Disclaimer: The story and the characters aren't mine. Just the obvious.
A/N: So, that didn't take so long, didn't it? And because I don't have to say anything--except that I hope
you enjoy reading it--the author's note is short. Just one thing: Here is the bit of Draco/Harry fluff,
that you missed so much in the last chapter. Lol.
Chapter 14
Only a small glowing ball hovering in the air gave a little light.
Aaron took a deep breath, savouring the taste of blood and sweat on his tongue, which lie heavily in the air. Then he opened his eyes and looked down at the broken figure lying before his feet.
Blood covered the naked body. Blood was sprawled around it in a large puddle, oozing from many wounds.
With a sweet smile Aaron bowed down, ignoring the blood that came on the hem of his robe.
"And, have you already decided if you want to answer my question? It would make everything easier for you, you know."
Silence.
Aaron sighed. "Stupid, stubborn old man."
He turned away and looked at the man standing behind him, covered in the Deatheater robe with the mask hiding his face. But Aaron knew who tried to hide under it. He knew everyone of the pathetic persons, which tried to hide their identity.
"He is unconscious. Tend to his wounds and tell me when he awakes."
Obediently the man nodded and bowed slightly. Aaron walked out of the room, not mere than a small cave cut into the earth. He came past more as he strived down the path, but he ignored them. All were dark, and just here and there were low moans, weeping or whispering to hear.
Aaron didn't care for the people in the primitive cells. They were against the Dark Lord and because of that they needed punishment. Though they were only lowlifes, not worthy to be called fiends of Voldemort.
Aaron sneered distastefully as he reached the stair that would lead him back to the ground floor. The steps were full of blood and sweat and the smell of fear and pain hung deeply in the air.
"That this useless pigs can't wait until they get into the cells."
He shook his head and began to climb the stairs, avoiding the puddles of blood with long steps. But before he could leave the cellar through the door, a voice from behind him held him back.
"Lord Aaron!"
Frowning Aaron stopped and turned half around, looking down the stairs.
Not long and the lean figure of the Deatheater he had just left minutes ago, came hurrying up the stairs, his eyes behind the mask distraught.
"Lord Aaron, the prisoner Wenshore had died." The man panted.
Aaron fought the urge to hold a hand before his nose, as he smelled the fear emanating from the man. Instead he narrowed his eyes. How should he stand the presence of those people any longer?
"So, he fled from me. Finally having found a way to release yourself from the clutches of the Malfoy's, hm Wenshore. How disappointing."
He frowned lightly. "But what should I do with you now."
A noise from behind him distracted him once more. The heavy oak door opened.
Aaron smiled as the brown haired man appeared in the doorframe.
"Ah, Jac. You are coming at the right time. Think about it--Wenshore had died. And that before he could tell me what I wanted to know."
The young man smiled and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry for you, Aaron. But I might have a message for you that will please you again."
Aaron's fine white eyebrows shot up.
"What is it?"
Jac looked meaningfully at the still shivering Deatheater, his eyes emotionless. Aaron rolled his eyes and dismissed the masked man with a lazy hand move, who was more than glad to obey.
"Now, spill it." Aaron demanded, after the man had disappeared down the stairs again.
Jac grinned slightly at the impatient tone in his master's voice.
"I think I just show you."
Without further speaking about it he handed Aaron a Daily Prophet.
At once silver eyes fell on the big headline.
"It was this that Wenshore tried to stop." Jac spoke while Aaron read the article. "And he nearly succeeded. He managed to sneak into the office of the Prophet and stole the article. That was what he had been burning when he was found from the Deatheaters."
Aaron looked up. "He burned it? But why…"
He pointed at the article.
"I had the original, because I am the author." Jac said grinning. "And of course I handed at to the Prophet when they asked me to."
Speechless Aaron stared at the man. Then his mouth parted to a similar grin, his eyes sparkling. "Jac, you're a genius." He looked back down at the paper in his hand. "This will tear the trust of the people in their little hero further. Nobody of them will believe him that Voldemort is back."
He grinned. "No wonder that my little brother didn't want this to get published."
A sudden idea came to his mind. His grin brightened.
"Come, Jac." Aaron slung one arm around Jac's shoulders. "I want you to help me send a present to my little brother."
********************************************************************************************
"That's not true! I just know that can't be true!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Not so loud, Ron." She hissed.
Carefully she glanced around, but nobody in the great hall was paying attention to him or her. Everybody was more interested in the Daily Prophet. In little groups they were gathered around the Prophet, reading and discussing the article.
Here and there little fights broke out, about if that what the article was saying was the truth or a lie.
To Hermione astonishment she noticed that the only ones who weren't taking part of the arguing, were a lot of Slytherins. Maybe it had to do what Ron was so angry about. Because she felt it wasn't the article that he meant--he hadn't even read about it yet.
After she had handed Harry the Daily Prophet, he had ran out of the hall and before she had the chance of following him, Ron had stormed through the doors, at once starting to yell at her.
"Ron. Before you start again just tell me what you're talking about." She said, after she had gained his attention. Hopefully this would go quick. Harry needed their help now. The thought of him being alone now…
She didn't want to think of that. He needed his friends now.
Ron stared at her. "What I'm talking about? What I'm talking about?! I'm talking about Harry making the lousiest joke that I ever heard of. And that on our first day here."
Ron shuddered and threw his hands up in a helpless manner, but before Hermione could do more than open her eyes, he continued. And said the last thing Hermione had imagined he would.
"According to Harry he is now bonded with no other than Draco Malfoy."
For the first time in her life Hermione found herself speechless, unable to say a single word. Torn between laughter and surprise she stared at the Redhead before her.
Ron nodded, his face as red as his hair. "See, see. Do you not agree with me that this has to be bad joke?"
Hermione's worked soundlessly. Harry and Draco, together, like that?
This couldn't be--couldn't it?
Harry hated the arrogant Slytherin, they all hated the self announced Prince of Slytherin. And the other boy returned this hate just as strong. That they suddenly…
No, it had to be a joke, just as Ron had said.
But--she hesitated. This dreamy look in Harry eyes as Malfoy had gone past them at the train station. And Malfoy who hadn't said a single insult to them.
She shook her head desperately. No, it wasn't true. It couldn't be.
"And…and you're sure he said it like that?" She croaked out. Maybe Ron hadn't heard right.
"No, not like that. He more used the word betrothal."
Ron made a move to spit out, but as Hermione scowled at him he swallowed. "His words were about the snake I found in his bed this morning."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. A snake. Of course Harry could speak Parsel, but a snake--
Ron closed his eyes so that he could remember clearly the words Harry had spoken to him. "I wanted to know from whom he had gotten the beast, and he answered it was a present from Draco for their betrothal."
"A present for their betrothal?" Hermione mouthed silently.
Harry and Malfoy…
She shook her head. "This is not going to help us. We have to speak with Harry about this."
"Yeah, and I will throttle him so long until he says it is just a joke." Ron growled, showing his fist. Then his eyes scanned the hall for the first time. "By the way--what is happening here? Why are they all so restless?"
Hermione sighed and wordlessly handed her friend the Daily Prophet.
Ron looked puzzled at the newspaper.
Hermione raised her hands to cover her ears.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?!"
*******************************************************************************************
Harry had always been alone in his first eleven years of his life.
Some would say that he had been with his relatives that he hadn't been alone at all.
But Harry knew one could be alone, completely alone, even when there were people around him.
His so-called relatives had been with him, but they had just taken notice of him when they wanted him to do things for them. Weeding the garden, cleaning the house, cooking….
Once he wasn't needed anymore he was put into the cupboard, like a used broom, unwished except he was to be used.
And Harry had been glad for every moment the Dursley's had a new task for him, because that had meant they noticed him--even when it just where disgusted looks--and was spoken to--even when it were just insults.
Then the letter had come. The letter from Hogwarts that told him that there were people who cared for him, who wanted to know where he was, who helped him like Hagrid had done.
He had found friends and even the fear of the fame he was suddenly faced with couldn't scare him anymore.
But now…
With a deep heaving sigh Harry put his head on his arms, crossed before him on the stone balustrade, ignoring the sharp wind pulling at his clothes.
This time he wished he had a cupboard he could vanish into.
He wished the letter hadn't shown up at all.
He wished for the author of this damned article to drop down dead.
"Whining again, Potter?" A voice snarled behind him.
Harry didn't move. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
Why was it that every time he wanted to hide from the world someone found him.
Feet shuffled on the stone ground. Harry risked a glance. Straight and proud Draco stood beside him, looking out at the grey sky.
Mesmerized by the silver eyes Harry watched as Draco's gaze wandered from the clouds to the ground far below them.
"You found yourself a pretty high place to pout." Draco stated calmly, looking at the ground far below them. Without the bound calling to him, he never would have been able to find Harry so quickly.
Harry's eyes widened. "I'm NOT pouting." He said, pushing himself up.
Draco smirked and turned to face Harry. His heart swelled as he saw the mesmerizing green eyes glowing with anger.
"What else are you calling your retreat up here?" He raised a hand as Harry made a motion to protest. "And don't deny it. You were fleeing from all down there in the great hall. You let them see that it affected you what they are thinking."
Harry's hands were so tightly clenched that they trembled. How could he say such a thing?
"What else do you suppose I should have done? Just go to my table and pretend not to know that everybody is staring at me?" He shook his head. "In any other situation I could do that, but not now. Not when everybody had read this article full of lies."
Harry's head sunk down. "How could they write that? How could they write this lie? They all saw the sign of Voldemort hovering over the destroyed building."
Draco stood still. His heart longed to embrace his love, but he fought the urge. It was Harry who had said that he didn't need to be protected all the time.
And the blond knew that that was true. He could protect Harry, and he would protect him. But not from everything and everyone. With this he just could give him strength and let him know that he wasn't alone.
And this article….
Draco took a step forward and gently laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, feeling the tension in the small body.
"This talk we had already, Harry. Do you remember? We talked about the people having too much fear of the old, so they create themselves a new enemy. That is the reason of the article."
He took a deep breath. "And I must confess that I knew about it before today. More clearly I have knowledge about it since yesterday."
Surprised Harry raised his head to look at Draco. He knew about it?
How…
A small smirk edged about Draco's mouth. Though--Harry eyes widened a bit as a sudden feeling of regret appeared in his mind. That wasn't his feeling.
"A servant of mine gave me a copy of the article yesterday. I was shocked and gave him the order to prevent it to appear. But he didn't manage it as you could see." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Harry."
"What are you sorry about?" Harry whispered. Unconsciously his hand wandered to his stomach. His mind felt so--strange. So many emotions that weren't his. He had the feeling that he drowned, nearly overwhelmed by the flood of--Draco's feelings.
"I'm sorry because I couldn't prevent this to happen. After the last year I wanted you to have a more quit year this time."
A smile appeared as Draco noticed Harry's hand clenched at the fabric on his stomach. Over the bound mark.
He took another step forward.
"You feel me, don't you?" He murmured. His silver eyes bore into dazed green. "It's overwhelming, isn't it? This sudden feel of someone else sharing your mind with you."
Harry shuddered and nodded. All his former thoughts had disappeared, all his wishes. There was only Draco in his mind. It was such an incredible feeling, this share, and this bound.
This boy standing before him, with these incredible silver eyes. He could not only see him, but feel him and knew that it was the same thing for the other.
He took a step forward; closing the distance between them until they bodies were touching. A shudder ran through him, as an answer of an equal motion of the one before him.
Why so suddenly? He hadn't been able to feel him before this.
"It's because you are a bit emotionally unsteady right know." A husky voice whispered into his ear, breath tickling his neck, his skin suddenly more sensitive.
"Because of that your mind was able to strengthen the bound between us, so that you are able to sense me. But it will stop when you have calmed down a little."
Harry couldn't prevent the moan escaping him. He didn't want this to stop. He wanted to stay here forever; not thinking about that he had yet to face all is fellow students.
And Ron who he had told about Draco in a rush of emotions.
Groaning he buried his face into Draco's shoulder.
"What is it?" Draco asked feeling the distress in his voice. Carefully he slung his arms around Harry's shoulders, to show him he wasn't alone. And he liked feeling Harry so close.
"I have told Ron about us." Harry mumbled.
Draco raised one eyebrow in astonishment. He hadn't thought that Harry would manage to tell his friends so fast.
"This morning Ron saw Azula in my bed. He was really nervous about her and thought she wanted to bite me, so he tried to kill her." Harry let out a deep sigh. "When I told him she was a present he wanted to know from whom and I told him it was from you."
"How did he react?"
Harry shook his head slightly, stepping back from the blond. "I don't know. I left him and went to the great hall. And then Hermione showed me the article."
"Does she know?"
"No, I didn't have the time to tell her. But by now Ron surely has told her."
Harry took a few steps away from Draco. Draco looked at him curiously as green eyes scanned him up and down, though he stayed quiet. But what he felt was a sudden distress coming back to Harry, that and a deep sadness.
"Harry?"
Green eyes darkened. "It's gone. You're gone."
Hands again clenched to fists. "I can't feel you anymore."
Draco sighed a little. "Like I said--it will last not long." He lifted a hand and held it to Harry. "But you can learn from me, so that you will feel me every time you want."
Harry eyed the hand held out to him. The sudden disappearing of Draco in his mind had struck him like a punch and he had to fight the panic rising in him, telling himself that the other boy was still there.
And the absence of Draco had awoken the feelings of loneliness again.
// Can it really be that I have attached myself to Draco so quickly?//
The tenseness left his body. He returned the soft look out of these beautiful silver eyes--and lifted his hand to lay it into Draco's without hesitation.
// The answer to my question is a clearly ‚Yes'.// Harry thought as he felt himself returning the smile that was just for him and no one other.
********************************************************************************************
Hermione let out a deep sigh and turned away from the doorway and the two boys standing so close together. After what she had witnessed there was no doubt anymore that it was true: Harry and Draco were together.
Without stopping she grabbed Ron's arm--who still looked at his best friend and his most hated enemy in shock, his eyes and mouth wide open--and dragged him with her as she descended the stairway. Harry mustn't find them spying at them.
But--her brown eyes narrowed--Malfoy had to answer a few questions to her, if he wanted or not. She would make sure that she got her answers.
"Just watch out, Draco Malfoy."
******************************************************************************************
A satisfied grin appeared on Aaron's face, as he watched the last bit of his present vanish into the green flames.
"I hope you will enjoy my present, little brother."
***************************************************************************************
Well, did you like it? Come on, don't torture me. Give me reviews. This story is living from your reviews. And another thing: I think I can update this story now every two weeks. So, look out for it.
A/N: So, that didn't take so long, didn't it? And because I don't have to say anything--except that I hope
you enjoy reading it--the author's note is short. Just one thing: Here is the bit of Draco/Harry fluff,
that you missed so much in the last chapter. Lol.
Chapter 14
Only a small glowing ball hovering in the air gave a little light.
Aaron took a deep breath, savouring the taste of blood and sweat on his tongue, which lie heavily in the air. Then he opened his eyes and looked down at the broken figure lying before his feet.
Blood covered the naked body. Blood was sprawled around it in a large puddle, oozing from many wounds.
With a sweet smile Aaron bowed down, ignoring the blood that came on the hem of his robe.
"And, have you already decided if you want to answer my question? It would make everything easier for you, you know."
Silence.
Aaron sighed. "Stupid, stubborn old man."
He turned away and looked at the man standing behind him, covered in the Deatheater robe with the mask hiding his face. But Aaron knew who tried to hide under it. He knew everyone of the pathetic persons, which tried to hide their identity.
"He is unconscious. Tend to his wounds and tell me when he awakes."
Obediently the man nodded and bowed slightly. Aaron walked out of the room, not mere than a small cave cut into the earth. He came past more as he strived down the path, but he ignored them. All were dark, and just here and there were low moans, weeping or whispering to hear.
Aaron didn't care for the people in the primitive cells. They were against the Dark Lord and because of that they needed punishment. Though they were only lowlifes, not worthy to be called fiends of Voldemort.
Aaron sneered distastefully as he reached the stair that would lead him back to the ground floor. The steps were full of blood and sweat and the smell of fear and pain hung deeply in the air.
"That this useless pigs can't wait until they get into the cells."
He shook his head and began to climb the stairs, avoiding the puddles of blood with long steps. But before he could leave the cellar through the door, a voice from behind him held him back.
"Lord Aaron!"
Frowning Aaron stopped and turned half around, looking down the stairs.
Not long and the lean figure of the Deatheater he had just left minutes ago, came hurrying up the stairs, his eyes behind the mask distraught.
"Lord Aaron, the prisoner Wenshore had died." The man panted.
Aaron fought the urge to hold a hand before his nose, as he smelled the fear emanating from the man. Instead he narrowed his eyes. How should he stand the presence of those people any longer?
"So, he fled from me. Finally having found a way to release yourself from the clutches of the Malfoy's, hm Wenshore. How disappointing."
He frowned lightly. "But what should I do with you now."
A noise from behind him distracted him once more. The heavy oak door opened.
Aaron smiled as the brown haired man appeared in the doorframe.
"Ah, Jac. You are coming at the right time. Think about it--Wenshore had died. And that before he could tell me what I wanted to know."
The young man smiled and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry for you, Aaron. But I might have a message for you that will please you again."
Aaron's fine white eyebrows shot up.
"What is it?"
Jac looked meaningfully at the still shivering Deatheater, his eyes emotionless. Aaron rolled his eyes and dismissed the masked man with a lazy hand move, who was more than glad to obey.
"Now, spill it." Aaron demanded, after the man had disappeared down the stairs again.
Jac grinned slightly at the impatient tone in his master's voice.
"I think I just show you."
Without further speaking about it he handed Aaron a Daily Prophet.
At once silver eyes fell on the big headline.
"It was this that Wenshore tried to stop." Jac spoke while Aaron read the article. "And he nearly succeeded. He managed to sneak into the office of the Prophet and stole the article. That was what he had been burning when he was found from the Deatheaters."
Aaron looked up. "He burned it? But why…"
He pointed at the article.
"I had the original, because I am the author." Jac said grinning. "And of course I handed at to the Prophet when they asked me to."
Speechless Aaron stared at the man. Then his mouth parted to a similar grin, his eyes sparkling. "Jac, you're a genius." He looked back down at the paper in his hand. "This will tear the trust of the people in their little hero further. Nobody of them will believe him that Voldemort is back."
He grinned. "No wonder that my little brother didn't want this to get published."
A sudden idea came to his mind. His grin brightened.
"Come, Jac." Aaron slung one arm around Jac's shoulders. "I want you to help me send a present to my little brother."
********************************************************************************************
"That's not true! I just know that can't be true!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Not so loud, Ron." She hissed.
Carefully she glanced around, but nobody in the great hall was paying attention to him or her. Everybody was more interested in the Daily Prophet. In little groups they were gathered around the Prophet, reading and discussing the article.
Here and there little fights broke out, about if that what the article was saying was the truth or a lie.
To Hermione astonishment she noticed that the only ones who weren't taking part of the arguing, were a lot of Slytherins. Maybe it had to do what Ron was so angry about. Because she felt it wasn't the article that he meant--he hadn't even read about it yet.
After she had handed Harry the Daily Prophet, he had ran out of the hall and before she had the chance of following him, Ron had stormed through the doors, at once starting to yell at her.
"Ron. Before you start again just tell me what you're talking about." She said, after she had gained his attention. Hopefully this would go quick. Harry needed their help now. The thought of him being alone now…
She didn't want to think of that. He needed his friends now.
Ron stared at her. "What I'm talking about? What I'm talking about?! I'm talking about Harry making the lousiest joke that I ever heard of. And that on our first day here."
Ron shuddered and threw his hands up in a helpless manner, but before Hermione could do more than open her eyes, he continued. And said the last thing Hermione had imagined he would.
"According to Harry he is now bonded with no other than Draco Malfoy."
For the first time in her life Hermione found herself speechless, unable to say a single word. Torn between laughter and surprise she stared at the Redhead before her.
Ron nodded, his face as red as his hair. "See, see. Do you not agree with me that this has to be bad joke?"
Hermione's worked soundlessly. Harry and Draco, together, like that?
This couldn't be--couldn't it?
Harry hated the arrogant Slytherin, they all hated the self announced Prince of Slytherin. And the other boy returned this hate just as strong. That they suddenly…
No, it had to be a joke, just as Ron had said.
But--she hesitated. This dreamy look in Harry eyes as Malfoy had gone past them at the train station. And Malfoy who hadn't said a single insult to them.
She shook her head desperately. No, it wasn't true. It couldn't be.
"And…and you're sure he said it like that?" She croaked out. Maybe Ron hadn't heard right.
"No, not like that. He more used the word betrothal."
Ron made a move to spit out, but as Hermione scowled at him he swallowed. "His words were about the snake I found in his bed this morning."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. A snake. Of course Harry could speak Parsel, but a snake--
Ron closed his eyes so that he could remember clearly the words Harry had spoken to him. "I wanted to know from whom he had gotten the beast, and he answered it was a present from Draco for their betrothal."
"A present for their betrothal?" Hermione mouthed silently.
Harry and Malfoy…
She shook her head. "This is not going to help us. We have to speak with Harry about this."
"Yeah, and I will throttle him so long until he says it is just a joke." Ron growled, showing his fist. Then his eyes scanned the hall for the first time. "By the way--what is happening here? Why are they all so restless?"
Hermione sighed and wordlessly handed her friend the Daily Prophet.
Ron looked puzzled at the newspaper.
Hermione raised her hands to cover her ears.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?!"
*******************************************************************************************
Harry had always been alone in his first eleven years of his life.
Some would say that he had been with his relatives that he hadn't been alone at all.
But Harry knew one could be alone, completely alone, even when there were people around him.
His so-called relatives had been with him, but they had just taken notice of him when they wanted him to do things for them. Weeding the garden, cleaning the house, cooking….
Once he wasn't needed anymore he was put into the cupboard, like a used broom, unwished except he was to be used.
And Harry had been glad for every moment the Dursley's had a new task for him, because that had meant they noticed him--even when it just where disgusted looks--and was spoken to--even when it were just insults.
Then the letter had come. The letter from Hogwarts that told him that there were people who cared for him, who wanted to know where he was, who helped him like Hagrid had done.
He had found friends and even the fear of the fame he was suddenly faced with couldn't scare him anymore.
But now…
With a deep heaving sigh Harry put his head on his arms, crossed before him on the stone balustrade, ignoring the sharp wind pulling at his clothes.
This time he wished he had a cupboard he could vanish into.
He wished the letter hadn't shown up at all.
He wished for the author of this damned article to drop down dead.
"Whining again, Potter?" A voice snarled behind him.
Harry didn't move. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
Why was it that every time he wanted to hide from the world someone found him.
Feet shuffled on the stone ground. Harry risked a glance. Straight and proud Draco stood beside him, looking out at the grey sky.
Mesmerized by the silver eyes Harry watched as Draco's gaze wandered from the clouds to the ground far below them.
"You found yourself a pretty high place to pout." Draco stated calmly, looking at the ground far below them. Without the bound calling to him, he never would have been able to find Harry so quickly.
Harry's eyes widened. "I'm NOT pouting." He said, pushing himself up.
Draco smirked and turned to face Harry. His heart swelled as he saw the mesmerizing green eyes glowing with anger.
"What else are you calling your retreat up here?" He raised a hand as Harry made a motion to protest. "And don't deny it. You were fleeing from all down there in the great hall. You let them see that it affected you what they are thinking."
Harry's hands were so tightly clenched that they trembled. How could he say such a thing?
"What else do you suppose I should have done? Just go to my table and pretend not to know that everybody is staring at me?" He shook his head. "In any other situation I could do that, but not now. Not when everybody had read this article full of lies."
Harry's head sunk down. "How could they write that? How could they write this lie? They all saw the sign of Voldemort hovering over the destroyed building."
Draco stood still. His heart longed to embrace his love, but he fought the urge. It was Harry who had said that he didn't need to be protected all the time.
And the blond knew that that was true. He could protect Harry, and he would protect him. But not from everything and everyone. With this he just could give him strength and let him know that he wasn't alone.
And this article….
Draco took a step forward and gently laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, feeling the tension in the small body.
"This talk we had already, Harry. Do you remember? We talked about the people having too much fear of the old, so they create themselves a new enemy. That is the reason of the article."
He took a deep breath. "And I must confess that I knew about it before today. More clearly I have knowledge about it since yesterday."
Surprised Harry raised his head to look at Draco. He knew about it?
How…
A small smirk edged about Draco's mouth. Though--Harry eyes widened a bit as a sudden feeling of regret appeared in his mind. That wasn't his feeling.
"A servant of mine gave me a copy of the article yesterday. I was shocked and gave him the order to prevent it to appear. But he didn't manage it as you could see." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Harry."
"What are you sorry about?" Harry whispered. Unconsciously his hand wandered to his stomach. His mind felt so--strange. So many emotions that weren't his. He had the feeling that he drowned, nearly overwhelmed by the flood of--Draco's feelings.
"I'm sorry because I couldn't prevent this to happen. After the last year I wanted you to have a more quit year this time."
A smile appeared as Draco noticed Harry's hand clenched at the fabric on his stomach. Over the bound mark.
He took another step forward.
"You feel me, don't you?" He murmured. His silver eyes bore into dazed green. "It's overwhelming, isn't it? This sudden feel of someone else sharing your mind with you."
Harry shuddered and nodded. All his former thoughts had disappeared, all his wishes. There was only Draco in his mind. It was such an incredible feeling, this share, and this bound.
This boy standing before him, with these incredible silver eyes. He could not only see him, but feel him and knew that it was the same thing for the other.
He took a step forward; closing the distance between them until they bodies were touching. A shudder ran through him, as an answer of an equal motion of the one before him.
Why so suddenly? He hadn't been able to feel him before this.
"It's because you are a bit emotionally unsteady right know." A husky voice whispered into his ear, breath tickling his neck, his skin suddenly more sensitive.
"Because of that your mind was able to strengthen the bound between us, so that you are able to sense me. But it will stop when you have calmed down a little."
Harry couldn't prevent the moan escaping him. He didn't want this to stop. He wanted to stay here forever; not thinking about that he had yet to face all is fellow students.
And Ron who he had told about Draco in a rush of emotions.
Groaning he buried his face into Draco's shoulder.
"What is it?" Draco asked feeling the distress in his voice. Carefully he slung his arms around Harry's shoulders, to show him he wasn't alone. And he liked feeling Harry so close.
"I have told Ron about us." Harry mumbled.
Draco raised one eyebrow in astonishment. He hadn't thought that Harry would manage to tell his friends so fast.
"This morning Ron saw Azula in my bed. He was really nervous about her and thought she wanted to bite me, so he tried to kill her." Harry let out a deep sigh. "When I told him she was a present he wanted to know from whom and I told him it was from you."
"How did he react?"
Harry shook his head slightly, stepping back from the blond. "I don't know. I left him and went to the great hall. And then Hermione showed me the article."
"Does she know?"
"No, I didn't have the time to tell her. But by now Ron surely has told her."
Harry took a few steps away from Draco. Draco looked at him curiously as green eyes scanned him up and down, though he stayed quiet. But what he felt was a sudden distress coming back to Harry, that and a deep sadness.
"Harry?"
Green eyes darkened. "It's gone. You're gone."
Hands again clenched to fists. "I can't feel you anymore."
Draco sighed a little. "Like I said--it will last not long." He lifted a hand and held it to Harry. "But you can learn from me, so that you will feel me every time you want."
Harry eyed the hand held out to him. The sudden disappearing of Draco in his mind had struck him like a punch and he had to fight the panic rising in him, telling himself that the other boy was still there.
And the absence of Draco had awoken the feelings of loneliness again.
// Can it really be that I have attached myself to Draco so quickly?//
The tenseness left his body. He returned the soft look out of these beautiful silver eyes--and lifted his hand to lay it into Draco's without hesitation.
// The answer to my question is a clearly ‚Yes'.// Harry thought as he felt himself returning the smile that was just for him and no one other.
********************************************************************************************
Hermione let out a deep sigh and turned away from the doorway and the two boys standing so close together. After what she had witnessed there was no doubt anymore that it was true: Harry and Draco were together.
Without stopping she grabbed Ron's arm--who still looked at his best friend and his most hated enemy in shock, his eyes and mouth wide open--and dragged him with her as she descended the stairway. Harry mustn't find them spying at them.
But--her brown eyes narrowed--Malfoy had to answer a few questions to her, if he wanted or not. She would make sure that she got her answers.
"Just watch out, Draco Malfoy."
******************************************************************************************
A satisfied grin appeared on Aaron's face, as he watched the last bit of his present vanish into the green flames.
"I hope you will enjoy my present, little brother."
***************************************************************************************
Well, did you like it? Come on, don't torture me. Give me reviews. This story is living from your reviews. And another thing: I think I can update this story now every two weeks. So, look out for it.