Harry couldn't believe his luck with finally being better after a week of illness, only to have to deal with Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott. Parkinson wasn't anything difficult. Harry was glad they were getting in trouble, but he was being taken to Severus's office to be treated from the attacks inflicted on him. Harry still didn't know what that curse was, but Severus seemed scared so Harry figured it was bad. Draco was on Harry's right and Blaise was helping from the left side as they reached Severus's office.
"Set him on the couch," Severus commanded calmly. Draco and Blaise set Harry on the couch and stepped out of Severus's way. "Can you open your robes?" He asked. Harry moved slowly, but sat up and got his robe open to reveal the black sweater. "That too," Severus told him. Harry winced as he pulled the sweater off and laid back while Severus looked over him.
"He's going to be okay, right, Sev?" Draco hoped.
"I believe so, but Mr. Potter, you're very lucky that curse didn't hit you as hard as it could." Severus informed, dragging his wand over Harry's chest and midsection to make the blood seep back in and disappear.
"What was that spell, sir?" Harry inquired as he felt better and sat up again to put his vest and cloak on.
"Something I created as a student. Something that shouldn't be used lightly and if it had hit you full force, your chance of survival would have been limited to how fast I acted." Severus sighed. "Sectumsempra was a curse that could cause deep gashes on someone, and make them bleed out. I made it for enemies and ashamedly…It was your father and his friends that made me want to find something to hurt them that they couldn't block." He explained. "I don't know how those boys knew it…I've never used it around them."
"I think I might know why…" Harry looked down. "It was written down in a copy of Advanced Potions I got from Slughorn's class. As was multiple notes on how to do certain potions…The book was labeled to belong to the half-blood prince. I've found the book has gone missing from my stuff. It was always in my bag or my dorm, Professor. I swear…I don't know how they wouldn't have gotten it."
"No, you lent it to me, Harry. Remember?" Draco reminded.
Severus knew that the boys probably saw Bellatrix use it during one of the times the dark lord demanded someone be tortured and bleed out slow. He was a fool and wished he'd never gotten involved with Voldemort. Sadly, there was nothing he could do now but keep to the plan and pray for forgiveness from Harry and Draco when the time came.
"It matters not. Those three will face serious consequences for using the cruciatus curse alone." Severus said. "I am most impressed with your dueling, Mr. Potter. One against three, no less. I see those lessons from last year have paid off." He added as Harry shrugged. "What was that last spell you used, the one to shove them into the wall?"
"Everte Statum, but wordless and wandless," Harry replied. "Draco, we should give that book back to Severus…" He suggested.
"You may continue to use it, as long as you promise to me you will never use the spells in it without asking first so I can tell you what they do." Severus said.
"Thank you, Professor…But why would you let us keep it?" Harry wondered.
"It's helping you to do well in potions, Potter. Think of it as a studying guide…I'm glad my book remained here and getting good use out of it." Severus claimed.
Draco and Harry stared at the man. "It's your book, you're the half-blood prince?" They asked.
"When I was a student here myself, yes…Similar to the dark lord, I fashioned a new name to use for rising above others. I wanted to be feared. But things changed and I never went through with it." Severus nodded. "You may continue to use it, but do not ever test those spells out. If you're curious, ask me first…"
"Yes, sir. Thank you," Harry gave a small smile. "I'm sorry our dinner was cut into because of those idiots, babe," He said to Draco.
"There is still time to enjoy it. I can leave you two be in here to eat dinner. But do not be in here beyond 9:30 pm; you need time to get back to the tower." Severus stated.
"Will do." Draco replied.
"Come along, Mr. Zambini. Let's leave the lovebirds to their dinner." Severus stated.
"Yes, sir," Blaise left the room behind Snape and the door closed.
"You are alright, aren't you?" Draco hoped, taking Harry's hand into his own, stroking his thumb over Harry's knuckles.
"Little fatigued from using magic in the duel, but otherwise, thanks to Severus…I'm okay," Harry replied.
Draco hugged Harry tightly. "I was worried…" He sighed out, relieved Harry was okay.
"I know, I saw your face when the cruciatus curse got used," Harry stated.
"How do you do it, Harry? How do you resist it?" Draco inquired after pulling from the hug and staring into his lover's eyes. Draco wasn't fighting his feelings anymore, and realized through Blaise he did love Harry. When the time was right, Draco would reveal things to him.
"Let's start eating first, then I can tell you over dinner." Harry suggested.
"Alright," Draco smiled.
The two went over to the set up spot for their dinner and sat down to start eating. Harry told Draco that he didn't know how come the cruciatus curse didn't affect him and also that he could feel it, but to him it was more of an annoying twinge or maybe a couple small zaps, but it wasn't excruciating pain. Draco said that perhaps it was the fact Harry has been through so much pain in his lifetime without magic that it was just immune to pain these days. Harry shrugged and said whatever, he didn't care as it just gave him an up against Voldemort. Harry also told his boyfriend that it affected him a couple times and that was back in fourth year when Voldemort was revived, but they both assumed that maybe Harry only felt that because it was the first time it was used and now Harry knew the pain, so it didn't bother him.
The time passed for the boys as they just talked and ate their meal, but afterwards; they were cuddled up on the floor and making out, but keeping an eye on the time because if Severus came back and found them in the position they were in, there would be trouble. Since neither of them could predict when Severus might return, they had to control themselves and wait until they went back to the tower and even that would take some time because everyone in the dorm room needed to be sleeping for them to mess around. Over the summer would be easier to have some fun, maybe. Harry got let home alone all the time when Lupin dealt with his wolf nights and Draco had reported times that Severus was gone too. Surely the two boys could find time to play around.
It was only 9:15 pm, they still had fifteen minutes before they had to leave to return to Gryffindor tower. At the moment, Harry was sitting on the floor while Draco straddled his hips. Draco's arms were wrapped around Harry's neck and Harry's hands rested on Draco's hips; the two made out feverishly and it was only getting hotter between them. Their lips moved together, tongues dancing until Draco's kisses shifted to be along Harry's cheek, then Draco gave Harry's ear a nip, making the male moan gently before Draco continued his kisses to Harry's neck. Harry moved a hand to palm Draco's erection, earning him a moan from Draco this time. Draco left a barely noticeable make from licking and sucking Harry's neck, then he went back to kissing Harry's lips.
"You still tired, or want to have some fun tonight?" Draco asked.
"I think I have enough energy to spend with my boyfriend." Harry replied.
"We waiting for everyone to fall asleep, or going to the showers?" Draco wondered.
"Safer to wait for people to go to sleep, we're not the only ones who steal away to the showers at night." Harry reminded. "At least in the dorm, we can put up the charms so no one hears us in bed together."
"True," Draco agreed.
"How much fun are we going to have?" Harry inquired.
"How much do you want to have?" Draco questioned. "I kind'a feel like we're far enough in to go all the way, but that has to be mutual."
"I feel like we're on the same page. I want to make love to you," Harry informed.
"And I, you," Draco said.
"But I think we should wait a little longer," Harry added. "For the sake of not being at school with it. Wait another month or so, be able to do it over the summer where we're both gonna be turning seventeen. That's another factor, Draco. You turn seventeen before I do, and just like muggle laws; that makes you an adult sleeping with a child. Stupid, I know…But if anyone found out, you could land yourself in trouble."
"That's fine with me." Draco smiled. "Are we sticking to the doing things to each other thing?" He asked.
"I don't see why not, for the first time, at least. I've read that not every guy likes penetration, so I guess we could try with each other and fingering?" Harry suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Draco nodded. "So we're in agreement then, that we want to go all the way and will hold off until basically August when you're seventeen?"
"That we are." Harry replied. "Now, come back here and kiss me," He pulled Draco forward as their lips crashed together.
The making out resuming, Draco shifted them to be laying on the floor, himself over Harry. Just as Draco went on kissing Harry's neck, the door to the office opened as Severus stood before their figures, arms folded over one another.
"I am sure I made myself clear about this type of…Closeness in my office, boys," Severus remarked.
"Actually, you said keep it appropriate and we're just making out, Uncle Sev. We sort'a fell over," Draco informed as he got up and helped Harry next. "We know better."
"I trust that you do. Now, off to your dorm. It's getting too close to curfew." Severus informed.
"Yes, sir," Both Harry and Draco replied. "Good night,"
"An update on the four who attacked you, Potter…" Severus began. "They will be staying at Hogwarts, but with guarded privileges. They can only use their wands during class, which is going to be monitored by the teachers."
"As long as they don't come at me or anyone I care about, I don't care where they are. I trust it was made clear without me saying it that if they try anything again…I won't be so gentle, nor holding back." Harry remarked.
"It was not made clear, but I'm sure the message was passed. They appeared scared after you resisted the cruciatus curse, more so with the wandless and wordless spell. I don't believe they'll try anything further with you…" Severus said. "Hold on…You were holding back? That was gentle?"
"Of course it was. I wasn't aiming to hurt them, just get them to stop attacking me." Harry informed. "Yes, I held back full power. Couldn't have done a lot worse, but with so many people around; I didn't want to chance a stray spell or blast of power hurting someone else."
"Just how much power did you use, Harry?" Severus questioned.
"Let's use a one to one-hundred scale. Hundred being the full…" Harry paused as Severus nodded for him to go on. "I only used level five against them."
"And what…If I dare ask would have been seen if you used…Say, fifty?" Severus pushed.
"Might have sent them through the wall, or several instead of just against it. They'd definitely need St. Mungo's. And if I'd been at one-hundred…They'd be dead." Harry replied.
"And Dumbledore thinks you need to be trained to take on Voldemort. Sad, really. He doesn't know your true power, does he? Dumbledore?" Draco inquired.
"Nope." Harry shook his head.
"How do you keep it hidden? Power of that level can't simply be contained by someone your age. It takes years to master that kind of control." Severus asked.
"I don't know, sir. I just do…Ron thinks I just have a good lid on my anger and Hermione believes there's something grounding it so I don't lost control." Harry responded.
"They know?" Draco asked.
"Not it's full extent, no." Harry said.
"Out of curiosity, and not to trudge up painful memories…But the day Sirius died, we all felt your power in the form of pain. We felt what you felt. So two questions…One, how was it projected to everyone? And two, what level was it at that day?" Severus inquired.
"First one, I don't know and second, it was at zero. I wasn't using power that day. Not after Sirius went through the veil…" Harry admitted. "Against Lucius, that was me using my power and I only used it at level one. I knew Draco loved his father, I wasn't trying to intentionally hurt him. Just make him back down. After Sirius got hit, my power level faded." He explained. "And against Voldemort in the ministry, that was level ten.
"You weren't using full power on him that day and still kicked his arse?!" Draco stared.
"I wasn't aiming to kill him, Draco," Harry stated.
"W-Why not?" Severus stammered. "You could have and didn't?"
"It'd have been useless considering we know he has horcruxes, Professor. Parts of his soul hidden in objects to keep him from completely dying. He won't until those objects are destroyed first." Harry informed.
"Explain?" Severus motioned for Harry to sit down.
Harry went on explaining the mission with Dumbledore about finding out more on Tom Riddle's younger years, how they recently discovered a sixteen-year-old Riddle before he became Voldemort talking to Slughorn about how horcruxes were created. "So the only way to split the soul is by killing and in the memory, Tom asked about how many times it could be split; he suggested seven. So we believe there are seven of them, and two, thus far, have been destroyed." Harry informed.
"How if you only just learned about them?" Severus questioned.
"Tom Riddle's Diary was given to Ginny Weasley in second year, and to my assumptions…I think Lucius Malfoy slid it in when he was examining her second-hand book. In that diary was Tom Riddle's sixteen-year-old self, preserved in the pages. He was able to make Ginny write the messages on the walls and he controlled the monster in the Chamber as heir to Slytherin. I killed the Basilisk, and used the fang that had pierced my arm and broke off to stab the diary. It destroyed the diary, and Riddle, but only his sixteen-year-old self. Dumbledore admitted that when I gave him the diary, he knew we were working with some dark magic…But only until recently, he didn't know how dark. The other object destroyed is a ring that belonged to Voldemort's mother. That has been destroyed by Dumbledore." Harry explained calmly.
"So there are five more?" Severus inquired.
"That is the belief, and Dumbledore has said he thinks he found another…And will call on me to help destroy it sometime soon. He's trying to narrow down where it's located." Harry revealed.
"Then it would be wise to keep that power level quiet until such time these horcruxes are destroyed. Any idea what else they could be?" Severus wondered.
"We think Voldemort's snake, Nagini, is one. The rest, no idea." Harry remarked.
"There's also the means of what to use to destroy them. Dumbledore showed us his hand; said he had been barely able to destroy the ring on his own power." Draco added.
"You're in on this too?" Severus asked.
"Harry's my boyfriend, Sev…I'm not letting him face this alone. We all want that miserable murderer gone. I'll do whatever to help Harry see that through." Draco stated.
"I told you," Harry held Draco's hand and kissed his knuckles. "We're gonna kill him together."
"I know, but until that moment comes…I'm doing whatever I can to help you destroy the pieces of his soul." Draco said.
"I appreciate it, babe," Harry smiled. "We should be getting back to the tower."
"Yes, go on…" Severus told them. "I bid you both a goodnight."
"Night," Harry and Draco said, exiting the room.
Severus flicked his wand to close the door and lock it, which activated the silencing charms. The man sat down at his desk, sighing. "Good…They're closer to destroying the bastard." Severus whispered. Severus wished he could tell them the truth, that he was a spy for Dumbledore and marked as a death eater to ensure his place in Voldemort's inner circle. But it wouldn't be safe. Draco and Harry needed to not know that or they would behave properly. It would hurt them, but eventually, the truth would come out and Severus prayed for forgiveness that the two boys would see he was always on their side, protecting them. This was the only way. "They'll lean on each other when things go the way intended. I just pray they'll forgive me." Severus closed his eyes, sitting back. "I won't survive the war if things go the way Dumbledore anticipates."
. . .
Harry and Draco contently returned to Gryffindor tower, only releasing their hands to get inside. There was greetings and congratulations to his victory over three four Slytherins in the hallway duel, but Harry just waved it off and went off to bed. Draco followed as they did their nightly things and got comfortable in Draco's bed. The curtains drawn on both bed, and silencing spells up. Draco and Harry resumed their making out from Severus's office, and from there; didn't take long for them to get clothing out of the way and into some intimate fun. Harry awaited the day the war would be over, Voldemort would be gone, and he could just be happy with his friends and boyfriend. It's all he wanted, some peace after everything. Harry felt like Draco wanted the same, so they were doing this together.