Chapter Twenty-Nine: Draco
'I hope this works, Draco. I don't want to see anyone get hurt.' Harry murmured. Just as Draco was about to say something in an attempt to soothe Harry, someone screamed. The sound spurred Harry into action.
'Draco. Follow.' Harry ordered, using that tone in his voice as he strode through the door where Draco knew Zabini was waiting. If all went to plan, Zabini would leave and Draco would never see him again.
But the terrified scream hadn't been a part of the plan, and neither had Harry's outrage.
'What is going on here?' Harry demanded once he was in the room. Draco kept his head down and made himself as small possible by the door frame. Harry's rapidly-growing fury seemed to fill the room.
He won't hurt me. He's just angry at Zabini.
'Potter?' Draco heard Zabini exclaim, and his blood ran cold. 'What are you doing-?'
'This is MY property, Zabini. I have more right to be here than you.' Harry snarled. Draco waited with bated breath.
Who screamed? Why? If I look up, Zabini is sure to notice me. But I need to know if the girls are hurt …
'What. Did. You. Do. Zabini.' Harry growled. Draco found himself briefly wishing he could shrink himself so he wouldn't be in Harry's way. He could hear heavy footsteps walking towards Harry.
If Zabini challenged Harry, he's sure to lose. I hope I get to see that happen.
'I have come to collect my little plaything. You are not going to stop me.' Zabini spoke in the voice he always thought of as his Dominant voice; Draco had always found it weak and lacking any power.
'The week isn't up. By making this decision you forfeit your right to a refund-' Harry sounded as though he was speaking through his teeth. Draco could feel Harry's magic crackling in the air. He was a few feet away from Harry, but the hairs on Draco's arms were standing on end.
'I don't give a rats arse about the fucking refund. It was his money anyway. I want him back. Today. Now.' Zabini spoke dismissively, but Draco could feel when Zabini noticed him.
'Why is the fuck slut clothed?' Zabini nearly screamed. Draco tucked his chin into his chest and hunched his shoulders, trying not to whimper. That voice meant he was about to be hit.
Don't let him get to me, Harry. Please.
'Because. He's. Human.' Harry said, his voice so low Draco almost missed it. But Draco didn't miss the magic that was now literally crackling and humming in the air around them. Harry's voice was the centre of the storm, calm and quiet, but the room around him was breaking into a magical energy storm.
'You will not get him back. Ever. He is mine.' Harry growled, and Draco's heart swelled with hope as his shoulders relaxed minutely. 'No. You will not get him back.' There was a loud thud from across the room.
'Get. The. Fuck. Out.' Harry growled, and Draco relaxed when Harry stood next to him.
I'm safe next to Harry.
'I collared him, Potter. He's mine.' Zabini spat out, but Draco heard the wavering of his voice. Zabini had lost, and he knew it.
'Draco. Stand.' Harry said. Draco swallowed once, to steel himself, and did as he was told, keeping his chin tucked in. A small part of him was terrified of this angry Harry, but he was confident Harry's anger was directed only at Zabini.
Harry wouldn't hurt Draco just for fun.
Not unless I asked him to, anyway.
Harry gently placed one finger under Draco's chin, lifting his face. Draco's mind almost went blank with the gentle touch.
Warm, strong hands. Now isn't the best time to be thinking what else I'd rather feel his hands doing to me…
Draco blinked and realised he was able to watch with glee as Zabini's mouth opened with an audible pop when he saw Draco's collar was missing.
'What? B - buthow-?' Zabini's eyes were terrified.
'Zabini, I defeated Voldemort when I was fifteen. One more fucking Horcrux isn't going to stop me now.' Harry snarled. 'So. Get. The fuck. Out. NOW!'
The magic around Harry crackled and rose with his voice. Draco swore he could almost see it in the air. Harry watched Zabini leave, waiting a few moments before he turned and rushed to Selene, who was sitting up and staring at Harry with wide eyes.
'Selene are you alright?' Harry asked softly and reaching out for her. Draco wasn't surprised when she flinched away from Harry, instead burying herself into Mistress Beth's arms. Harry looked to Beth for answers, but she simply shook her head.
'I'll tell you later. Go spend some time with Draco. Selene will be fine with me.' Mistress Beth said. Harry nodded, and Draco's heart skipped a beat.
I get some time with Harry, all to myself?
'I'll see you later, Selene. I'm so proud of you.' Harry said softly, before he turned back to Draco. Taking Draco's hand, he led them out of the room and back to his apartment.
As they walked together, the magic storm around Harry disappeared, and Draco realised he was shaking.
He couldn't quite explain why he was shaking – too much had just happened – but he was trembling like a leaf. Harry led Draco back to his room, where Harry herded Draco onto the bed and tucked them both in under the sheets.
'Are you cold?' Harry asked softly, wrapping his arms around Draco and holding him to his chest. Draco gratefully snuggled in close, breathing in deeply. The smell that was Harry enveloped him and calmed him.
'I'm not sure.' Draco confessed. 'So much just happened…' Draco trailed off, thinking how the enveloping feeling of Harry's anger had made the room crackle with magic.
Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps.
'I know, I shouldn't have gotten so angry. But Selene was on the ground, I didn't know if she was injured, and he wanted you. I just wanted him gone. I'm sorry you had to see me lose my temper like that.' Harry said, kissing Draco's head.
The pair lay there in peaceful silence together, Draco mulling over Harry's words. Something didn't quite add up. Finally, Draco propped himself up on his elbow so he could look Harry in the eye.
'Harry,' he began slowly. 'Did you mean to cast that magic?'
'What magic?' Harry asked, his eyebrows knitting in a way that made Draco want to kiss them and smooth them out, but he held himself back.
'The magic in that room, to chase off Zabini.'
'I didn't cast anything. I didn't even have my wand on me.' Harry said. Draco frowned thoughtfully at Harry.
Accidental, wandless magic?
At that magnitude?
The two gazed at each other, each lost in their own befuddled thoughts.
Merlin this boy is powerful.
'What?' Harry finally demanded.
'Harry, there was so much magic and power back there. I thought for sure you'd practised that a thousand times. It was … it was terrifying!' Draco did his best to explain the magic that had surrounded Harry, but felt he did a poor job of it. He hadn't experienced anything like it before.
Harry was silent for a long while. Draco curled himself back into Harry's arms, which held him tightly and made him feel safe. And maybe a little sleepy.
Even with all his power, Harry would never hurt me.
'So that's why Selene was so afraid of me?' Harry murmured to Draco.
'Probably.' Draco agreed sleepily. 'You are pretty powerful, Harry. Seeing that kind of untamed power firsthand like that can be pretty scary.'
'Hmm.' Harry hummed, non-committal. 'But it's just me.'
'And you're a damn powerful wizard, Harry.' Draco pointed out. Harry stayed silent, so Draco saw that as permission to continue talking. 'When you cast a spell, everyone in the room can feel your magic. When it's uncontrolled like that…' Draco shook his head in wonder. 'It's unlike anything else.'
It was fuelled by negative emotions, and it was so strong. He probably could've done anything he set his mind to. I wonder -
'But I wouldn't hurt any of you!' Harry exclaimed. He made a move to get up and get out of the bed, but Draco surprised both of them by reaching out and grabbing Harry's arm.
They stayed that way, Draco staring in shock at his hand that was firmly around Harry's arm, and Harry frozen in place, waiting patiently to see what Draco would do next.
Eventually, Draco swallowed and spoke up, gently tugging Harry back into the bed as he did so.
'Selene doesn't need to see you today, she has Mistress Beth, er, or is it Hermione? Never mind, she's looking after Selene. But right now, I need you.'
'Oh, you do, do you?' Harry teased lightly. Draco blushed delicately and leaned up to kiss Harry on the mouth. He closed his eyes in bliss and felt Harry slide back into the bed with him, pressing his body against Draco's and deepening the kiss.
I'm safe with Harry.