Hi guys! I'm trying to type everything up as quickly as I can! I've got 3 more chapters that are finished and need to be typed out. Unfortunately, this also means full editing cannot happen. Because I wrote this about 8 years ago, it requires some serious revamping. Also, bear with me. None of my characters are Mary Sues...repeat, none of my non canon characters are Mary Sues. Stick with it, it gets interesting as we wear on...definitely getting out of the specific Hogwarts realm though...
Please R&R! Hope you enjoy this chapter, it has a little slash in it. ;)
Chapter 8: Crimson Regret
"Sehieth, did you ever care about your father?" Lucius asked with a grin.
"My name is Sehietheliniae and I have no father." She snapped.
Lucius glared at her. "Don't be this way." He said softly.
"I was born this way, Lucius. Take a look around you. I did this!"
"You're proud of this?" Lucius asked incredulously.
"Naturally."
"Why? How could you be proud of this? You're in over your head in this! It's not what you think! If Aesehinini is really speaking to you, you're getting the message wrong. This is a horrible ritual that you will perform and many of your people will die, including you."
"Sehietheliniae glared at him. "My mother put those ideas into your head. She was a weak person. She couldn't withstand all of this torture and worship our people do. Then she met you. She grew even weaker. Sure, I was an infant, but I was told stories about her. Aesehinini told me to kill her. So I did. Any you tell me I don't know what you're doing?"
"Before Lucius could reply, a follower fell through the hole. "Tuhieth Elaediwya, Clarence betrayed us!"
Sehietheliniae spun around. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I heard her talking to – "
"What was she doing?"
"She told Malfoy to run! He ran off with Madison!"
Aebriwya turned around sharply. "My sister is here?"
He nodded. "They've run away and Clarence is to blame!"
"She's gone too far. I'll kill her. When you find her, let me know. You know how." She said, glaring. Lucius' eyes widened.
"She betrayed you?" he asked.
"Stupid, foolish girl! Her poor misguided life was too much for her. Well, she had been talking about suicide; I suppose she wanted to save the world in the process. Oh well. We'll find her. It's not hard. See what happens when bad things happen to good people, Lucius? You see? It's awful and kind of sad. For you weaklings, I guess. Let me ask you this: Will you join our side or not?"
"I will never be a member of your cult," he said bravely.
"Then tie him up," she ordered to the follower who had informed her of Shelia's betrayal. "You will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."
His eyes shone. "Thank you, Tuhieth Elaediwya."
"Now tell me, is the ritual ready?"
He nodded. "All translations have been made. All we need now is Dirahaechah."
"Don't speak that name." Sehietheliniae snapped. He recoiled and nodded. "But that is all we need?"
He nodded. Sehietheliniae grinned, and responded, "Now, tie Lucius up. If you put up a fight, I will kill you. And I can do it as slow as I want to."
"Don't do this." Lucius begged.
Sehietheliniae saw a slight movement and said, "Clarence, come out."
"What's going on?" Shelia asked in a small voice. "Why is Lucius here?"
"He's paying a little visit. Now, I was told that you've been talking to people. People you shouldn't be talking to about important and confidential subjects."
Shelia looked terrified. "I-I-"
"Are you sorry?"
"It – I – was – I couldn't – death – " she stammered.
"Fool. You thought you could save the world before you died? Well, I'll have to admit, it will slow us down, but don't worry; we'll still have our fun. How you remind me so much of my mother. When she died, she spilled out her entire life on various subjects within the 50 hours she tiptoed between life and death while I tortured her."
Lucius and Shelia both cried out at that remark. "You both are weak. Lucius, you will be an offering to Aesehinini. But you, Clarence, you will be shown as an example for what could happen if someone is too scared to carry through with our plans."
Her face paled even more. "You wouldn't - -you – you –I –" she stuttered.
"Shut up." Sehietheliniae snapped and smacked Shelia's face. She cried out.
"Don't – please. I'm sorry!" she screeched. "Help me! Someone! Professor Granger!"
"She's being taught a little lesson, my dear." Aebriwya said, turning to Shelia and Sehinini. "But we have a new recruit. And she's willing to go find our runaways."
Shelia screamed whens he saw Hermione, her face covered in tattoos spiraling down her face in half circles, diamond patterns, and half hearts. Her face was no longer that sweet, soft Hermione Granger-like face. Not for a second did Shelia believe that it was Hermione at all.
It was Maeiniahnieth.
Draco screamed when he saw Hermione's face and his eyes flew open. Alison had been shaking him, and when he screamed, she jumped backwards, crashing into a wall. "Ow! Draco, what's wrong? What the hell just happened?"
"My father - he's out of Azkaban. Sehietheliniae is my sister. Shelia is as good as dead. Aebriwya turned Hermione into one of them." Draco said quickly, not making any sense.
As each words fell out of Draco's mouth, Allison looked more and more confused. "Shelia? Granger? What the HELL is going on?"
Draco then explained what he had seen in more detail, and Allison cried out when he spoke of Aebriwya turning Hermione into a cult member. "What the hell? Draco, I promise you – I'll kill her. I don't care if she's my sister or not…she ruined Hermione."
"No need to. She'll die soon enough. Everyone will. If they succeed in what they want to do."
"But they won't!" Allison said desperately.
"Why not wait for it – possibly eagerly? This world sucks. There is no better life here – we'll grow old and die. Does that sound fun to you?" he demanded. "If you give me an alternate option where our lives are actually worth something, maybe I'll change my mind. In fact, I'm looking forward to dying!" Draco shouted.
"How can you say that? There is so much to live for! Take your father, for instance. Isn't how you wish he would have been a good and loving father, thus making you vow to be a better one when you have children enough to keep you going?" she demanded.
"What if I said that I didn't give a fuck at what you had to say?" Draco shot back.
"Then I'd say you were lying!" she snapped.
The two glared at each other. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Allison said. "I just know how precious life is, and when I hear people talking like that, it scares me. I don't ever want it to be that way." She said sadly.
Draco didn't say anything. "Allison – I'm so confused. I just want it all to end."
"I can only imagine why you'd feel that way, because after what you've been through, I expect you would want to keep your body under any circumstance."
"I wasn't talking about that," Draco replied, suddenly sobering up.
"What were you talking about?" she asked curiously. "Are you referring to something more than the world ending?"
"No." Draco responded guiltily.
"Oh, come on." she probed.
"I want to end the games. I just want to tell someone how I feel about them." Draco finally replied, not looking up.
Allison gained back that familiar glint in her eye. "Who?" she asked casually.
"Look, I'm not telling you." Draco replied. "It's personal. Let's just got to sleep. We have a few hours before sunrise."
And so they rolled over and fell asleep. Just before Allison drifted off, she whispered, "Goodnight, Draco Malfoy. Sweet dreams."
"Hermione?" Harry asked his friend, who looked quite different than he had ever seen her. She held a cold, hard face, which was covered in tattoos.
She sneered. 'That's what they used to call me, wasn't it? Mudblood Hermione Granger, the smartest girl at Hogwarts. He was on your side, wasn't she?" she asked. "But believe me, I'm not Hermione. I'm Mainiahnieth. So don't call me Hermione anymore. She was weak."
"No she wasn't," Harry replied. "She was one of the strongest people I've ever met."
She snorted. "No she wasn't. She loved. That was weak. You're weak if you love. You're soft."
"No you're not weak if you love! You only become stronger! Don't you remember, that's how I defeated Voldemort!"
"If you're so strong, then why are you crying?" she asked softly, mocking Harry's words.
Aebriwya laughed. "Harry, you are weak. I mean, really. Oh, your friend is taken by the cult! Boo-hoo!" she giggled. "Well, guess what? Get over it, just like you did with Dumbledore's death!" she grinned. "I had such fun putting bits of poison in those Reeses Pieces he liked so much."
Harry and Sirius dove at her, but she said, "Setuvahpo." And they froze in place. "Don't mess with me. I need to see my dear sister. Do you know where they are? Sepoethaekiah!"
Harry shook his head. "We don't know."
"Oh, mawyeth diethaerah, you must know something!" Aebriwya urged.
"Nope." Sirius said. "Who's your sister?" he suddenly demanded.
"Miss Allison Madison." Aebriwya grinned.
Sirius frowned. "Allison? But her sister is dead. Your cult killed her."
"They killed me? Oh, certainly not! They made me the person I am today! And there's nothing better than that! I mean, I am one of the highest ranked Aesehinini worshippers. I will be rewarded beyond my wildest dreams. So, tell me again, sweetie. How am I weak?"
"Because you think you're invincible." Harry replied.
Sirius finally lost it. "What do you want?"
Hermione shrugged. "We're here to distract you while Sehietheliniae finds Malfoy and Madison. Of course, we were hoping you'd know where they were and we could find them so much easier. But until then…we're gonna have a little bit of fun."
"Hermione, I'm so sorry you're like this," Harry said, staring at his old friend sadly.
She only laughed. "Crucio!" she said, and Harry screamed in agony.
"Hermione – stop! You don't know what you're doing!" Sirius cried as he rushed to help Harry, who was on the floor, twitching.
"I know exactly what I'm doing," she snapped. "I'm torturing my ex best friend."
"Hermione, please! You were completely brainwashed! This is wrong and you know it!" Sirius yelled.
She laughed again. "Sirius, you are a fool and always have been. You just have a temper. I wouldn't be surprised if you were one of Aebriwya's family members."
Aebriwya laughed. "Our family would have nothing to do with his. We only marry those on our island. No one else."
Hermione had a glint in her eye that Harry had never seen before. It was a hunger, a desire. But what kind of desire? She held arrogant confidence, quite unlike the normal Hermione had.
"Really, Hermione. What do you want?" Harry asked, getting to his feet.
"We need Dirahaechah. You know our vital information to find our God though."
"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Madison know exactly where He is. Where are they?" Aebriwya demanded.
"We don't know!" Sirius said desperately. "Now leave us be!"
"It wasn't talking to you, Black." Aebriwya replied. "I was talking to Harry over here."
Harry had gone very pale indeed.
"Mainiahnieth has informed me you have a fine way of locating Mr. Malfoy." Aebriwya said, grinning.
"Harry? What is she talking about?" Sirius demanded, but Harry just stared at Hermione, who was laughing cruelly.
"Hermione – I trusted you with that secret. How could you do that?" he asked in amazement.
"Poor Harry." Hermione wiped a fake tear off her cheek. "Why wouldn't I tell them? Sehietheliniae is waiting for your answer." She said impatiently.
"I won't tell you where he is!"
"You know where he is?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"It's a long story." Harry replied, glaring at Hermione.
"Imperio!" Aebriwya said, and Harry felt slightly dreamy, completely relaxed.
Tell me where he is. Tell me and I won't kill you right here.
"No." Harry replied.
I'll tell Sirius how you know where he is and then kill the both of you. You are of no use if you will not speak. And I can find them many other ways. Our spells will track him down. We'll kill both of them. Slowly.
"Oh bloody hell," Hermione groaned. "Rahpoethse!" she said, and ropes shot out of her wand, bounding Sirius tightly. She pulled him towards her and took out a large knife and held it up to Sirius' throat. 'If you don't tell us where they are, I'll kill him. This time, I'll make sure he won't come back."
"Whatever you do, don't tell her, Harry." Sirius said. "Please don't do anything stupid."
Harry stared at Aebriwya, who was smiling. "Come, Harry. Tell us and your godfather will live."
"Let Sirius go first." Harry finally answered. "If you don't I won't tell you anything."
Aebriwya nodded towards Hermione. Hermione frowned, but pushed Sirius away from her knife. "Now tell us." Aebriwya said.
Harry took in a deep breath and spoke, "Tuhiethwya aeraheth gahnieth."
Everyone gasped at this, including Harry himself.
"THEY ARE NOT GONE!" Hermione yelled.
"How do you know their language?" Sirius cried.
Harry looked at him, bewildered. "I don't know!"
"Tell me, where are they?" Aebriwya demanded again.
"Tuhiethwya aeraheth diethaedi!" Harry suddenly roared.
Aebriwya and Hermione both dove at him. "You're lying! You lie!" Aebriwya shrieked.
"No, I am not lying. They are dead." Harry replied.
"NO!" Aebriwya screamed. "We need them!"
"I cannot lie." Harry responded. "I cannot feel Draco's presence anymore."
"You lie," hissed a voice from the corner of the room.
Harry spun around, looking to see who it was and when he saw her, his knees nearly gave out. Sirius too, cried out and stared.
Even though he knew it wasn't really her, it was still shocking. With her beautiful red hair and bottle green eyes, a middle-aged Lily Potter stood before them.
"I dunno what you've heard about me…but a bitch can't get a dollar out of me! No Cadillac no cars you can't see…that I'm a muthafuckin' P-I-M-P!" Allison sang as she walked out of the bathroom from her shower.
Draco rubbed his eyes. "What?"
"A Muggle song," she responded.
"Why would you be singing that? What exactly is the purpose of singing about how you take money from hookers?"
"Because I think it's funny as hell." She replied. "Any good dreams?"
"No." Draco replied.
"Bad dreams?"
"No."
"Any dreams at all?"
"Not that I can recall."
Allison smiled. "Well, we'd better get going. Remember, we're running as fast as we can from the evil cult people."
"You're certainly happier than you were yesterday." Draco remarked.
"No, I've had 3 cups of coffee in the past hour."
"Oh…you don't really look like a coffee drinker."
Allison sipped from her mug. "Hey, it's free. Come on. We've got to go. I'm sure people know we're gone."
Draco nodded. "I'm going to lose my job."
"Yeah," Allison agreed. "Now, to get dressed. I don't think you want to walk out in your – erm – boxers."
Draco looked down and remembered he was wearing his favorite dark blue silky boxers. "Well, could you turn around or something?" he asked childishly, making sure he was completely covered up by the blankets.
Allison sighed and said, "I need to go get some breakfast. Anything you want in particular?"
"Whatever you're going to eat."
She smiled and walked off, singing, "I'm a muthafuckin' P-I-M-P!"
She laughed loudly and closed the door.
Draco sighed, stood up, and remembered the dream he had last night that he failed to tell Allison about.
He had been in a huge building, and was between Sehietheliniae and Aebriwya. Couldn't see their faces, but he saw them in their long, black cloaks and simply had the knowledge that it was them.
In front of the three were more than a thousand cloaked figures. Sehietheliniae was chanting, and the cult members were echoing her words, screaming their throats raw. Aebriwya was laughing at harry, who was tied up and struggling against his bonds. He called out a name and the earth started to shake. Blood started pouring out of Draco's mouth; he felt like it would never end. Sehietheliniae turned to him, her face covered in blood. Sehietheliniae turned to him, her face covered in blood. She opened her mouth, but Draco could not hear what she was saying. Aebriwya grabbed his shoulders and spun him around. "She's your sister and the other is your mother!" Aebriwya screamed loudly.
Draco covered his ears and fell to his knees. Someone was screaming, they wouldn't stop, it was too loud. Draco couldn't handle it anymore.
Suddenly, Harry was running to Draco, his eyes wide and scared. Sehietheliniae stared at Harry.
Everything was moving 50 times its normal speed. Harry disappeared and so did all of the cult members. Everything was moving faster, faster, as fast as it could, until everything became a blur.
There was a buzzing in his ears that was getting louder and louder until it was unbearable. Suddenly, everything stopped, including the buzzing. Draco screamed a long scream. Then he had woken.
What could it have meant, he wondered. He recognized Sehietheliniae's face from somewhere, but the blood on her face had made it hard to see who she was.
There was a knock on his door. "Hold on!" Draco yelled, pulling on a pair of Muggle jeans.
"Room service!" a girl's voice called.
"Okay! Just wait!" Draco threw on a shirt and ran to the door.
A girl holding a tray smiled. "Here's your breakfast. Enjoy your meal."
Draco stared. 'But I didn't get room service."
She shrugged. "I only deliver. It will still be charged to your room, even if you don't eat it."
"Well, my um – partner should be coming up here to bring me food."
She sighed. "Well then, you'd better call her."
"Call?" Draco asked, confused.
"Yes, call the restaurant downstairs and tell your partner that you already have food."
"So I…pick up the phoney…" Draco said slowly, confused about how to operate this Muggle contraption.
"Yes, the phone. Right over there." She appeared annoyed.
Before anything more could happen, Allison appeared at the door, loaded down with a large variety of food. "Uh, who's this," Allison asked, surveying the room service lady.
The lady turned around and Allison gasped. The room service girl screamed and dropped the food. "You!" She cried.
Allison stared at her. "Yeah, me. So, now you're going after Draco?"
She blushed. "Ally, I'm not after him!"
"Yes, and if you tell me that there isn't a Sleeping Drought in there, I'll eat my wand."
"Really?"
"No. Callie, why didn't you tell me you were here?"
"Okay, I'm not after Draco or anyone. I really can't tell you – "
Draco interrupted. "Can one of you two PLEASE explain what's going on?"
Allison laughed. "Draco, this is one of my co-workers! Callie here has always been VERY interested in you since she did her Auror's thesis on you. Callie is one of the only American purebloods left." Allison added.
"So are you," Callie replied, as if it were a privilege to be an American pureblood.
Draco frowned. "I didn't think there were any American purebloods left. My father always talked about America as the country of filthy halfbreeds."
Callie shook her head, almost as if she were offended. "There are exactly 20 pureblooded families. Only 10 of them are entirely wizarding. Others have a Muggle or Squib or two."
"Okay, well, what's your surname?" Draco asked.
Callie blushed. "You may know a branch of my family. Our side created our own family tree after a crazy old grandfather was banished to America for practicing inappropriate charms on his house-elf."
Draco winced. "So, what's your surname?"
As Allison's grin grew wider, Callie said, "My name is Callie. Callie Black."
"What?" Draco asked loudly. "You're related to Sirius Black?"
"She nodded. "Our line was burnt off, but that crazy grandfather had 2 children: Phineas and Henry. Phineas was of age, so he stayed in England, but Henry went with his father to the USA." She huffed. "I am here to speak with my cousin many times removed and see if he would be willing to reconsider his disinterest in continuing the family line."
Draco tried to smile. Family blood purity had definitely become lower on his list of priorities. Then he realized something. "Hey! We're related too!"
She smiled. "I guess we are. After Narcissa married your father..related to the longest and purest family, the Malfoys, we joined that line as well."
"It's not all that great." Draco said, shaking his head.
Allison was looking uncomfortable. "Draco, can I speak with you alone?"
Draco nodded and Allison pulled him out of the room with great strength. "What?" Draco asked, rubbing his arm, which was beginning to bruise.
"Callie is completely obsessed with the purity of blood. She's no where near as crazy as those Aesehininians, but it was rumored that she was passing information to Chris Crow."
"Who?"
Allison shoved him, shocked at his stupidity. "He was like…an American version of Voldemort, although not nearly as powerful. He caused chaos and pandemonium in America for several years." She said hastily. "But Draco, you've got to remember. If she tries anything weird -
"What kind of – "
"Don't interrupt me!" she snapped. "The American purebloods were much different than the European pureloods. They are incredibly sensitive to the matter of heritage and hate the European wizards – even though most of them descend from European wizards, like the Black family. Surely, you took Muggle Studies?
Draco shook his head. Allison's eyes widened. "Why the hell not? It's dead useful living in the Muggle world at times!"
"You are forgetting who my father was and that during my time at school, I was possessed by him." Draco replied coldly.
Allison looked as though he had slapped her. 'Right. Sorry." But since she was incredibly stubborn and kept her emotions inside, she plowed right on. "You must resist whatever she tries to do or does!"
"I thought the two of you were friends."
Allison looked exasperated. "We ARE, Draco, but she will go all lengths to accomplish anything that has to do with purebloods and the authenticity of blood! Promise me you'll be careful!"
"I really don't understand you." Draco commented, shaking his head.
"Think. Not only do we have a cult after us, but we have an American pureblood walking with us."
"She's coming along?"
"Most likely, yes."
"But we can't have anyone else coming!"
Allison shook her head. "You try telling her that."
Draco sighed. "Maybe I will. Hey! Callie! Could you come over here for a moment?"
There seemed to be a crash, a shriek, and a thud. Draco and Allison quickly ran to the area where they heard it.
There was Callie holding Draco's empty suitcase, his things scattered on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Allison demanded.
Callie grunted. "I was looking through your things, Draco. Auror's privilege."
Allison laughed. "And you happen to be hiding his boxers because…"
Draco looked horrified. "Callie, you can't come with us!"
She frowned. "Why not?"
"Because it'll just slow us down! Plus, we may never see Sirius Black again. Not like it's a bad thing…" Draco paused to consider how great it would be if he didn't have to see that abusive man again.
Callie's lips tightened. "You need me, Draco."
The moment she took her lime green eyes on him, Draco felt a strange pain going through his head. He gasped and then fell to the floor, screaming, as another memory washed over him.
"Lucius Malfoy. You have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law Enforcement, to be tried for your crime of being a Death Eater and using the Imperius curse on your son to gain power over Hogwarts. Do you deny this?"
Lucius Malfoy stared at Cornelius Fudge, then at Albus Dumbledore, then finally looked at a small table in front of them.
There was an incredibly weak, pale boy with a pointed face sitting in a chair. His hair had grown to his shoulders and he had a rather untidy beard. But it wasn't his fault. He had been in Azkaban for 11 months. However, a boy named Harry Potter saved his supposedly cursed life. He finally told Dumbledore what he had seen happen to Draco and Dumbledore immediately set up trial.
The now adult Draco Malfoy stared back at his father, who said calmly, "I deny possessing my son. He killed the children upon his own free will."
Draco tried to yell, tried to cuss out his traitor of a father, but he could only lift a finger and then collapse on the table.
Such a sad sight, for such a young boy who should have all of his options open for him. He should have been starting a life for himself; yet instead, he was forced to relive his miserable 7 years.
"And Narcissa Malfoy, you have also been called here to be charged for the aid of Lucius Malfoy's behavior, for allowing him to use 2 of the 3 Unforgiveable Curses on his underage son, and putting a powerful Memory charm on him each term he got home from Hogwarts. Do you deny this?"
The blond witch buried her face, sobbing and shook her head.
"You do not deny this?" Fudge asked, slightly taken back.
"I do not deny this," Narcissa said, trying to hold in her sobs. "But I also agreed to this trial, because I need to – "
"I do no care what you have to say. Lucius, do you admit to this?"
Lucius' mouth set firmer, seemed to think for a second, and opened his mouth, screaming words of outrage. "THAT FUCKING SPOILED CHILD! HE COULD HAVE HAD IT MADE! HE COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DARK LORD'S RIGHT HAND SIDE! BUT THE BASTARD IS UNGRATEFUL! IT WAS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM, THE LITTLE PRICK!"
And he probably would have said more if it were not for Draco, who fought with all his energy to speak. He spoke in a very hoarse voice, "I was in Azkaban for 11 months for committing crimes I couldn't remember. You pretended to be in shock and gave me a trial, accusing me of the things you performed while in my body. Do not call me the spoiled one."
Before any more could happen, Draco's vision was blurred, shapes moving around as the present Draco was moved forward a few months after Lucius' trial.
The door knocked at Draco's door. He got up, covered up in his dark blue quilt. It was raining rather hard outside. So he flung open the door and gasped at who stood there, soaking wet on his doorstep.
It was Harry Potter. He smiled and said, "Can I come in?"
Draco nodded. "Sit down." He croaked, hardly able to speak from the surprise.
So they walked over to his red cough and sat down.
"I hear you're going to teach at Hogwarts," Harry said after a while.
Draco nodded. "Dumbledore's offering me the job. I'm not sure if I'll take it."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." Harry said with a smile.
"Right. So you don't show up on my porch for no reason. What do you want?'
Harry took in a deep breath, and said, "I want you."
Draco blinked. "Excuse me?"
But harry didn't answer him. Instead, he moved in closer and pulled Draco in to a kiss.
At first, Draco was shocked, but eventually melted and kissed him back. Their tongues were battling fiercely, locked in a tight embrace, never wanting to let go. But then, Draco pulled away in shock of what he had just done. "Did I just imagine that? Am I having visions now?" he asked.
Harry shook his head. "Draco, I love you. I – I have ever since I saw you that one time, when I realized you were innocent. I have been thinking about you for the past 2 years, wishing that we could be together. I can't stand it anymore. I need you."
Draco did not know which came more of a shock to him: The part where Harry loved him, the part where he loved Harry back, or the part where Harry had just called him by his first name. Oh, fuck it, "Harry I – I love you too."
Harry smiled and kissed him again, this time more gently. Their clothes seemed to melt off, and as they began to fuck, time seemed to fly. As they both came to their climaxes at the same time, calling out each other's names, they fell asleep, wrapped up in their tangle of nakedness.
Hours later, Harry stood up and got dressed and whispered, "Draco, I love you. I'm sorry, but Obliviate!"
And then he disappeared, leaving Draco to wonder that next morning why he had fallen asleep on the couch naked.
~END OF CHAPTER 8~
