A/N: I know this chapter is a little bit...all over the place...but at least I can promise definite beginning of slash next chapter! Are you excited? I am! ^_^ Please read, review and enjoy!
Always the greatest thanks to Michy! x3
Chapter Seven
Flesh Bound
Draco was startled awake by the sound of groaning. At first, it was soft, although pained. It slowly grew louder, more strained and consistent. He rubbed his eyes in the dark bedroom, adjusting to the lack of light and being awoken by the sound. "No, please, no!" Harry croaked in his sleep. Draco sighed, pushed himself off the bed and made his way over to the brunette's.
Looking down at Harry, he frowned. The boy was thrashing slightly underneath his thin sheet; sweat was beading down his forehead, and he kept moaning every few moments now and uttering 'No'. Draco reached out and attempted to shake him awake gently, all to no avail. The back of his hand pressed against his forehead, to find he was burning up. "Harry, Harry wake up. You're having a nightmare or something," Draco mumbled tiredly, shaking him again by the shoulders. Still, he didn't wake. Instead, his groans became louder, his thrashing larger.
"Sirius, please, no! Come back! Don't fall!" Harry's voice was so stricken with pleading sorrow, his forehead was furrowed. Draco's frown deepened and he reached forward again. This time, his tentative fingers traced the infamous lightning bolt scar down Harry's forehead. Harry shivered noticeably at the touch, but was still not roused. "Sirius! Sirius! SIRIUS!"
By the third scream, Draco was sitting on the edge of the bed and he pushed Harry's fringe, which was sticking to his perspiring forehead, aside. His arm snaked under the other's neck and brought his head to lie on his chest. Draco adjusted himself to lie beside Harry, his own eyes still half-lidded and all he could think about was sleep. Harry's screams and groans subsided, his thrashing slowly ceased and he curled into the warm body beside him. Draco sighed and quickly drifted off into sleep again and somehow, within moments of slumber, their bodies were lightly entwined with Harry's head resting just above Draco's heart, their arms loosely placed over top of one another.
Draco was already back asleep by the time the door to their bedroom creaked open ever so slightly and two inquiring, wide eyes peered in for a few moments, before disappearing again.
The next morning, Draco woke long before Harry and quickly assessed his current, awkward situation. He briefly recalled waking to the sound of what must have been a nightmare for Harry and coming into bed with him which had seemed to automatically comfort the slumbering boy – for what reasons, Draco was unsure, but to him, all that mattered was that he'd gotten his full night's rest. What he didn't remember, however, was entwining his legs with the brunette and bringing both his arms about his torso to hold him.
Realizing just how that might have looked if Harry awoke, or Merlin forbid, one of the other two Gryffindors of the house entered the room, Draco quickly, although stealthily, removed himself.
After a long, cold shower, Draco found himself down in the small, cluttered kitchen asking the House Elf for a cup of coffee. "Is Master Malfoy?" Kreacher asked in slight disbelief, apparently having been too preoccupied to notice his presence amidst the disgrace of Harry and his friends being in the household the evening prior.
Draco nodded. "Yes, the younger. Coffee, House Elf?" He asked again.
Kreacher's eyes were wide, and his old, thin hands were wringing around themselves. "Master Malfoy, Kreacher has heard news of your allegiance to the Dark Lord, just like Master Malfoy Senior. So proud, Master Malfoy, so very proud. Is another Pureblood in this home. Mistress will be pleased. Very pleased," he ranted in his raspy breath.
Draco rolled his eyes. "That's fantastic. Now coffee, Kreacher?"
The House Elf bowed his large, bald head. "Anything for a servant of the Dark Lord. Anything for Master Malfoy."
Draco spent no time correcting him. All he wanted was his coffee. He sat down at the kitchen table as Kreacher prepared it for him, and brought him a copy of the Daily Prophet. Draco barely glanced at it before tossing it aside.
"Good morning, Malfoy, Kreacher," Hermione greeted quietly from the door, and she began to bustle around the kitchen, apparently getting a glass of water before sitting across from Draco, who merely crossed his arms.
"Kreacher, coffee?" He shortly asked again.
Hermione frowned. "He's not a slave, you don't have to talk to him –"
"Anything for Master Malfoy. Master Malfoy deserves Kreacher's assistance, Mudblood," Kreacher snarled beneath his breath. Hermione looked between the House Elf, who was finally bringing Draco his coffee, and the blond.
"It pays to be a Pureblood here, Granger," he smirked. The House Elf bowed his head lowly again before slowly dragging himself out of the kitchen.
Hermione ignored the urge to lecture Malfoy on the proper treatment of House Elves and sucked in a deep breath instead, taking a sip from her water before asking, "Sleep well, Malfoy?"
Draco stilled momentarily before inclining his head. "As well as is possible in this wretched place, mere doors down from an idiotic Weasley who wants my head."
"Oh, I don't know. From where I stood it looked like you had a good sleep," she returned suggestively.
Once again, Draco stopped in his ministrations, lowered his cup to the table and looked over at her. She quickly averted her gaze. "Whatever you saw, Granger, it was not what it seemed to be."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "Right. Of course, because to me it looked a lot like –"
"Potter was having some sort of nightmare," he cut her off, replying shortly.
"I know. I heard, that's why I came down. Usually..." she trailed off, not knowing how much information Harry would be comfortable to share with Malfoy and decided it best not to say anymore on the subject of his nightmares. "Did he have them while you were at the Dursleys'?"
Draco shook his head. "Just last night. Perhaps it is being here, he kept mentioning Black," he explained.
Hermione frowned but didn't respond. What she had seen wasn't somebody trying to wake somebody else from their nightmare; she had seen Malfoy comforting Harry. Since when was he capable of that? When she withdrew from her own thoughts, Draco was standing from the table and gently calling Kreacher again. When the House Elf reappeared, he ordered him to make all four of them breakfast. "You know, Malfoy, I could –"
"We have better things to do. The quicker we figure out how we are going to handle the Horcruxes, the sooner I can be rid of your atrocious company," Draco clipped and turned on his heel, leaving the kitchen. "I will be doing my research in the library. Do find somewhere else to do your own work."
She watched him leave, her frown deepening. Sometimes, he sounded like the old Malfoy she knew, but the anger wasn't there anymore. Hermione shook it from her thoughts. So long as Malfoy stayed within Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, there wasn't any harm he could do. The wards wouldn't allow him to leave unless through the front door and there were no owls about, other than Hedwig, who was strictly off duty, and no Floo Network connections any longer. Hermione knew there were more important things to be concerning herself with, like looking at the plans Harry had drafted for retrieval of Slytherin's locket from Umbridge, and beginning to brew the Polyjuice Potion. Still, she made a point of privately speaking to Harry once he woke.
XXXX
Draco was absolutely consumed by his research. Old potions texts, many untranslated, were where he wanted to start, as it seemed like it would take him the longest to get through them. A soft knock on the door drew his eyes away from the pages only momentarily to see who it was, before he returned, his one hand tracing the lines of the book and his other wrapped tightly around a rarely scribbling quill.
"Come to check up on me, make sure I haven't done anything wicked yet?" Draco drawled lowly.
Harry awkwardly laughed as he leaned against the chair opposite of him. "No, I know you're not like that anymore..." he trailed off. "Just wondering how the research was going. Whether you could let me in on your little theory yet."
Draco shook his head. "Not yet, sorry. I still don't even quite understand much of it myself. Most of it is from memories coming together, things I heard about the Manor before I left."
Nodding in understanding, Harry reached the nearest text and picked it up, grimacing at the context of it before placing it back on the table. "Ugh, potions. Is it really necessary –?"
"Very, actually," he cut him off softly, before sighing, putting his quill down and looking wearily up at Harry. "Unless there is anything else, maybe you should go assist Granger and the Weasel with their Polyjuice Potion?"
Harry shrugged. "'Mione's pretty good at them, Ron's just doing the grunt work for her, no need, really."
"And you three are certain of your plans?" Harry nodded. Draco pursed his lips before turning back to his pages. "Like I said, unless there's anything else, may I return to this? The quicker I finish the better."
"Er, well, there is something...Hermione said, well...what happened last night?" Harry stammered, a hint of red blossoming on his cheeks. He noticed how immediately the blond's jaw clenched, how he shifted uncomfortably in his seat but seemed content not to answer. "It's just that, I know I had a...dream and –"
"Nightmare is more like it, Potter," Draco grumbled. "It sounded horrible, Harry. May I ask, was it about him?" He asked softly.
Harry nodded. "It's just going to take a while to get used to being here," he admitted with a sigh, as he finally sat down in the chair. "But that's not what I'm talking about, Draco. I know I have nightmares. Dumbledore used to think they were more vivid if they're connected to Voldemort. Then there are the visions and those," he shivered. "It's been awhile since I've had one of them and I'm glad I haven't. What I'm talking about, Draco, is what Hermione said she saw."
Draco frowned and looked away from Harry, back at his texts to avoid any form of eye contact. "What she saw was a mistake. I should have just beat you awake. All I wanted was to go back to sleep and it seemed like the quickest solution. That's all; you were disturbing my rest," he lied, knowing full well it wasn't all, but it's what he would keep telling himself and Harry both.
"Er, well thanks. And I'm sorry, I guess," he grumbled.
"S'fine, Potter. You should really look into using Occlumency often; for the connection to Voldemort, I mean."
Harry sighed. "Snape tried to teach me a few years ago, I'm so wretched at it."
Draco picked up his quill again, indicating what was to him, the end of the conversation. "I have to get back to this if you ever want me to finish. And Harry, when I need a break from the books, I could always try to help you with Occlumency. I got pretty good at it last year. I needed to."
Harry smiled thankfully. "That'd be great, Draco, thanks."
A few minutes went by in silence. Draco couldn't truly concentrate until Harry finally excused himself, realizing he really didn't have any other need to be there and that he should be helping Ron and Hermione with the Polyjuice Potion.
'I do not have time for distractions. The faster I get this done, the sooner we can kill that rat bastard. The sooner I can wring Bellatrix's neck with my bare hands. Then I can allow myself to be distracted by you, Harry.'
XXXX
One week later.
Hermione gathered them all in the drawing room. They had decided amongst the three of them that they were ready. She divvied out the three vials of Polyjuice Potion. They clinked their vials together, Draco coming up close behind the group. Ron was the first to drink it, immediately retching after he did. Before Hermione or Harry could drink their own, Harry jumped, as he felt Malfoy's wand sliding out of his back pocket.
In a few seconds, all three former Gryffindors were glaring between Malfoy and the tip of his wand. It took only a moment before Ron withdrew his own. "I've already got a million reasons to, Malfoy, give me another!" Ron growled.
"Try me, Weasel. This is completely imbecilic! I knew you twats were planning it, but to go through with it with as little foresight as you three have, Merlin! I am beside myself that even the Mudblood is agreeing –" he didn't get to finish his sentence, as Harry threw him up against the wall. His head connected with a sickening crack, and he hissed in pain. Harry had him pinned, his face only an inch away with one hand on his shoulder and the other gripping his wand wrist tightly.
Anger was exuding from those narrowed, emerald eyes. "Sod off, Malfoy. We don't need your consent," he spat.
Draco levelled his gaze and with his pinned wrist, his fingers curled even tighter around his wand, he whispered, "Necto Carnicula." A red stream of light came forward and before anyone could respond, it wound itself about Harry's hand, pressing into his skin with an odd warming sensation. As the red light dissipated, Harry went to remove his hand, but found that he couldn't.
"Malfoy, you bastard, let me go!" Harry demanded, continuously trying to wrench his hand free, but it was as if it had been superglued in place.
"Finite Incantartum," Hermione swished her wand, causing Draco to smirk wryly.
"Only the caster can lift it."
A growl rumbled in the depths of Harry's chest. He drew back his free arm with intent to strike, but his movements were stilled by Draco's shrill protest, "Please! Wait, Harry! Let me explain." There was a hint of desperation in his tone.
"Unhand me, Malfoy."
"What happened to Draco? And technically, it is you whom has their hands on me, Harry. I'm sorry, but I simply cannot let you go, it is too dangerous."
"Harry," Hermione said softly. "We're wasting time. Ron and I could always go on our own," she suggested.
Harry looked over his shoulder at her, surprised. "You guys can't –"
"I've already taken the Potion, mate. We only got this chance, if we're going to do this, we have to do it immediately," Ron added, looking down at his oddly foreign appearance.
"Malfoy, you can't let me –"
"I refuse, Harry. Either you are taking me attached to you or we're staying here. Either way, I will not lift the spell," he said defiantly.
Harry couldn't look any more murderous as he rounded on his frowning, anxious friends. "Fine. Go. Hurry and please be safe."
Hermione nodded and dove into her pocket, pulling out a very familiar coin. Harry smiled at the memory of their D.A. coin as it was placed in his free hand. She closed his fingers around it. "If we get into trouble, I'll let you know. We'll be okay, Harry," she promised.
"Can't say the same for you, mate. Please be sure to murder the snake while we're out," Ron growled, glaring over Harry's shoulder at the blond who sneered back.
A moment later, they Disapparated. Draco turned his sneer to a smirk, as he turned to Harry and whispered, "Finite."
Harry wasted no time demanding, "Why the hell did you do that, Draco?"
"Do what? I haven't –"
"Save it," he snapped, crossing his arms and taking a few steps backwards to put some distance in between them. "What's your prerogative here?"
Draco sighed and found his way to the couch of the drawing room in Grimmauld Place. "Are you honestly going to keep questioning my motives, even after all I have done for you? The Fidelius Charm, the information, saving you from potential death by idiocy from attending Bill and Fleur's wedding? Taking the effort and time to show you how to properly use Occlumency?"
Harry frowned. "It could still be due to ulterior motives, you're trying to lead us somewhere, I know it!" He accused.
"Come on, pull out your Sneak-o-Scope, Harry. I know you carry that bloody thing around in your pocket," he returned bitterly.
"It's like a Muggle's polygraph – there are ways to lie around it," he shrugged, speaking through clenched teeth. He was in a slight state of disbelief that after all these years, Draco actually expected him to trust him that soon.
"Get me asphodel, unicorn hair, erumpent tail, lovage and moondew, then! Let me prove myself to you," Draco hissed, his eyes unwavering. He wanted him to know, despite his pride, how much he truly wished to help. How honest he had been with them since he sought sanctuary.
"What for? Drought of Death?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "No, Harry. Did you honestly never pay attention in Potions? For Veritaserum," he bit out and stood to bring himself before the other boy, looking down his nose at him. "I have nowhere to go. I have nothing to offer other than myself and what I know. Trust me when I say I want nothing more than to put that bastard in the ground for what he did not only to my parents, but what he did to yours."
Harry stilled, looking wide-eyed at the taller boy, before frowning. When he finally spoke, it was softly. "Since when do you care about my parents?"
"Since before I met you. Since the moment I knew you," Draco breathed and then turned to leave, calling over his shoulder before he was up the stairs. "When you choose to believe me, you know where to find me."
Immediately, the absence of the blond sucked the warmth from the room. Harry shivered involuntarily as he made to fall down on the couch. 'You know you can trust him. He may still be a prat but do you really think he could dishonour his parents so far as to still serve that man?' Harry sat unmoving, fingering the D.A. coin as he thought, hoping Ron and Hermione were safe. After a while, he made his decision and found himself knocking softly on Draco's door.
