TITLE: The Seven Wonders of the World
RATING: This is R – Do Not Read if you are NOT mature enough.
PAIRING: Harry/Draco
WARNING: Slash. No like no read…honestly, if you haven't gotten it by now, I'm afraid there's little hope for you…
SUMMARY: A Harry balancing between misery and all-consuming rage, and an (for now) unsympathetic Draco go looking for a mysterious artefact for Dumbledore, hidden somewhere in one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. But they're not the only ones looking for it.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine blablabla.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had some trouble with this chapter, mainly because very little happens, but it had to be written for the sake of the story. I hope you're still enjoying this, and I promise we'll be moving fwd in the plot very soon! Have an absolutely splendid, corking, crazy New Year!!
CLAUD: And another one. "He's a bit of a stick, the lad." "You have no idea…"
JENNIPENNY: Told you I'd have it up by tonight!! Hopefully see you tomorrow Darling…
CURIOUS DREAM WEAVER: Yay *grins* I'm glad you thought the visual language wasn't too overdone, my friend was got a little scared when she read it! There's more progression in this chapter as well (relationship wise). I'm glad you like Hermione, I find she's not that easy to write as I would have thought. Thanks as always for your lovely review! You're the best!
KATSUYUKI SUMISAWA: Well, I was surprised when I got your review but very pleasantly so! Of course you got the line right *grins* I love Pirates of the Caribbean as well, and my friends actually got his brother to bring the DVD from the UK for my birthday - isn't he the best? Yeah, saw the movie about 5 times as well, and it really *is* funny! Thanks for your review, see you again soon!!
ALICIA: Well, that would be telling. Actually, you can see what he found in the chapter, and I'd be curious to know what exactly you think it is (although Harry does sort of give it away). I came up with it with a friend of mine. And as for the artefact, well…it's still conspicuously absent!
FLAMMY: More cuteness, hope you like it!! Thanks for reviewing.
CHYNA16: As always, my deepest thanks for reviewing. Yep, they're somewhere different now and they're going to meet some interesting people soon. There are some Harry/Draco moments in here, and it's sweet, and I hope you like it. Harry's not over it yet, but he is warming to Draco, and Draco really does care...he's coping with that as well. But it should all work out all right, hopefully, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
TASHA: Go Harry indeed - unfortunately, he isn't out of the woods yet…so to say. Thanks for your review.
SWEETSORROW1: Yay, you got the line right, and Yay, you liked the chapter - so that's good. The story must continue indeed, but I was trying to show that Harry chooses his friend's safety over finishing Bellatrix…although it was very close indeed. Some Harry/Draco moments, which I hope you enjoy - and I'm really chuffed you liked the fighting scene, cos I wasn't sure about that. So thank you, and let me know what you think of this?
REVIEW: You know what I found out?! If people leave signed reviews I almost always go check out their profile and stories, so it's a good way to get me to review your stuff as well! Mutual Appreciation and all…You people inspire me. It's appreciated. But if you don't…there's not much I can do, eh?
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Chapter Fourteen: No rest on this side of Heaven…
As comfortable as Harry was, lying on a hill, feeling warm and safe, he had the distinct impression that something wasn't altogether right. Opening his eyes, he flinched at the sudden intrusion of light, but was relieved to note that the rain seemed to have disappeared.
Where on earth was he?
Then it all came flooding back. The fight - Bellatrix - Crucio being cast on Hermione - and Draco…Draco lying horribly still. He righted himself immediately and bit back a scream of pain. His hand dangled uselessly next to him as he looked at the broken bones and felt sick.
Then he noticed a hand sliding off his chest. He followed it, and found it was attached to a pale boy with blond hair, seemingly sleeping. 'Draco'.
"Shit. Draco - wake up. Wake up…" he shook the boy none too gently, before falling back helplessly, as there was no power in his hand. Draco merely slept on, looking eerily like a corpse in the sunlight that was ghosting over his skin.
Biting his lip, Harry turned to his other side, where Hermione lay. He watched her for a minute, flinching every time the girl gave a shiver, something that Harry recognised as the after effects of a heavy dose of Crucio.
He prodded her with his good hand.
"Mione. Please…please wake up. It's all right - it's sunny here. You've just got to wake up…please…Draco's not waking. He's all still. I…I don't know what to do…"
For one of the first times Harry could remember since starting this ridiculous goose chase, he started to cry. Silent tears ran down his cheeks, dribbling down his chin. He made no move to wipe them away, preferring to have his vision obstructed from his two companions lying silently on the grass.
Suddenly a hand brushed them away for him, and he looked into the warm brown eyes of his best friend.
"Hermione…" it was a drawn out breath. He pulled her close to him, and she let herself be hugged for a moment, squeezing his hand in comfort. Harry cried out in pain, and she released him hurriedly.
"Harry! What's wrong - did I…" she took note of the limp hand and remembered "oh…I'm so sorry. I forgot."
He nodded that it was okay, and they were both silent for a while. Then Hermione turned to him and glanced at Draco.
"He hasn't woken up yet?" Harry shook his head, a strange expression crossing his face.
"I can't get him to wake up…he won't…he looks like he's sleeping, but…"
"Ssh…ssh Har, it's alright, it's going to be fine…" Harry didn't say anything. What was there to be said?
"We need to talk, Harry…there are some things that need answering." Harry nodded and looked around again. The sun was still shining, showing no signs of setting at all. Noon, he thought.
Without questioning his actions, he clumsily pulled Draco in between himself and Hermione, shuddering as he looked at the pallid countenance of his…well, whatever Draco was to him at the moment.
"Mione, why is he like this? What happened? What did she cast on him? What happened?" Hermione took out her wand.
"First, let's try and fix that hand of yours, okay?" Harry nodded and watched as Hermione transfigured a blade of grass into a bandage and wrapped it around his crushed hand.
"I don't know the spell for fixing bones…so I don't trust myself to fix it magically - but I've seen this on the telly, it should work." Harry, seeing how anxious Hermione was, refrained from saying anything and tried his best not to cry out.
Once bandaged, they checked each other for cuts and such until both were satisfied the other was remotely okay.
"I'm sorry about the after shocks, Mione - I know what they feel like. I…I can't do anything about them - I don't know how." Hermione shook her head.
"It's alright - although it does give food for thought! When we get back, I'm going to Dumbledore immediately and demanding Medi-classes. Especially with…You-Know-Who alive."
Harry covered her shaking hands with his.
"Hermione," he chided her gently "call him Voldemort. Or Tom, if you will. Fear of name increases fear of the thing itself, a wise man once told me."
Hermione nodded and again they fell silent. Harry didn't know where to start, and he didn't want to push his friend into talking if she was too tired…but looking at Draco's still body between them hardened his resolve.
"Alright. You start." Hermione nodded reluctantly; she too, had been looking at Draco.
"Well, Draco had just lifted you up there, and we were waiting for some sign of yours when we heard something. So we turned around, and she was just…there. I have no idea where she came from…Harry, I couldn't look at her, she brought back these memories, and I…she started insulting me. I think she was hesitant to talk to Draco for some reason. We were trying to act normal - we didn't want her to find out you were there as well…she took out her wand…she–she looked like she was going to cast Avada Kedavra…this green light came from her wand - it came right towards me, and Draco, he…he pushed me out of the way. It hit him, and he skidded across the floor…I screamed, and then suddenly, you were there."
Harry pondered this. It fit in with the little he had been able to see from his position. He noted with bemusement that Draco had yet again saved someone. Pushing someone out of the way of a curse took bravery. How very…Gryffindor of him. Harry smiled, but then realised Draco wasn't awake to smile or insult him back…and suddenly it seemed a lot less funny.
"Harry? Tell me what happened?"
"I heard voices. I looked over statue, and I saw her - and I knew I had to get to you. But I couldn't get off anywhere - there was no way down. I couldn't hear what was going on, but then I saw the green flash. I was so scared…"
"Har?"
"Yeah…sorry. Anyway, I heard you scream, and I just closed my eyes and wished I were near Bellatrix so I could…well, you know. When I opened them, there I was…"
He trailed off again, and they looked at each other. For the first time since they had woken up Hermione looked excited.
"Harry! You apparated! There's no other explanation!" Harry looked at her, mystified.
"But - hang on, I don't even know how!" Hermione shook her head and her hair swung wildly.
"It doesn't matter - very powerful wizards can apparate without knowing how - in fact, little children do it as well sometimes. It's just a burst of raw magic, and you have loads of raw magic…Harry this is amazing!!!"
Harry honestly didn't see how this was amazing, when Draco still wasn't waking up.
"I don't under–"
"You-Know…V-Voldemort doesn't know you can apparate - no one does! It can work to our advantage next time!!"Harry raised his hand to stop her babbling.
"Mione - Bellatrix was there. She saw me appear in front of her. I'm sure she's not stupid, even though she is as crazy as hell. And even if she doesn't pick up on it, when she tells Voldemort what went down, HE's bound to figure it out."
Hermione's face fell slightly, but she shrugged it off.
"Well, maybe he will and maybe he won't. At least, not many people will know, so it can still work to our advantage." She nodded to herself, and Harry smiled slightly. It was no use stopping Hermione when she was on a role.
"Why hasn't Draco woken up yet?" It was hard to say who was more surprised by the question. Harry looked shocked that he'd asked it so abruptly - and Hermione looked shocked that Harry willing admitted he was worried for the blond.
"I don't know. We can look him over, if you want - but I don't think we'll find any external injuries except maybe bruises. I think it's the curse…"
Harry nodded, and they carefully looked over Draco's still body. Hermione checked his legs, and Harry pulled the travelling tunic off to check his chest and arms. A weird feeling passed through Harry again as he lightly trailed his hands up the blonde's chest.
Nope. No bruises here. Just pale skin staring back at him. After checking Draco's arms, Harry's hand wandered back to his chest. He put his hand flat on the boy's chest, and felt the rising and falling, and the steady heartbeat. To Harry, it was the best sound he'd heard all morning.
He was entranced. Thud. Thud. Thud. Draco's eyes were still closed, but Harry felt a little better, and he told Hermione so.
"I agree - it's good to know he's breathing normally and he doesn't have any serious injuries from what I can see…"
"Mione - there's something I haven't told you, but I reckon maybe it's best to wait till Draco wakes up…"
The unspoken thought that he might not awake at all wasn't entertained. It wouldn't happen. Draco would be back to his annoying self soon enough, and then Harry would tell them about the temple, and the golden ball and everything. Everything. Just as soon as Draco woke up.
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Hours had passed, and still the three had not moved. Two of them because they were too tired, one because he couldn't, or wouldn't wake up. The prolonged silence was worrying Hermione more than she liked to admit.
Glancing at Harry, she saw he was sitting straight up, in a lotus position. His eyes seemed unfocused, but every so often he would glance at Draco and hover his hand over the other's mouth and nose, then look relieved when he felt tugs of air.
Draco was taller than both of them were, but Hermione still didn't see why they couldn't just try and carry him. Harry wouldn't have it though, he didn't want to risk any internal injuries Draco may have received, and he was certain Draco's pride would be more than a little offended when he found out they had had to carry him.
"Look, Harry, this waiting is getting us nowhere. Can't we just try…"
"No."
"Har - don't be unreasonable!"
"I'm not - I just don't think it's a good idea…" Hermione gave an exasperated sigh.
"Okay - well, here's what we'll do. I'll go and see if I can find someone to help us. You stay here and look after Sleeping Beauty."
Harry scowled, then grinned, but shook his head all the same.
"No way Mione. There is no way I'm letting you wander around somewhere unknown…"
Hermione bristled and stood up.
"Harry James Potter! Let me wander around? I'll have you know, I'm older than you by at least four months are, so I'm the senior here if anything. You are in no position to "let" me do anything. I'm going, and I'm ordering you to stay here with Malfoy, is that clear?"
Harry glared at her, but it was more like a petulant child.
"I said, is that clear? Don't make me hex you into next Wednesday!!" Harry swallowed audibly, and quickly nodded his head.
"Yes Mione. Crystal."
"Good!" Hermione stalked off over the hill, but turned back just before disappearing out of sight.
"And don't do anything stupid! Because believe me, I'll know!" Then she was gone.
Immediately, it seemed far quieter than before. Now Harry had no one to pass the time with - it was just he and Draco, once again. Only somehow, now it was far more awkward. Which was strange considering one of them wasn't even conscious. Damn.
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There was nothing to do. The sun was setting and Hermione wasn't back yet. Harry looked at the figure of Draco and sighed. There was nothing to do. He was bored. And restless. And Hermione wasn't back yet…oh right. He'd thought that already.
Sticking his hand in his pocket, he suddenly remembered the Golden Ball that he had taken from the temple. Pulling it out and using his wand to get it back to regular size, he stared at it. It was very enticing…all round and gold and…
Snapping out of it, he sternly reminded himself that he'd promised to wait until Draco woke up and Hermione came back. But…Hermione would surely want to do everything herself, and then he'd never get the change. Again there was a little voice reminding him about what Hermione had said last year, about him rushing in too often. He ignored it.
Staring at the ball, and placing his hands on it, he realised it was actually quite light. He held it up to his face, and thought it strange he couldn't see his reflection…suddenly there was a flash of gold and Harry fell into a memory.
"It's like a pensieve" Harry thought to himself as he looked around. He was in a hall with doors and on the wall in front of him he saw shadows of people behind him. Turning around, he screamed as he saw the curses fly.
He was in the Ministry of Magic…no no no no no no no no no … there was Moody on the floor… Remus, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Lucius Malfoy - if Draco were here to see this - and there…oh no, Merlin no…please no…
There were Sirius and Bellatrix, duelling furiously. He watched with lead eyes as Sirius taunted his cousin - then the surprise on his face as she hit him. The triumphant grin as Bellatrix watched him fall backwards.
"SIRIUS!" Harry jumped towards him, forgetting this was a memory. Forgetting that this had already happened and Sirius was gone and there was nothing Harry or anybody could do about it…
He scrambled over a fallen Death Eater and his arms went right through Sirius as he tried to tug him back. Sirius disappeared behind the veil and Harry screamed and stumbled and fell in after him and–
–the golden ball dropped from his hands as sobs of despair wrenched themselves from Harry's lips. He hated reliving that memory. He hated it. It only served to remind him what a failure he was, how he couldn't save Sirius - how NO ONE had done ANYTHING to save Sirius…
Waves of self-loathing went through Harry's convulsing body, as he gasped for breath. It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! He hadn't thought of it for a while now - why would it come back? Why now? With an anguished cry he covered the golden ball and placed it away.
Then he sat; facing the setting sun, feeling drained and tired. And numb. He hadn't felt numb in a while. He had been laughing, had been happy despite certain things. He felt good about moving about, going somewhere again - but now…why now? He slammed his fist into the earth, and his shoulders shook as tears flowed freely down his cheeks.
"Harry?"
Harry continued to make keening sounds of distress, not paying any attention to the call.
"Harry?" This time the call was accompanied by a soft touch on his shoulder. Harry whirled around, staring into concerned grey eyes.
"Harry, my god, what's wrong? Why are you…crying?" Harry looked at Draco, and it took a while before he realised that yes, this was Draco and yes, he was in fact alive and well and looking at him with something he couldn't define in his eyes and Harry had been so scared and he was tired and it had been such a long day…
"Draco." He threw himself at the blonde, relief rushing through him. Draco stared at the small inky-haired creature in his arms, and he felt warm all over. Harry was hugging him. Harry was in his arms…shit. Harry was upset and crying in his arms. What should he do?
"Don't you EVER do that to me again, you bastard! Don't you dare!!" Harry couldn't bear to have to leave another person. Another person he couldn't save. Another person dead at his hands. But Draco wasn't dead. He was alive. He was here. He was breathing.
Draco carefully wrapped his arms around Harry, not too tightly in case Harry decided to leave, but still close enough to feel the smaller boy's breath in his neck. He rocked him gently and the sobs started to subside.
"Draco…" Draco tensed slightly.
"Yes?"
"Thank you." A thank you? That was…unexpected.
"For what, Harry?"
"For pushing Hermione out of the way. For not pushing me now. I know your arms are loose for a reason. For not being dead. Just…thank you."
Draco continued to rock Harry at a steady pace and watched as his breathing became calmer. Harry settled himself more comfortably in Draco's embrace, telling himself that it was only temporary, that as soon as Hermione got back he would leave. That he shouldn't get too used to this.
But there was no denying Harry felt safe, all curled up in Draco's lap, with the soothing noises the taller boy was making. It was…nice.
"Harry?"
"Mmhmm?"
"Where's Granger?"
"Mione's gone to get help. She said to stay here and watch you…although it seems you're watching me now, hmm?" Draco smiled and pressed Harry a little closer.
"You bet."
And it wasn't as if Harry had forgotten about the rape. It wasn't as if he had completely forgiven Draco and was completely healed. It wasn't as if he wasn't still liable to flinch at certain moments. But for now, Draco was here, and Draco was alive and not dead. And Draco seemed to genuinely care…and Harry needed someone to care. Just for a little while.
"Sleep, Har." Harry smiled slightly at Draco's use of his nickname. It sounded…not bad. Something he could learn to get used to. Harry's eyes drifted shut, and he thought about how the rocking reminded him of waves and the sea.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"We're not making a habit out of this."
"Okay."
"I mean it. I'm emotionally drained right now."
"Okay Harry."
"So this is a one time thing."
"Alright. Go to sleep."
"Night Ferret."
"Night Potty." Harry smiled and nuzzled Draco's neck. Draco brushed some of the dark hair to the side and lightly kissed his head.
"I felt that."
"Felt what?"
"You kissed my head."
"Go to sleep, Potter."
There was no more sound. Harry fell asleep and Draco was wide-awake, still rocking the precious cargo on his lap, keeping watch until Hermione would arrive. Then, Harry had some explaining to do. Starting with that pretty golden ball lying next to them on the grass.
Yes, they would start with that.
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Please check out the prologue for my new story. I wrote it whilst having a little difficulty with this chapter. It's a bit darker than this - but I'm sure you will enjoy it, hopefully! It's called Haven and you can find with the rest of my stories here.