A/N: This is my first foray back into longer works. For those who don't know, this is a crossover, but since it's mostly Harry Potter –based, that's where I'm putting it. It's rated a hard R, with some sex, violence, and non-consensual stuff, and for being just generally dark and freaky. It's also slashy, so if you have objections, don't read it. I certainly don't want any homophobic flaming going on. Or any flaming, really. Pet Shop of Horrors is a great anime/manga series, and I suggest it to everyone. Thanks to Nicki for the beta! I appreciate and welcome all comments and questions. And if you want to call me weird or crazy, feel free. But I take those sorts of things as compliments.
***
Lucius Malfoy stood, just inside a dimly-lit, well-decorated shop room, holding his cane in hand. The entire room smelled of incense, a strangely musky scent that cast its spell of drowsiness over the man the moment that he stepped inside. Of course, the aristocratic wizard shook it off immediately, and went about inspecting the shop. He was in the States on business – his colleagues in the Americas had been sour about missing out on certain activities for months – when he came across this place. This Pet Shop.
"Quaint," he murmured underneath his breath, in a sneering tone, as he awaited the appearance of the shop's owner. He didn't have to wait very long – in his next breath, a tall, slender man with dark hair and the most alluring eyes stepped through a curtain separating the front of the shop and the back, in a cloud of incense-smoke. Lucius took one look at the man and decided that he knew why the pet shop was so successful. If the other wanted him to, he would quite probably purchase a herd of sheep. Of course, according to reputation, nothing as mundane as that was sold there, at Count D's Pet Shop.
"You must be Mister Malfoy," the man, the Count, purred, and Lucius nodded once, firmly, moving toward him while running his fingers over the silver snake's head at the top of his cane.
"You are correct," Lucius returned, in the same purring tone. D looked him over, and then broke into a very slow smile.
"What may I help you with?" he asked next. Lucius raised a single brow, watching him closely. Certainly he was there with a purpose – the Christmas holidays were fast approaching – but he could always mix a bit of business with pleasure.
"I'm looking for a gift for my son," Lucius explained, in a tone like silk, pushing a few strands of long, golden hair over his shoulder. "He's in need of a pet, but I'm afraid the commonplace creatures sold in other shops won't satisfy me."
"Well, Mr. Malfoy," D purred, being so very inconspicuous in looking the taller, powerful man over, then gave the tiniest of smirks. "I guarantee that I will do my very best to satisfy your needs."
This caused a grin to draw across Lucius' lips, and he moved closer, so close that he could practically hear D's heartbeat. "Let us see to a pet first," he whispered, in a silky tone. "And then we shall see what a man such as yourself," he paused, to look the Count over as well, "can do to satisfy me."
"Very well," said the Count, and gestured to the back of the shop. The curtains drew apart, and Lucius followed him back, glancing about quickly. Strange birds, reptiles, fish... even cats and dogs, peered at them curiously from cages attached to the floor, set on desks, and suspended from the ceilings. But they kept walking.
"I am certain I know exactly what Draco would like," Count D was saying, Lucius was too distracted by an incredible creature, sitting serenely in a cage. At first glance, it was a completely naked woman, but upon further inspection there was something completely different and incredible about her. In fact, Lucius could have sworn that she wasn't a woman at all, but some sort of bird. Count D kept him moving, and at long last, Lucius was led to a door. Once there, D pulled a necklace from beneath the cheongsam that he wore, seven different keys bound by a thin, fine gold chain.
Each of seven different locks on the door was unlocked and, despite himself, Lucius couldn't help but feel a slight wave of anticipation wash over him. Of course, he didn't give any indication of this to the Count; rather, he cleared his throat in faux-impatience and tapped the bottom of his cane against the floor. At long last the door was unlocked, and D let it swing open. Lucius stared into a room of such complete darkness that it startled him. Light from the hall did not seem to permeate inside – instead, the room stood as an entirely separate entity. A black hole. Slowly, Lucius stepped inside.
It felt almost as though he was using a portkey, the strange tugging sensation practically pulled him inside. Quite suddenly, the room wasn't dark anymore, but rather brightly lit with some sort of Muggle technology. Lucius glanced behind him, but the door was closing behind D. Something dragged his gaze back forward.
He took a step, somehow having the knowledge, just knowing, that something was there. Something incredible. He had been walking for what seemed like forever, when out of nowhere a figure appeared. It looked altogether angelic, pale white porcelain skin a stark contrast to black hair, and to the pinkish scar on its' forehead.
Lucius, despite himself, felt a gasp catching in his throat. "That's-" he spoke before he could keep his voice from going too high.
"Yes," drawled D, resting one of his hands on his hips, the other dangling at his side. "His Aunt and Uncle were actually quite eager to be rid of him."
"But-"Lucius didn't understand. Draco was at school with Potter right now. If the Boy Who Lived didn't show up at Hogwarts, he would've heard about it.
"Of course," D cut him off, with a sly smirk. "I provided them with a replacement." As Lucius realized the meaning to D's words – things that this meant, that even the Pet Shop owner didn't realize. The opportunity. The chances. His boss would be so pleased.
"I'll take it," Lucius said, grinning from ear to ear as he gazed at the teenage boy before him, kneeling with a leather collar around his neck, wrists bound together in front of him with a kind of black latex tape. Naked, of course. He wasn't sure why he'd never noticed it before, but Harry Potter certainly was delectable.
"Before you do," said D as he guided Lucius back to the front room, allowing him to lead his purchase by his collar, "There is, of course, the matter of a contract." Lucius nodded hastily, looking over the pet with a well-masked eagerness.
"Yes, of course," Lucius said, with a wave of his hand.
"There are the terms of the contract," D went on. "It's very important that you follow these terms implicitly. If you do not – and this is important," he said, firmly, being sure that Lucius looked up from Harry. "If you do not follow these terms, I cannot be held responsible for what may happen."
Lucius didn't particularly like the sound of that, but he nodded the Count on anyway. There was no way that he would leave this behind.
"Firstly, the incense. It must be kept lit in the pet's room at all times." D handed Lucius a packet of that sweet-smelling herb. "Secondly, you must not let him be seen by anyone, save for your own immediate family." Pressing his lips together, Lucius nodded at this. "And lastly, he must not be harmed." Lucius felt his spirits fall a bit at this term but, with a tiny smirk crossing his lips, he nodded. Harm can be avoided. Pain, however, would be most pleasant. His smirk spread.
Lucius signed on the line, in his extravagant cursive, then moved to the side. He would apparate, of course, and D promised that the pet would be delivered to his house on Christmas morning. He looked his purchase over one last time, before he stepped away and, with a loud crack, was gone again.
***
Lucius Malfoy stood, just inside a dimly-lit, well-decorated shop room, holding his cane in hand. The entire room smelled of incense, a strangely musky scent that cast its spell of drowsiness over the man the moment that he stepped inside. Of course, the aristocratic wizard shook it off immediately, and went about inspecting the shop. He was in the States on business – his colleagues in the Americas had been sour about missing out on certain activities for months – when he came across this place. This Pet Shop.
"Quaint," he murmured underneath his breath, in a sneering tone, as he awaited the appearance of the shop's owner. He didn't have to wait very long – in his next breath, a tall, slender man with dark hair and the most alluring eyes stepped through a curtain separating the front of the shop and the back, in a cloud of incense-smoke. Lucius took one look at the man and decided that he knew why the pet shop was so successful. If the other wanted him to, he would quite probably purchase a herd of sheep. Of course, according to reputation, nothing as mundane as that was sold there, at Count D's Pet Shop.
"You must be Mister Malfoy," the man, the Count, purred, and Lucius nodded once, firmly, moving toward him while running his fingers over the silver snake's head at the top of his cane.
"You are correct," Lucius returned, in the same purring tone. D looked him over, and then broke into a very slow smile.
"What may I help you with?" he asked next. Lucius raised a single brow, watching him closely. Certainly he was there with a purpose – the Christmas holidays were fast approaching – but he could always mix a bit of business with pleasure.
"I'm looking for a gift for my son," Lucius explained, in a tone like silk, pushing a few strands of long, golden hair over his shoulder. "He's in need of a pet, but I'm afraid the commonplace creatures sold in other shops won't satisfy me."
"Well, Mr. Malfoy," D purred, being so very inconspicuous in looking the taller, powerful man over, then gave the tiniest of smirks. "I guarantee that I will do my very best to satisfy your needs."
This caused a grin to draw across Lucius' lips, and he moved closer, so close that he could practically hear D's heartbeat. "Let us see to a pet first," he whispered, in a silky tone. "And then we shall see what a man such as yourself," he paused, to look the Count over as well, "can do to satisfy me."
"Very well," said the Count, and gestured to the back of the shop. The curtains drew apart, and Lucius followed him back, glancing about quickly. Strange birds, reptiles, fish... even cats and dogs, peered at them curiously from cages attached to the floor, set on desks, and suspended from the ceilings. But they kept walking.
"I am certain I know exactly what Draco would like," Count D was saying, Lucius was too distracted by an incredible creature, sitting serenely in a cage. At first glance, it was a completely naked woman, but upon further inspection there was something completely different and incredible about her. In fact, Lucius could have sworn that she wasn't a woman at all, but some sort of bird. Count D kept him moving, and at long last, Lucius was led to a door. Once there, D pulled a necklace from beneath the cheongsam that he wore, seven different keys bound by a thin, fine gold chain.
Each of seven different locks on the door was unlocked and, despite himself, Lucius couldn't help but feel a slight wave of anticipation wash over him. Of course, he didn't give any indication of this to the Count; rather, he cleared his throat in faux-impatience and tapped the bottom of his cane against the floor. At long last the door was unlocked, and D let it swing open. Lucius stared into a room of such complete darkness that it startled him. Light from the hall did not seem to permeate inside – instead, the room stood as an entirely separate entity. A black hole. Slowly, Lucius stepped inside.
It felt almost as though he was using a portkey, the strange tugging sensation practically pulled him inside. Quite suddenly, the room wasn't dark anymore, but rather brightly lit with some sort of Muggle technology. Lucius glanced behind him, but the door was closing behind D. Something dragged his gaze back forward.
He took a step, somehow having the knowledge, just knowing, that something was there. Something incredible. He had been walking for what seemed like forever, when out of nowhere a figure appeared. It looked altogether angelic, pale white porcelain skin a stark contrast to black hair, and to the pinkish scar on its' forehead.
Lucius, despite himself, felt a gasp catching in his throat. "That's-" he spoke before he could keep his voice from going too high.
"Yes," drawled D, resting one of his hands on his hips, the other dangling at his side. "His Aunt and Uncle were actually quite eager to be rid of him."
"But-"Lucius didn't understand. Draco was at school with Potter right now. If the Boy Who Lived didn't show up at Hogwarts, he would've heard about it.
"Of course," D cut him off, with a sly smirk. "I provided them with a replacement." As Lucius realized the meaning to D's words – things that this meant, that even the Pet Shop owner didn't realize. The opportunity. The chances. His boss would be so pleased.
"I'll take it," Lucius said, grinning from ear to ear as he gazed at the teenage boy before him, kneeling with a leather collar around his neck, wrists bound together in front of him with a kind of black latex tape. Naked, of course. He wasn't sure why he'd never noticed it before, but Harry Potter certainly was delectable.
"Before you do," said D as he guided Lucius back to the front room, allowing him to lead his purchase by his collar, "There is, of course, the matter of a contract." Lucius nodded hastily, looking over the pet with a well-masked eagerness.
"Yes, of course," Lucius said, with a wave of his hand.
"There are the terms of the contract," D went on. "It's very important that you follow these terms implicitly. If you do not – and this is important," he said, firmly, being sure that Lucius looked up from Harry. "If you do not follow these terms, I cannot be held responsible for what may happen."
Lucius didn't particularly like the sound of that, but he nodded the Count on anyway. There was no way that he would leave this behind.
"Firstly, the incense. It must be kept lit in the pet's room at all times." D handed Lucius a packet of that sweet-smelling herb. "Secondly, you must not let him be seen by anyone, save for your own immediate family." Pressing his lips together, Lucius nodded at this. "And lastly, he must not be harmed." Lucius felt his spirits fall a bit at this term but, with a tiny smirk crossing his lips, he nodded. Harm can be avoided. Pain, however, would be most pleasant. His smirk spread.
Lucius signed on the line, in his extravagant cursive, then moved to the side. He would apparate, of course, and D promised that the pet would be delivered to his house on Christmas morning. He looked his purchase over one last time, before he stepped away and, with a loud crack, was gone again.