Chapter 9 A visitor

Harry examined the dainty silver chains on his wrists that were practically indestructible. He wondered why Voldemort didn't just give him something tougher looking, like cuffs that bit into his skin, but he supposed it wouldn't do to complain.

He sat at the dining room table with Severus on his right. Severus. He hadn't been granted permission, per se, but Severus had yet to tell him to stop.

"Not having magic sucks," Harry groused. "I miss it."

Severus didn't look up from the paper he was reading. It seemed the man never stopped doing research. "You didn't have a wand on you when you were captured." When I captured you.

"That's because I've gotten pretty decent at wandless magic," Harry said. "Not enough to probably kill, mind you, but enough to light fires and cast silencing charms…What are you reading?" Harry leaned closer to the man, peaking at the page. "Have you made any progress…?" he was tentative to ask.

Severus put down the paper with a heavy sigh. "I have the base, I think. I just can't figure out the next few steps. The lacewing flies and the dragon's heartstring are incompatible with the newt's tail after I add three drops of—"

"Forget I asked."

"Are you done with that translation yet?"

"Er…"

"Harry, it's important."

"I know, Severus." Harry sat back down in his seat, as if putting distance between them would hide the scent of his deception. "I just have a few more pages to go. Why are you so sure the answer will be in this book, anyway?"

Severus took a sip of his coffee. No milk, no sugar. "It's written by Salazar himself. I have no other reason to believe it will help."

Liar, said the Aegis. Harry didn't say anything to that and continued to pick at his breakfast. Today was scrambled eggs. Even though Severus wouldn't let him brew, he trusted Harry in the kitchen. Apparently, the Dark Lord thought that a house-elf to help them would be too much of a security risk as they could move in and out of the wards. A phenomenon he had learned the hard way when some prisoners at Malfoy Manor had escaped. Harry had seen it through a vision. Dobby had been killed on the spot.

But apparently, owls were not a security risk, and as long as they were keyed to the wards, it was possible for letters to be sent to them. Harry watched the progress of the small tawny owl swoop in through the window and land on their table, a small scroll tied to its leg.

They both looked at it for a moment. The owl hooted expectantly.

Harry waited while Severus read through the letter, watching as his eyebrows shot up. Harry tensed.

"It seems, Harry," said Severus, putting down the scroll, "That we're going to have a visitor."

"What?" Harry's stomach did a flip. He liked being in the house alone with Severus. No torture. Just keeping the Aegis happy, like feeding a pet. His limbs began to shake of their own accord. He almost didn't want to know, but he had to know…"When? Who?"

Severus' lip curled. "It seems that the Dark Lord will be taking weekly business trips on Friday and is entrusting Draco to my care, starting tomorrow."

"Shit." Harry couldn't breathe for a second, and then a hand settled over his, in a completely innocent gesture. Harry found himself calming before another thought occurred to him. He stared wide eyed at Severus. "But you're always gone Friday nights! You can't leave me alone with him!"

The hand holding his gave him a comforting squeeze, then withdrew. "I can and I must," Severus said. "It's important at least one of us knows what's going on in the wider world. To not attend Lucius' gatherings would be folly."

"But Draco—"

"—Shouldn't bother you. What you should be worried about is why he's coming here."

"You just said that Vol- that he's busy…but I take it from your look that that's a lie."

"Harry, the Dark Lord could have asked anyone to take Draco if he didn't trust him to his own devices. He's sending Draco here to spy."

"But then won't he notice that I…" Harry blushed, looking away. "Won't he notice that I have my own room? And wear clothes? And that I'm not, you know, being trained?"

"Well, as it happens, Harry," Severus said with a glint in his dark eyes, "He won't notice that you have your own room because you'll be staying in mine, and he won't see you wearing clothes, so how will he be able to report that? And as for being trained, you seem to be jumping at the chance to serve me, well enough. Make a show of preparing my meals and fixing my drinks. That will be enough."

Harry shivered. The Aegis was fairly vibrating with electricity, urging him to complete the bond and make it whole. But then he thought of Moody's hands sliding over his back and remembered the look on Voldemort's face as he forced his way into the slim, pale body beneath him. The anguish and the agony and the ecstasy.

"Where's your Gryffindor courage, Harry?" Severus challenged, seeing only that Harry had faced away.

"My courage?" Harry asked, aghast. "As you recall, it was my suggestion that we keep up appearances, but you said No! And now you wonder if I'm too cowardly to share your bed?"

Severus shook his head. "Actually, I'll be sleeping in a transfigured couch in the bedroom and you'll be taking the bed."

"Oh…" Harry wasn't sure how to feel about that. It seemed rather like splitting hairs to Harry who knew he was going to be walking around naked all day. "And when you leave? How am I supposed to act when you're not around? He's not…he's not above me, is he? I don't need to follow orders from him, right?"

"Indeed you do not," Severus hissed. "I believe you might even be considered equals."

How reassuring. "So I can shut myself in my-I mean-your room when you leave and that should be fine?"

"I doubt very much whether Draco will actually seek to engage you in any sort of conversation," Severus sighed. "Spy or not, I think he'll appreciate the brief respite from his new duties and sleep most of the time. I'll give him the third bedroom and lock your room so he can't get in."

"Thank you…So when should we expect him?"

"Tomorrow at three."

-o-o-o-

Harry had never seen Severus' bedroom before. There hadn't been a reason before. The room was hardly better than Harry's own room, barely furnished, nothing personal. There was a large bed that dominated the room, a dresser, no doubt full of black clothes, and a rather large cushion at the food of the bed.

"Is…is that where I was supposed to sleep?" Harry asked, eyeing the pillow with disdain.

"That, or my bed," Severus said, not sounding much happier. "Now, when I leave for Malfoy Manor tonight, you may come up here. Do try not to pry into my personal belongings, despite your recalcitrant nature."

"Of course not," Harry said, "I am sorry, you know…it was an accident. I didn't mean to look into your memories…" I was just trying to be the savior, the way Dumbledore wanted me to be. "I'm sorry. I realize I never really told you that."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and learned against the wall. "I appreciate it, Harry, but it is rather behind us now." He cast a pointed glance at Harry's state of undress. "It would be hardly fair of me to extract apologies now all things considered."

Harry shrugged. "I suppose you're right."

The wards pulsed. Severus quickly turned to Harry, his posture tense. "He's here."

Apparently, the Dark Lord hadn't accompanied Draco to their abode, simply shoved the boy through the floo system so that he tumbled out, platinum blond hair full of soot, on their living room carpet. Severus eyed his godson with unreadable eyes. If Harry had been changed by what happened to him, who knew how Draco had transformed within the Dark Lord's influence. But Draco was not his concern, just another obstacle, another distraction to waste his time. It was as if the Dark Lord wanted him to fail.

"Draco," Severus greeted, standing before him.

Draco, on his hands and knees, coughed once from the floo travel before looking up and meeting his eyes. They were silver, same as always. "Sir." Those silver eyes shifted over to settle on Harry, who was standing awkwardly in the doorway. Draco gracefully stood up, inclining his head. "Potter."

"Malfoy."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Now that introductions are out of the way, won't you follow me to your room, Draco?"

"Of course, sir."

Harry sat on the couch, curled up to hide himself. Draco was surely inspecting his new room, probably thinking it was a glorified prison cell for all its pomp and circumstance. He wasn't wrong. It was eerie to see Draco now in the flesh, after seeing him on and off in his visions, feeling him even. Part of Harry felt like he ought to apologize for invading his privacy like that, but Draco was a spy. It wasn't like Harry could control what he saw, and he didn't really want to explain how his visions worked anyway…

After a while, Harry got up and started to make dinner. It wasn't like he could very well work on the translation now that Draco was in their house, and he wasn't sure if Voldemort was aware Snape had the book either. It was best just to take his time making dinner, like a good servant. Anything mundane to kill time and avoid idle chit chat…

He needn't have worried. Draco didn't say a word to him all day, even when Severus went back down to his lab to brew. Draco just watched as Harry prepared dinner. Cutting potatoes, onions, and carrots. Mincing garlic. Straining pasta. Harry could just imagine the report Draco would give back to Voldemort. Snape has been teaching him how to cook, my lord. Harry almost snorted out loud.

Dinner was a silent affair as well.

Harry was apprehensive as he set the table, wondering if Draco and he would need to eat on the floor or some other such nonsense. He couldn't talk to Severus as he normally would. He couldn't even casually grab his arm to ask him a question, instead, settling on the briefest of touches. Fleeting, the way he had started this whole charade, letting his fingers linger as he passed Severus his evening cup of tea. He was painfully aware of the silver eyes that watched the whole time.

"I am leaving now," Severus announced rather obviously, as he threw on his outer cloak. He would go to the edge of the wards and apparate to Malfoy Manor. He never wanted to tumble out of the floo with so little dignity as Draco had just done.

Harry watched after him and gave him a nod. It was done. He had made it. Tiredly, Harry cleared away the dishes, cleaning them methodically, before turning towards the stairwell. He blinked, startled, as a certain blond blocked his path.

"He's gone," Draco said, as if Harry needed a reminder. "Come, we need to talk."

Harry looked at the blond head on. He wasn't scared. Hadn't Severus said they were equals?

"There's nothing to talk about," Harry said, and made to brush past him. Draco wouldn't budge, his hand caught Harry around the waist, startling him. "Draco…"

"Come on, Potter, we don't have all the time in the world. I came here for a very specific reason and I intend to see it through."

"You came because He wanted you to come."

Draco shook his head. "No. The Dark Lord might have ordered me to be here, but I came to save my godfather. Now, come on."

Draco led the way to his bedroom, the one neither Harry nor Snape slept in at night. It was a replica of Harry's own room sans Harry's belongings, and was slightly smaller. Harry watched him warily as he settled down on the bed, gesturing for Harry to join him. Bed. Draco. Harry couldn't help the images that rose in his mind of the last time he saw Draco on a bed, him towering above him…No, not him. Voldemort.

"I don't bite," Draco stated, finally convincing Harry to take a seat. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but believe me when I say I am just looking out for my godfather…" He fixed Harry with a serious expression. "I know you two aren't fucking."

"That's-That's hardly your concern!" Harry snapped tightly, "We have a year. Why? What do you care? Tired of his service already?"

Draco didn't even blink at his outburst, simply examining his nails. "Actually, Potter, being in his service is mainly just for show to punish my father. He failed to break you, remember?"

It might be for show, but Voldemort certainly did enough without witnesses for Harry to know Draco was putting on a front.

"But you still…"

"Yes, I still do." Draco frowned, no use in denying it. "But it's like he doesn't even want me when he uses me…He's obsessed with you, Potter." Draco continued, "My father is naturally upset at the outcome of his failure, and has convinced the Dark Lord that you should be brought before him at least once before the year is up."

"I'm aware," Harry whispered.

"Then you should know that it is my concern that Snape hasn't trained you yet. The minute the Dark Lord sees you, he'll realize what my godfather refuses to do. He'll kill him, Potter! I can't-I can't let that happen!"

"I agree."

"You-you what?"

"I said, Malfoy, that I agree."

Draco eyed him strangely. "Merlin, perhaps I was wrong. Maybe my godfather is breaking you."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's probably just Stockholm," Harry deadpanned, echoing Severus' concern from before.

"There is more than one way to skin a kneazle, Potter…"

"Well, if that's all," Harry said, making to get up. Draco grabbed his wrist fast, over the cold silver chain that rested there.

"No, Potter, that is NOT all…I…" The hand moved to his waist, then down to his hip.

Harry shivered. "Malfoy…"

"Whatever my godfather is planning, it won't be fast enough to satisfy the Dark Lord. He wants you absolutely broken, Potter, do you hear me? A pet, his perfect complement in every way. I know I can't be that for him but…I know what he likes…" Draco reached for Harry's arm and tugged him down on the bed again. "I can help you…make it easier…I know you're a virgin, Potter, so we won't, you know…I know the Dark Lord would kill me if he knew I took that from him, and we both know Snape isn't likely to cave…"

Harry swallowed thickly. He knew his options. He knew what was at stake. He knew what Draco was offering. I'm not a virgin, Harry thought to himself absently. Apparently he hadn't been for a while. Draco's forehead touched Harry's. Emerald met silver.

"I just have one question," Harry asked quietly, as Draco's lips brushed over his.

"Hmm?"

"How did you know we weren't…you know…"

Draco chuckled. "You never learned occlumency, did you, Potter? Your mind is an open book."

Harry shut his eyes. The roaring of a waterfall filled his ears. What was his existence if not lies upon lies upon lies…?

"Alright, for Severus," Harry finally whispered.

"Good boy," Draco smirked and gave a pointed glance at the space between his legs. "I think we should start here, don't you?"

Harry slowly fell into position the way Moody had taught him, the muscle memory guiding his movements, as if he were under the imperius curse, no longer in charge of his own body. The Aegis protested in his chest, weakly, as if unsure if Harry was betraying Severus by doing this or actually helping him in a roundabout way.

"Now open wide, Potter. And mind the teeth!"

Harry pushed away the feelings of the Aegis as he took the member into his mouth. Just because Severus refused to acknowledge their situation didn't mean Harry would. Harry had to be prepared to save him, to save them both. Didn't war require sacrifices?

"Merlin, Potter!" Draco groaned, reaching down to fist Harry's hair. "You're a natural…"

-o-o-o-

When Severus came home that night, he checked that both boys were asleep in their respective rooms, before transfiguring the cushion at the foot of his bed into a couch. The night had been long, with Lucius too preoccupied with bragging about his promotion at the Ministry to bother Severus at all. Even Narcissa had taken the night off from her duties to celebrate her husband's achievement. It wouldn't be long until Lucius became Minister of Magic, a puppet to do the Dark Lord's bidding.

Severus eased himself into his makeshift bed and closed his eyes. He could make out Harry's form sleeping for once, silent, on the bed. Today had gone better than expected…Draco and Harry hadn't tried to kill each other once, and seeing as they were both alive now, he could only assume the night had been peaceful, and relatively uneventful, while he had been away…