Chapter Seven ~ Sirius's Shock
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"Oh my god!"
A shocked voice was heard over the sound of Harry and Draco's moans and cries of ecstasy. Harry tumbled out of bed in shock, landing unceremoniously on the floor. He groaned, in pain this time, and looked up to see who had barged into their love nest. Sirius, Harry thought in a daze, he's seen me in bed with Draco. Oh god, could this get any worse? He looked down. Yes. Yes it could. He was naked. Harry scooped up his pyjama pants and struggled into them as Sirius left the room. Harry stood up and was about to follow when he remembered Draco was still lying in their bed. He turned and saw that Drac had pulled the sheets up over his face. Harry grinned in spite of himself. Draco was so cute when he was embarrassed.
Harry heard an amused voice from the living room saying, "I warned you not to go in there". Dumbledore. So that's how Sirius got in here.
Harry reluctantly left the bedroom and tried to saunter nonchalantly into the living room. He sat down on the sofa opposite Sirius and Dumbledore. The headmaster's eyes twinkled playfully as he smiled supportively at Harry. Sirius looked like a bus had hit him. Harry took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry Sirius. I know this is a big shock. I was going to owl you but things got complicated here-" Harry was cut off by an angry Sirius.
"I know exactly how complicated it became Harry. Dumbledore filled me in. How could you do dark magic Harry? Your parents would be so disappointed to know you were messing around with the dark arts-" Sirius broke off as Harry angrily got to his feet, his eyes flashing furiously at Sirius.
"Don't you ever talk about my parents that way! We don't know how they'd feel about this because they're dead. I was doing it for them…for them and for Draco. The only way to defeat Voldemort is to use dark magic." Sirius stood up looking just as irate as Harry.
"I know how your parents would feel about this, Harry, because I knew them better than I knew myself. And don't give me that crap about dark magic being the only way to go. Dark magic is never the way to go. You can defeat Voldemort because you are on the light side. You have so many people who believe in you. Please don't lower yourself to his level. You are so much better than that," Sirius ended emotionally.
Harry bit his lip. Sirius had just confirmed everything he had previously believed. He was so confused. How on earth was he supposed to avenge his parent's death and protect the people he loved if he couldn't defeat Voldemort with light magic alone? The past six years confirmed that light magic was strong enough to hold Voldemort back, but not defeat him.
"Harry. Sirius. Sit down. I have some information that might interest you both," Dumbledore said. The two men returned to their seats, neither looking at the other. Sirius couldn't look at Harry because he was so upset with himself for yelling at Harry. While Harry couldn't look Sirius in the eyes because he was ashamed to admit that Sirius was right – his parents would be disappointed in him.
Draco, who had been standing in the doorway between the bedroom and the living room silently watching the exchange, moved over and sat next to Harry. He took Harry's hand in his own and started absently stoking it with his thumb. Sirius looked over at the two of them. Both of them were wearing only pyjama pants and identical pained expressions.
Sirius noted the quiet strength Draco seemed to give Harry and the way Harry had automatically relaxed when Draco had sat down next to him. He had previously had no idea that Harry wasn't interested in girls. The last person he remembered Harry talking about romantically was some girl named Cho. He really wished Harry had felt comfortable enough to tell him about it. Perhaps when he was no longer in hiding, he and Harry could have a normal relationship and get to know each other better. Sirius' expression softened as he continued to study the pair. They obviously adored each other. Every little gesture confirmed this. He didn't have a problem with the two of them being together. Okay, so maybe he had a slight problem with the fact that his godson was dating a Death Eater's son, Sirius admitted to him self, grimacing. Lucius Malfoy might have renounced Voldemort, but Sirius was suspicious. Lucius had apparently been eager to teach Harry dark magic, why would he do that if he truly were on the light side?
"I spoke to Hermione and Ron about what happened yesterday," Dumbledore stated, getting straight to the point. "Hermione was quite forthcoming about the events leading up to the incident and her interpretation of these events. She told me about the book you found in the Restricted Section of the library, Harry. I closed the library and Professor Snape and I spent most of last night in there checking the books. We never found a book called 'The Darkest Dark Magic Ever' and Madam Pince has assured me that there has never been a book like it in the Hogwart's library. If I had to speculate, I'd say that exceptionally dark magic caused the book to appear on the shelves and once Harry had seen what he was supposed to see and had put the book back, it disappeared."
Sirius had listened open-mindedly while Dumbledore explained about the book but when he spoke of a book appearing on the Hogwart's library shelves he recalled something he had read in Hogwart's: A History. It was physically impossible for someone to magic something into the school grounds, in the same way that it was impossible to apparate onto the school grounds. Someone had to have placed the book on the shelves themselves. Sirius thought he had a fair idea of who that person could be. Lucius Malfoy. Sirius refrained from saying anything in front of Draco but it all made sense. Lucius would have access to the Restricted Section because he was a teacher, and because he taught Defence Against the Dark Arts, no one would think it strange to see him in a section filled with books devoted to dark magic. He could easily slip the book in and then take it back once Harry had read it. Then all he had to do was wait for Harry to come and ask questions about it. It all seemed too familiar for Sirius. The book, the dark magic lessons, the whole situation had Voldemort written all over it.
"Since we can't examine the book, this is all just speculation," Dumbledore continued. "However, I believe that this book held some very powerful dark magic that caused Harry to be more open to the suggestion that dark magic was the only way to defeat Lord Voldemort. I think the next stage in the plan probably would have been to suggest joining the Death Eaters. *Harry gasped in shocked horror* You are more powerful than you know, Harry. If Voldemort can't kill you then he must feel that it would be better if you were on the same side. I'm sure he realises that you would never ever join the Death Eaters of your own free will, so he tried to force you to see that it was the only way." Harry interrupted him then.
"But I can throw off the Imperius Curse, so how could he make me do anything?" He asked in a confused voice.
"Voldemort knows you can throw Imperius, so he used a more subtle form of mind control. You think you're thinking your own thoughts and you start questioning your beliefs until you change your mind," Dumbledore explained patiently.
"How did this book 'appear' in the library?" asked Sirius, the question had been plaguing him for a while now. "I thought that objects couldn't appear in the school, just like people can't."
"That is true," admitted Dumbledore, "but it could have been physically placed on the shelf and then taken away after Harry had read it."
"How would they be able to be sure that Harry would be the one to pick it up?" Draco asked quietly.
"The note I gave you authorising your presence in the Restricted Section was actually for all four of you, as Harry told Madam Pince, however sometime between when I gave it to you and when you gave it to Madam Pince, someone charmed the note, causing the other three names to disappear. That brings me to another thing I wanted to discuss with you, Harry," Dumbledore said, looking at Harry and Draco, "You need specialised training to harness the powerful magic you are capable of. There is a disused classroom next to my office. We will meet there everyday starting tomorrow instead of your regular classes so I can help you control this power so we are ready for Voldemort's attack. But right now, Harry, I'd like to check you out to make sure you aren't under the influence of any dark magic anymore."
Harry nodded his acquiescence and stood up. Dumbledore stood also and pointed his wand at Harry, muttering an incantation under his breath. Dumbledore moved around Harry waving his wand around his body much like a security guard with a metal detector. Finally he sat back down with a satisfied smile. Harry sat down also.
"Completely clean, Harry. Draco, you will join Ron and Hermione in their Gryffindor classes. Let the other two know when you go down for breakfast." Draco nodded.
"I'm going to go have a shower and get dressed," he said, kissing Harry on the cheek, squeezing his hand and then left the room.
"I have to go, I'm running late for a staff meeting. Oh, and by the way, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was teaching all morning yesterday so it couldn't have been him who planted the book," Dumbledore stood up and with a parting smile, he was gone.
Sirius looked in amazement at Dumbledore's retreating back. How did he do it? He wondered. Harry looked over at Sirius. He looked back at Harry with an apologetic smile on his face.
"You two are really cute together, you know that?" he said softly. Harry ginned and blushed. "I'm sorry I yelled at you before Harry. I should have known you would never voluntarily do dark magic, but when Dumbledore told me, all I could think about was Lily and James." Sirius sighed.
"It's okay, Sirius. I know you didn't mean it. Look, I need to get ready for class now. I'll talk to you later, okay?" With that said, Harry stood up and walked into the bedroom. He could hear the water running in the bathroom and grinned. Draco must still be in the shower. Harry shed his pants and quietly opened the bathroom door. Draco was standing in the shower with his back to the door. Harry slipped into the room and stood staring at Draco for a minute.
God, he is damn sexy, he thought, feeling his body react to his lover's nakedness. He walked over to the shower and as quietly as possible opened the shower door and slipped in behind Draco. Draco leaned back against Harry's chest. Harry's hands slid up Draco's hips and across his stomach. He lowered his lips to Draco's shoulder and kissed him along his shoulder to his neck. Draco moaned in response to Harry's hands on his body. Draco gave himself up to the pleasure his lover was giving him, not giving a moment's thought to anything else.
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Later that morning, the two of them made their way down to breakfast. The entire school watched as Draco and Harry walked hand in hand across the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table. They sat down opposite Ron and Hermione and started eating. Both of them ravenous after the busy morning they'd had.
"How are you feeling, Draco?" asked a very concerned Hermione.
"I'm fine now," Draco replied with a smile. "By the way, Dumbledore said to tell you that I'm joining the Gryffindor classes so I'll need you to tell me what we have today."
That was all the invitation Hermione needed to pull out her copy of the timetable and start avidly discussing the week's classes and the homework currently due. She even brought up the possibility of starting to study for exams soon although it was still only about six weeks into the year. Ron took this opportunity to have a quiet word with Harry.
"Did Dumbledore find out what happened to you, Harry?" Harry nodded.
"He said the book, which they have been unable to find, contained very powerful dark magic which Voldemort used to try to persuade me to believe that using dark magic was the only way to go. Although I hate the thought of causing pain to Drac, I think that's what broke the spell. I saw him in agony and knew it was all my fault and the spell was gone. I just couldn't handle that. I've been trying to make it up to him ever since." Ron decided he didn't want to know how Harry had been trying to make it up to Draco. That was way more than he needed to know.
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Over the next few weeks, Harry and Draco fell into a routine much like that of a married couple. They would wake up together, have breakfast together and then go their separate ways. Draco would leave the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione to go to their classes and Harry would go in the opposite direction to his one on one class with Dumbledore. They would meet back in the Great Hall for lunch and then again for dinner. After dinner they would go home together. There they would talk about their days, sometimes snuggling up on the sofa together in front of a roaring fire, other times they'd barely make it into the bedroom in their haste to make love.
Draco was enjoying himself much more in Gryffindor than he ever had in Slytherin. Once Ron and Hermione had gotten to know him, they had become firm friends. Seamus and Dean had also become friends with Draco and were constantly begging him to convince Harry to go on a double date with them – although where in Hogwart's they could go on this date, Draco didn't know. Life had become a delightful existence unlike anything Draco had ever known before. If it weren't for Halloween creeping up on them at an alarming rate, it would have been perfect.
Harry, meanwhile, was having a hard time coming to terms with what Dumbledore was teaching him. He had been blissfully unaware that such power existed inside him and it was a huge shock to discover that he was filled of such strength. Naturally nothing Dumbledore was teaching him was considered dark magic, but it was magic that few were aware of and even fewer were capable of. He hesitated to share any of this with his friends, or even Draco. If he were completely honest with himself, he would admit that he was feeling a bit guilty for once again being special. Ron had always felt a bit resentful that Harry had things he would never have. Harry just hoped that Draco didn't feel that way.
Narcissa had been in and out of the boys apartment ever since she and Draco's father moved in next door. She had almost become like a second mother to Harry, in much the same way Mrs Weasley was. Lucius however had been very busy teaching students and grading papers so he didn't have as much time to spend with them. Part of the reason was that he still couldn't face his son. He felt responsible for teaching Harry how to do the curse that hit Draco and the guilt was eating away at him.
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The day before Halloween Harry arrived home feeling completely drained. Dumbledore was pushing him as hard as he could to learn all he could. Harry flopped down on the sofa, lay his head back, closed his eyes and sighed. He felt rather than saw someone sit down beside him and kiss him on his temple. Draco. He felt Draco straddle his lap and put his arms around him. Harry smiled and put his arms around his lover, loving every minute that Draco made him feel safe and loved.
"I miss you, during the day," Draco said softly, kissing Harry's neck. "And I hate that you're so tired after working with Dumbledore all day." He continued to kiss Harry's neck as he started pulling at Harry's robes.
"I can't do this right now," Harry said as he disentangled himself from Draco and pushed him aside. He stood up and headed for the bedroom. Draco sat on the couch and stared after him. Draco bit his lip. He wasn't used to being rejected and he didn't like the feeling.
"Harry! Wait. It's the third time this week that you've pushed me away," Draco hated the whining tone of his voice but it was too late to change it now.
Harry stopped without turning around. He sighed deeply and turned around looking on edge.
"I'm sorry, alright but you don't understand," he said exasperatedly.
"Maybe I would understand if you would talk to me about it. It can't be healthy for you to bottle it all up like you do," Draco argued back.
"Well, since I might be dead tomorrow night anyway, I don't see why it matters if I'm healthy," Harry snapped back and stormed into the bedroom.
Draco looked shocked at Harry's talk of death. It wasn't like him to be pessimistic. He understood that Harry was working hard and he had a momentous task ahead of him but he just wanted to be close to Harry. Draco sighed and got to his feet. He wandered over to stand in the bedroom doorway and watched to see Harry disappear into the bathroom, firmly closing the door behind him. Draco decided that he had been understanding enough and the day before his lover had to fight evil, damn it, he wanted to be with him and revel in his love. A niggling thought in the background warned that this could be the last night they spent together. Draco pushed the thought aside and walked over to the bathroom.
He knocked on the door and pushed it open. Harry was standing in the shower leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Draco's angry expression softened at the sight of his lover worn-out and tense. He stepped inside the bathroom and silently closed the door. Harry was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't hear Draco disrobe and stand in front of him in the shower.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Draco whispered, taking Harry's hand in his own.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have snapped at you," Harry's eyes remained closed as he replied.
Draco started to gently wash Harry, soaping him up and rinsing him off in an almost asexual way. When he was done he tenderly tugged Harry out of the shower and towelled Harry and himself dry. Draco led him over to the bed and lay him down on his stomach. He straddled Harry, reached for a bottle of massage oil and poured some on his hands. He soothingly started to rub Harry's taut shoulders.
"You are too tense," he whispered in Harry's ear. Harry moaned in response. Draco continued to massage Harry's tired, tense muscles until Harry fell asleep.
Later that night Draco woke up to feel lips kissing his stomach.
"Harry?" Draco said sleepily, trying to open his eyes. It didn't really matter as the room was dark but as his eyes adjusted to the light he was able to make out Harry's head above his stomach.
"Who were you expecting?" Harry teased softly, his right hand running up Draco's thigh. Draco closed his eyes again and moaned. Harry resumed kissing Draco and wiggled his tongue in Draco's bellybutton.
"Oh god, uh, I though you were too tired," Draco managed to choke out. Harry was just too good at this, he thought distractedly.
"I was, but it's 1am and after that incredible massage and a few hours sleep, I feel much better," Harry replied as he straightened up against Draco and kissed his mouth. Draco arched against him and opened his mouth to allow Harry's tongue inside. Draco lost his fingers in Harry's hair and allowed himself to be ravished. Harry was in a dominating mood and who was he to complain?
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~to be continued~