Broken Strings
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters; all copyright belongs to JK Rowling; I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter;
Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to StormyFireDragon as it is his works that prove to me that such writings don't always have to be graphic; I don't have a specific story to recommend, so I'll just say this: go and read them all.
Harry/Draco
Eventual Luna/Neville
Other Pairings TBC…
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Mind Link'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
PhoenixFelicis: You won't have to wait long for the guilty party to be fed their just desserts and, for the first time, he'll choke on it; as for TDM, I lost the mindset that I'd been in when I wrote it; so, sorry about that;
Lady Gaga Love Slasher: I'll keep that in mind: but this is one story that I plan on keeping going for some time;
David-El: The DA will appear soon, but without key members – such as Harry, Neville, Luna and the Twins – do you think it'll be much of a threat? I don't think so;
StormyFireDragon: No problem Storm and thank you for what you did to help with what's to come; it'll be here in a few chapters time;
T4: I don't know about that, but there may be a way to twist it around: I don't know; I have an idea that's inspired by one of my favourite Harry/Draco stories, so I'll have to see if it works;
Would Sirius abandon him because he was in love and on the same side as another member of the Blacks?
And would Remus abandon him because he now stood above the rule of the one that had cursed his life?
Chapter 6: Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light
After breakfast, Harry and Draco made their way down towards the hangout, Draco keeping an eye and a hand on his boyfriend as he could practically feel the dilemmas faced by Harry, but didn't want to say anything for fear of upsetting him. He knew, or he could guess that Harry's dilemmas were tied to the fact that his godfather and Draco's uncle was now a free man again and yet, as they entered the hangout, Harry making his way over to the throne where he took his favoured seat, Draco also knew something else.
Harry was going to make a decision today; whether or not that decision was for the good or the ill of the world was something that he alone could decide.
Without really waiting for a word from Harry, Draco asked, "It's Sirius, isn't it?"
"What?" asked Harry, glancing to Draco with his innocent emerald eyes.
"What's got you so upset and tense like a coiled viper," Draco added, moving to a chair close to his boyfriend as he explained, "It's something about Sirius' freedom and the choices you've made recently: it's all right, Harry," here, he reached out like he had done in the Room of Requirement and began soothingly stroking Harry's skin on the back of his hand, "I'm right here; you can tell me."
"Yes," Harry agreed, then added for emphasis, "It is Sirius: I'm worried about…about how he'll accept the new me, Drake: I mean, I know he won't ever intentionally hurt me, but now that I've chosen the side of true power and abandoned the old life, I can't help but wonder how Sirius would react. Especially since Tom has the allegiance of the remaining members of the active Black Family in your parents, not to mention the Lestrange Family. Then, there's Remus: our former Defence Professor."
"The werewolf?" asked Draco, actually confused at this confession, "What about him?"
"Another of Tom's followers," Harry explained, his voice filled with the fear and anxiety that he'd felt when he'd thought about this before, "Fenrir Greyback: he's the werewolf that bit Remus as a child: I highly doubt that Remus would follow Tom knowing that the cause for his curse stands tall and proud and still alive. Not to mention how he could feel when he learns I've turned against the legacy and memories that he treasures as much as he treasures me and…"
"And if you actually believe that, then you're even more of a Gryffindor than I first thought, Harry Potter," Draco laughed, shaking his head at the stunned and confused looks that he was getting from Harry, "Do you actually think that someone who treasures you so dearly would abandon you? If that's the case, then why didn't the Dark…sorry, I mean why didn't Tom kill you when he had the chance?"
"What are you saying, Draco?" asked Harry, watching as Draco stood up, before he took Harry's hand and pulled him up into a warm and caring embrace, his hand moving through his raven's black hair.
"I'm saying that I'd bet you anything you ask that Remus Lupin will join you here on the side of true power, as you so passionately put it, because he won't stand against you for anything," Draco answered him, keeping his lover calm with his soft touch, before he smiled and, placing a gentle kiss on Harry's forehead, he added, "And, for the record, I won't let him even if he did and neither would Tom; he'll protect you and your life to the very end. As for my estranged cousin-slash-uncle, he would choose to follow his heart and, given that you're his godson and the one thing he was always willing to die for, I'd still bet you one request that he'd choose you."
"So that's two free wishes of you in exchange for the same of me: is that a bet?" asked Harry, giving his boyfriend a cheesy, but sly smile as he met the calm eyes of the Ice Prince of Slytherin.
"Maybe," Draco replied, letting go of Harry as he asked, "Why? Do you want it to be?"
Harry just laughed in response, which prompted Draco to tell him, "All right; it's a bet: if Sirius and Remus join you, I'll do anything you want or give you anything you want once for each of them. If not, you have to do the same for me: do we have a deal, Harry?"
The Chimera of Slytherin just laughed before he shook Draco's hand, his eyes filled with the same light that Draco loved seeing in his raven before Harry told him, "Thanks, Drake: I needed that."
"I promised you I'd be here for you, love," Draco told him, giving Harry a soft kiss on the cheek, "And I always will be: now, come on: let's go and enjoy the nice weather before it vanishes too quickly."
Harry let Draco lead him out of the hangout, his heart and his mind feeling a lot better than they had done when he'd walked into the hangout…
BrokenStrings
It was two days later that Harry, after a Defence lesson with Professor Umbridge, heard the familiar clearing of the woman's throat before she asked, "Mr Potter, would you mind staying behind a moment?"
"Of course, Professor Umbridge," Harry replied, wondering what the toad would want with him now; though he'd done everything he could to continue observing her, the Chimera of Slytherin was beginning to await the day when he could hand her to Tom and watch and listen as she screamed in pain.
When the last student – Draco, who watched Harry and Umbridge warily – left the classroom, Harry packed his book and parchment away before he approached the desk and asked, "Is there something that I can do for you, Professor?"
"Actually, Mr Potter," Umbridge replied, looking to the door in case of eavesdroppers, "This is two things; one thing I have done for you given your change in success recently and your obligation to the promise you made me. First, what I did for you: given the change in your grades and the way that you are handling yourself around this school, I have contacted the Minister and, as of today, you are now a permanent member of Slytherin House: congratulations."
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge," Harry replied, keeping his feelings calm despite the shock and awe of what this woman had done for him building inside him. "And now, as I am guessing this is a two-way gift, what can I do for you?"
"I'd like you to speak to your fellow Slytherins for me," Professor Umbridge explained, her voice as sickly sweet as ever as she explained to Harry what she wanted him for, "With regards to…a little project that the Minister has given me clearance to perform: you see, Mr Potter, I don't think that certain students in this school are getting the message. There have been whispers and gatherings of the…unorthodox variety, especially where a small band of Gryffindors are concerned. I have noticed that there seems to be an increase in the troubles around the school concerning your…sorry, Dumbledore's lies and taunts about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This, Mr Potter, is what I want you and the Slytherins for: I'd like you to build…a group of Slytherins and students that follow the Ministry to keep tabs on those around Hogwarts who choose to defy the Ministry and disturb the harmony of this institute. Of course, as a reward for this task, I will make you the official leader and commander of this squad and give you the rights and privileges of Prefects and Head Boy and allow you free reign of the castle as and when you need it. Also, if you do a good enough job, I shall lift the ban I placed on you playing Quidditch for your House: what do you say, Mr Potter? Do we have a deal?"
'I say I've got you now, you senile, callous cow's child,' Harry thought, trying his hardest to keep his face straight as though he was considering her offer, 'And here I was wondering how I could use you to bring down the fools and doubters that choose to break me and my soul and you offer it to me on a silver platter. Oh…this will be fun.'
"Professor Umbridge, I accept!"
BrokenStrings
That night, when they were alone in the dorm, Harry and Draco discussed what they'd heard from Umbridge; much to Harry's surprise, Draco started it by saying, "I actually think it's a bad idea, Harry."
"Why's that, Drake?" asked Harry, looking to his boyfriend with a sense of shock that was only beaten by his determination to bring down those who'd broken him. "I'd have thought you of all people around here would jump at the chance to help me take my revenge for allowing them to break me, especially Umbridge."
"That's my point," Draco told him, moving from his bed to Harry's where he held his lover close, Harry resting his head on Draco's shoulder, "If Umbridge or, Salazar forbid, Dumbledore learn of how you're using this request to your advantage and learn of the new, darker you that I don't mind seeing every now and again, you could be hurt…or worse. I don't want to lose you again, Harry: I know you want revenge on both the old fool and on Umbridge for what they've put you through, but giving yourself a bulls-eye on your back isn't the way to do it."
"I'm not doing that," Harry told him, though he kept his head on Draco's shoulder, his hand linked with the blonde Slytherin's as he spoke, "I'm giving the old bastard something to be afraid of and, now that Umbridge has it in for me in the good way and now that I'm also officially a Slytherin, I don't have to be so cautious. I can use the side of me that I've wanted to use for three weeks now and more and I don't have to worry about anyone's opinions."
"I can't disagree with you there," Draco noted, stroking Harry's black hair as he liked to when he was holding his boyfriend, "But…well, what about Tom? Have you told him about this plan and the request?"
"I told him over dinner about the request and he agrees with me," Harry explained, his voice calm despite the fears and anxieties he was feeling at the thought of his boyfriend questioning his choices. The last time someone had done that, they'd wound up destroying an item that meant more than gold to him: was he really hurting Draco that much? "Anyway," he continued, "I also asked him to leave Umbridge to me and he said that he would, which means I have his support. Why? Don't I have yours, Dragon?"
"Don't be stupid," Draco snapped, suddenly startling Harry as he moved from the bed, his eyes filled with shock as he faced the emerald-eyed Slytherin, "I know how your mind works, Harry Potter, and you should know that, possibly with the exceptions of Severus and Tom, there's no-one who will stand by your side more than me in this House."
"Stupid?" asked Harry, now rising from his bed as he faced Draco: he didn't know why, but he suddenly felt very angry, "Is that what I am, Draco? Do I need to remind you what I did to the last person that dared accuse me? Weasley still has frost-marked skin from where I left him as a Gryffindor Icicle: so if that's what you feel, then maybe you should just go…because I don't need anyone else against me; in fact, I don't need anyone else, period!"
"Harry…" Draco gasped, wondering where all this rage, this untapped fury was coming from; around them, the lights flickered and a cold wind blew through the dorm.
"Just go!" snapped Harry, gesturing to the door, which flew open as if bidden, Harry turning his back on Draco as he told him, "And don't come back unless you know that you want to be with me, to stop me being alone, just like you promised me!"
A theory suddenly entered Draco's mind as to why Harry was feeling so angry, but first he had to calm the storm; lowering his head, he told him, "I'll go, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving you, Raven. I love you and I belong with you and belong to you; I don't oppose your ideas and would be glad to stand with you in this…Squad. Just…just remember that."
Then he was gone, Harry guessing that he was either going on a spur-of-the-moment patrol or down to the Prefect's Dormitory within Slytherin House; either way, he didn't want to see Draco again until at least the next morning.
Yet…he still didn't know why that was or why he'd been so angry to the one he'd loved…
BrokenStrings
Harry felt sick the next morning;
Not just weighed down with guilt and remorse for how he'd treated Draco; literally, he felt sick: his head felt like it was on fire and he couldn't keep his stomach from twisting around inside him. Tapping into his magic to try and heal the ailment did little to help him save for crafting a basin for him to release his sickness into: in the short space of an hour, he must have filled it three times.
Lying on his back, Harry did the only thing he could: he opened the bond, 'Tom?'
'Harry?' The response was instantaneous and Harry felt happy at hearing a sense of panic and shock from his guardian, 'What happened, little snake? I've felt a pain in you for the past three hours and, because of my promise, I didn't want to intrude on your mind: are you all right?'
'I feel sick,' Harry told him, gulping audibly to keep another wave of vomit down as he added, 'And…worse, I…I was angry, Tom: towards…towards Draco.'
'Why?' asked the Dark Lord, his voice now filled with pity and comfort, 'Harry: you love Draco and he loves you; why were you angry?'
'I don't know,' Harry admitted, pausing momentarily to let another wave of vomit fill the basin at his side, his magic clearing it away quickly before he added, 'I…I was just so angry to him and…I yelled and told him I didn't need him; but Tom…I do need him: I want him here; I…I feel so weak.'
'Little snake,' Tom sighed, Harry sensing a feeling like what he'd felt when Tom had first spoken to him; as though he was being held, but he didn't want Tom: he wanted Draco. 'Harry, you do trust me, don't you?'
'Yes,' Harry replied, wondering where Tom was going with this: it was like he'd been hit with an inspiration.
'Then,' asked the Dark Lord, 'Will you let me into your mind? So I may see your memories and try to figure out this mystery myself? I promise I won't hurt you and I'll shield you from your pain.'
'But…' Harry coughed, spitting another globule into the basin, 'What…what about…'
'I'll send word to Severus to find Draco,' Tom promised him, the soothing presence within Harry's mind helping him, 'But you are my Ward and I am your Sire; I have to help you first, Harry. Will you let me?'
'Y-Yes,' Harry stammered, his hands trembling as he felt a solid weight press down on his thoughts before it was replaced by a light tingling that ran through his body, soothing his chaotically-possessed stomach and his almost fevered mind. Deep in his consciousness, Harry felt the connection between him and Tom grow stronger before he sensed something within his magic: it was like a snake that coiled around him and started burrowing its way into his core by entering whatever orifice it could.
To distract himself, Harry switched tongues and spoke with his friend, /Rose: are you here?/
/I am always here, little one,/ replied the snake, her soft scales crawling up Harry's leg until she curled up on his stomach, Harry stroking her to keep himself occupied. /You are unwell, little one: where is your mate?/
/I don't know,/ Harry admitted, glancing around the dorm; it was then he noticed that he was well and truly alone: the only other bed in the dorm clearly belonged to Draco. Which also meant that Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, as well as Crabbe and Goyle all shared a dorm: was this something that Draco or Severus had done? /Rose: I feel…so stupid for yelling at him; I need him; I need my Draco./
/I know you do, little one,/ Rose hissed, puffing her tongue at Harry's fingers, her soft voice keeping a smile on her human's face, /It will be well: I know your mate's scent and he smells of you and the strength that you share. He will come back to you; however, I have missed this, Harry: this conversing with just the two of us./
/I'm sorry, girl,/ Harry told her, stroking her scales to assure her that he hadn't forgotten her; deep in his mind, Harry felt Tom's motions within him, the magic examining every inch of the Slytherin that he was. To distract himself from the discomfort that this sensation brought up, Harry asked, /Rose, what do you think I should do about Sirius and Remus and their allegiances to me?/
/You have a desire to keep your nest complete,/ Rose hissed, her wisdom actually surprising Harry as she spoke to him, /And, though I have not heard the conversations between you and the young dragon, I know that his words give you strength. Do not fear, little one: if their allegiance towards you is true, then they shall stand proudly by your side through thick and thin./
/That's something along the lines of what Draco said,/ Harry laughed, before he gasped and, with a heave so powerful that it forced Rose to slither off him, Harry doubled over and vomited one last time; this time, however, his…release was edged by a violet-coloured liquid that frothed and bubbled like an acidic pool.
Deep in his mind, Harry heard Tom tell him, 'Sorry about that, little one: I did all I could to exorcise the taint that I found: it seems to be a potion.'
'Not one I'm familiar with,' Harry admitted, massaging his now calm stomach as he added, 'What's it called, Tom?'
'It's known as the Eragia Potion, or the Draught of Rage: when ingested or used in application to the skin, it amplifies the feelings of aggression and extreme hatred towards a specified target: somehow, this one must have been keyed to Draco.' Tom's words brought a genuine rage to Harry's soul as he wondered what fool could be stupid enough to try and poison him against Draco. Then he remembered who was against him: namely the majority of Gryffindor and, on top of them, Headmaster Dumbledore. However, Tom then continued, 'If I had to guess Harry, you must have ingested this potion yesterday at dinner: your mind was on me so your senses couldn't warn you. I'm sorry, little snake: I try to protect you and yet I harm you more than they do.'
'Don't apologise, Tom,' Harry told him, his voice filled with cold determination, 'Save that for when I bring the one that did this to me to their knees: is there any way to immunise me against potions like these?'
'There is,' Tom explained, 'But it's not a way that I would offer to you willingly, Harry: it's dangerous and, if performed incorrectly in any way, it could kill you.'
'I'll take my chances,' Harry snarled, his hands curled into fists as he told the Dark Lord, 'I won't let anyone take me from Draco, not even you, Tom: now what's the way?'
'A blood ritual,' Tom explained, before he heaved a sigh as he added, 'And injection from the poisonous fang of a Basilisk: if you're interested, I can perform the ritual at Christmas, but for now, I'll mentally give you the spell to detect any hidden anomalies in anything you eat, drink or receive.'
'And I'll get the fang by then,' Harry told him, before he laughed as he added, 'I've been looking for a reason to go back to the Chamber anyway: thank you, Tom.'
'That's fine, little snake,' Tom explained, before he added, 'One last thing: the reason you've been so sick is because the potion itself was botched: it needs continuous ingestion or application to work, but this one wasn't a fully-matured Eregia: it was performed by someone who was either rushed…or an amateur.'
'Ronald…Weasley,' Harry snarled, earning a hum of agreement from his guardian.
'That would be my guess.'
BrokenStrings
Draco, after leaving for the Prefect's Dorm, put his plan into action as soon as he'd woken: he wasn't a Potions prodigy for nothing; with help from Severus, who told him that he'd sensed Harry's discord through the responsibility he had to the boy, the Ice Prince now stood outside his dorm room, the antidote to the poison that had claimed his boyfriend in his hand. Severus had recognised the signs as some sort of emotional stimulant and so he'd brewed the antidote, which was designed to nullify the effects of any mental or emotional stimulants in the body. It was useful for those who'd accidentally ingested something they were allergic to or something that heightened senses such as adrenaline and, in some rare cases, hormonal responses.
However, as he held the potion in his hand, Draco felt a little scared as he considered what Harry had said to him: the rage and spite may have been potion-induced, but every magical outburst and command was based around will and belief. Did Harry really believe, inside that he would have Draco turn his back on him?
No, Draco loved him and, though he'd disagreed with Harry's plan, a night's sleep by himself and the worry that had eaten away at him concerning his lover's safety gave him a decision: Harry was right.
He deserved his revenge and, if toying with Umbridge and the Ministry's wishes was the way that he would get that revenge, then, by Salazar, Draco would be there and stand by Harry's side. Just like he'd said he would, Draco would encourage the other Slytherins to join the Squad and then, when all was said and done, he would salute or, if Harry wished, he would kneel before the new Prince of Slytherin and await his orders.
His mind made up, Draco put his hand on the door handle and opened the door, before he smiled as he looked at Harry, who looked as healthy as a horse, his lips moving in the sounds of Parseltongue; by the gods, Draco wished he could understand it, but he didn't deny how hot his boyfriend was when speaking that mystical language.
As he closed the door, Draco saw those green eyes that he had fallen in love with now look to him, before Rose, Harry's serpentine familiar and friend, slithered off her human, allowing Harry to stand. Seeing the potion in Draco's hand, Harry shook his head, a sorry smile on his face as he told him, "That's not necessary, Drake: Tom helped cleanse me of the potion and told me a charm we'll use from now on. I'm sorry I said those things; I was shocked that you stood against me, but I don't, I can't hate you, Dragon: I love you."
Draco let the potion bottle drop to the ground before he crossed the room in three strides and, taking Harry in his arms, let his raven-haired lover kiss him, a scent of sickness on Harry's breath, but Draco didn't care. Caressing his lover's body, Draco parted the kiss before he told Harry, "I'm the one that should apologise, love: I was wrong to challenge your decision when I promised Tom I'd stand with you through everything. If you want to form this Squad, then we will and, together, my Raven, we'll bring down Dumbledore and all who chose to break you."
"Thanks, Drake," Harry sighed, letting his head rest on his lover's chest, the sound of Draco's heartbeat in Harry's ears making him feel better already. However, it didn't last long as Harry added, "Get whoever you can by tonight; we have a first target for the Squad and I'll inform Umbridge about it so that we can't get into trouble."
"What do you mean?" asked Draco, watching as Harry moved towards the adjoining bathroom, emerging a few minutes later looking better and smiling as he held Draco again, answering him first with another kiss, his breath fresher this time before he parted.
"The potion I ingested was botched," Harry told him, his voice laced with coldness that made Draco shiver…in a good way, "Which means that it was made by someone with a real chip on their shoulder; there's only one person that would want us broken apart so he could try and break me again. Only one student so thick-headed that he'd try this stunt."
"Weasley?" asked Draco, watching as Harry stepped back, hissing in Parseltongue to Rose, who slithered up his arm and coiled around his neck.
"Yes," Harry replied, turning back to Draco as he commanded, "Get who you can, Drake…and bring him to me!"
Whether it was meant as a joke or as sincerity, Harry didn't care; however, he did laugh when Draco dropped to one knee and, bowing his head, gave his lover his answer.
"As you command, my Prince!"
Chapter 6 and Harry has revenge on his mind and fire in his soul with this attempted sabotage against him: will he be swift and merciful or cold and hard against his saboteur?
Also, what will Sirius and Remus say when Harry reveals his new self to them?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: The Squad make their debut with a little revenge play from Harry and trouble from Draco; plus, with the Holidays approaching, Harry makes a choice concerning his honorary family, but will he regret his choice or will this be the birth of a new era?
Please Read and Review…
AN: The title of the chapter was inspired by the poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night; I don't know why I used it, but there we go…
