "Don't come, don't come . . ."

'Well, let us know when you see him coming, so we can prepare for his arrival,' Avery said sinisterly.

'I will not see him coming,' Draco snapped loudly. 'He'll obviously be wearing his Invisibility Cloak.'

'Don't speak so loudly, Draco,' Bellatrix said.

But speaking loudly was all a part of Draco's own plan. He hoped that if Harry heard him talking, the Gryffindor would listen long enough to figure out what was going on. Harry would probably hate him, but it was the only way to save his life.

Moments passed by, the silence only broken by the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the bushes and trees nearby.

"Don't come, don't come, don't come . . ."

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You're the most important person in the world to me . . .

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"Oh no . . ." Draco groaned inwardly when he heard approaching footsteps rustling the grass.

'Harry? Is that you?' he asked nervously, hoping for nothing but silence. 

'Yes,' Harry replied.

'Keep your cloak on,' Draco said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. 'Don't take it off until we're off the grounds.'

'Okay,' Harry whispered.

Draco unlocked the gate with a flick of his wand and pulled it open, making it creak ever so slightly. Then he, Harry, and (although Draco didn't know it) Ron and Hermione slipped out of the grounds . . . unseen and unheard by any of the inhabitants within the castle.

'Where are we going?' Harry asked.

'You'll see,' Draco replied neutrally. 'It's not far from here.'

Snap!

A twig cracked behind them. Draco ducked for cover behind a nearby tree, while Harry whipped out his wand and turned towards the source of the sound, causing the cloak to slip off.

'Harry, look out!' exclaimed a disembodied voice.

Not a second later, stunning spells were fired in all directions, the red sparks shooting out of the bushes surrounding him.

'Protego!' a female voice said, blocking the curses.

'There!' Lucius yelled. 'The voice came from there! His little friends are with him, wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Get them!'

'Kill them if you must!' Bellatrix commanded. 'The Dark Lord only wants Potter alive!'

There was now a combination of red and green sparks coming from the bushes, concentrating on the empty space beside Harry. Two soft flumps told Draco that the people hiding under the cloak – likely Weasley and Granger – had collapsed. Whether they were stunned or dead, he did not know.

'Draco! Help!' Harry cried out suddenly, as the bulk of the curses turned on him again.

The plea in Harry's voice broke Draco's heart.

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You're everything . . .

You're perfect . . .

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He stepped out from behind the tree and pointed his wand at Harry.

'No,' Harry said brokenly. 'No!'

There was more than enough time for Harry to react, but he remained frozen; Draco could only assume that he was too shocked to do anything but stare.

'I'm sorry,' the Slytherin whispered.

'No . . .'

'Stupefy!'

And his lover fell to a heap in front of him.

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I can't believe you're mine . . .

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"I can't believe you're mine . . . but it would be easier if you weren't . . . I'm sorry, Harry . . . I love you . . . Forgive me . . ."

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Harry woke up with a splitting headache and it took him a few minutes to figure out what was going on. His face was pressed against the ground and his forehead was throbbing mercilessly with what he knew was a bump, probably from when he had fallen. The two figures pressing heavily into his sides could only be Ron and Hermione.

'You have done well, Malfoy,' a silky voice was saying to Lucius.

A shiver ran through Harry's spine and he hoped that it was diminutive enough that no one had noticed.

'Thank you, my lord,' a shaky voice replied.

Harry froze. That was not Lucius Malfoy who replied, it was . . .

Tears leaked out of the teen's clenched eyes . . . No, it couldn't be . . . But it had to be . . .

 'You even brought Potter's little friends . . . They will be dead soon, of course – all of them will be . . . But it should be amusing to watch Potter's face as his friends die around him. Have they been stripped of their wands?'

'Yes, my lord.'

'Good. Wake Potter up, Wormtail.'

A pair of rough hands pulled Harry up by his collar and directed his face towards the torchlight; Harry could see the light flickering behind his closed lids.

'Wait . . . Our guest of honour is already awake.'

Harry suddenly found himself being thrown back onto the ground and he groaned in discomfort. Around him, the Death Eaters laughed at his pain and humiliation.

'Come now, Potter, stand up and face me like a man,' Voldemort said.

Knowing that it was useless to continue feigning unconsciousness, he forced himself to stand up and face the Dark Lord. They appeared to be in an abandoned castle. Thick, iron torches were placed in the brackets around the room, lending a bright, orange glow. The rug beneath his feet was ragged and faded, much like the once-majestic tapestries that decorated the walls.

Harry saw Draco and his father kneeling before the Dark Lord; the Slytherin's wide, grey eyes were watching him as he swayed unsteadily on his feet.

Bellatrix approached him and roughly grabbed his chin. Her long fingernails pressed deep into his flesh and he wouldn't have been surprised if she broke the skin. He suddenly became aware of the wetness on his cheeks, likely emphasized by the dirt that his face was pressed into.

'Tears, Potter?' Bellatrix laughed, shoving him away unceremoniously. 'Don't be afraid, itty, bitty baby. You won't be hurting for too long.'

'Don't lie to him, Bellatrix,' Voldemort said. 'Potter should know what he is going to be facing.' The ghost of a smile flitted on his lips as he said, 'Crucio!'

It felt like a thousand knives were ripping into Harry's body. It was pain beyond pain . . . but he refused to cry out. That's what Voldemort would have wanted. Oh, the pain! It was so much! Too much! Just when he thought he couldn't take anymore, the curse was lifted. Sweat was dripping down his pale face.

'That was just an appetizer,' Voldemort said, making his Death Eaters laugh harder than they already were. 'Wormtail, wake up his little friends. Crabbe, Goyle, restrain them.'

Wormtail pointed his wand at Ron, then Hermione, murmuring, 'Enervate.'

Harry could feel fear clenching his heart as Ron and Hermione stirred. They were his best friends, the ones who were always there for him . . . He couldn't even remember why they were arguing earlier – it didn't matter now.

'Harry . . .' Hermione groaned, glancing up at the brunet from the floor. 'Ron . . .'

'Shut it, mudblood!' Bellatrix snapped.

Crabbe and Goyle suddenly grabbed Ron and Hermione, both pulling them to their feet and restraining them from doing anything else.

'Ron, Hermione, I'm sorry,' Harry said. 'I should have listened to you. It's my fault we're here.'

'Don't make me laugh,' Lucius said, rising to his feet. 'Do you think you could have escaped the Dark Lord forever. No, Potter, he knows, he always knows.'

'That will do, Malfoy,' Voldemort said.

'Let them go!' Harry said.

The Death Eaters laughed.

'There is only one way out of here, Potter,' Voldemort said, fingering his wand. 'I think you know how . . . Now, which one shall be my first victim.' He pointed his wand at Ron, then at Hermione. 'This one . . . Crucio!'

Hermione screamed and starting writhing about in Goyle's arms. He threw her to the floor in disgust, where she continued to twist about in pain.

'Hermione' Ron shouted.

'Don't worry, there's some for you too,' Bellatrix said with a dark smile. 'Crucio!'

'AHH!'

'Stop!' Harry cried out, fresh tears rolling down his grimy face. 'Stop it!'

Voldemort and Bellatrix lowered their wands.

'Did you want some too, Potter?' Voldemort asked. 'Or do you just want to die? Be careful what you wish for, Potter. There's no counter-curse for death. You – of all people – know that.'

Harry did not reply.

Voldemort scarlet eyes roamed over his Death Eaters, who had stopped laughing now that he was looking so serious.

'Malfoy,' he said.

Both Lucius and Draco started.

'Not you, Lucius,' Voldemort said, 'your son.'

Trembling slightly, Draco stood up from his kneeling position and faced the Dark Lord.

'Yes, my lord?'

'Perform the Cruciatus Curse on Potter.'

Draco's eyes widened.

'Did you hear me, Draco?' Voldemort asked darkly.

'Go on, Draco,' Lucius hissed, nudging his son in the back.

'No!' Ron and Hermione shouted, but they were both immediately restrained by Crabbe and Goyle.

With a blank look on his face, Draco stepped towards Harry with his wand raised. Stormy eyes met emerald ones . . . Moments passed, moments where unspoken words were shared . . .

'What are you waiting for, Draco?' Lucius snapped impatiently. 'Do it!'

"I'm sorry," Draco's eyes seemed to say.

Then . . .

'Crucio.'

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Harry was writhing . . . Harry was in pain because of him . . . Harry was dying . . .

'No, it's not Harry!' Draco tried to convince his subconscious. 'I'm not hurting Harry! Harry is safe at home! This isn't Harry!'

But try as he might, he could not do it. After what felt like an eternity passed (although in reality, it was only a few seconds), Draco lowered his wand.

The Death Eaters were laughing, but Lucius had a stern look upon his face.

'That's it, Draco?' he asked. 'I thought you were better trained than that!'

Draco didn't say a word.

'Pathetic,' the Dark Lord said. He waved his wand and Draco felt himself being thrown into the crowd of Death Eaters, who shoved him about until he was out of their way; they didn't want to miss any of the fun. 'I will show you how it is done.'

This time, instead of the Cruciatus Curse, Draco was forced to see Harry being thrown about . . . Onto the floor, into the walls, against the ceiling . . . Draco heard more than a few cracks and he was sure that Harry had a broken arm and at least a few cracked ribs.

'Stop!' Granger shrieked, tears streaming down her face.

'Stop hurting him!' Weasley yelled, angrily struggling against Crabbe's hold on him.

But, of course, the Dark Lord ignored them.

Harry was screaming now and blood was dripping thickly from his limbs.

It was too much to take.

'Stop!' Draco suddenly cried out, the scream surprising even himself. He felt as if a thousand eyes were watching him.

None of the Death Eaters were laughing now; Granger and Weasley, too, were staring at him.

Ignoring them all, Draco ran forwards to cradle Harry's broken form.

'Harry!' he called. He gazed at the once-handsome face, which was now cut and swollen. 'Harry!' He shook the mangled body, trying to wake his lover. 'Harry!'

A sliver of green met his eyes.

'Oh, Harry,' Draco wept, burying his face into Harry's sticky hair; his tears dripped onto Harry's bloody face.

'Draco,' Harry whispered.

'What is going on here?' Lucius demanded.

'Draco, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?' Bellatrix screamed. 'Get away from him!'

'No.'

'Get away!'

'No!' Draco screamed.

'Oh, isn't this precious?' Dolohov sneered. 'Your son, Lucius, cares for the Potter boy.'

The Death Eaters seemed uncertain whether or not to laugh. The Dark Lord continued to watch the scene in silence.

'That's nonsense,' Lucius snapped. 'Draco, get away from him!'

'No, father! I love him . . .'

'Traitor!' Bellatrix screamed. 'You have chosen the losing side, Draco.'

'Draco, you are not in your right mind,' Lucius said angrily. 'You do not love him – you desire him. Come back to us. You can become a great man, with power and glory. You can work with our lord to achieve great things.'

Draco raised his head to face his father, but he did not loosen his hold around Harry.

'That's the different between you and me. You want that stuff, father. I don't.'

The look of fury that came upon Lucius' face was frightening to behold.

'Then you are no son of mine,' he spat.

'I don't care!' Draco hissed. 'I'm with Harry now! I love him!'

'Then you shall be the one to kill him,' the Dark Lord said, taking action at last. 'Imperio.'

Draco filled with dread upon hearing that word. He had not practiced, he was in a weak state of mind . . . he could not resist the curse. A spell of blissful emptiness came upon him; he was just . . . there. Then a voice spoke to him . . .

'Crucio,' Draco said soon after, following the Dark Lord's command.

Harry was on his hands and knees, crying out in pain.

'Harry!' Weasley screamed.

'Stop it!' Hermione wept.

On his lord's command, Draco lifted the curse and, since he was not hindered, he rushed forwards to Harry's side. He stared at the damaged teen before him, disbelieving that he was still alive.

'Harry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I couldn't help it,' Draco muttered brokenly, tears streaming down his face. 'I love you.' He kissed Harry's chapped lips. 'I love you so much. I'm so sorry.'

'I love you too, Draco,' Harry whispered against his lips. 'I forgive you . . . Hold me . . .'

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Hold me . . .

Kiss me . . .

I'm yours . . .

Don't ever leave me . . .

Don't ever let me go . . .

You're the most important person in the world to me . . .

You're everything . . .

You're perfect . . .

I can't believe you're mine . . .

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There was a green light . . .

Then there was nothing.

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The end.