Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. Only the general plot/setting is my own. All characters and other references to 'Harry Potter' are solely the property of J.K. Rowling.

Special thanks to TheNightmareBeforeDawn for being my much-loved Beta!

Warning: This chapter will contain some mature content as well as some things that are ideologically sensitive, so if you don't like yaoi things, please avert your gaze.

The Boy Who Loved

By

Belle. A. Lestrange

Chapter Thirty-Five:

Determination

A golden halo of hair was the only thing that seemed to soothe Harry as he drew in slow, shuddering breaths.

His stomach was knotted and his chest felt tight and hot. His skin felt tingly and his mind felt like it was drifting through smoke. He swallowed and looked up a little, craning his neck slightly, to see Draco's smoky grey eyes looming over him, their intensity causing a shiver to ripple down his spine and butterflies to dance in his stomach. He was doing his best to relax. It was just a little difficult when he felt his stomach clench as Draco shifted so that his shirt exposed a sliver of his stomach and ghosted his fingertips over the creamy skin. He wanted to be touched. Dear God, he knew that Draco wouldn't hurt him intentionally. It was only by some small miracle that Vernon's jibes were soon drowned out by the intensity of his own heartbeat drumming in his ears. He knew he could stop it all in at any moment, but he really wanted to push his boundaries that little bit more.

It wasn't like they hadn't touched one another before this point anyway.

It was only that this time, it could lead to more.

He felt his fingers clench a little as the weight of Draco resting down beside him made the mattress dip slightly. Harry looked up through his fringe to see Draco's smouldering eyes gazing down at him with such adoration and want that it made his blood run south and his throat to run dry. Draco's cool fingertips ran over his nipples and they immediately hardened under his touch. Harry's breath hitched as those tantalizing fingers stroked patterns along his side. It felt ticklish but not enough to make him start squirming and laughing. It was just enough to excite him even more.

It was only when Draco leaned down even further so that their faces were mere inches apart that Harry felt himself stop breathing altogether. And then Draco kissed him. It was a soft, lingering yet chaste kiss that made his lips tingle and want for more. Their noses rubbed together as Draco dropped a few more butterfly kisses to his lips, lingering longer and longer each time, until the need bloomed within him and he melded their mouths together in a firm kisses that made Harry's chest ache. When Draco's fingers threaded through his hair, he felt a little silly just lying there like a limp noodle, so he brought his own arms up and wound them around the blonde's waist, pressing their bodies even closer together. He felt Draco smile into the kiss, shifting his hips around until their erections were pressed heatedly against one another through their jeans.

Harry gasped as Draco kissed him, his lungs filling with air as a fiery heat pooled into his stomach.

Draco gave a soft smirk down at him as he leaned up slightly, dotting kisses over Harry's forehead and his scar, as he picked up a slow rhythm to grind their groins together. The burn of the fabric just excited Harry even more and he could feel himself aching to be touched. It was an alien feeling to him, but a most welcome one. He'd never yearned to be touched, not even by his own hand. And now he was craving it.

Draco felt his eyes widen slightly in surprise when soft heated moans escaped through Harry's lips as they rutted together. He found himself wanting so much more, but he didn't want to scare Harry any more than he already had. He paused as he knelt between Harry's sprawled legs, traced a line over his waistband and then hooked his fingers beneath the denim. He paused long enough for Harry to shoot him a questioning frown. "Can I touch you?" he breathed softly, his breath ghosting over Harry's stomach and the fine snail trail of dark hairs curling up to his belly button.

The words hung in the air as a tremor ran through the brunette boy lying beneath him. His heart thumped in his throat when Harry gave the smallest of nods, "Yes!" he gasped out, his cheeks flushing, "Please ... I want you to touch me." Draco couldn't ignore the slight quiver in Harry's voice but he promised the younger man that he would go as slow as he needed him to. He had to bite his lips to suppress the urge to go any faster. He could feel his fingers quivering. He pressed his mouth down Harry's stomach and kissed the tan skin as he unfastened each button of Harry's muggle jeans.

A groan escaped from Harry's lips as his hips thrust up a fraction.

With a swift tug, Harry's jeans were down around his ankles and Draco could feel every muscle aching with anticipation. He slowly hooked his fingers under the waistband of Harry's boxers and eased them down his strong thighs, only to feel his stomach tighten as he watched his semi-hard dick bob against his stomach, finally freed. He could practically feel himself salivating over the younger man. He stared at Harry's dick nestled in the thick tangle of black curls before slowly running the flat of his tongue up his balls.

Harry shuddered and gave a choked groan as his dick hardened against his stomach. That had felt oddly exciting. His breath hitched as he stared up at the canopy over his bed as cool slender fingers encircled the base of his cock and took a firm grasp of him. He could feel tremors of electricity sparking through him as he felt hot, moist lips slip over his head and a burning tongue start to circle his slit, teasing around and around until it all but dipped inside over and over, picking up a steady rhythm. He gasped and curled his fingers into fists around his duvet.

Draco meanwhile was struggling with his restraints as he tested the water and teased the head of Harry's cock. He was desperate just to lap him up but he needed to go slowly, otherwise the whole night ahead could be ruined. He grasped Harry's firmly and slowly started to move his hand up and down, his mouth still in place on sucking the head of his cock.

"Ah! D-Draco ..." Harry gasped as his knuckles whitened around the sheets he was clutching. Draco smiled and knelt up, lowering his mouth further down Harry's cock, taking him in inch by inch and watching as the tense young man beneath him shuddered and gasped and flushed a delicate pink, his eyes glazed over with pleasure.

Releasing Harry with a soft wet 'pop', Draco grinned over at him, his hands never ceasing their actions, "Do you like that Harry?" he purred softly.

Harry nodded his head in a jerking motion, "Yes!" he gasped out in a hushed whisper, "Yes, very much!"

Draco grinned and took most of Harry's cock in his mouth, sliding it down his throat and moving up and down in a quicker rhythm. He felt Harry's muscles quake. He was simply delicious. He honestly didn't think he could get enough of Harry. The shuddering gasps that filled the air between them became short and raspy as tan fingers curled into Draco's hair and Harry's member slid quickly down the blonde's hot, wet throat over and over and over again.

It was maddening for both of them!

Draco winced as his hair was tugged tighter, but he didn't stop his administrations as he sucked on Harry's swollen cock. He could feel his jaw aching but pushed it to the back of his mind. It wouldn't be long now. "Oh God ... D-Draco!" Harry groaned out as he thrust his hips higher and then felt his body start to spasm. The pleasure poured out of him and shot down the back of Draco's throat, making the blonde choke and release the younger man, his hand working rhythmically as the orgasm washed over Harry in waves. He watched with a satisfied smiled as Harry shuddered, his eyes clenched shut behind his glasses, as the last of his orgasm burst out of him. Draco sighed with relief before swallowing the mouthful he had. He winced a little at the slightly bitter aftertaste, but Harry was too exhausted to pay any attention.

Harry reached up and ran a hand down his face, exhaling heavily as he stared up at the canopy, his head feeling stress-free and as though he were floating. "Draco ... Oh God, that was amazing," he breathed as he rolled over onto his side so that he could look down at the blonde, completely unfazed that his thighs were still naked and his softening cock lolled to the side.

Draco smiled softly, his features looking beautiful in the soft glow emanating from the bedside table lamp. He reached up and snapped Harry's boxers back into place before crawling up the width of the bed and lying down on his front, face-to-face with the younger man. "I'm glad that you enjoyed it," he reached out and traced a line down along Harry's jaw-line, "Hearing you say my name was the sexiest thing I've ever heard." Harry blushed at this, biting down on his lip and averting his gaze. Draco chuckled, "Don't look so shy, I did just have your dick in my mouth, didn't I?"

Harry flushed deeper before swatting Draco's arm with the remnants of his energy, "I guess you are what you eat, then," he retorted with a weak grin.

Draco smiled even wider before shifting over and pressing his mouth against Harry's in a soft kiss. He pressed a few more to the tip of his nose and along the scar on his forehead, "Are you feeling better?" he murmured as he slipped his arm underneath Harry's neck and pulled him over to cuddle against his chest.

Harry nodded slowly, his fingers curling into the fabric of Draco's shirt, "Much better. The best I've felt in ages, actually." He peered up at Draco's face and with all the sincerity he could muster, he breathed, "Thank you, Draco."

The blonde squeezed him even tighter; his strong arms making Harry feel like the safest boy in London. "I'd do anything to make you feel better, Harry."

Flushing, Harry nuzzled against the blonde's chest, feeling oddly affectionate all of a sudden. "You've done so much for me over the last few months. When exactly will I be able to repay you all of that?"

"I'd say we're about even right now."

"Hmmmm but it won't be long before the scales are tipping in your favour again," Harry whispered with a soft smile. He wrapped his arm over Draco's waist and sighed contently, "Mmm I'm feeling drowsy. You don't mind if I ..." he trailed off, not really wanting to seem rude to the blonde.

Draco shook his head, "Of course not. You deserve some sleep. I'll stay with you, okay?"

Harry didn't know whether it was the promise to remain with him as he slept or the gentleness of Draco's touch as he caressed his unruly locks, but soon Harry was sinking into the delicate darkness of a dreamless sleep.

~0~

Narcissa Malfoy sincerely wished that she could so something awful for Lucius to confine her to the dungeons or at the very least, her private rooms for the day just so that she could get some peace and quiet. Her husband -if you could really called him that anymore -had been out most nights with her demented sister and other recruits to the surrounding areas to snatch muggles from their homes. Or kill them. Depending on their moods. She had seen both the muggle and wizarding papers and it made her stomach convulse with dread. It made her sick just knowing what they were doing. She felt so helpless and powerless and yet there was almost nothing that she could do. Not know that she'd overheard his plans for how to become the next Dark Lord.

Knowledge was always a tricky thing, but in that instant she would rather have obliviated herself.

Dumbledore hadn't known about all of the Horcruxes. Apparently there was at least one hidden away somewhere. That was what half of his recruits were looking for. The others went around murdering innocents. All in a day's work. It was Lucius' belief that if they were to find the last of the Horcruxes, they could unleash Voldemort's soul from it, and use his intellect in a full-fledged host. Two dark minds are better than one, according to the madman wearing her husband's clothes.

Lucius was to be the commanding host to the sliver of the Dark lords' soul, using it for information and technique and torture ideas as well as how to climb to the top.

She sighed and ran a hand down her face. She knew it would get out of hand. Even if the man turned into five per cent of the Dark Lord it was still too much for one psyche to bear. But she could do nothing. Not know that her sister wanted to worship him with every fibre of her being. And since Lucius was a mortal man and not immune to amorous advances, she had a much better chance of accomplishing HER biggest dream. To be the wife and bearer of children for the Dark Lord. Bellatrix was attracted to power. It was a disease.

Sneering lightly to herself, Narcissa combed her two-tone hair out of her eyes as she descended a staircase to the second floor of the manor. This was the part of going around her 'home' that she loathed. Each of the rooms had been emptied and stripped to their bare stonework. All the antiques and tapestries had been moved into the family vaults. Now they were filled with the moaning and wailing of the damned muggles that Lucius brought home alive. Or there about. She tried to block them out as she trailed down the length of the corridor to the main landing, their small peep-hole windows showing how malnourished they were. She'd have freed them if she could. But it was too risky. Her sister was very much the organized wench when it came to counting each of the prisoners, alive and dead.

She continued on to the landing, and then descended another staircase, leaving the howls of the damned behind her. She hastily wiped at her eyes and tried to force her hands to stop shaking. She wasn't as cold-hearted as her sister but then, hardly anyone else in the world was.

Her sister could have Lucius; she didn't care in the slightest any longer. Her only concern, and the reason she kept living, was for her son. She knew he was out there, still alive and well under Severus' watchful gaze. He would protect her boy. She had no doubts in her mind about that. She would give anything to see him, though. More importantly, Severus needed to know what had been happening. For all his efforts, Bellatrix had done her best to keep him out of the loop. Even Lucius was beginning to wonder why she was so adamant to keep the most loyal man of all, out of his ranks. It wouldn't be long before he demanded more of Severus' attention like he had done a few nights ago.

How that man managed to even his time with both Dumbledore and Lucius, she would never know. He always came when he was called, so why did Bellatrix suspect? Did she know something that Narcissa didn't? It was plausible but most likely unfounded. She was probably still insulted that the Dark Lord had favoured Severus above her.

Regardless, she wanted to see her son. Desperately. But she would need a good excuse for leaving the Manor.

As she descended the stairs to the first floor, she racked her brain for a believable excuse. There had to be something. At the very least she needed to be able to ask for a potion that would be able to get her over to see Severus. A sudden pang jabbed at her stomach and she winced, bending forward slightly to ease it. And then an idea flickered to life in her mind. Just over a week ago Lucius had demanded to be satisfied. She had obliged, because what else could she do? She wished she could say she enjoyed it, but she'd simply closed her eyes and clung to the days where they'd made love to one another, instead of fierce, rough sex. It had made Bellatrix even more resentful with each passing day.

Not that she cared any longer. She had her viable excuse. And then she blanched. What if she really was pregnant? What would she do then? No child should be born into the hellhole she was living in. Drawing a shuddering breath she fixed her composure and carried on down the stairs. Regardless of the results, she was a little worried now, and she needed to know whether she was expecting, one way or the other.

She was only stopped at the entrance hall of the Manor as she swept her light cloak around her shoulders. Bellatrix chose that moment to saunter out of the morning room, her dark skirts swaying around her hips, "And where do you think you're going, Cissy dear?" she sneered with a manic grin on her mouth.

Narcissa turned a tight-lipped smile at her sister, "I need to go and speak with Severus. I'm in need of a potion."

The sneer deepened, "Potion?" she snapped, "For what?"

"I think I may be pregnant," she smiled sweetly, just as the blood drained from Bellatrix's face. She quickly stepped out of the manor, just as her sister started hurling her extended profane vocabulary every which way.

Once she was down the drive she breathed a sigh of relief. She had done it. She was out!

~0~

The darkness of the night pressed up against the windows and a chill drifted in from underneath the doors and in the small cracks around the window panes. Severus was sitting with Sirius and Remus and rifling through a bunch of papers and textbooks that he hoped could prove him wrong. He had divulged all he knew to the other two, and Petunia, but there was only so much that could be done without further knowledge to back it all up. They had been at it all night. It was only then that the kitchen door eased open and a pale face looked in. Severus was out of his chair faster than he cared to admit, "Narcissa? What are you doing here?"

She shook her head, looking unbearably pale. Her fingers tinged with the cold and her eyes looked red, "I needed to get out of there. Severus I ... I need your help. I think I might be pregnant and I ... Well I need to know. And then I need to get rid of it."

The stunned silence she was met with ached in her ears. Severus could only nod and motion for her to sit down. Remus hurried over and produced another tea cup for her. He poured some tea for her and she used it to warm her hands up. She sipped it and then looked at the table top strewn with books. "What's all this? You look like you're searching for something."

"We are, Narcissa," Sirius stated in a warm tone. "We're having a problem that we need figured out. It involves the Dark Lord."

Her breath hitched. "That reminds me -Severus?" he turned to look over at her from where he had been looking through a small box of phials on the other side of the kitchen. "I have something to tell you. About Lucius." She proceeded to tell them what Lucius had planned for the last Horcruxes, should he find it. She watched as the words tumbled from her mouth and made all of the surrounding faces even paler than they had been before.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Severus dropped down into the seat opposite Narcissa and slid a phial over towards her. "That will determine whether your pregnant or not. It'll take about half an hour for the results to come through."

She unfastened the cork and downed the potion the bitter taste making her shudder. She quickly sipped some tea to ease the taste away. "Taste's awful," she winced as she looked up at Severus, "So what's this you're looking up for the Dark Lord? What does it involve?"

"There is a possibility," Severus edged, "That my son -is a Horcrux." Merlin, it felt like a death sentence saying those words out loud. He peered up to see how stricken Narcissa appeared.

"Another one?" she breathed, breaking the oppressive silence around them. At his confused glance, she licked her suddenly dry lips, "There's -Dumbledore didn't get all of them. Lucius is looking for the last one we all know the Dark Lord made but ... If your son ..." she trailed off. It was too unfathomable to say. She didn't want to think about it. She sniffed loudly and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Is there anything you can do for him?" she asked softly, feeling her stomach clench at the thought of something awful befalling her own son.

Severus shrugged a shoulder and looked over at Remus and Sirius who were each watching the pair of them with interest and concern. "There are some things that we having been looking into trying, but at the moment, I am going to need to look through his memories and see if there is anything else he had unknowingly blocked."

Humming thoughtfully, Narcissa continued, "Well yes but to be able to block such dark magic from his mind at such an early age with next to no ability."

"Maybe that's why he was able to do it," Remus interjected, "Wizards continue to force themselves to focus but with a childlike innocent and just the will power to do something like 'no hitting other kids' or 'no more chocolate unless you eat your greens' -At a young age that sort of will power is easy to carry into adulthood. That's what so many students lack. By the time they're teenagers it becomes increasingly difficult to do. Harry has been able to do it from about age 6?" he looked to Severus for confirmation. With a nod from his companion, he continued, "Therefore he's practically self-trained himself to block out anything 'abnormal' like talking to snakes-"

"He can talk to snakes?" Narcissa hissed, her eyes widening with fright.

"Could," Sirius amended, "As far as we know, he blocked out the ability."

Narcissa paused for a moment and just as she was about to say something else the kitchen door crashed open, making all the adults jump out of their skins. Standing there in the doorway, stood a pale and sweating Harry; his skin had a greyish tint to it and his eyes looked red and cracked. He looked very pale and was visibly shaking as he grasped the door-frame. He was trembling as Severus hurried around to him and clutched at his son. "Harry? Harry are you alright?"

Harry's wild eyes darted from face to face, barely registering the face of the tall blonde woman, "I ... I ... I heard them again, Severus!"

"Heard what, Harry?" Sirius asked as he too stood up to help guide the frantic young man into the midst of their conversation.

"The snakes on the bedposts. I heard them. They were whispering things to me." He slumped into a chair and shuddered, hugging his arms tightly around him. No one paid any attention to Draco as the blonde hurried into the kitchen, side-stepping Severus and barely even glancing at his mother as he went around to Harry's chair and gripped his shoulders.

Severus closed the kitchen door, his skin feeling hot and itchy. He looked down at Harry until the boys' attention drifted up to his own, so that they were staring into one another's eyes. "What did they say, Harry?" he asked in a tight voice, the cold fear settling in his stomach.

Rocking slowly back and forth in the chair, Harry hugged himself so tightly that Draco was afraid he would pop his own head off. He looked up, his face looking greasy with sweat as he rocked, "He's coming." Was all he managed to choke out before his head hit the table top in a dead faint.

A/N: Yes I know another little cliff-hanger but I just couldn't resist.