Title: Clear
Chapter 8: Beg
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: R for slash themes
**WARNING**: THIS STORY CONTAINS SLASH THEMES – WHICH MEANS HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO MALE CHARACTERS. YOU ARE ADVISED TO LEAVE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story do not belong to me, but to the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. This is all FICTION; none of it is true. No profit was made from this story. I bear no responsibility for anything you may claim from this story, you have been warned.
LAST WARNING. SLASH. HOMOSEXUALITY. LEAVE IF YOU DON'T LIKE.
Notes: Much thanks to the reviewers!!!! Thank you just so, so, SO much! Much thanks to May, the very evil bunny, ClarKeRaVen, alistar, Evil Laughter, efa, Summer, Anne Phoenix, Lady Malfoy II, someone who's too lazy to login, Heavens_beyond, GlacierFlame, bondagechic, IncubusSuccubus, in-a-crushd-tin-box, Patchfire, Marionette, Gwendolyn Malfoy, Lunadeath, mellony melody, Sera Luanma, Hoshikio-Malfoy, J (BleedingEros), Moonblade, Sienna of Lothlorien, Zany, pottergirl, Mistic, random reviewer, ILLk, Hoshiko-Malfoy, Little Bunny Fu Fu, scythefire, Kiren, vanityfair, AshFarley, phoenixwhitebirch, Sineadluv (heehee!), K.C., Marian of the Faeries, Aurora, Tanya Maxwell, Reveuse, Avalon Princess, yiota, and chrisseee67!!!
I JUST REALIZED THAT I MISSED A LOT OF REVIEWERS THE LAST TIME I CHECKED…EEEEEE…SO I'M THANKING SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT I SHOULD HAVE THANKED A WHILE AGO…SORRY!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and as to how Malfoy managed to squeeze in the time to become a master violinist…well…you'll see :)!!!!
***
run
Dumbledore. Dumbledore! Dumbledore, where are you?!
run angel, run
I need help, I need it, I need it now more than ever before, I just know it!
run away, my angel, run
Faster, faster, must run faster. Oh, why do the music rooms have to be so far away from Dumbledore's office?
Draco…Draco, my angel, run, run away before they catch you
Can't. No. Gods. Must. Now. Dumbledore.
Harry turned a corner and ran straight into a hard body, bouncing off and stumbling backwards. "Oh, fuk…hello, Professor Snape."
Snape glared. "Potter. Ten points for running in the corridors."
Harry glared back before thinking – Snape! Snape, Draco is…Snape! Trying to sound as least hostile as possible, Harry took a deep breath and said, "Professor, I need your help. It's something to do with Draco Malfoy."
Snape sighed impatiently. "Potter, I have no intention of involving myself in this little feud between you and Mr. Malfoy. Would you please do us all a favor and grow up a little? You are a member of the seventh form now, and should be capable of acting like one."
Gritting his teeth, Harry shook his head. "No Professor, you don't understand. Malfoy received a…a letter from his father." He stared meaningfully into Snape's black eyes. "A letter, Professor, from his father."
Snape raised an eyebrow. "And…where is Mr. Malfoy now?"
"He went back to his dormitory, Professor. I walked him there myself."
Snape's other brow shot up as well. "Oh, did you?" There was a pause as Harry nodded. "Well then. I am assuming that you are heading towards the Headmaster's office?" Harry nodded again. "Very well. Go. The password is Fizzy Wizzy Twizzies."
Harry ran off down the corridor, as Snape strode away just as hurriedly in the opposite direction. His sides were beginning to hurt from running so quickly through the enormous castle, but he urged himself on, forcing himself to breath in rhythmically as his legs began to drag and leaden. It seemed forever before he reached the gargoyle, but he did, and went up the stairs as fast as he could, he could not run any longer. He paused to knock on the door, and rushed in when he heard Dumbledore's voice saying, "Come in, Harry."
Dumbledore eyed Harry as he entered, gasping, face red with exertion, robes a mess. "Do take a seat, Harry, and regain your breath first. We are in no rush."
Harry shook his head, panting. "No, sir." gasp wheeze "Not much time. At. All."
Dumbledore nodded from behind his desk. "Perhaps a cup of tea?" In a blink, there was a steaming cup of tea floating before Harry.
Nodding, Harry reached out and swallowed the entire contents in one gulp. "Headmaster," he said again, still out of breath, but able to talk. "It's Draco Malfoy. He. He received a letter. From his father. And…and…" He drifted off, not knowing what to say.
"Ah. I understand. I have been expecting this for a while." Dumbledore stroked his beard. "And. Has Mr. Malfoy told you of the contents of the letter?"
Harry's red face reddened a bit more. "I read it, sir. But with his permission," he added quickly.
"But of course." A pause. "And when is this…event scheduled to occur?"
"Christmas Eve, sir." Harry looked at Dumbledore plaintively. "On his birthday."
"I see." Another pause.
"I saw Professor Snape on my way here, sir," Harry offered. "I told him that Malfoy received a letter from his father, and he's gone to the dungeons."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, of course. But as to the event…Harry, I may need you to make a very difficult decision soon, but as for now, I think that you should try to provide Mr. Malfoy with as much support as is possible." He gave Harry a Look. "I am assuming that the two of you have reconciled your differences as of late?"
Harry blushed again. "Yes, I – I guess we have."
Smiling, Dumbledore nodded. "Good. Very good. Why don't you go to him now, Harry, and send Professor Snape to me?"
"But sir, he's in the Slytherin dormitories. I can't get in. I'm not allowed."
Continuing on as if Harry hadn't spoken, Dumbledore said, "Perhaps you should stop in your room and pick up some small amusement for Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps some hot chocolate. I assume you have been using the Prefect's private entrances to your room? No more going through the common room – I imagine it must be much more convenient for you."
WHAT *PRIVATE* ENTRANCE TO…
Oh.
"Um. Yes. Of course, sir. I think. That. That, er, is a very good idea. Something to cheer him up." Harry nodded emphatically. "I'll be off now. Thank you, Headmaster."
Dumbledore smiled and winked as Harry gave a nod and almost ran from the room.
Off went Harry, running through the halls once more, dodging people, skidding around corners, jumping up and down the stairs two at a time, all the while mumbling to himself, "Private entrance, I should have remembered, Prefect's private entrances, GOD I should have remembered…"
He ran and ran, back to his room, throwing his trunk open and tossing out its contents until his fingers closed around the desired object before he ran again, deeper and deeper into Hogwarts, until he reached the dry, cold dungeons, deeper than the Potions classroom, where students dare not enter and only Slytherins walked, coming and going without being seen. Unfolding the Marauder's Map, he whispered the words, tapping his wand to the sheet, and watched impatiently as lines of black ink unfurled and folded into the map. Draco, Draco, Draco…there! There he was, in his private room, which was only…about three yards down this corridor, and first statue on the right.
Harry was still out of breath as he wiped the parchment clean and tucked it safely away into his robes, chest heaving, drawing in deep breaths as he tried to steady himself and walk towards Draco's room. He reached it, finally, and spoke the Prefects' password to the statue, which moved aside with a piece of the wall, revealing a long, dark corridor. Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped in, feeling goosebumps rise on his arms as the stone wall slid back into place behind him.
***
A red, blinking light caught Draco's attention.
"Someone is entering," he said to Snape, who had his back turned to the flashing. "Must be either a Prefect or a Professor."
Snape mumbled something unintelligibly and Draco squinted in confusion. "I beg your pardon, sir?"
"Nothing, Draco. I expect that the Headmaster has sent for me." At that moment, Harry Potter ran into the room, and Draco gaped briefly before turning away.
"Malfoy!" gasped Potter, making a beeline for him.
Snape stepped in his way. "Potter. I expect you have been to the Headmaster?"
Potter's green eyes were most certainly forced away from Draco's figure to give Snape a quizzical look before an obvious flash of recollection caught up with him. Draco could practically hear the light bulb clicking on. "Oh! Yes, um, he requests your presence as soon as possible."
Snape nodded. "Very well." He turned slightly to Draco, who was still standing stiffly, back to the two of them. "Draco, I'm going to the Headmaster's now. You know where to find me if you receive any more…tidbits." With that, he stalked out of the room, robes billowing in Classic Snape fashion.
Once Snape exited the room completely, Potter turned to Draco again. "Malfoy!"
"Go away, Potter," he said, curling his hands into fists. Fuck, they were trembling again. Or were they trembling still, having never stopped since the moment he received his letter?
"Malfoy," Potter said, gently, taking a step forward, hand reached out.
Draco frowned and walked forward a few steps, putting more distance between him and Potter. "I mean it, Potter. I am in no state to receive any guests, nor do I have any wish to be pitied."
"Malfoy." Another step.
stop saying my name like that
"I mean it, Potter," Draco continued, voice wavering as well. "Leave. Go, now, before I Avada Kedavra you."
"Malfoy." Still so softly, still so gently.
Silence. Silence, where Draco stood, frozen, fists shaking, eyes squeezed shut, head down, not wanting to look up. Silence, where Draco could feel Potter's slow steps towards him, where Draco could feel Potter reaching out for him.
Silence. Silence, until Potter's hand rested gently on Draco's shoulder, and Draco could feel Potter's hot breath on his neck as he whispered, "Malfoy."
Trying desperately to regain control over himself, Draco whispered back, fiercely, "Go away, Potter."
"No," said Potter, voice rumbling in soft tones. "No, Malfoy, you need someone right now."
Draco stayed silent. Potter fell silent. And the two of them remained silent until Potter inched closer to Draco, so close that Draco could feel the heat radiating off Potter's body as arms curled around his middle and pulled him in close.
Then, Draco tipped his head back to rest on Potter's shoulder as Potter tipped his head forward to do the same, and two slow tracks of tears escaped Draco's closed eyes.
To Be Continued!!!!!!!!!
