It took nearly forty minutes for Colin to finish cleaning the campsite. The Death Eaters held their meeting earlier, leaving a grandiose mess for Colin and the others to clean up after them. They were conducting a meeting to further discuss where to continue the search for the Impenetrable Rock - there were dozens of different maps where each river was located, maps of each river and their coordinates, flags to star where they have looked, and many crumpled parchment paper with discarded ideas had littered the ground.

Once everything was cleaned up, Colin noticed that one of the maps lay underneath a table, completely forgotten. Picking it up, he headed towards Quintin's tent, the Death Eater who was in charge of the maps. His tent was on the way to Draco's anyway - that's where he was requested to stay for the night. But Colin wasn't complaining; he didn't want to have to share an overcrowded tent with ten other slaves. As Colin came closer to the tent, he froze. He heard his name being dropped. Looking this way and that, Colin slowly approached the tent, observing the ground to make sure be didn't alert their attention to the snapping of a twig.

"Yeah well, I 'eard from Morrigan's brother Logan that Draco's sleeping with one of his slaves!" Said the voice of Quintin. There was a collective gasp from Quintin's audience. There must been at least three others in the tent with him.

"And this is the kind of filth the Dark Lord expects us to listen to? I don't think so!" One of them said indignantly. It was a woman.

"The Malfoys really gone downhill, haven't they?" Someone else was saying.

"Indeed they have, Bartlet. And what's worse is Draco could 'ave 'ad a chance to redeem 'is family's name if he didn't get involved with his slaves," Quintin said. The tent fell in silence. Colin was about to turn and head back, when one of the Death Eaters gasped triumphantly. Was he spotted? Colin stopped in his tracks, hoping he hadn't made a sound.

"I've got it! We'll torture the little runt! That'll certainly teach Draco not to associate himself with the lessers!" The woman said.

"Now there's an idea! It'll also get the little shit out of the way and get Draco's head back to where it really matters - the rock!"

Colin had heard enough. As quietly and as fast as he could, he dropped the map outside the tent and ran to Draco's tent. As soon as he got there, he shoved himself through the opening and zipped up the tent as fast as he could.

"Colin? What's wrong?" Draco was sitting at the table, going over some more plans. He watched Colin as he bent over, hand on his stomach, trying to catch his breath.

"The others - the death - I - I heard - want to torture - in danger -" Colin couldn't breathe, and it wasn't from running. He felt as though he was going to have panic attack. He felt dizzy and closed his eyes, trying to get his bearings together. He jumped a mile as a hand was placed on his shoulder; it was warm.

"Colin calm down, who's in danger?" Draco asked. Colin opened his eyes to find that it was Draco's warm, comforting hand on his shoulder. He wanted so badly to calm down – if it wasn't for Draco's attraction to him that gained him a terrible reputation. And this thought made Colin start hyperventilating more so. "Ok, clearly you're having some trouble."

Draco took Colin's hand and dragged him over to the bed, where he put his hands on Colin's shoulders and gently pushed him into a sitting position on the bed. "Can you calm down?" And when Colin didn't answer, Draco rubbed his shoulders comfortingly - causing Colin to burst into tears. Draco was taken aback by this.

"Colin? What has gotten into you?" Draco asked, truly concerned. He went to bring Colin into a hug, but Colin pushed away from him.

"Why are you with me?" Colin was able to get out through his tears.

"What? What are you talking about, Col?" Draco asked, confused.

"Why are you with me? I'm just a slave - and you're a Death Eater! You've got your whole life ahead of you and I - I -" Colin couldn't control his voice. He took a great shuddering breath, trying to calm his anxiety.

"Colin, you're more than a slave. You're special - we've gone through this," Draco said, watching Colin closely. "Where is this coming from?"

"But what about the others? Don't you care what they think? Don't you see? They don't take you seriously because of me! I'm just bringing you down!" Colin cried.

"First of all, to hell what the others think! My being with you is not dragging me down! And what makes you think they aren't taking me seriously?" Colin just shook his head. Draco sighed and reached out for Colin's hand once more. Colin didn't object this time. "What happened?"

"I heard some of the others talking about it. They said they couldn't take someone who sleeps with filth seriously. That the name Malfoy has really gone downhill. And it's my fault." Colin said, lip quivering. Then he remembered the part that scared him the most - the part he didn't want to say to Draco. But he knew he couldn't keep it in much longer. "And I don't want to die!" Colin burst into a fresh wave of tears, burying his face in his hands.

"Whoa, calm down! Who said anything about anyone dying?" Draco asked, taking both of Colin's hands into his own. "Colin, tell me." Draco said calmly, watching the distraught boy.

"The Death Eaters I overheard! They said they were going to torture me - the little runt, they said! - to teach you a lesson!" Colin cried. "And I know their torturing usually ends up to killing!"

Draco pulled Colin into his chest and hugged him tightly as Colin sobbed into him. "This is what you were worried about before, isn't it? Back at the manor?" Draco asked. Colin nodded his head. Draco sighed. "I'm not going to let anything like that happen to you, Col," Draco said softly, kissing the top of his head. "No matter what happens, whether they respect me or not, I'm not going to let any harm come to you. I care for you and I'll do anything to show the others

that I do. And I don't care what they think anymore. You understand that, don't you?"

Colin's sobs subsided as Draco's comforting thoughts and voice washed over him. He felt Draco lift him off his chest. He opened his puffy eyes to find Draco's staring at him, searching.

"Don't you?" He repeated. Colin took a deep breath and nodded. He knew Draco would do what he could to protect him. But he knew how vicious the Death Eaters could be, that was still weighing fear on himself. Draco rolled his eyes - it was if he could read Colin's thoughts. "Don't worry about the others. Their idiots. But if you're that worried, I can send you back to the safety of the manor and -"

"No!" Colin said, shaking his head roughly. He didn't want to be alone with Bellatrix roaming the halls. He'd rather take the Death Eaters. "I want to stay with you!"

Draco chuckled softly. He gently took hold on Colin's chin and brought him closer, placing his lips against Colin. Colin felt his anxiety ebbing as his fingers wound in Draco's hair. He felt Draco slowly leaned him backwards, laying him down on the bed. Colin just wanted more than anything to stay wrapped in Draco, never leaving the warmth of his body, to never have to think or worry about any of it anymore. His mind went blank as he deepened the kiss, allowing Draco's hand to roam his body, to do what he wished.