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Chapter Twenty
Val opened the door slowly, the pulse in his throat jumping. He had been in Tom's rooms before so why was he so nervous now? Potions of every color, smell and consistency simmered around the room and bookshelves lined the walls. It was a magnificent place. Full of wonderment. It was a place for learning and creating new things, of which the Dark Lord did much of. The Dark Lord himself stood over one of the steaming cauldrons. Black hair that fell in soft waves down to his shoulders was pulled back into a low ponytail at the base of his neck. He had chiseled handsome features that would put Adonis to shame. Anyone would be lucky to have him. He was a very spectacular catch if not for his handsome appearance, than for the power he wielded. He was incredibly intelligent, fully capable of protecting the people he held under him, and devilishly handsome. So…why did Val hesitate? Draco was why. He loved his brother so much and while he was indeed very attracted to Tom, he held his twin dearer than anyone. Which was why he had come. Val stepped out from behind the pillar, taking a deep breath. The swish of his cloak alerted Voldemort to his presence and those crimson eyes turned to him. At first, they were filled with annoyance at having been interrupted but when they saw that it was Val, they filled with pleasure. Ever since Tom had began courting him, Val had not come to his rooms to visit as he once had rather often. Understandably so. It could be taken as Val accepting Tom's sexual undertones, if not his courting directly. Tom never missed a chance to come and see him though. It was a habit that Draco despised. Those perfect lips formed a smile that could send any sane(or insane) woman running for the nearest loo.
"Valraven, how good of you to come visit my lonely chambers." Tom purred, stepping away from the potion.
He beckoned Val over. The nervous teen complied and watched him take off his protective smock.
"It's been crazy around here." Val said, fishing for what to say.
Tom noticed this but thankfully did not point out his anxiety.
"Indeed it has. We are striking the Light's main headquarters. Soon we will be able to attack the Ministry and eventually Hogwarts itself. It's a big step toward our goals."
He nodded in understanding and leaned over the water like potion. Veritaserum. Probably for the prisoners. This truly intrigued Val. He loved knowledge. His fathers often teased, saying he would have done very well in Ravenclaw. It was true. Veritaserum was incredibly difficult to make and if the brewer made a mistake, the potion would turn to a deadly poison. He had just opened his mouth to inquire about one of the brew's many intricacies when he felt two arms slide onto the cauldron on either side of him. He was effectively blocked off from the rest of the room and forced to turn and look up at Tom or to stare into the cauldron. Damn. Val knew he was trapped. He could feel his heart in his throat beating wildly like a frantic bird. He turned around to come face to face with an amused Dark Lord.
"Why did you come to see me, my raven? Not that I'm complaining but it is an odd occurrence."
Val didn't move but a blush slowly crept up his face. Tom's smile grew. The teen bit his lip nervously and the Dark Lord's smirk turned into a frown. Val found himself pinned to the thankfully cool cauldron by Tom's pelvis. Tom brought a gentle hand up and traced his much abused bottom lip with his thumb, freeing it of it's torment. The Dark Lord felt his stomach clench as a pleasant sigh escaped the teen at that small touch.
How long was this tension between them going to last?
"I…I have a request."
Voldemort let his hand fall down and instead he hung his head, breathing along the pale neck laid bare before him. How he wanted Val laid bare before him. Spread over his bed. He had to repress the thoughts cruelly, lest Val realize just how he enjoyed pinning him to the cauldron. He felt like a hormonal teenager and cursed himself for it. His control was like steel but it was not endless.
"Oh? What would you have of me, my raven? I am all yours. You have my undivided attention."
Val knew that Tom was not going to like it. In fact, the Dark Lord had been extremely averse to anyone taking time off for any reason. Because of the number of raids they had been going on as of late, many of their Death Eaters were in the infirmary. They needed everyone who could be spared.
"I would like you to free my brother of the Dark Mark."
His voice was steady. Point for him. Tom stopped, pushing away from him. His face had become blank as an unused parchment but his eyes reflected how displeased he was. Val inwardly flinched. He had never had Tom angry with him. It made him feel ashamed, wanting to crawl into a hole so no one had to look at him. Tom had always treated him so well, and all he had done in return was refuse his courting thus far and now he had angered him. Beneath the shame, however, panic was boiling once more to the surface.
"No."
The fear suddenly took hold, shoving everything else away. Draco was going to die if this continued.
"Tom, please! My brother will die if this goes on!" He cried.
It seemed as if Tom would not budge on the issue and Val felt his heart begin to break. If he lost Draco…there would be no Val. They were two parts of a whole. Twins. Even their names were a pair. Draconius Valraven Malfoy-Snape. Valraven Draconius Malfoy-Snape.
"No! You know that we cannot spare anyone right now! It is out of the question!"
"Please!! He tried to drown himself last night! I can't lose him again after just finding him!"
"NO!!"
Val's eyes were filled with tears that burned in his eyes angrily. What could he do? Tom would not be convinced. His twin was hurting and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He had nothing left to give in exchange for Dray's freedom. Nothing that Tom would want. Wait. What Tom wanted…? The man had started walking away, heading towards his bedroom.
"Wait."
He supposed that it was the tired resignation in his voice that caught the Dark Lord's attention. The desperation that flavored it. Voldemort turned around to look at him.
" You are known for being a man of business. They say you always get what you want. If you won't do it for Draco, do it for me. Free my brother, and take me as your Bonded. Everyone gets what's best."
Val could tell that he was surprised and intrigued. Who wouldn't be? He had just accepted the courtship of a man. And not just any man but the most powerful wizard in the world. The most feared Dark Lord in history and his own godfather. That was definitely a story for the grandkids. Tom took a step toward him.
"Are you saying…you will?"
"I am…and I do."
A long silence stretched between them. He had just given everything for Draco. His body and soul. The last things he had worth giving. He was going to Bond with and marry the Dark Lord. What a day. Tom walked over to him, taking Val's tearful face in his hands. His elegant fingers wiped the offending droplets off of the face he adored.
"I will take his Mark tonight."
Val let the words sink in, relief washing through him. He didn't realize how tired he was until after the adrenaline had worn off. In fact, he felt somewhat…dizzy. His knees would not hold him any longer and they collapsed from beneath him. Voldemort caught him quickly, pulling his slight frame flush against his own. He quickly decided that he did not mind being so close to Tom.
"When do you want the Bonding to take place?"
Val's emerald eyes closed. The Bonding…The forging of the bond between soul mates. It was a consummation of the connection between them.
"Tonight. Just after the meeting."
Val felt his new fiancé nod. It had to be tonight. Otherwise he would lose his nerve. He and Draco had never even…
"Rest. I will go talk to your parents later."
His eyes opened. No. That would not do. But Merlin was he tired.
"No. I need to tell them first. They will want to hear it from me to start."
Tom relented reluctantly and carried his soon to be bond mate to his bedroom to rest.
o-o
His fathers were sitting together in the drawing room sipping a fine burgundy wine. He watched them for what seemed like forever before speaking.
"I accepted Tom's proposal."
Exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so weak. Lucius patted the spot between them and let his son snuggle in with them. It had been a hard day.
"Its alright, Val. It's okay…"The blonde whispered, patting the teen's hair.
Severus's eyes were filled with something unrecognizable at the time, but later, Val would see it for what it was. Sadness, regret, pride and anger.
"Do you think I did the right thing, Dad?"
The potion's master gave his son a comforting smile.
"Do you think you did?"
Val thought for a moment before nodding. He had done it to save Draco after all. There was nothing more important to him than that.
"Then, yes, precious. You did the right thing." His dad whispered, kissing his forehead.
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