Title: In The Interests Of …
Author: I_nv_u50
Pairings: DracoXHarry
Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K Rowling. The world belongs to Squaresoft.
Harry: (incredulous) That's it? She's not going to claim us or anything?
Draco: (suspiciously) It must be a trick.
I_nv_u50: No trick. (cheesy grin) Honest. ^~
Draco & Harry: O.o;;;;;
Chapter Rating: Um .. PG-13 because I wasn't paying attention when they wrote it?
Draco: (evil laugh) MWUAHAHAHAHAHA (coughcough) HA!
I_NV_U50: (eyes Draco) Right … anyway .. ^^;;
Author's Note: 2 Things.
1, regarding the title, I made this title up while uploading the story, thus it was decided in great haste. I'm sure I had a semi-good reason for calling it this, but I don't remember what that was, so right now, I think the title sucks. I'm guessing it has nothing to do with the story unless I can persuade Draco and Harry to include it. So, if you don't like it, tell me you don't like it, and give me a suggestion, and we'll see, ne? ^^
2, regarding chapter uploads. Usually I like to have 3-4 chapters written out before I post the story, but Draco wanted the limelight, so we posted this one with one chapter and one line done. So expect the chapters to be a little while in coming. Summers coming, so you can probably expect them fast and furious there (maybe, maybe) but before summer come exams, so .. yea. I will be continuing this story, I'm not sure how big it'll end up getting though, but I'll try and keep the chapters regular.
Anyway .. that's about it .. Oh yea, expect some snogging in this one ^^;; (I don't think I'm good at writing kissing scenes, but I try ..)
Harry: Well, we don't mind.
Draco: At least there's some action. Unlike a certain other story going on …
Squall: (glares) Would you stop blaming me!!!
Zell: (throws a duck at Draco) Yea! Only I can blame him!
Eep… PS, you can expect the headmaster and commander to stay nameless … I'm getting vague ideas about the identity of the headmaster, lets see if you can figure out who it is .. Want a hint? It's a guest appearance :D .. well, the other guest appearances (hopefully) will be made in the 5th or 6th chapter … btw, that's just rough predicting, we'll see.. Anyway, on with the story!!
Enjoy, please review, and leave all ferrets at the door so we can give them to Draco!! :D
Cheers and White Ferrets,
I_nv_u50
Later that same evening, Draco had, complaining irritably to himself, donned his personal sorceress attire. He even muttered a few, well chosen curses, concluding the fact that he was very much a submissive sorceress, giving in to his commander and headmaster like this when, in all reality, they should be giving in to him, the one who held the real power.
Sorceress regalia was important, each and every sorceress had a special and individual style, it was a means of distinguishing one from the other in the days when sorceresses were more dominant than normal humans, and the tradition had stayed on, powerfully influential on the sorceress clothes in this day and age.
A sorceress could have any style he or she wanted, but there were some unspoken or unwritten laws, once again tradition. It was out of respect for that tradition, and the days from whence it came that sorceress clothes had to be made out of the finest material, soft, endurable, and eye catching. It had to be comfortable; it couldn't prohibit the use of magic or the movements of the sorceress. It also had to look good, enhance the almost unearthly natural beauty that each and every sorceress possessed.
Then, if all these demands were met, they were to enable the sorceress to have a little fun in an otherwise mundane lifestyle, for behaviors towards sorceresses were much the same than as they were now. Because the reaction of the commoners was usually one of fear and outrage when they had nothing to fear or be outraged about, a minor sorceress, who had eventually lived up to her name, Anastasia, and had taken over the world, had tired of this ultimately disrespectful behaviors, and had made a new law.
To give the peasants something to actually be outraged against, sorceress finery had to be as revealing as possible; whatever the sorceress was comfortable with.
If the sorceress was comfortable with a scrap of silk in the appropriate parts, so be it. If the sorceress only felt comfortable covered in satin, over every inch, that was ok as well. Improbable, but ok.
Sorceresses tended to be a lot more comfortable with skin and their bodies as a whole when achieving their full powers and coming of age, which was usually 19 or 20.
Draco, who had never been shy of his beauty, didn't see the point in being modest about it, if it was the truth. Both his parents had taught him that, and he could see sense in the perfect logic. It is vain to pretend you aren't beautiful when you both know you are, and false modesty is really unattractive.
Being unafraid of his own skin, Draco's 'uniform' was fairly revealing, the thing his outfit resembled most being a loin cloth.
It was extravagantly littered with jewels across the top, the full length of material dropping down to between his knee and thigh. The front half and the back half were connected by a thick silver chain that sat on Draco's hips, but the weight of the jewels on the silken, sea blue cloths made them ride low on his hips, about 4 inches below his navel.
Added to that were black, knee high, flexible boots, made from soft leather, and on both arms were long, silver-gray gloves, that stopped high up on his arms, just before they reached his shoulder.
Draco loved his uniform, it was different and uniquely his. It was also outrageous enough so that when he did actually leave his wing wearing it, the stares and looks wouldn't cease.
The only thing that bothered him about all the attention was that, out of all the jumbled auras he picked up, not one included anything softer than furious outrage, bizarre fascination, or warped lust.
The warped lust, however, just plain disturbed him. He had always had the ability to read deeper into people's feelings more than most sorceresses got, and lust was one of the most dangerous things for anyone to feel, if it didn't have a suitable outlet. Draco knew it was only his status as a sorceress and the fear of one that stopped most of those restrained feelings from breaking lose and out of control.
This evening though, would be different. It just had to be. Sorceresses and Knights had to be compatible for it to work, and if they weren't they'd both drive each other insane, literally. To be compatible, there could be no suspicion, outrage, distrust, or any other obviously wrong feelings. It would be okay though, Draco just figured he could cut the bond if they proved incompatible.
A soft knock, the door opened, and the soon to be SeeDs filed in, in orderly fashion, full cadet uniform, and nervous apprehension and anticipation emanating from each and every one.
They were gaping at Draco's ceremonial clothes, which simply made Draco smile sweetly at them, his eyes running over each of them scornfully, the steely silver silently mocking.
They had obviously been given a lecture on how to behave, both in his presence and what to do if they were chosen, and Draco realized that all of them, if only in part, wanted to be chosen, even if none of them had grasped the concept yet.
Of course. They wanted the power, the glory, and the 'control' of one of the most powerful beings this world knew.
Draco smiled harder, almost baring his teeth at them, wondering if he could enthrall any of them, and thus humiliate them in front of their friends, family, superior officers, Hyne, even the world.
Enthralling was no light affair. The situations were often, however, and only provided entertainment to all sorceresses, if no one else. Most of the cases had resulted in an escaped sorceress, something Draco could well understand, and death for thousands of people before the knight, and therefore the sorceress was killed.
The bond didn't only connect strengths, it connected the life source for both of them, kill one, kill the other, it was a set package.
Draco's thoughts wandered to the escaped sorceress that was coming for him. She had obviously enthralled her knight, the power that came from the bond could begin to control knights, letting less honorable sorceresses manipulate them into doing whatever the sorceress wanted, not what they were supposed to do. If the knight was enthralled, he wouldn't be able to stop the sorceress from doing what he or she wanted, evil or not. In fact, the sorceress would make the knight help, manipulating the bond so that the knight believed he was doing what was right. Unfortunately, when this happened, the knight also fell in love with the sorceress, and they'd take the bond to a physical level, that, if anything, made it stronger.
The introductions began, each cadet stating his strengths, weaknesses, HP, junctions, contained magic, and preferred weapon.
Not one said his/her name, their age, or any other personal details. It was obviously expected of Draco to find that out later.
But surely, Draco thought, as he sighed and discreetly used Scan on each one, it wouldn't hurt to know their names?
Not surprisingly, the less notable ones were at the end of the row, where Draco had started. Listening for Harry's voice as the ones unquestioned spoke quietly to each other from the corner of their mouths, Draco noticed that Harry was in the middle, if anything closer to the end.
It was all quite simple for Draco, really, he knew who he was going to pick. Even if it was only temporary, it would be far better to have a knight he respected than one he could use in any way he pleased, no matter how fun that sounded. He needed a knight he could depend on in the coming up days of sorceress war, especially if the escapee was as determined to kill Draco as he was to live.
He was almost at Harry now, but he didn't want to do the traditional way of choosing knights, it was boring, and had no fun in it, designed by a primitive form of SeeD, all it contained was long words and prolonged contact.
He stopped in front of Harry, and Harry began reciting his information, a resigned, almost bored look in his clear green eyes, and Draco knew why he was only in the middle. He was strong, he had few serious weaknesses, he was junctioned with Diablos, but he had a low HP for his level, and he wore glasses. Glasses weren't good on the battlefield, they reflected light, and if the lenses were damaged, they left the wearer blind, which was sometimes worse than death.
Draco just watched him. Eventually Harry ran out of the things he was supposed to say, and just stared straight back, meeting Draco's slightly amused gaze unflinchingly, not backing down at all. And Draco decided.
"Yes, sir?"
"Tell me, cadet. What's your name?"
Harry hesitated, glancing at the headmaster who wasn't looking too happy, but nodded anyway, and Harry returned his gaze to Draco's face.
He was about to speak, when Draco interrupted him suddenly, stepping closer and raising his right hand to trail light, gentle fingers along Harry's jaw to cup around his nape. Everyone in the room froze, especially Harry. This wasn't expected, it was traditional, what was Draco doing?
Draco was kissing Harry, that's what he was doing. At first the kiss was innocent, a light brushing of lips before Draco's teeth closed gently over Harry's lower lip, tugging it into his mouth and running his tongue slowly, coaxingly over it.
Harry gasped with surprise, and barely muted pleasure, and Draco took the opportunity to delve his tongue into Harry's mouth to explore it, his tongue steadily increasing its pressure, concentrating hard.
Vaguely, in the background, he could feel the headmaster's scandalized vibes, and the other cadets perversely fascinated and confused auras.
And then he lost all interest in what the outside world was doing or thinking, as his left hand slipped around Harry's waist, jerking him nearer, pressing him close to his body, aligning him perfectly, and his other hand drawing Harry's head intimately closer, before sending out the bond.
The effects were surprising, the switch in both teenagers was visible, as Harry jerked, and Draco stumbled, and it rocked their world.
And suddenly, Draco knew everything. Everything Harry knew, felt, thought and was. He understood the motives, knew the reasons, felt the feelings and heard the thoughts.
And Harry wasn't happy. Yes, he was being thoroughly kissed, and what a kiss it was, and he could finally know what it was like to be Draco, but he hadn't wanted it.
The sad thing was, he couldn't get enough now. He wanted to know more, he needed to know and understand it all.
And, as unexplainable as it was, he needed Draco now, Draco was in his system, Draco's heat flooding his blood, his thoughts and feelings in the back of Harry's feverish mind, and Harry would have a tough job booting him out now, especially after all this. And Harry understood why becoming a knight was so legendary, so wanted amongst young boys nowadays. He could feel Draco's core connect with his own, his strength surged up, and his weaknesses all but burned up, consumed in the fire that was the bond.
Harry also found that the bond was a lot harder to lose than it would seem, he could feel Draco's emotions as if they were his own, the bond was obviously made stronger by physical contact, he now had a burning spot in his mind, and he just knew that he would always be able to find Draco, would always be able to follow the emotions back to Draco.
Draco's feelings now, however, were taking an abrupt turn for worse. He could feel Draco's smugness, and then his confusion, and then suddenly a blinding, shocked realization.
Just like that, Draco knew that either both the commander and the headmaster were clueless when it came to bonds … or they were lying, because something like this, so intimate, so personal, it could never be temporary.
It would last until one of them, probably both of them, died – and the bond would end in excruciating pain, that would make death seem preferable.
No. It could never be temporary. Draco had been tricked, manipulated, just as he had toyed with manipulating one of the cadets earlier.
Yes, Harry was as good a choice as any, especially here in this hellhole, but Draco hadn't wanted him to be a permanent choice. Hyne, he had never wanted anyone as a permanent choice, and now that decision had been taken from him.
Draco wrenched himself away from Harry, whirling around to glare icily at the two authority figures, knowing that the commander was suddenly wishing she had brought her gun. He could almost smell their fear, and they had that right, he fully intended to kill them for their traitorous ways. He started to stalk towards them stealthily, predatorily silent, raising his right hand and mentally calling a fireball up from deep inside himself, when a sharp pang from Harry stopped him, echoing through his mind at the same time Harry's hand reached out and caught hold of his shoulder. He stopped, still glaring at them.
"Leave!" he snarled at them, he had a fireball perched cozily in his hand, and they were eyeing it with terribly concealed fear.
"But Draco, it's not official …" the commander stepped forward, obviously against her better judgment, feeling she needed to make it clear, and Draco, still furious, growled low in his throat, and Harry spoke for him, not wanting his superiors officers to get caught in the raging inferno of Draco's fury.
"Now!" he cried, in angry accents that were almost anguished in their sincerity.
And the cadets and leaders there looked at them both and left quickly, grateful that none of them had to try and calm the raging sorceress down.
Harry was angry, angry with himself, angry with Draco and angry with his superiors, mostly on Draco's behalf, even though he didn't really know what they had done to incur such wrath.
Realizing even as he knew it that Draco didn't want to be touched or sympathized with, and probably didn't want company either, Harry moved to the window, thinking with a busy mind and heavy heart about what had happened, and wondering just why Draco was upset.
They were silent for a little while, breathing being the only sound in the room, while both of them tried to get used to the situation and the feeling of having another's thoughts, feelings and whereabouts in their heads.
Finally, Draco broke the silence. "They lied to me."
Harry stayed silent, but his breathing paused, and he turned to face Draco, watching him quietly, back to the darkening sky.
And then, surprisingly, a wave of pain and sadness that wasn't his nearly bowled Harry over.
It took him a second to work out that the chaotic emotions were all Dracos', felt through the bond, and were everything that Draco wished to hide.
Amazingly enough, Draco's face was cool and calm, almost expressionless in its beauty, denying the turmoiled mass of helplessness they both knew he was feeling, and Harry realized that Draco was trying desperately, but unsuccessfully to tone down the bond, and cut back on the wave of feelings he was unwillingly sending Harry.
Harry stepped forward unintentionally, and Draco froze, tensing up before visibly forcing himself to relax.
"What can I do?" It was softly spoken, almost inaudible, but Draco heard it, and raised his head to look searchingly at Harry, before shaking his head and standing up, facing Harry.
"Come here."
Harry wanted to hesitate, needed to pause, but his feet were moving without his permission and Draco was in his arms, holding tightly, with no violent intentions yet, and Harry relented, letting Draco hold him since it made them both feel better, the wish to comfort from Harry being amplified by the bond, doing exactly that for both of them.
And then Draco's lips were over his, his kiss savage and aggressive, and once again, Harry yielded, merely because the bond now felt complete, sending a wave of warmth through both of them.
Draco was getting thoroughly carried away, one hand up Harry's shirt, and Harry was wondering dazedly how to stop him without violating any unspoken commands he felt sure had been made, and thus upsetting Draco again, when his interruption barged through the door.
Harry tried to jump back from the lip lock, but Draco's hold was secure, and the most he could do was lean back a little and stare at the intruder in surprise.
Draco, obviously unused to being interrupted like that, removed his hand, and was staring in honest and open astonishment, obviously caught off guard by the unexpected visitor.
"Harry! I heard you had been made a knight! Are you sure its what – What are you doing?"
Draco sneered. "Isn't it obvious? Who are you?"
His tone, he knew, left something to be desired, he felt a twinge of indignation from Harry, and he shut up, still sneering mockingly at the red head intruder, who just glowered back, unable to do more.
Harry sighed. "Draco, this is my best friend, Ron Westley."