Draco awoke in the middle of the night. Harry was laying so still, Draco feared that he'd actually died from the treatment previously put on him. Would that be such a bad thing? Draco's head pounded as he made his way to sit up. He still had some of the after-affects of the curse hours later. His hands were shaking and his breathing was partially labored. He pulled himself up using the bed as a handhold. He noticed the smaller boy was breathing, barely, but so, he'd gotten his punishment and still survived. In a way that relieved Draco. He pulled himself onto the bed and put a hand on Potter, shaking him. Harry awoke and groaned, putting a hand on his head. He rubbed his head as he opened his eyes and looked at Draco. "What can I do for you Master?"
Draco shrugged and closed his eyes. "Just making sure you're alive Potter. Didn't know if he'd managed to kill you or not. Not sure it matters either way."
Harry frowned and looked at Draco, noticing the weary look of the other. He'd only been partially conscious when he heard Draco being put under cruciatus. He'd only gotten what he'd deserved, right? Harry could feel his body shake as he tried to sit up. His body was mainly numb. Perhaps some permanent damage had been done to his nerve endings. He wasn't sure. All he knew was how he currently felt. And while looking at Draco, he realized he didn't have quite the same experience as him. The other had pity in his eyes while looking at him and was actually genuinely worried about him. Harry frowned and looked down. He hated that Draco had placed cruciatus on him, but he also knew that had he not, Draco and himself would likely be dead right now. Of course, what had scared him more was the look of pure murderous intent on Draco's face the night before. Had he actually meant to kill him? Harry found himself shivering, which, while it wasn't the after effects of the cruciatus, could be read as so. Harry just looked down. "I'm not sure it matters either." He said, honest with himself and the other's thought process.
Draco stood up and made his way over to the attached bathroom and washed off his face, which still had specks of blood on it and tore off his robe. Underneath Malfoy wore rather tight black clothes that accentuated the other boy quite well. Harry found it very hard to look away. But when Draco turned to come back into the room by Harry, he found the courage he needed to look away from the other man.
"You were knocked out, but if you challenge another Deatheater or Voldemort himself... we both suffer that again. I don't particularly feel like going through that ordeal again Potter. So what we are going to do is this. I will put you back under Imperius when we are out. And if you even attempt to break it, you will not survive. I don't particularly feel like going through that again because of an insolent stuck up brat like you. I don't care what Blaise does to Granger or Weaslette. He can rape them for all I care, over and over in front of you. If you try to do anything to stop it, you will not be around past that."
Harry felt his heart drop in his chest. He didn't like the idea of his friends being abused or raped. But if he did anything, it would likely be worse than that on them as soon as he was gone. He had no choice in the matter. "I understand. You won't have t put the Imperius on me. I won't fight you again Master."
"Good." Draco looked relieved to hear those words, which made Harry both curious and slightly amused. Draco was afraid of something. Unfortunately it was the same thing that he found himself in fear of. Voldemort would always be a tormentor on the side. That much seemed obvious. What neither was sure of, was how much Voldemort would interfere in their lives if Harry conformed to becoming the perfect slave. "Now we do have some training to do before we get to the wedding. You spoke of memories that you had from the war. I should have enforced the retrieval of those before this, but if seems that I had gone soft on you for far too long. I will rectify that. Get on your hands and knees Potter."
Harry frowned but did as instructed. His body was beginning to ache, but it was only once he was on his knees that he realized that it was because he'd been in one position too long. Draco stood before him and lifted his wand, casting 'Legilimens'.
Harry felt as if he was floating in his own memories once more. Feeling like his body was taken over by those he'd called his friends. His eyes were wide as he watched the spells flying around him. 'Harry, to the right. Raise your wand and throw Cruciatus.' 'No, throw Avada Kadavra' Ginny's voice was louder. And Harry couldn't feel emotions as he did as he was told. He turned towards a dark male and sent the curse flying. That body soon fell among others on the dark, wet ground. Harry could barely feel the raindrops as he got another order from Fred. 'Run forward and hide behind the statue. There's a deatheater coming from behind. You must get him before he can get you.' Harry wanted to turn around to stop them in their place, but he had given up on his control long ago. What was the point?
"What was the point Potter?" Draco asked, not sure why Potter had tried to resist at all. "They'd been trying to help you win the war. You might have, honestly, had they done it right."
Harry growled and felt the effects of the spell going away. "And what is the point of watching it? It's not like it helps bring back the people I killed. You want to watch your father die?"
Draco frowned. He'd made sure not to do so. He wasn't particularly sure he was strong enough to watch that. "I think you could have done so much if you'd had the strength your friends did."
"I don't find strength in killing people. I really could have cared less that there was a war going on if I didn't have to be in the damned center of it."
"You'd think you'd have learned to be stronger because of that fact Potter." Draco said with a shrug. "Of course, you are so weak that you let me into your mind without trying to fight it."
"Why would I fight it at this point Malfoy. I am going to give in at some point. I'd really prefer it to be before getting punished."
"You're getting sick of the punishments already." Draco grinned and grabbed Harry by the back of his head, making him look into his eyes. "You won't be so lucky, Potter. You're still a slave."
"I know what I am Malfoy. I know where I am. I am basically screwed." 'Not literally' Draco thought with a grin. "I have nothing left. I've told you before, I don't care what happens to me anymore. All I care about is my friends. And now I can't even do anything to help them. Not that I could before, but I had hoped to free them, even if it killed me. I can't die before then. I guess that dream will never come to be."
Draco released him and made his way to sit on Harry's bed. Harry stayed on his knees and waited. Draco may stay there all day for all he knew and he'd be stuck in the same position. "Come sit by me Harry."
The tone, the command, and the use of his first name startled Harry the most. He stood up, making sure not to make eye contact with his Master. He walked over and sat down next to Draco who sighed. "Potter, Potter, Potter. I am honestly not sure what to do with you. You make me angry. You killed my father. Yet you gave up almost the same way I did. You weren't able to hold yourself together. And the war ended with you on the losing side. Yet, so did I. I lost my father, my mother took off, and I am stuck with Voldemort as a Lord who will control my entire life. I think most of us had honestly been hoping to die in the war. But that didn't happen." Draco reached over and turned harry's face to look at his. "I cannot say sorry for being on the side I'm on, Potter. I would never have betrayed my family back then, but I don't think you had the wrong idea. I am sorry you lost everything too."
Harry was stunned by Draco's words, but of course they were followed by Draco getting up and making his way out of the room. Harry was left to ponder and realized that what Draco had said was that he was sorry Harry had lost his friends, not after the war, but during. It had been the hardest blow he'd had in his life. Harry sighed and laid back on the bed. Damn Malfoy always causing him to be in pain. His apology had been more of a blow than anything else, even the cruciatus.
Draco made his way down the hall to his bedroom and found himself in pain. It was very different than the Cruciatus and what's worse is that he'd put the pain on himself. He made his way to the bathroom and found himself wretching. He had no food in his stomach. He'd never eaten his breakfast that day. Still he couldn't help but feel the acid make his way up his throat. You know, of all the things he'd been through, he never had to worry about somebody using him like that. They'd have just killed him if he'd refused. He never actually refused. He'd decided to try to live his life despite what he'd had to do as a deatheater. He had given in, but it had been his choice.
Draco felt weak when he was able to stand, feeling as if his mouth and throat were on fire. Perhaps it was just another effect of the cruciatus. He hoped that was what it was. He didn't like the idea of feeling bad for Potter. In fact, if that's what it was, he hoped it went away soon. Potter was not to be cared about or made to feel cared about.
"I will not weaken by having Potter as my slave, but I also will not allow myself to be abused because of his actions. I will make him mine." In all ways. That meant he would have to take Harry eventually. Make him his. "He is mine." Draco said with determination. But in all his determination he was very weak still and very tired. He wasn't hungry despite his empty stomach or maybe because of his empty stomach. Draco groaned. He would not allow Potter to be the cause of anymore discomfort. He was going to get his way. And he needed to test Harry's words. Tomorrow he'd take Potter out and about and see if he could be a decent slave.
A/N: Please review! I love reviews
A/N2: Because who can leave a chapter like this without a note. Oh wait, I can :P
