AN: Yay! Another chapter. Thanks to all the reviews I have so far and to all of you who have faved/Alerted. You have my eternal thanks. Now, things begin to change! This chapter will be the last to have any canon connotations. :) Enjoy and keep giving me your loverly opinions, I am so very happy I can make you happy!

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
―Martin Luther King Jr

Slughorn decided to hold a Christmas party, and since the announcement Harry suddenly found himself the object of many girls stares and giggles. He despised it, even more so when he realised he would be unable to take Sirius to the party as his plus one. Hermione had reminded him that taking another boy would look very strange, but he didn't have to worry when Slughorn invited Sirius along as well. He was also having difficulty with both Ron and Hermione, who were no longer on speaking terms, Ron had ended up snogging Lavender Brown in the post-match party after Gryffindor had once again beaten Slytherin and Hermione had been hurt by it. So, he spent more and more time alone with Sirius, not that either of them were complaining. They spent hours cosied up by the warmth of the fire and talking quietly, Sirius had been slightly distracted, and sometimes he would stare out the window for hours in perfect silence, but Harry couldn't make him tell him what was wrong. Harry eventually decided to take Luna Lovegood to the party, much to Sirius' amusement.

On the night of the party Harry was unable to find Sirius so he went down to the Entrance Hall to meet Luna before going to Slughorn's office. The room was spectacularly decorated with hangings in green, crimson and gold. There were House-elves running about with trays of party food, glasses of mead and wine and other assorted things, Harry's eyes immediately sought Sirius but could find neither hide nor hair of him. He frowned as Slughorn dragged him over to speak to some man who was an auto-biographer, after dispelling any hopes the man had of ever getting Harry to give him an interview he spotted Hermione and dashed off after her, Luna tagging behind him gazing around the party with mild interest.

"Hermione!" Harry said, smiling at his friend.

"Oh, hello Harry, Luna..." Her eyes darted around the place, she looked nervous.

"What's wrong?"

"I've just ditched...I mean, I've just got away from McLaggen." She muttered with a significant glance at Harry. "Under the mistletoe." She clarified. "Harry!" She tugged on his sleeve and Harry looked around, following her finger. "Isn't that Sirius?"

Harry couldn't see who she was pointing at, then he spotted him and his heart stopped in his chest. Sirius Black was standing and speaking softly to some old man, he was dressed in robes of pale silver. Harry had given him some of his money back as they weren't entirely sure whether Sirius would have access to his accounts, but he hadn't been aware Sirius had bought dress robes. His long hair was tied back with a matching ribbon, the robes had pale green leaves sewn around the sleeves and hem in glittering thread. He looked fantastic. Harry watched as Sirius took a silver goblet offered by a house-elf, his eyes moving casually around the room and they met Harry's, his smile was suddenly full of joy and he dismissed the old man and walked over to them. The man looked a bit confused at being treated like that before he wandered off into the crowds. "Harry!" Sirius said excitedly, eyes sparkling like his robes, he grabbed another goblet and pushed it into Harry's fingers. "Drink!" He said and his smile widened to reveal sharp canine teeth. "This is fun isn't it?"

"Erm...I-I guess...Sirius, where did you get the robes?"

"Oh these?" He held out his arm, the sleeve was long and inside Harry could see it was lined in satin. "Second hand one's...took quite a bit of adjusting but they turned out alright. I like yours, that colour suites you."

Harry returned his smile, he couldn't help himself, Sirius' joy was infectious. Even Hermione was smiling. "Mrs. Weasley got them for me in fourth year, they needed to be adjusted but they fit alright."

"Who did you bring to the party?" Hermione asked in a would-be-casual voice.

Sirius shrugged. "I had loads of offers, turned them all down."

"You came on your own?" Luna asked, turning her large eyes on Sirius.

"Yeah, I don't see it as an issue. I'm not a popularity contest...Also, I'm pretty sure Hogwarts doesn't want to have girls killing each other in its halls." He grinned as Hermione shot him a shocked glance.

"Sirius! That's completely arrogant!"

"No...It's me accepting that I am extremely attractive...look around us Hermione, do you see where most girls eyes are?" He didn't need to turn, he could feel the burn of their gazes.

Hermione sighed. "Yes, but you can't just announce that kind of stuff...it makes you look stuck up."

Sirius shrugged, taking a swallow of wine. "So? I can't say I care what others think...unless it's Harry. Who is also getting his fair share of glances too, so I'm not hogging all the attention."

Harry glanced around, feeling suddenly nervous. "Really?" He muttered, unable to see what Sirius was talking about.

"Yeah, you're supposed to be the Chosen One after all." Harry made to punch him but Sirius laughed, a loud bark that made people stare.

"Oh no!" Hermione squeaked, suddenly ducking away. "He's coming...I have to go."

Sirius watched her run and raised a curious eye-brow. Harry spotted the tall form of McLaggen striding towards them. "Harry, have you seen Hermione?" He asked, eyes sweeping over Luna and Sirius.

"No. Sorry." Harry replied.

The party was enjoyable, Harry spent time in the corner, avoiding Slughorn who tried to insist he greet all these famous people and make connections. They talked and laughed happily, drinking goblet after goblet until Harry was feeling slightly foggy, Sirius' eyes glittered and his smile was big, he had a flush on his cheeks as he downed his eleventh goblet.

Slughorn found them again, he was beaming, his hat slightly skew and a drink in one hand. "Harry m'boy! How are you? Enjoying yourselves?"

"Very much sir." Sirius replied smoothly, tilting his head politely. "You throw the most excellent parties, my brother always said so."

Harry raised an eyebrow at this careful flattery, Sirius avoided his eyes but he didn't miss the flash of white teeth from his smirk. "Ah, such a shame I could not have added you to my group Mr. Black. You are a very talented student."

"You're too kind, sir."

"And Harry! Well, I was just telling Severus..." And, with a glance over his shoulder he seemed to scoop Snape from thin air. The ex-potions master looked at Harry with narrowed eyes. "You must have inherited your mothers talent, of course, she was a genius! Pure brilliance. You must have taught him well."

"Odd. I don't seem to recall ever being able to teach him at all." Snape replied slowly, his voice low.

Sirius sneered. "I think that says more about your teaching skills than it does Harry's potion making, Professor." He hissed.

Before Snape could retort Slughorn began a long winded recount of Lily Evans' many wonderful potions. Suddenly there was a commotion by the door, Filch was dragging an angry looking Draco Malfoy towards them. "Professor, I found this one out in the corridors before curfew, he reckons he was invited to your party...is this so?"

Harry shared a glance with Sirius as the adults found out that Draco was not, in fact, invited. But Sirius was looking at the blond, his silver eyes heavily lidded so only a tiny sliver of silver could be seen beneath his dark lashes, he took a sip from his goblet as Draco lifted his head and sent a glare at Sirius, hot enough to sear the air, but Sirius merely smiled benignly. Finally Draco was dragged off again by Severus, Harry tried to dismiss himself under the pretence of going to the toilet, but Sirius placed his hand on his shoulder and leaned close, his hot breath caressing his ear. "I'll go, Prongslet, stay and have fun."

"But I..."

Sirius shot him a brilliant smile and faded into the crowd. He strode down the corridor, searching empty rooms until...

"Black!"

He turned and saw Malfoy, he looked ruffled and pissed off. Sirius smiled as he was slammed into the wall, a hand at his throat. "Nice to see you too, Cousin."

"Don't give me that! You've been busy drinking and partying when I asked..."

"That's just it though...you asked. Asking is not ordering." His voice dropped to a low, husky whisper and he leaned closer to the blond, tipping his head to the side as their lips brushed. "And you know you have to order me, or else I will keep disobeying like a bad puppy." It didn't take much, just the tiniest flick of Sirius' tongue against his lips and Malfoy was kissing him desperately, pushing him into the wall, his hands gripping his robes so tightly Sirius felt a seam tear, he gasped as Draco pulled away and suddenly felt sick, he pushed the feeling aside. He had to get the truth...before he was forced to take this any further.

"Come in here..." Draco muttered roughly, dragging Sirius into a nearby room and throwing him to the floor. Sirius gazed up at him through tangled hair, Malfoy was angry and he needed to take his frustration out on someone. When Draco Knelt before Sirius the dark haired boy closed his eyes.

"Then get it over with." He said softly feeling a hand in his hair, dragging his head back roughly.

"Look at me." Draco hissed.

"No." Sirius muttered.

"Why won't you look at me when I'm fucking you?"

Sirius shook his head and turned away, he was pulled back again. "Please stop..." he muttered, disentangling himself from Draco's hands. "Not today...I..."

"You don't have a choice! You can't disobey...the spell..."

Sirius winced. "Don't! I don't want to...I..." He was grabbed and pushed to the floor, he cracked the back of his head on it and gasped. "Malfoy! Get off....!"

"No. I have had enough! Since the moment I saw you at Diagon Alley I wanted you, and now that I finally have you under my power you try and escape back to him!" Malfoy pinned Sirius' arms to his side and bent over him, grey eyes met grey and Sirius couldn't stop his stomach from twisting violently as flashes of memories long suppressed resurfaced like bile. He twisted, trying to free himself but anger made Malfoy stronger. "It's always him, isn't it? The glory stealing bastard!"

"Who?" Sirius muttered, momentarily stilled by curiosity.

"Potter! He steals everything that should be mine! The filthy half-blood...Even the Dark Lord seems to hold him in higher regard than me and my family! It's disgusting."

Sirius felt a lick of anger that temporarily obliterated the awful dark memories that spewed forth from the depths of his mind. "Harry potter is a better man than you will ever be! Blood be damned, Malfoy, you are scum!" He hissed the words through his teeth, his fury radiating from him.

Malfoy lifted his hand and slapped Sirius around the face so hard he bit his tongue. "Shut up! You are mine now, Black, no matter what you say you can't go back on your word!"

Sirius went silent, glaring at Malfoy with hatred. "Coward." He whispered, not entirely sure why he was baiting the blond when he was at a disposition. Something seemed to snap inside Draco and he tore open Sirius' robes, and no matter how he struggled and fought Malfoy over powered him.

Hermione walked down the hall, smoothing her hair out as she thanked Merlin for letting her escape the clutches of McLaggen. Then she heard it...a soft noise, almost too quiet to hear. She frowned and saw a door that stood half open, as she moved closer to it and peeked in through the crack she saw something that made her heart jolt into her throat. She saw Sirius lying on the cold stone floor, his hair covering his face, he still wore the remnants of his robes but they were torn, his chest had marks and bruises across his white skin and it rose and fell erratically. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on a blond boy, resettling his own clothing and talking in a rough voice.

"Now, my plan is almost complete, I think I nearly have it down...just one more hurdle and soon the Dark Lord will raise my family and I higher than even Aunt Bella." Draco was saying as he gazed at his reflection in a dusty old mirror that hung on the wall. "I expect you to be there to witness my triumph, of course. My father would be delighted to see you under my power...the infamous Sirius Black..." He laughed softly, smoothing hair back from his face. "Of course, I would gladly deliver you into the Dark Lords hands myself, I only hope he would grant me the use of your body while he works out what magic you used to return yourself to this state. Not that I'm one to complain, mind...I must say I find you most...intriguing." Draco turned and looked down at Sirius who was gazing up at the ceiling with wide, blank eyes, he frowned as he watched a single tear slide down his bloody cheek. "You look a disgrace...clean yourself up before I see you again, I will not have any of my possessions looking like trash. Understand?" Sirius said nothing, until Malfoy kicked him in the side, he bared his teeth and curled in on himself with a groan that sounded more like a sob. "Well?"

"I-I...I understand..." He croaked, voice cracked and broken. Slowly he lifted his head and pushed himself up onto his arms. "You're just like your father." He whispered, more clear liquid running down his cheeks.

"Of course I am." Malfoy said proudly.

Sirius looked at his hands, which shook, he clenched them into fists. "He raped me too." He muttered with a small frown creasing his brow. "I-I'd forgotten...pushed it to the back of mind...but now I..." He chuckled softly, a horrible, chilling dead sound.

"That's why you never wanted to look at me?" Draco replied, his voice dropping. "Because my father..."

Sirius nodded slowly. "He did it while I was...at home and...he was drunk. It was the night before he married Narcissa, tradition said that he couldn't have her until his wedding night so he took me instead...My father said t-that was alright, I don't think my mother knew about it...he said that I was gay anyway, what difference would it make? He told him I'd enjoy it but...but he wasn't...he wasn't James..."

Draco suddenly looked unsure, he gazed down at Sirius as he confessed all this in that same, blank monotone while he gazed at his hands. He looked and disgust and fear crossed his face quickly, he took a breath before he walked away.

Hermione ran down the corridor and hid behind a suite of armour as Malfoy strode to the door, but she couldn't miss his parting words...they rang in the silence as clear as day; "T-The Dark L-Lord wants Dumbledore d-dead."

Sirius said nothing as Malfoy left him alone, sitting on the cold hard floor and gazing at his hands. He took a sharp breath, breathing in the scent of Malfoy that still clung to him like a second skin, he gagged but managed not to vomit as he dragged himself to his feet, shaking violently...he had to get out and wash...he couldn't stand it any longer. He had what he needed...he had his gift for Harry. He tried to make it to the door but stumbled, catching himself on a table with a gasp as pain rocketed through his body. He closed his eyes, hoping that Harry was still at the party and wouldn't be back until Sirius had washed every last trace of Malfoy from his body, he could feel the wet stickiness that trailed down his thighs and had to swallow hard a few times, gulping in air in a desperate attempt to prevent himself from throwing up.

He didn't hear the door open or the soft sound of feet crossing the deserted room. He only felt a soft arm on his shoulders and a soft voice in his ear. "It's alright, we'll...we'll get you to Madam Pomfrey a-and g-get you cleaned up..."

Sirius opened his eyes and shook his head, stepping away from Hermione. His eyes were huge in his face with fear. "What...what are you...? No...No...he didn't do anything I..."

"Sirius, it's ok. I can help...We just need..."

"No!" Sirius fell into a table with a soft gasp. He trembled violently. "No...I-I don't need help...He didn't do anything! He didn't. I swear he didn't. I-It was...It's not what you..." He looked at her; hair in a tangled mess around his white face, eyes sparkling with terror, his chest covered in scratches and bruises and his robes torn. He looked so broken, so defeated Hermione had to look away. "No one can know." He gasped finally, grabbing her suddenly by the arms and shaking her slightly. "Promise me, Hermione! Never, ever speak a word of this to anyone! Do you understand?"

"B-But..." He shook her again, his grip tight on her upper arms until she felt herself nodding, unable to deny that horrible fear. He slowly began to relax.

"No one needs to know...nothing happened..." He muttered distractedly, finally releasing her. "Harry must never, ever know."

"O-Ok...b-but what about...?" She indicated his wounds.

Sirius looked down at himself and shuddered, wrapping his arms around his chest protectively. Suddenly he fell to the floor, lowering his head to hide his face. "Malfoys...I fucking hate them!" He sobbed.

Harry was asleep by the time Sirius returned after taking a long hot bath and scrubbing his skin raw. He had healed all trace of his injuries until there was no evidence left of Draco's hands on his skin. When he entered the dorms he saw Harry's bed curtains open, the boy himself lay sprawled across the mattress and sleeping deeply. Sirius went to him and knelt at his side, watching Harry sleep and mutter softly, when he lifted his hand to brush hair from his face he withdrew it quickly. "G'night Harry..." He whispered instead and withdrew to his own bed where he was plagued by nightmares of blond hair, cold, rough hands and terrible agony.

The next day he woke later than the others, he found the common room empty but when he decided to go down to the great hall to look for Harry and his friends he was stopped by the very boy he was looking for. Harry stood at the portrait hole, Hermione at his back looking terrified. With one glance Sirius knew she had told Harry everything. He stepped back, face clouding with emotion. "H-Harry..." He whispered hoarsely.

Harry licked his lips slowly, his green eyes dark. "Why?" He muttered, frowning slightly. When Hermione had told him, in a deserted corridor she had had to restrain him from hunting Malfoy down and cursing him into oblivion. He was furious, but not as furious as he was with Sirius. "Why would you let him do that to you?" He muttered, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

Sirius turned on Hermione, his anger almost palatable. "You told him!" He hissed softly, eyes narrowed dangerously. "I asked you not to!"

"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry..." Hermione trembled and tears filled her eyes. "I had to Sirius! I couldn't let you be hurt!"

"This has nothing to do with you! You should have stayed out of what does not concern you!" Sirius felt his fury rise, until it choked him. "Do you know what its like?" He said suddenly. "Do you know what its like to be rendered so helpless? To have your pride, your self-respect ripped from you? Well?"

"Sirius, this isn't her fault!" Harry snapped suddenly, regaining Sirius' attention. "I want to understand why you didn't fight? You have your wand, you're more magically powerful than him! So why?"

Sirius bit down on his lower lip. "For you." He whispered. "Always for you...Harry...You wanted to know what Draco was up to...you wanted to know and I...I got the information."

Harry was momentarily stunned into silence, the only sound was Hermione's soft sobs from his side. "But...I...I never wanted...Sirius, he raped you!"

Sirius flinched violently, taking a step backwards. "No." He said firmly. "No...he didn't." He shook his head, denying it desperately as if he could make it untrue.

"I-I heard you...you said no..." Hermione said quietly. "Please, we only want to-..." She never got to finish her sentence, with a sudden scream, like a wounded animal, Sirius collapsed, clutching his head.

Pain shot through him, destroying all thought, all memory until he was nothing but searing agony. He could hear muffled voices, full of terror as darkness swept over him...