Harry was feeling absolutely miserable. His thoughts were spinning in circles as he tried to think of ways to get out of this bond. There was no way that he could keep on living like this. He had two options and neither of them looked good.

The voice that was his mother's kept telling him to accept the bond. Harry wanted to listen to her. He wanted this bond. He wanted the chance to live with someone who could love him unconditionally. And if he was going to be honest, he wanted Tom.

But how was he supposed to live with, support, and love a man who had murdered his friends and family?

Harry was torn between two evils.

The resulting turmoil of his thoughts began to affect him other ways. He had been doing well here, but things had changed since Malfoy walked out that last time. A week or more had come and gone. He was no longer eating, every bite tasting like ash. Fueling his guilt and confusion.

Harry had asked the house elves not to tell their Masters that he was starving himself unless they were asked. He drank water sparingly only when he had to. The rest of the time he stared at a wall and rocked himself as he tried to put his thoughts in order.

It was just after dinner maybe a week and a half after Draco left that the blonde came back. Harry couldn't be sure of the time passing with the meals no longer counting the days for him. The door opened to a flood of words as the young man stepped inside the room.

"You were right, Potter!"

The blonde was talking to the wall, Harry said nothing as the door shut behind the pure blood.

"I went to my father and asked him if there were anything that I could help him with. He was surprised, but then he smiled at me. Can you believe it?! Father smiled at me! Anyway he told me that a few of the lower members were going to a meeting in France with someone and that they were looking for one more person to accompany them."

Draco paused for a long moment before turning slowly to see Harry, "Goodness Potter. It was your idea and all, the least you could do is act interested."

Harry was still facing the wall but managed to catch some to the blonde's emotions out of the corner of his eye. Malfoy looked horrified, Harry figured he must look a mess. After all, the Gryffindor hadn't showered several months. He noticed that Malfoy's jaw was moving up and down, but no words were coming out.

"Pot-Harry?"

The name changed caused Harry to turn his head to look straight at the blonde.

"Are you okay?"

Harry frowned and nodded at the Slytherin.

"You look terrible."

"I haven't showered in months, Malfoy. Of course I look terrible."

The Malfoy heir looked at him for a long moment. Opening and shutting his mouth several times before clearing his throat. He looked away and swallowed before looking back with a determined expression, his mouth set in a thin line.

"When was the last time you ate?"

Harry blinked, surely Malfoy couldn't see anything. Harry had gone longer without food before this after all. No one had noticed before.

"Uh… about an hour before you came last time."

Draco blinked, "That was almost two weeks ago."

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you say something?! We could have gotten the house elves to come sooner, this isn't good for you Harry." He turned his head and ignored Harry's protest, "Tindy!"

"How can Tindy be helping the young master?"

"Why haven't you been feeding our guest? He hasn't eaten in weeks!"

"Tindy is sorry. Tindy be trying to bring food. Mr. Potter sayings he not wants it."

"Draco?" Both heads turned to look at Harry, "She's telling the truth."

"Harry, it's their job to feed you."

The raven looked away, mumbling, "I wasn't hungry…"

Draco snorted, "Tindy, go get our guest something to eat. Then you can explain why you didn't inform anyone of this."

The elf gave a squeak and popped away. Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco.

"I asked her not to tell anyone and I told you, I'm not hungry."

"You look like shit. You're going to eat. We'll worry about what we tell the others later."

"I don't want to eat."

"Why not?!" Draco's temper snapped, "Why would you hand yourself over to the Dark Lord, make him promise to leave you and Hogwarts alone, only to try and starve yourself weeks later?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Explain it to me, then."

"Forget it."

"No. You helped me. It's my turn."

"That's just it!" Harry bit his lip to keep from saying anything more.

"What is?" Harry shook his head and Draco practically growled, "Me helping you? Is that what you're afraid of?"

Harry was silent.

"No. That's not it. You said it was after I left that you stopped eating."

Harry turned away to face the wall again, giving Draco his profile.

"Is it because we were having a civilized conversation. Do you not want to talk to me?" Draco's voice sounded cold all of the sudden.

Harry paused but gave a sigh and shook his head.

"Then I don't understand! What is the problem?"

Draco reached out to grab Harry's shoulder. The raven turned to look at him and flinched when the Dark Mark entered his vision. He tried to hide it, but Draco noticed. The Slytherin followed his eyes and pulled his hand back slowly.

"It's because I'm a Death Eater, isn't it."

Harry shook his head, but couldn't help the red flush that went up his face. Draco moved to stand and walk away. Harry reached out and gripped the blonde's hand in his own. He pulled the Slytherin to him and turned the hand palm up, he caressed the Mark with a shaking finger.

"It's not the Mark." He looked up into grey eyes and willed them to believe him.

"Then what is it?" Green eyes looked away, "Please."

Harry sighed, "It's what it means. And that I helped it."

Draco frowned, "What what means?"

"The Mark. It's what the Mark means."

"What does it mean to you?"

"Murder. Death. Suffering. Innocent lives ruined."

Draco sighed, "That's not true."

Harry bit his lip but refused to look up at Draco again. The older boy tried to think of someone to avoid this, but Harry needed to know. The Dark Lord would be furious if Harry died over a misconception. He took a deep breath and let it out in a big gust of air.

"Harry, I think there's something you should know."

The Gryffindor said nothing and settled into to stare at the wall a little longer.

"Most of the murders we're blamed for- they're… well we don't actually do them."

That caught Harry's attention. Green eyes turned a laser lock on grey, "What?"

"The Dark Lord has missions, but we are rarely told to kill someone."

"Dumbledore…"

"Was different. He was a personal enemy of the Dark Lord and a leader for the light. You noticed how terrified I was, it's not something that I was supposed to be proud of and it was not something that is normally expected of a new recruit."

"Wait. If you're not killing people, who is?"

"I'm not saying we're not killing. I'm saying all of the lives we take are for a reason. Most of them are fighting against us, some are traitors, and many are in self-defense. The Dark Lord doesn't take death lightly."

"Can you tell me a little more? What the dark is fighting for? Stuff like that?"

"I'll tell you some, but I can't tell you all of everything."

"I understand."

Tinky came back with food, having waited until she thought her presence would be welcome. Harry agreed to eat while Draco talked. The blonde watching him take the first few bites before he spoke.

(0,0)

It had taken hours but Harry now had a clean plate. Draco had run out of things he felt he could actually tell Harry about. Which meant topic change after topic change. In the end they settled for gossiping about kids in their class.

It may not have been the most instructive topic, but it certainly was amusing to picture different couples. It had resulted in bouts of laughter from the both of them as they started to name the most ridiculous couples they could think of.

Eventually, Tinky popped back in and informed Draco that dinner was to be served soon. Draco gave her a nod and she popped away with a little curtsy. Draco stood and stretched, sore from sitting on the stone floor for hours.

"You realize I'm going to have to tell the Dark Lord everything that has happened, don't you?"

Harry sighed, "I hoped you wouldn't, but yeah."

Draco gave him a forced smile and stood to leave. Harry watched him go with a sadness. Before the blonde could close the door Harry spoke up.

"You'll come back, right?" He hated how weak he sounded, but the loneliness could get to a person.

The blonde gave him a small but genuine smile, "As soon as I can."

(0,0)

Soon happened to be two days later.

"I'm so sorry, Harry."

Harry turned, angry at Draco for not even sending him a note the day before. Then he noticed the dark circles under the blonde's eyes. And the tension in his face. Harry's anger dissipated and he pulled Draco into the room. Within seconds Harry had conjured two simple, cushioned chairs.

Draco blinked at the show of magic but allowed Harry to lead him over to the furniture. The dark haired boy pushed Draco down into one of the seats and immediately noticed the shaking of the boy. It seemed that he had been put under the torture curse for a while.

"What happened?"

"The Dark Lord didn't appreciate me telling you all that stuff I did."

"You barely told me anything," Harry frowned at him.

Draco gave him a tight smile, "Apparently that was beside the point."

Harry grew angry and forced himself to take deep calming breaths. He counted to twenty and then back to zero. He looked at Draco and called for Tinky.

"What cans Tinky be doing for Master's guest?"

"Hello, Tinky. Can you tell the Dark Lord that I would like a moment of his time when he is available? The sooner the better."

The elf looked nervous but nodded at Harry anyway, "Tinky will."

"Thank you. Can you also bring Draco a glass of water?"

The elf nodded again and popped away.

"Don't even think about confronting the Dark Lord over me. He has no problems killing you and I just got used to not insulting you every time I see your less-than-revolting profile."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Don't worry, I think it's time I talked with him anyway."

"You're going to talk to him about this no matter what I say, aren't you?"

Harry nodded without a single second of hesitation and gave Draco an unrepentant grin.

Draco let out a light laugh and fondly shook his head at the boy.

Tinky popped back in with a glass of water and Harry thanked her even as she popped away once again. Draco was having some difficulty holding the glass, but Harry didn't offer to help the proud teen. Instead he took it from him the minute it was pulled from his lips and set it on the floor next to them.

Harry was not sure who was more surprised when the door swung open to reveal Voldemort himself. The two teens were surprised the man would come to Harry this abruptly, the wizard shocked to see the blonde disobeying his orders. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Harry's wandless magic, Voldemort had put up a ward to prevent it. Of course, Harry had only taken seconds to disable it.

Seeing the wizard's eyes narrow caused Harry's to follow suit. Ever the Gryffindor, he stood and moved between Voldemort and Draco. He was fighting to control his anger but knew that his face was flushed and that his magic was swirling around him.

"You say that you trust your followers. You say that they would never lie to you. I give you two instances in which they lie because they have feared your wrath, yet you do nothing! The very next moment someone comes to you with proof of fealty- you torture them. How is that smart?"

"Harry," Draco ignored the red eyes glaring at him, "Avery was punished, so were the others."

The information caused Harry to pause, but righteous anger won out over common sense, "He still has no reason to punish you."

Red eyes widened in astonishment and narrowed in anger, "Draco overstepped his bounds. He had no right to tell you anything."

"Why? Do I look like I'm trying to escape? Did it ever occur to you that a better option to torturing me would be to make me understand and possibly convert me? Did you ever think that Draco is the best person to do that?"

"He still made decisions without contacting me."

"And he came and told you of it immediately afterwards!"

"Harry," Draco started.

"No, Draco. He may be the big bad Dark Lord but he has no right to expect people to be loyal and honest when he punishes people for those very traits. This is how you end up with traitors."

"How dare you!"

"I dare a lot of things in case you haven't noticed! You just don't like the fact that someone has pointed out what an idiot you have been!" The instant the words were out there, Harry regretted them.

Tom had apparently reached the end of his rope for the night, "Crucio!"

Harry collapsed onto his knees but stubbornly refused to fall any farther. The green eyed teen was shocked when the curse was lifted less than a minute.

"You will respect me." With that last statement Tom turned and left in an exit worthy of Snape.

Harry heard the door shut and felt an undeniable surge of worthlessness. How could he be so cruel to his bond mate? Just because the man was unaware did not mean Harry was. Harry felt arms wrap around him and he leaned back against the chest behind him. He was still trembling when he realized Draco was whispering soothing noises in his ear.

It took long minutes but Harry was able to start thinking clearly. This was not entirely his fault, after all. Slowly Harry felt his trembling stop. His tears stopped threatening to fall down his face. Eventually Harry was able to distinguish the words Draco was saying.

"Shh… It's alright, Harry. You're fine. He's gone. You're going to be okay."

Not long after that Harry was able to sit up on his own and walk towards one of the chairs he had conjured earlier. Draco joined him with a glass of water and some chocolate. Harry smiled at the sight, chocolate fixed everything apparently. Draco handed them both over and watched Harry for a few long moments before his question popped out unexpected and unwelcome by both parties.

"Why are you here?" Draco's voice was quiet, as though he was hoping Harry wouldn't hear his question.

"Because I offered myself up to Lord Voldemort to prevent the deaths of others. So many had died, I have no one. It was easier to sacrifice myself."

"But you could have just died. You could have nobly sacrificed yourself for everyone else, instead you talked the Dark Lord into letting you live. So tell me, why are you here?"

Harry paused but gave Draco the best answer he could, "I have something the Dark Lord desperately needs."

"Why isn't he down here torturing you then?"

"It's a part of me, not information that he could pull out of me. Besides that I told him I would kill myself, taking the- something- with me, if he tortured me."

Draco froze his face paling, "You can't be serious! How could you do that? Do you think I'm going to let you? No. I'll tie you up if I have to. Have a house elf monitor you at all times. One crucio, Harry, that's all it was."

"Draco." The blonde stopped his rant to look into green eyes, "I'm not going to kill myself over that. I provoked him. That was done as punishment and not torture. They're different things in my mind."

"Thank Merlin! Don't ever scare me like that again!"

Harry gave him a small smile, "Sorry. Anyway that's why I'm here."

Draco nodded and sat in his chair thinking, a hand running absentmindedly through his hair. Suddenly the Slytherin froze and a question appeared in his eyes.

"Wait. That's why he wants you here. Why do you want to be here?"

Harry searched his mind for something to say. There had to be a legitimate reason for him to be here. Or one that he could tell Draco at least. Then again it would be nice to talk to someone. Draco would probably know more as a pureblood about bonds. Maybe it would be nice to have him find out some more about what had happened. About what would happen anyway. But first things first…

"How good are you at Occlumency?"

Draco blinked at the raven, "Decent, don't think I'll let you change the subject."

"I'm not. Can you block out the Dark Lord? Keep him from finding out something before he's ready? Keep something from him that I don't want him to know?"

A blush rose to Draco's cheeks, "Yes. I've had a bit of practice."

Harry wondered about the blush, but stored it away for later questioning, "Alright. I'm trusting you. If you don't think you can handle it let me know, I'll Obliviate you if I have to."

"I'm not worried about it."

"You may be."

Draco nodded and Harry took a deep breath and quickly organized his thoughts. He wanted to tell Draco what he knew without giving him too much information. It had to be easy to obliviate him later.

"What do you know about Soul Bonds?"

(0,0)

Draco sat back, his neck on the back of the chair while his eyes looked up at the ceiling. Harry watched as Draco tried to sort through the mess of his words. He watched the Slytherin pull out pieces of the information from different parts of the story. Finally he sat up and locked eyes with the Gryffindor.

"Wow."

Harry smiled and nodded his agreement.

"So I have a few questions."

"Me too, I might have the answers to yours but I wouldn't be sure."

"No problem. What does this mean about the prophecy?"

"My guess?" Draco nodded, "It's a fake. Someone lied to push me towards the 'Light' and to pit Voldemort and I against each other."

"Alright. Who blocked the bond?"

Harry shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Well you said it had to have been within the first year after you were born. Who had access to you during that time?"

"My parents, Sirius, Remus, Pettigrew, Dumbledore. I don't know if anyone else did."

"It said a powerful wizard… It could have been Dumbledore."

Harry shook his head, "That doesn't make any sense."

"He's the only one who could have had enough power to block something like this."

"He's the one who pushed my parents into hiding. Which meant he was doing it because of the prophecy. He was their secret keeper for the fidelius. His blocking the bond would mean that he knew the entire time that I was Tom's soul mate. I could have stopped this war years ago."

"If you're sure."

"Yes."

"Okay. Next question why would Dumbledore want you to sacrifice yourself if he knew that Tom couldn't really hurt you?"

Harry was silent for a long moment, "I have no idea."

Draco sighed, "You know, I'm starting to regret saying I could hide this. It's the first thing I'm going to think of when I see the Dark Lord."

Harry bit his lip, "I have an idea. There was this spell 'Mione taught me. It's a modified obliviate. I can make it so that you only remember the bond when you're in here."

"But I thought you wanted me to look up stuff for you."

Harry shrugged, "Compulsion charms are rather easy."

Draco thought for a moment then stood, "Alright one bespelled Draco Malfoy coming up."

Harry grinned at him and searched his mind for the right wand motions. He pointed his wand at the blonde's forehead and called out the incantation.

"Obliviate Tempi."

Alright that's the end of the third chapter! I hope you all like where this is headed, I'll have Harry out of the dungeons soon enough. Please leave a review, even one word is loved! Hope you're having a great day!