~ A Cell ~
"You know this is never going to work. Even if you give me the potion, you'll still know that it's not real. I won't really love you, it'll just be the potion. Don't you want something better than that?"
"I want you and I don't care how I get you."
"Oh come on, you're a beautiful woman, you could have any man you wanted-"
"Then why don't you want me?"
"BECAUSE I'M GAY!"
"Eve," another voice interrupted the argument. She spun around to the door, unlocked it and allowed the other man to enter. Harry watched her relock the door.
"What is it, Severus?" she asked, sounding annoyed by the intrusion.
"The potion is nearly ready. It just needs to ferment," Snape said dully.
Harry stared at the older man pleadingly. "Snape! Please, Severus! Help me!"
Eve merely laughed at him. "You know he can't help you, darling. He's under imperius. He won't do anything unless I tell him to. I thought you'd learnt that earlier this year when you repeatedly tried to convince him to let you go once the numbing potion had worn off and you realised you were being held prisoner."
Harry scowled. "Let us both go then. You know this will never work."
"On the contrary, it's the perfect plan," Eve said lightly before turning to talk to Snape. "Severus, when will the potion be ready?"
"Tomorrow morning. It has to sit and ferment overnight and then it will be ready," Snape said in a monotonous voice, quite unlike his usual cold drawl.
"Finally. So tomorrow's the big day," Eve said to Harry. "It won't be long, my darling, until we are together, forever."
Harry felt rage coursing through him and he knew that he didn't have much time. If he allowed her to administer the potion, then there would be nothing he could do. He probably wouldn't want to escape then. But with Severus still standing there, he might not have a chance to get out.
As if she was reading his mind, Eve ordered Severus to go back to work, concocting various potions for her.
"So, Harry darling, would you like to hear what Draco was doing last night?"
Harry glared at her but she ignored him and continued talking.
"He was out on a date with George Weasley."
"Harry tried hard not to listen. She was lying again. Draco wouldn't go on an actual date. Coffee was one thing, that was something friends did, but a date was totally different.
"They talked, they laughed, they danced."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"A friend of mine, the same friend who followed Draco around all summer, just happened to be at the Three Broomsticks that night and saw them there. He took a few photos. Want to see?"
She flipped through a few photos in her hand. "I think this one is my favourite."
Eve thrust the photo under his face right in front of his eyes. They were kissing. Draco and George were fucking kissing.
He wrenched the photo out of her hand and stared at it blindly for a moment before ripping it up.
"No. There is a rational explanation for this. Draco wouldn't do that to me."
Harry decided that he'd had enough of being the noble Gryffindor. It was time to take a leaf out of Draco's book and act like the Slytherin the sorting hat had wanted him to be.
He stood up quickly and before he could really think about what he was doing, he knocked Eve out of the way, snatched up the keys and was unlocking the door as she tried to pick herself up off the floor.
He slipped out the door and locked Eve in the cell. He could hear her banging on the door, yelling at him to let her out. He smirked a true Slytherin smirk and ran through the passageway of what was obviously a dungeon.
He ran down the stone passageway and came to a large room with a few doors and a set of stairs. He quickly decided that up was always a good option and he ran up the stairs and stopped.
He glanced around, getting his bearings and then ran through the library to the door. He stepped out into the entrance hall and saw the front door. He ran towards it and pulled on the handle. The door was very heavy but it slowly swung open and Harry ran out and kept running until the mansion he'd been held in was in the distance.
He kept running until he reached a small village. Luckily it was early evening so there were still people around. He noticed a man trimming his hedge the muggle way only a few metres from where he was standing.
"Sir," Harry said, gasping for breath.
"Yes," the elderly man said.
"Sir, can you help me get to London? It's very important that I get there as soon as possible," Harry said desperately.
"My grandson is heading that way in about half an hour. I'm sure he'd be able to give you a lift. Follow me," the old man said.
Harry followed him into a small thatched cottage where he was introduced to the man's wife and his grandson, who was willing to take Harry to London, since he was headed in that direction anyway.
After what seemed like a long delay, they were finally on his way and Harry was finally able to enjoy the feeling of freedom. He breathed in the fresh air that blew in his open window. The feeling of movement in the car was exhilarating after years of being locked in a small room.
I'm coming back to you, Draco. I'll be home soon.
TBC
A.N. He's finally free!!! I know a lot of you wanted him to kill Eve, but I don't think Harry would be able to do that. She may have been evil, but she's a girl and he had enough trouble just pushing her out of the way as it goes against everything he believes in – in this fic at least. This Harry is a noble, principled guy and it took the threat of George stealing his husband to get him to push those principles aside and hurt Eve in order to break free.
But it's not all smooth sailing yet. Harry has to find his way to Hogwarts and he also has to deal with Draco…
Oh, and sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out. I went to visit family for a couple of days. I got sunburnt at the beach today. Ouch! *grins* Nah, it's not too bad. Another chapter out tomorrow……..I've actually written up to chapter 13. For once in my life I'm ahead of schedule, it's a miracle.