DISCLAIMER – Do NOT own the characters or w.e else it's all J.K
WARNING – This is a SLASH story, meaning that yes, there will be homosexual relations in it. In fact, the main relationship will be a homosexual relationship between Harry and Draco, if you can't handle that I suggest you click the back button now.
~::.::~ DRACOCOR ~::.::~ DRAGONHEART ~::.::~
How had the Great Draco Malfoy fallen so? Draco paused in his thoughts. How was he 'The Great' Draco Malfoy? He blanched. Draco wasn't 'Great' he was just a silly little school boy who fancied himself a prince because of his blood status, family status and his unwavering ability to be an intimidating arse.
Still, how had life come to this? It hardly seemed fair, but maybe it was… Maybe Karma was catching up with him after years of being a Jack-Ass-In-A-Box. Shaking his head, Draco again told himself, It's just not fair! Weren't his father and his fathers… 'Friends' enough punishment? This was just cruel. He hadn't been that mean… Had he? It seemed unlikely, not that it really mattered, not right now anyhow.
Draco forced himself back to his dimming reality.
"You're a Malfoy, so you damn well better start acting like one!"
"How dare you embarrass me like this you little whelp!"
"I'd rather see you die then continue to tarnish the Malfoy name!"
Draco flinched painfully at the voice, an echo of his memories. He stilled himself trying in vain to ease his aching body. Aching, he grimaced, what an understatement!
A shiver tore down Draco's spine, his face twisting in agony as his body twitched with the shivering sensation. Draco had always enjoyed summer nights such as this, the stars stretching out endlessly in the cloudless sky above him. The cool breeze caressing all that could be touched, the ground still radiating the warmth it had absorbed from the sun that day.
That thought drew a choking sob from him. The cool breeze was now a brutal freezing wind, torturing him further with each forced shiver. The sweet scent of the night lost to him, the blood clotted on his face plastered itself firmly over his nostrils. The stars ceased to exist in his weakened, hazy vision. Though Draco did find solace in the warm, earthy floor beneath him. At least that hadn't failed him.
Ok, he thought to himself, time to move again.
His everything groaned in protest, each time he stopped to break it became harder and harder to start again. But he knew he had to, he would surely die if he didn't. However… He might die anyway.
He shook his head violently; no thoughts like that! He was determined; he had to get to Severus. In one swift movement Draco bent his arms, his palms flat against the ground near his face, and pushed violently, forcing his body up. He couldn't help the little whimper that escaped him at the action. He shuffled clumsily forward; searing pain throbbed his entire body with each step, yet he pressed on.
~::.::~
Severus froze, leaning slightly in his chair to stare out the entrance arch of the living room. He sighed, glancing at the clock, 9:56. Much too late for visitors in his opinion, though he had never had a burglar… Maybe it was a cat, no no; the sound was much too loud. He huffed quietly and set his book down on the coffee table before sauntering down the hall.
Severus had seen many things in his life, things that most people wouldn't even see in their nightmares, but this… The sight in front of him filled his whole self with numbing disgust and horror. The thump he had heard at his door had, in fact, been his beaten and bloodied godson, falling unconscious on his doorstep.
Hurriedly he scooped the boy up in his arms, panting slightly as he carted him to the spare bedroom. He set to work instantly, grabbing his cauldron and ingredients that were common to healing potions.
Severus' shaking hands began pulling the buttons back through the holes, undressing his godson to see the extent of the damage. Gently he peeled the blood soaked shirt from Draco's torso and tossed it to the floor before lying Draco back down.
Severus gasped in pure shock, frozen, unable to do anything but stare. Almost in the centre of his chest, right over his heart, was a scar size enough to pull his heart out of.
"Good Lord…" Though he knew this was the work of no such Lord.
His fingers grazed lightly over the scar, cringing when Draco did.
"Sorry…" he whispered as soothingly as he could even though he knew Draco was too far-gone to hear him. He continued his inspection, noting that all injuries he may have had were healed, there weren't even any scars or bruises to indicate that he may have been hurt. Well, except the odd one on his chest, had someone burned it closed? That couldn't be good for it but it looked like it had healed well enough. All the same Severus continued to perform a few diagnostic spells. Exhaustion, malnutrition, hunger, thirst. These were what plagued him now. However, Severus did notice that even the gentlest touch caused the boy to flinch and whimper.
So Severus began brewing, one cauldron for exhaustion, one for malnutrition and one for the pain. He fed him first the potion to ease his pains away, followed closely by the nutrient packed potion, then with a last whispered 'Good-night' he slipped him the Dreamless Sleep potion.
~::.::~
"Really Severus? Pride And Prejudice?" Though the sound was weak Severus still jumped at his godsons voice. Recovering from his shock he scoffed before placing the book gently on the nightstand.
"There is nothing wrong with my choice in reading material."
Draco's lips twitched, had he been in better health they would've formed a smirk but at present they could only shape into a lazy, lop-sided sort of half smirk.
"How are you feeling Draco?"
Draco groaned slightly, pushing himself up to sit. Severus carefully helped prop him up comfortably. Draco yawned, winced, then turned to Severus.
"My whole body still aches." Severus nodded before pouring a designated amount of the pain-killing potion into a glass and handing it to Draco. Draco guzzled it gratefully, waiting a few seconds for it to take affect before stretching.
"That's much better, thanks Severus." Since Draco didn't mention any other symptoms or pains Severus took that to mean there was nothing else. He scrutinised the boy in front of him.
"Before you ask, mum sent me here."
"But why? What happened?"
Draco winced but not from pain, well, not physical pain. Severus read it perfectly.
"Draco you must tell me what happened."
Draco nodded.
"I know Sev, I'm just so hungry," he paused, then turned to Severus, "Can't we get something to eat and I'll tell you while we feast?"
The potions master sat silent for a moment, Draco only used the nick name 'Sev' when he was feeling vulnerable, whatever had happened must've been very serious, though that much had already been made obvious by the state he had found the child in. He stood nodding in agreement to Draco's condition. So long as he got the story…
When they were seated comfortably, and Draco had his much-desired feast before him, Severus noted that Draco though starving, still ate with impeccable manners. He allowed the boy to eat for a few moments before delving once more into his question. Draco's face grew sombre as he recalled the events previous to this.
"Well it all started when father told me I was to join the death eaters," He began carefully, his voice no more than a whisper. Severus gasped, join the death eaters? Draco was much too young wasn't he?
-------------------------------------- FLASH BACK ------------------------------------
Draco's father grabbed his shoulder firmly; he stood tall, his pristine robes falling with effortless grace over his stiff figure.
"Today is a good day, Draco," he had said, "Today you can bask in the glory of receiving such an honour as the mark of our Lord."
A jolt of fear shot through Draco, this wasn't what he wanted, he'd been too scared to say so before, he'd thought he could slip under the radar, or he'd hoped he could anyway. His father felt the shiver that made its way over his sons' body.
"Don't be so surprised, Draco," He scorned calmly, "You're of age now, even if just barely. No matter, the moment you turned seventeen you were due the mark."
Draco's heart clattered fearfully against his ribs, for a foolish moment he thought it might tear out of his chest.
"The Dark Lord will be here any moment to brand you," He informed proudly, Draco's heart skipped a beat, "Congratulations my son, you will finally stand to proudly back the Malfoy name."
Draco panicked, and suddenly all the consequences in the world didn't matter, not faced with such a horrible future that was guaranteed to him the moment he was marked.
"B-but Fath-"
"No need for foolish insecurities, you may be a failure in many ways but I am sure you will make an excellent follower of our Lord."
Draco hated how he said 'Our Lord'.
"I don't want to take the mark." He also hated how his voice quivered so pathetically at that moment. His fathers grip tightened painfully on his shoulder.
"Really Draco, there is no need for such foolish talk. Don't joke around with me." His voice was tight, scary and threatening, but Draco was trapped. He was to be confronted with his greatest fear if he didn't do something and quick. He pulled sharply out of his fathers' grasp and stood tall as he could, fighting the urge to look away from the stare of his 'father'.
"You cannot force me," His voice no longer quivered but the fear was dominating, "I will not take the mark of that lunatic Lord"
Funny, he'd always imagined this moment so different. In his daydreams he'd imagined no fear, only adrenaline as he calmly and forcefully looked his father in the eyes, spitting these exact words venomously at him before turning on his heel and strutting out.
Instead Draco stood so afraid he couldn't even shake, no venom in his voice, but definitely determination.
His fathers' face fell into a look of absolute disgust and horror.
"You're a Malfoy, so you damn well better start acting like one!"
He moved forward, the action clearly threatening, but before he could do anything the front door swung open eerily silent. The silence continued as a parade of dark hooded figures crossed the threshold, lead by the lunatic snake lord himself.
Draco's mind broke, his thoughts running wildly around, his heart screaming in his ears. The Death eaters formed a semi-circle in front of the two men; Voldermort stepped forward fluidly.
"Lucius, my ever faithful, join your family in the circle," Voldermort hissed happily.
What a dolt thought Draco, it's not a bloody circle. It was probably the least important, least relevant thing to be thinking but I suppose one only controls their thoughts to a certain extent. Lucius stalked over to an empty space in the curved line, his expression now smug. Clearly he thought that faced with the Lord himself, Draco would be unable to refuse.
Voldermort then turned his big ugly snake face to Draco, eyeing him thoughtfully.
"Well then Draco, kneel before me and extend your left arm."
Draco didn't budge. Voldermort cocked his head curiously.
"Come now boy, I understand you must be nervous but my patience wears thin. Come here."
Draco tried to talk, he really did, but no sound could be forced from his throat, so instead he shook his head dismayed. Whispers shot through the followers. Voldermort turned to the one shaking in rage.
"Lucius my servant, what is the meaning of this? Are you to tell me you're son would refuse me?"
Lucius was simply livid, Draco was suddenly happy his mother had gone out, he didn't want he to be here for this. She would surely stick with Draco, and he couldn't be responsible for her pain, or worse, her death.
Lucius broke away from formation, charging at his son, blinded by rage.
"How dare you embarrass me like this you little whelp!"
A harsh blow to the face and Draco was sent sprawling. Another and another until Draco was on his knees, bloodied and bruised, looking up pathetically at his father. The snickers and jeers from the present company were barely audible over the bounding in his head.
"I'd rather see you die then continue to tarnish the Malfoy name!" His father spat harshly before drawing his wand, "Crucio!" He called hatefully.
Never had Draco experienced pain such as what he felt then. His screams were in vain, but he couldn't stop, he couldn't even think that they did no good. His body was on fire, on fire and being torn apart, chopped into pieces and whipped whilst burning. His eyes lolled back into his head and his screams finally ceased, his voice choking into silence. Then the pain stopped, but whether it was because the curse had ended or that Draco simply couldn't feel it anymore was unknown. Then his fathers' face filled his blurred vision.
I wonder if this is how Potter sees without his glasses… In his state Draco was unable to focus his mind and listened helplessly as his thoughts strayed. Then his father was saying something, nothing that Draco could comprehend, but he watched mesmerised as the thin lips of his father formed what was undoubtedly a string of insults.
Then his father sheathed his wand in his cane once more, and Draco thought maybe it was over, that this was the punishment he'd be left with. He thought, maybe, just maybe, even though his father was a horrid person, he just wasn't able to kill his own son. But with one last sneer his father drove the end of his cane right into the center of Draco's chest, piercing his heart. He then pulled his cane back out and left without a second glance at Draco.
"Oh my GOD!" It was the first thing Draco had been able to hear in some time. It made sense that his mothers pained shriek would awaken his senses.
"What have you done!" She screamed accusingly as she rushed for her son. Draco didn't catch his fa- Lucius' response; I suppose his ears decided not to care what he had to say. All Draco knew was his mother was there; she was holding him, rocking him gently and sobbing. She healed what she could but there was nothing she or any other witch or wizard could do for his heart. She doubled over in agony, folding herself over her son.
"Draco! Oh god Draco…" she kept whispering his name, it was soothing, even if her sobs ripped at his already torn heart. Then she gasped.
"Draco!" But this time it wasn't like she was saying his name. He couldn't quite place what it was but in the next second his mother was calling for house elves. The elves levitated him as gently as possible and followed his mother out the door.
No, no! This isn't right. If I'm to die I'd rather it in my home, with my mother! He wanted to tell her that, to tell her it was ok, that he loved her, but his voice was incapable.
Draco flitted in and out of consciousness, watching in an odd dreamlike state as the scenery continued to change each time he woke. Then his mother was speaking again. Pleading.
"Please! You must help him! He's my only son! I can't lose him!" her voice had an edge of hysteria to it. Draco wanted to comfort her but he couldn't even see anymore.
"Speak your name." The demand startled Draco back to reality, it was dark and damp and hard; his mother was above him again, but this time not cradling him. Was she offering him? To what?
"Narcissa Black." She spoke calmer than before.
"Black you say?" There was that deep growling voice again. It made Draco scared to look over.
"The Black family are children of the Celts…" He seemed to be considering things.
"M-mother," Draco rasped weakly, "What's happening?"
"Shh, Draco darling, save your strength."
"Draco?" The voice sounded surprised, "Has your Celtic worship inspired such a name?"
Draco watched his mother nod solemnly.
"Of course. My family was always honoured the Celtic traditions, magic and legends of the Dragons."
Silence. Then –
"Turn your gaze to me Draco." The voice was gentle but left no room for argument. Obliging Draco turned his head slowly, and with help from his mother. His eyes absorbed the gigantic dragon before him.
"Dragons can talk?" he asked stupidly.
"I am the last of my kind," he answered plainly, "I will save you, Draco, but you must promise me, you must swear an oath to live by the old code. You must swear to me to live with a good heart and do all that you can to protect what's right."
Draco's head was spinning his vision darkening, his body felt heavy, but above all that, he could hear the dragons' words clear as day.
"I swear."
And that was all it took. Draco watched in horror as the dragon peeled back a scale near the center of his body at the base of his neck, revealing its still beating heart. He watched as the dragon proceeded to reach inside itself, tearing free a piece of its own heart. Then the horror really set in as he realised just what the dragon was doing. He lay there helpless as the dragon folded the piece of its heart into Draco's chest.
He felt instantly better, his heart strengthened. Then the dragon bent its neck low, and with a heavy sigh flames burst from its mouth welding the wound shut like it were metal. He tried to stay conscious but was powerless against his exhaustion.
Hours later when he finally woke he found he had been moved and his mother was in a tizzy.
"Draco, my son, you must make haste!" She told him as she noticed he had woken.
"Go to Severus, he will not turn you back," she read the apprehension in her sons face then added, "He is not what he pretends to be, though he knows not that I have realised it."
Draco felt a head ache settling in, this wasn't making any sense! Had the dragon been a dream? He stopped suddenly, had it? He peeled his bloodied shirt back a bit, gasping at the mark he found.
Well that's attractive he thought sarcastically, clicking his tongue in distaste. Nope, not a dream.
"Please Draco! Pay attention!" He focused on his mother, this really wasn't the time for wondering thoughts, "Go to Severus, I cannot take you and you cannot be found so you must walk. It's a fair distance but I know you can do it! You have to…" She trailed off sadly. It caught Draco's attention.
"Wait, what are you saying? You're not coming with me?" He didn't wait for an answer, he already knew he was right, "You're not going back to him are you!?" He cried out. His mother gave him a stern look.
"Shh, Draco. Now is not the time to lose your head! Yes I am going back, I must, I have been branded by the mark and so my destiny is decided. I cannot change that now… No matter how much I wish to…" She smiled at her son, who was gaping at her, "But I can do right by my life even if I have restrictions. I can do right by you. So please Draco, go to Severus, he will help you!"
Draco froze, not sure what he really wanted to do, not sure what he should do. He had made an oath to do what was right, but how was it possible when he couldn't even sort out what exactly was the right thing to do.
Finally after many minutes of debating with himself, he nodded silently, irked when his mother grinned at his decision. How can she smile so big at me like that when I'm abandoning her?
"Thank you Draco!" She whispered to him as he stalked off into the distance.
--------------------------------- END OF FLASH BACK -----------------------------------------
"I think I've lost my appetite," Draco announced after a rather profound silence. Severus forced himself to speak normally.
"Don't be ridiculous, you know better than I do how hungry you are and I know better than you do how much your body needs this food," Severus preached, "Now hurry up and eat."
Draco sighed but continued anyway. Silence fell once more between them.
"Draco," Severus began, not sure what he wanted to ask, "Why didn't you tell me you had no intention of joining The Dark Lords ranks?"
Draco shrugged making a noncommittal sound.
"Dunno really… I always thought you were bully for Voldy…"
"Yes, I do come off that way… An unfortunate part of playing spy."
Draco dropped his fork staring with large eyes at the man across from him.
"You're a spy? For who?" Draco almost shouted, then he grimaced, "Ok, dumb question."
Severus couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him.
"Yes, it was wasn't it?"
Draco just continued to down some sausage.
"Draco, I'd like to take you to him," He spoke calculatingly, "He'll know what to do, he can keep you safe." With this Draco looked up, something toiling behind his eyes, something unrecognisable.
"I don't want to 'stay safe'" he sneered, "I want to join forces. I'm going to honour the second chance I've been given in life at do something worth what I've been given. I'm going to set my mother free and I'll be damned if I don't watch my father die." Then he continued to eat like he'd said nothing at all. Severus watched him for a long time before speaking again.
"Alright, Draco. We'll go Sunday."
~::.::~ DRACOCOR ~::.::~ DRAGONHEART ~::.::~
A/N: So… New story, I don't think anyone's done this yet… I've read quite a few stories and haven't found one in symmetry to this so I hope its something new for everyone, and I hope it's something you'll all enjoy.
I'd really appreciate reviews on this as it is new to me and I'm not sure how people will take it. Thank you for your time in reading my story!
Bye-Bye