I just wanted to take a moment to thank the reviewer who pointed out, anonymously and rather rudely, a few mistakes in chapter 5, which have been corrected. However, while I appreciate the fact that they pointed out that something didn't make any sense, because in all honesty it didn't, they didn't have to be so rude about it. There are ways of letting people know they've missed something without ruining their previous good mood. Yes myself and another set of eyes read through everything before I post but things do get missed along the way. And yes the review is still there for all to read in chapter 5.
Anyway thank you for listening and I hope you all continue to enjoy the story!
PART 21: Away
Lucius couldn't decided if he wanted to slam his head into the table or take a blunt object of some sort to this apparent Ministry for Creature Liaisons, whatever that was supposed to be.
The man had been prattling on about... well Lucius really had no idea because he had tuned the portly sweaty man out some time ago, though he did pick up a few words like, pureblood, segregation and screening.
He glanced around the table and snorted in amusement at the looks of disgust that the speaker was garnering from his audience.
Lucius began to subtly gather his things and then, when, Speaker looked up from his notes, he stood. Speaker stopped in the middle of his sentence.
'Mr. Malfoy, is there something you wish to say?' he asked, looking at Lucius expectantly.
Lucius looked around the room again, and found that those that hadn't staring at Speaker in disgust seemed to snap themselves awake.
'There is actually,' Lucius finally replied, as the look of inpatients grew deeper on Speaker. When Lucius didn't immediately reply, Speaker grumbled in irritation and opened his mouth to speak, but Lucius cut him off.
'You, Mr. Duchamp, are an arrogant, pompous wind bag who thinks himself better than the rest of us simply because you have "pure blood",' he stated.
Duchamp puffed up in indignation, he was about to rebuff but Lucius continued on, turning to the other members of the audience. 'I apologize for not standing up sooner, though, in truth, any one of us could have done it,' he gave the crowd a disapproving look, 'perhaps, you were all curious as to what vitriol he would spout next.'
'Well, I never-' Duchamp tried to begin a rant but Lucius, once again, cut him off.
'It's people like you that create people like Voldemort, sir,' he sneered, disdain dripping from the last word. 'He promoted blood purity and when I was young I believed him, but then I met a group of extraordinary young witches and wizards. In my son's class, there is a young man who comes from a noble pure-blooded family, yet he had trouble with some of simplest spells. He has shown considerate improvement in the last few years but he was almost a squib. Then there is a muggle-born witch, she is quiet powerful and extremely intelligent, she can master even the most difficult of spells in a short time.
'Then there is the Saviour, the one who killed Lord Voldemort. He was born to a pure-blooded wizard and a muggle-born witch, he is intelligent and powerful, significantly more so than you actually,' several members covered their snickers with coughs while others just snickered.
'So rant all you like about pure-blood supremacy but all it means is that magical children born to non-magical families have to be introduced to the magical world far sooner than their first day of school so that they may learn what most magically raised children already know,' he finished as he headed to the door.
'Mr Malfoy, I am not finished!' Duchamp stated, clearly frustrated and angry with Malfoy.
'I am. Thank you for your generous hospitality,' he said warmly, addressing the rest of the ministry members that were present, 'now if you'll excuse me, I have an emergency at home that I should have attended days ago,' he stated as he glided to the door.
As soon as he was out the door several other dignitaries were standing and getting ready to leave, Lucius smirked as Speaker started yelling.
*
Harry made his way to the great hall alone, for the first time since this whole fiasco started. He had been with Neville but the other boy had forgotten something and had gone back to the dorms to get it, upon Harry's insistence.
It was when he was on the third floor that an arm wound around his waist and a hand covered his mouth. He was dragged into an empty classroom and after the door slammed he felt heavy silencing and locking charms go up.
They weren't as good as Harry's own, but they were better than most.
Harry managed to pull free from his abductor and, as he tried to figure out who his attacker was, he fumbled for his wand.
'Looking for something?' Harry wiped around to find Draco fiddling with Harry's wand.
'What do you want?' Harry snarled, as much as his body wanted the blond, his mind was telling him that he didn't need this man, that there was someone else for him, someone that he dreamed of.
'Isn't it obvious?' he asked feigning hurt.
'No, not really, unless it's that you want me dead, because you're doing a good job of that,' Harry replied.
Still holding Harry's wand, Draco walked Harry into a corner. He reached up and Harry flinched, but all the blond did was caress Harry's slightly flushed cheek.
'I want you,' Draco whispered huskily.
Harry snorted and weakly batted away Draco's hand, 'you have a bizarre way of showing it,' he replied, but by Merlin did he wish it were true. This being close to Draco, it made him dizzy and nauseous and giddy and he was sure his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He needed Draco, or thought he did, but the blond had made it clear that he only wanted Harry for sex.
Harry gasped as Draco grabbed his crotch and began to massage him through his pants. Harry moaned his hips bucking into the hand even as his brain was telling him to push him away. The hand was joined by a thigh and then his mouth was being plundered.
It was what his body demanded but then a voice that sounded very much like Lucius yelled at him to get away, that this wasn't right.
Harry shoved Draco away, 'no, you made your choice,' he panted.
'A block can't change his mind?' Draco asked almost innocently just before he lunged at Harry but the brunet managed to duck and scramble for the door.
He managed to pull open the door enough for Draco's spell to fall, the blond didn't notice.
'Get back here Freak!' Draco snarled as he grabbed at the slightly smaller boy.
'Stupefy,' Harry yelled, even if his wand was on the floor some feet away from him, the bright red light hit Draco square in the chest but nothing happened.
Lucius, who had been on his way to the headmistress' office, had heard the yelling and had gone to investigate.
He cautiously pushed the door open all the way and stood, watching the scene, in confusion. Draco, who had grabbed hold of Harry's leg, dragged him closer. The pained moan that came from Harry snapped Lucius from his stupor.
A wordless disarming spell had Draco flying backwards as Lucius rushed to Harry's side. At seeing the older blond, Harry's eyes lit up and his lips curved in a small, affectionate grin.
'You came,' he managed, then those bright, green eyes rolled back in Harry's head and he blacked out.
'Harry!' he cried as he slid to a stop beside the too still form.
'Harry,' he tried again lightly shaking the teen, a low moan caused Lucius to breathe a sigh of relief.
He shook Harry again while he called his name but he did get a response. He gently lifted Harry into his arms as headed to the infirmary, as he passed a concerned and confused Severus he commanded the other man to get his son.
Severus watched Lucius leave with his son and quickly retrieved Draco before heading to the infirmary.
*
After Poppy declared that was merely exhausted and needed uninterrupted sleep and several good meals, Lucius studied his son.
He then pulled out a small dagger and nicked his son's finger, he then let a small amount of blood collect in the engraved snake that was on the blade of the dagger.
Severus and Remus, who were both sitting with their cub, watched in curiosity as the blood on the dagger began to glow orange.
Lucius swore and wiped off the blade before he turned to Poppy who had come back to check on the boys.
'Did you not check my son for any harmful potions?' he asked icily.
Poppy started and looked a Lucius in confusion, despite what the blond had done, they had always been on friendly terms. 'I ran a scan for all potential poisons and altering potions.' She replied tersely, bristling with indignation at the implied question about her efforts for all her patients.
Lucius softened as he realized just who he was talking to, 'My apologies Madam, but could you check again, possibly for the not so common ones.'
Poppy nodded, of course Lucius, just don't take that tone with me again,' she scolded even as she began to run several scans on Draco who was still out thanks to his father's stunner.
'Blast that old man!' she suddenly blurted and several eyes widened in surprise at Poppy's uncharacteristic outburst. 'I checked for any spells and potions. I found that he's been given several doses of the un-lust potion and he is currently under several compulsion charms, all from the same caster.' She replied, 'I am sorry,' she placed a soft hand on Lucius arm.
Lucius sighed and sat on the chair by his son's bed.
'It's not your fault.' He replied.
There wasn't much anyone could do for Draco. The potion had to work its way out of his system naturally, if they forced it whatever feelings it invoked could become permanent and that was dangerous for both Draco and Harry. As for the compulsion charms, the blond had to break them himself.
'The charms seemed to be deteriorating already,' she offered with an encouraging smile.
'When did he get the last dose of potion?' Severus asked, wanting to help his friend, suddenly feeling inadequate for missing that about his godson.
'Yesterday,' the healer replied.
'So we have to figure out how Draco is getting the potion?' Remus offered.
'Peyton,' Poppy called suddenly, a small, for a house-elf, neatly dressed elf appeared and bowed to Poppy.
'What can Peyton do for Mistress?' she asked as she straightened out.
'I was wondering if you knew of an elf who has been giving potions to any students,' she inquired. The small elf began to list a number of sixth and seventh years that were on Healer approved birth control and Poppy held up her hand, 'What about Draco Malfoy?' Peyton thought for a long moment.
Eventually she shook her head, 'No, Mistress, none that I know of.'
'So it's a student,' Lucius replied, and they all seemed to think of the long list of possible suspects who would want to mess with Draco Malfoy's life.
~*~
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