Title: Exchange
Author: Mistress Silver
Pairings(s): Harry/Draco/Lucius
Warning: The following piece is rated R (for later chapters – AND incest). It contains SLASH, which is homosexual relationships, so if you are offended by that or are not of legal age in your area then please click the back button on your browser and find yourself something else. Constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated but flames will be mocked and ignored.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, characters, names and all related indicia are property of J.K. Rowling. I am just borrowing them all for a bit and am not making a cent off this. I'm sure Rowling won't mind, it anything she will be (should be) flattered that people like her books enough to write pieces of their own about them.
CHAPTER 3 – Unwelcome ReturnHarry finished putting the clothes away himself and soon Nimbly the house elf returned to tell him that dinner was served. Having absolutely no idea where it was served, Harry asked Nimbly to take him there.
"Yes, Mr. Draco Malfoy, sir, begging pardon your memory, sir," the house elf stammered bowing.
Harry stifled a smile, once again remembering what he looked like and followed him. They went down the marble staircase and into the vast dining room. It too had a very high, decorated ceiling, with three evenly spaced chandeliers. The walls had a pattern of small sculptures and paintings. In the middle of the black marble floor stood a long table. Only one side of it was occupied, where three plates were set and platters of fragrant food were laid out. Lucius Malfoy sat at the head and Draco sat to his right. Harry took the remaining seat at Lucius's left. Lucius gave him an odd look; it almost seemed approving.
"Nice of you to join us," he said pleasantly. Harry nodded slightly and glanced towards Draco who sad very subdued.
"I had one of my agents look up your condition," Lucius continued taking a sip of wine from his goblet. "Apparently, outside magic can only reverse the process for no more than five weeks. Its permanent fixation…is up to the two of you."
Both Harry and Draco looked up at the same time. "How are we supposed to fix it if we don't even know how it happened in the first place?" Draco exclaimed.
Lucius raised one eyebrow. "This kind of magic is called Exchangus. It only occurs when two opposing Wizards say or think something unanimously. That causes them to exchange places with one another until they resolve their differences, when they can return to themselves."
Draco snorted, "Resolve our differences? When we've hated each other since our eyes first met six years ago?"
"Now, now, Draco," Lucius sneered. "Although I can understand your and Mr. Potter's…conflicts…I must remind you that in order to return to your own body permanently you and Mr. Potter will have to get along whether you like it or not."
Draco blinked as a sudden thought occurred to him. The less I get along with Harry, the longer I remain out of my own body, and the longer I have away from my father… The thought both pleased and alarmed him. Am I really that desperate… He didn't have a chance to complete his thoughts, however, because Lucius's voice intruded his mind. His father rose and gestured beside him.
"If you please, gentlemen," he said. Harry went to stand in the suggested spot and Draco followed grudgingly. Lucius pointed his wand at them.
"Revarescent," he drawled.
Harry and Draco both felt a prickling sensation, like they were on the verge of losing consciousness. Everything went black for a moment but returned into focus immediately. Harry blinked several times and Draco swayed a little unsteadily.
"Back to normal?" Lucius inquired. They looked at one another, then at him, and nodded. "Good," Lucius smiled in satisfaction. "Now remember, you two have a little over a month until the spell wears off, so get to getting along."
Harry muttered a begrudging word of thanks and Draco looked away, trying to avoid his father's fervent gaze.
Draco stiffened as he felt cold lips on the back of his neck.
"I've missed you, my little Dragon."
Draco didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He shuddered as unpleasantly familiar arms were wrapped around his waist.
"Father, please…" he swallowed.
"Please what," Lucius purred into his ear and the proceeded to nibble on his earlobe.
"Please…don't…"
Lucius chuckled. "Oh come now, little Dragon, you know you enjoy it," he said suddenly grabbing the boy's crotch and causing him to gasp.
Tears sprang to Draco's eyes. No, not again… Lucius began kissing down his neck. Please, not again… Slowly Lucius unbuttoned the front of his shirt. Please…
"…don't," he whispered aloud as his father prodded him towards the bed showering little kisses on his shoulder.
Harry woke with a start and sat bolt upright in his bed, breathing hard. He had a very disturbing dream. Draco was standing on the balcony of his room, looking at the stars, when his father came up behind him and began to assault him. Then he pushed him inside onto the bed and… Harry shook his head to clear it.
No way, he thought. Just a sick dream, nothing more. But he found himself suddenly wondering if Draco was all right. And then he ended up wondering why he cared. It was only Malfoy after all.
"But still…" he muttered aloud to himself. Pushing away the heavy silken covers Harry swung his legs over the edge of the large bed and looked around for a clock. His only light was the moonlight streaming though the windowpanes in warmth less rays. Unsuccessful in finding the time he made his way across the room and cautiously opened the guest room door. The hallway was dark and empty. Occasionally there was a small torch lit for the night traveler. Harry crept out of the room and down the hallway into the general direction of Draco's room. He passed several shut doors until he reached one that was slightly ajar. Seeing a large, carved out 'D' at its top Harry deemed it to be Draco's. Cautiously he allowed himself in and peered towards the bed. It was disheveled but empty. He glanced at the room's only light source, the balcony, whose glass doors were wide open. A cold wind was billowing the embroidered, white curtains. Harry stepped towards them, shivering slightly, as he was barefooted and wearing only pajama pants. He spotted something white and curled up in the corner of the balcony. He gasped when he recognized it to be Draco Malfoy. The wind picked up his gasp and carried it over to Draco who looked up sharply. His platinum, shoulder-length hair glistened in the moonlight as the wind tousled it about. His silver eyes seemed cloudy and distant as tears streamed out of them like two strings of tiny diamonds. And the seat of his matching, white pajama pants had a small, dark red stain that looked very much like blood.
Harry would've thought Draco beautiful if he was not horrified at his current state. Draco's eyes widened in recognition and he looked away, hastily wiping at his eyes. "The hell are you doing here, Potter," he snapped unsuccessfully. Harry approached him as if he was a frightened deer in front of headlights.
"Draco," he called softly. The light-haired boy tried to give him a look of resolve and defiance but the only thing his eyes showed was pain and humiliation. Harry knelt beside him.
"So it wasn't just a dream…"
"What are you muttering about, Potter, get the hell away from me," Draco growled.
"Draco…I saw – "
"I don't care what you saw, and there's definitely nothing to see here."
"But I know what your father – "
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Draco cried brokenly holding his palms over his ears and closing his eyes tightly. "Do not talk about my father! Do not fucking talk at all! Just leave me alone!"
Harry set his lips in a hard line. "Fine," he said frowning darkly. "I was only trying to help." He rose and turned to leave.
Draco suddenly felt freezing as the warmth of Harry's body left him. A surge of terror gripped him and he began to shiver uncontrollably, suddenly wishing more than anything not to be left alone. Harry was almost out the balcony door when he heard a whimper behind him.
"Wait…don't go…please…"
Harry froze. Draco Malfoy. Saying please. To him. He turned on his heel and looked at the blonde who's eyes were shut painfully and clothes were fluttering around him. Seeing him like this, so vulnerable and shaken, made Harry's heart swell with pity. He walked over to the bundle of white and sat on the cold, stone floor beside him. Some time of uncomfortable silence passed and Harry noticed that Draco began trembling more violently.
"You're freezing," he said softly. The blanket was inside Draco's room. Harry wondered briefly if the blonde would panic if he left him alone to get it. He paused. Then, with firm resolve, he wrapped his arms around the slender, pale body and pulled him close. Draco stiffened and opened his mouth to protest, but Harry's warmth was returning feeling to his sore limbs and he felt oddly…relieved.
Draco thought better of it and closed his mouth. Sleep was rapidly beginning to overtake him and soon enough his head drooped onto Harry's chest. Harry looked down at the blonde's sleeping form. He looked innocent and small and his hair felt soft on Harry's shoulder. Harry regarded his rival with sad helplessness. His words floated back to him…
"But that's the way I always am, doesn't mean I'm a completely terrible case, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover…"
"Good night, Draco," Harry whispered into the dying wind.