Chapter Dedications: Lor-dy. To all those that didn't think Frankie would give up that easily. Rather surprising, actually . . .
Warnings: And now we go over to Khrystyne with the weather for the upcoming chapter. Khrystyne?
Thanks, Mary. Well, folks, we've got a few storms ahead, so watch out for the rape in this chapter. It will pass, however, so keep an eye out for warm days and sunny skies coming soon. Back to you, Mary!
Author's Notes: . . . eye twitch I just wrote my warnings as a weather report. In religion class, no less. Anyway, guys, if you're seriously bothered by rape (like, seriously can't read it at all – mine is relatively mild, as far as rape goes), I have labeled the section so you can skip over it if you want.
Thank yous!!!!!To Noename: Oh, I love you. Your reviews were so nice!!! I've decided to join you in dancing of Frankie's face; that sounds like fun. ::grins:: Enjoy chapter 7!!!
To Paige: I'm so glad you like the fic so far!! Hope chapter 7 meets your expectations!!
To cottoncandy: You're so sweet!!! Hope you enjoy chapter 7 as much as the rest!!!
To godric1: Thanks so much for your review! The chapters will hopefully be between 10 and 20 pages from now one (if I can sit my lazy ass down to write 20 pages . . . .). Enjoy!!!
To NiimuraYume: Oh, my goodness, you're way too nice to me. Trust me, I have a lot planned for Frankie . . . even though I hate him. Didn't ever think it was possible for me to hate an original character, but I did it!!! ::joins the party:: Okay, time to update!!
To Slash-Lover: Love the penname (me too!!). Don't worry about Frankie, he's still in the picture . . . Enjoy!!!
To Sheyda: Thanks so much for your review! Totally love how you described our main men: Delicious Draco and Handsome Harry. Perfect!!! Hehehe, there definitely will be naughtiness at Hogwarts . . . ::eyes glaze over at thoughts of chapters to come:: Enjoy chapter 7!!
To twistedlife3000: Oh, I'm so glad you like the fic!! Don't swoon yet; I've got a chapter I think everyone will like coming up relatively soon!!! Enjoy, m'dear!!
To ice: Thank you so much for your review!! As for Eric, I have a few vague ideas I have to hammer out, but he'll be floating around, here and there . . . ::grins:: Hope this chapter meets your expectations!!!
To zoomaphonethepirate: Thanks so much for your review!!! Enjoy!!
To Layce74: Thanks for your review! Hope you like this chapter as much as the others!!
To Isis-mystic: Thanks for your review! I was just disappointed I couldn't whack Frankie around myself! But Harry got the job done . . . Lol, Draco/Harry is my favourite ship. They're just so darn cute; I can't see how anyone doesn't like them . . . Don't think that was grammatically correct, but whatever. Enjoy!!
To moonlit-shadow0x: I was able to find a picture of Tom Felton as Draco (from the third movie) and I used the Paint program on my laptop to draw the eyeliner on him. It's kinda crude, but you can definitely get the gist of what he would look like if he actually wore eyeliner!!! Enjoy chapter 7!!
Massive thank you: My wonderful beta, Winde, who yelled at me to get my "proverbial rear in gear". You're the best; I don't know what I'd do without you!!! ::mwah!::
Chapter 7The next few days found Draco and Harry sitting down and mapping out their respective lesson plans, realizing they were running out of time. They finally finished the day before Albus needed the lesson plans and sent them off with Hedwig. That night, they, Ron, and Hermione went out to dinner in Muggle London, celebrating Draco's job and mourning the end of the summer holidays.
The morning of August 30th, the day they were needed back at Hogwarts, came on warm breezes and bright sunshine, finding the original trio at the flat rushing around packing, Hermione panicking and scolding herself for procrastinating. Draco sat curled up on the couch as he sipped a cup of tea, watching the others rush around. He hadn't unpacked in the few days since he and Harry had recovered his things. Finally, everything they needed for the next ten months was packed up. They cast shrinking charms on their luggage and slipped them in their pockets. Albus was providing the Hogwarts Express for all the teachers in the area, albeit a slightly smaller Express.
They walked down the stairs, where Harry knocked on the door of one of the first floor flats. Harry began speaking with a woman that had popped her head out the door. After a moment, she nodded and smiled. She shook Harry's hand and waved at Draco, Ron, and Hermione. They waved back and then she was gone. Harry rejoined the others and the left the building, starting off down the sidewalk. Draco linked arms with Harry and looked at him.
"Who was that you were talking to?" he asked curiously as they walked to King's Cross.
"Our landlady, Harry replied. "I told her we were leaving today and wouldn't be back for near ten months." He looked at Draco. "She thinks we work at a boarding school, a Muggle one."
"Oh. Well, she's almost got it right," Draco replied. They were making good time and were only several blocks away from the train station. Harry and Draco were walking arm-in-arm behind Ron and Hermione, fighting down giggles. Hermione was ranting to Ron about an article in Charmed Monthly. He however, wasn't listening. He was staring off into space, his eyes glassy. Harry bumped into an older man accidentally as they walked along and gave a sort of half-smile at him. The man caught Draco's eye and leered. The blonde clutched Harry's hand and murmured softly.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Harry asked worriedly.
"The man that just passed was one of the people Frankie sold me to," Draco whispered, shaking. Harry looked up sharply; the man was standing right in front of him.
"Hey, Dragon," the man greeted, chuckling. "Someone's been looking for you."
"No, no," Draco whimpered, tears slipping from his control.
"Draco, come on. We've got to go or else we'll be late," Harry told him, curling an arm around his waist as he glared at the other man. They turned back to Ron and Hermione, who were wearing questioning looks of their faces. Harry shook his head slightly and they continued down the block, leaving the greasy man behind, Harry struggling to calm Draco. They quickened their pace and made it around the corner. Hermione took Harry's spot next to Draco as the Defense professor stepped up next to Ron, speaking to the redhead heatedly. They heard a gasp and a shout behind them and whipped around. Hermione was on the ground, a red handprint blooming on her cheek. She was holding her eyes and breathing shallowly.
"Hermione! What happened?" Ron exclaimed, dropping to his knees.
"Where's Draco, Hermione?" Harry asked urgently, kneeling as well.
"Two men . . . threw some sort of powder in my eyes . . . hit me . . . I couldn't see, I'm so sorry, Harry. I don't know where Draco went!" she cried, falling into Ron's arms. Harry's heart dropped to the vicinity of his toes.
"Draco!" he shouted, jumping up. "Draco!" He backtracked down the sidewalk to where Draco's unwanted customer had accosted them, Ron staying behind with Hermione. When he didn't hear or see anything unusual, he let out a frustrated cry and raced back to where his friends were. Ron glanced up at him, a strange sort of sympathy shining in his eyes. Harry refused to acknowledge it; he knew Draco was around here somewhere.
He heard a crash nearby and whipped his head around. He spotted the mouth of an alley and charged into it, ignoring Hermione and Ron. He turned a corner of the alley and was caught by two heavily muscled men. Straight ahead, Draco was lying on the ground, his hands bound and tied to a stack of boxes lying haphazardly. It broke Harry's heart to see Draco's face contorted with pain, tears streaking down his face.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is," Harry heard. From the shadows next to Draco, a figure emerged, and Harry fought down the bile rising in his throat.
"Frankie, you bastard, why are you doing this?!" Harry demanded, struggling against his captors.
"To show you up," the club owner hissed. "I told you I'd get my best dancer back."
Harry felt his blood run cold. This was his fault? Draco was tied up on the ground, in pain, because of him? He caught Draco's eye as Frankie rambled on and felt tears of his own slip free. It was his fault.
Draco, love, I'm so incredibly sorry, Harry thought to himself. He was suddenly aware of Frankie stepping rather rudely into his personal space.
"What?" he snapped, glaring at the other man. Frankie raised an eyebrow.
"You missed the best part of my speech. About how I'm going to break your little boyfriend so badly, he'll never recover," Frankie mock-whispered into Harry's ear. As the club owner moved away and his hands went to the belt buckle on his pants, Harry's eyes widened with realization and he struggled evermore against those holding him back.
(CONSIDER THIS YOUR WARNING!!!!! Scroll down a teeny bit until you see more uppercase, bolded, italic-ed, underlined wording. That'll be the end of the rape scene.)
"You sick son of a bitch!" Harry raged, earning himself a blow to the stomach. He doubled over and tried to remember how to breathe. The bodyguards yanked him up straight and a sob escaped his lips as he saw Frankie ripping Draco's clothes from his body. The blonde squirmed on the ground, only to be stilled by Frankie's mouth covering his own. Harry saw Frankie stabbing his tongue into Draco's mouth. The blonde screwed up his face and bit, hard, into Frankie's lower lip. The club owner yelled and pulled away, touching his fingers to his lip and coming away bloodstained. He looked down at them and gave a sort of evil grin, his eyes flicking over to Draco lying exposed on the ground.
"Now, that was not a terribly smart move, Dragon," Frankie hissed, pulling his pants off. He dug in a pocket of his discarded jeans for a moment and retrieved a tube of lubricant, shoving it in Draco's face. "I'm assuming that means you don't want anything to . . . ease the way," he sneered, tossing the tube aside. Draco's eyes widened in terror as he watched the owner grin maliciously at him.
"No . . . no, please, Frankie, stop, don't, please, don't—" A pain-filled scream was ripped from Draco's throat as Frankie brutally slammed unprepared into him.
Harry began sobbing freely as he struggled in vain to reach the blonde. He was helpless. He didn't want to watch, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. His anger grew with each of Frankie's thrusts and his heart broke all over again with each of Draco's broken gasps and sobs. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Frankie climaxed and relaxed, slipping out of Draco. He sat back and grinned lazily as he dressed. Harry hung his head. It was over. He and Draco could leave, and Harry would make sure nothing would ever happen to Draco again. Suddenly, he heard a blood-curdling scream and snapped his head up. Frankie had dug his fingers into Draco's sensitised channel and was curling them about. Harry renewed his fight against the bodyguards with renewed vigor. Unfortunately, the two seemed to be all muscle and not much else. Harry's eyes blazed and the two muscle-morons were gone, plastered against the walls of the alley.
He charged at Frankie as he smeared his release across Draco's cheek, the club owner laughing to himself at the sight of Draco sobbing brokenly. Harry hit Frankie at full-force and they tumbled into the crates. Harry's Seeker reflexes helped him dart out of the way just before the boxes fell on top of Frankie. Harry crawled the short distance to where Draco was tied. He only then became aware of Ron's and Hermione's shouts as he pulled off his sweater and draped it over Draco's lower body. Tears still running down his face, he ripped desperately at the ropes around Draco's wrists until he gave up and used his wand.
"Draco, my love, it's okay, you're all right, you're safe now," Harry whispered, gathering Draco into his arms. Draco glanced up at him and shuddered. He launched himself into Harry's arms and sobbed.
(COME BACK, MY DARLINGS!!!!! Okies, you're all set. Not very long, was it??)
"Harry?! Harry, what's going on? Harry!" he heard Ron shout.
"Ron, Hermione, hurry!" Harry yelled back, his voice breaking. He only half-heard Hermione's Knockback Jinx and their thudding footsteps. He heard Hermione's scream quite clearly, however.
"Harry!"
He looked up and his jaw caught Frankie's fist. He let Draco go, not wanting him to get hurt any more, and fell back, determined to beat Frankie senseless. He sprang to his feet and dove at the club owner. They rolled around for a time until a well-aimed blow hit Harry's eye. His restraint broke and he whipped out his wand, placing the tip under Frankie's chin, ignoring Hermione's cries and Ron's warnings.
"Now, you may think this is just a bit of wood, but trust me, mate, you're greatly mistaken," Harry growled, his eyes flashing dangerously. He pressed his wand harder against Frankie's throat. "I could kill you with a few quick words and no one would be any the wiser."
Frankie's eyes widened in fear.
"Harry . . ." came a weak voice. Harry whipped his head around to see Draco struggling to sit up, pain lancing through his features. "Just let him go."
Harry hesitated, then nodded. He turned back to Frankie and shook him violently.
"Now, get the bloody hell out of here," he ordered from behind clenched teeth, "Before I change my mind."
He placed his wand back in his pocket and stepped back as Frankie scrambled away. His two bodyguards were still out cold. Hermione, her own wand in hand, waved it and muttered, "Obliviate!" Frankie's eyes went glassy as the spell took effect. Ron hurried over and pushed him out of the alley as Harry turned, dropping to his knees next to Draco.
"Hermione, I need a wet cloth," Harry said tersely, surveying Draco's face and body. He heard her murmur the necessary words and she handed him a damp cloth. "You two had better get to the train and tell them to wait until we get there, or we'll all get left behind. Ron and Hermione nodded, looking a bit worried, but left hurrying from the alley. Harry smiled softly at Draco as he swept the cloth over the blonde's face.
"Harry, I'm sorry," Draco whispered as Harry pulled him into his arms.
"For what, love?" Harry asked, smoothing Draco's sweat-dampened hair.
"For involving you in my screwed-up life," he replied quietly. Harry leant down and gently kissed the ex-Slytherin.
"Draco, darling, I want to be here, with you," Harry told him, wrapping his arms around the vulnerable young man. "It doesn't matter whether you're a dancer with a bad past or a three-legged hippogriff that likes to eat mean Muggles, I'm going to stay with you."
Draco chuckled and embraced Harry tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered, kissing Harry's cheek.
Harry smiled. "Now, we'd better hurry so the Express doesn't leave without us. But get up slowly, carefully."
Draco grimaced and attempted to hoist himself into a sitting position. His face drained of all color and he sank back to the ground.
"Right, I did say slowly, yeah?" Harry murmured.
"Now would not be the time to start acting like Hermione, Harry," Draco advised him, his face still ashen.
Harry chuckled. He carefully helped Draco into his shirt and then sat back, contemplating what to do next. Finally, he sighed and decided. "Um, Draco, this is going to be a bit uncomfortable, but . . . I've got to check you and make sure you're all right."
Draco closed his eyes and sighed. "Yeah, fine. What's more humiliation when you've just been raped in front of your boyfriend?" he asked dejectedly.
Harry remained silent for a moment before reaching out and caressing Draco's cheek.
"Sweetheart, I just want to make sure you're okay, and you'll be able to walk," Harry told him gently. "We've still got to walk the last few blocks to King's Cross."
Draco said nothing, but nodded. Harry, wanting to spare the blonde any further embarrassment possible, used only quick glances to cast his healing and cleansing charms. He then helped Draco sit up and slip his pants on. With Harry's aid, Draco managed to stand and buckle his trousers. They slowly started out towards the street, Draco leaning heavily on Harry's support, when suddenly he halted.
"Draco? What's wrong?" Harry asked worriedly. Draco was staring at the turn of the alley, terror shining in his eyes.
"Harry, what if Frankie's waiting for me out there?" he whispered fearfully.
"Then I'll kill him," Harry replied simply, kissing his forehead.
"Harry, I'm serious," Draco chastised him, hanging his head.
"So am I," Harry told him gently. Seemingly strengthened a bit by this, Draco nodded and the two started out of the alley again. As they approached the mouth of the alley, Harry tightened his arm around Draco's waist and peered about watchfully. However, Frankie was nowhere to be seen. Draco sighed with relief and grasped Harry's hand. They hurried as fast as they could without it being too painful for Draco to King's Cross and slipped through the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters. They found Hermione pacing back and forth, wringing her hands nervously, and Ron speaking to someone already on the scarlet train. Hermione spotted them and rushed over.
"Are you two all right?!" she asked, fussing over Draco. "I've been worried sick!"
"We're fine. Let's just get on the train," Harry murmured, looking at Draco concernedly. Hermione bit her lip and nodded.
"Harry, over here, mate!" Ron called as the train emitted a high-pitched whistle and a plume of smoke. Harry, Hermione, and Draco made their way over to the open door. Hermione jumped in and helped Ron pull Draco in. Harry leapt into the carriage and slammed the door shut behind him. The train blew its whistle again and set off. Harry stumbled into the compartment and was surprised to see several of his friends and fellow professors. Ginny Weasley was sitting next to Neville Longbottom and across the aisle were Seamus Finnegan and his boyfriend Dean Thomas. Remus Lupin was sitting in the seat in front of Ginny and Neville. Harry smiled at them in greeting, but ignored their stares and headed over to the seat Draco was sitting in, pain flitting across his face at every bump and turn.
"Draco, how are you doing?" Harry asked quietly, sitting next to the blonde. He looked up at Harry, his face drawn.
"Would it bother you to take a moment and kill me?" Draco asked in a strained voice. Harry smiled softly and pulled Draco to him.
"Never. Don't worry, I'll take care of you, love," Harry whispered, stroking the blonde's hair. Draco sighed tiredly and closed his eyes, resting his hand on Harry's chest. The compartment remained silent as Harry shifted his position, sitting with his back up against the window and Draco lying protectively in his arms. He held Draco close until the blonde's breathing evened and he finally succumbed to the whims of slumber. Then, his friends spoke.
"Harry . . . what is going on?" Ginny asked in a hushed tone. "This is Malfoy."
"No. He's changed, Ginny," Harry replied, shaking his head. "He's had a hard couple of years."
"How . . .? What happened?" Ginny questioned, staring at the sleeping young man in Harry's arms. And so Harry set off on his tale of all that had happened since he and Ron had ventured to the Blue Moon.
"Right, so, Malfoy was a stripper and nearly got himself killed and you rescued him, is that about right?" Seamus asked skeptically after it was over, an eyebrow raised.
"More or less," Harry answered, nodding.
"But it still doesn't explain why he's like . . . that," Neville interrupted, regarding Draco nervously, as though he might awake any moment and hex him into oblivion. Harry hesitated before answering.
"Draco . . . don't say anything to him when he wakes up, but Draco was attacked on our way to King's Cross," Harry told them quietly.
"What?!?"
"His old boss, Frankie Larose, grabbed him, dragged him into an alley, and raped him," Harry continued, his voice thick.
"Is that how you got that black eye?" Dean asked, pointing. Harry frowned as he looked at Dean quizzically.
"What are you going on about?" he asked, confused.
""Your eye. It's all bruised," Dean told him. Ginny silently pulled out a compact mirror and passed it over to Harry. He winced as he looked at his reflection, a large part of the mirror dominated by a bluish-black bruise.
"Yeah, I suppose so," he replied, grimacing.
"Harry, d'you want me to . . ." Hermione trailed off, fingering her wand.
Harry shook his head. "No, I'll be fine. Consider it my war wound." He said, resting his cheek against Draco's forehead and closing his eyes, sighing. The rest of the teachers in the compartment quietly began talking amongst themselves. Harry pulled Draco closer and pressed a soft kiss to his temple. Ginny saw this and excused herself from her conversation with Hermione, Neville, and Remus, sidling over to the seat across from Harry and Draco. Harry opened his eyes a bit and smiled at her.
"Hey, Gin." She returned the smile.
"Hey, Harry." She looked at Draco, his head lying on Harry's shoulder and his hand resting on his stomach. "How's he doing?"
Harry looked down at him and shrugged with one shoulder. "He seems to be doing okay. We'll have to wait until he wakes up to know for sure."
"Why have you—" She cut herself off and hesitated. "Harry, how did . . . this happen?" she asked gesturing to the tangled limbs.
"I don't know, honestly," he replied softly. "It just . . . did."
"Do you love him?" Ginny asked bluntly, staring at him. Her question caught Harry off guard, and he opened and closed his mouth several times before glancing down at Draco. His eyes softened as, enveloped still in slumber, the blonde stirred and buried his face in the crook of Harry's neck, sighing. Harry smiled and looked back up at Ginny, who was watching him intently.
"I'm not sure, but I think I'm starting to," he whispered, brushing a lock of hair away from Draco's face. The hard glint fell away from Ginny's eyes and she seemed to be fighting within herself.
"Are you sure he won't hurt you?" she asked worriedly.
"Positive."
Ginny's defensive expression finally died off and she kissed Harry's cheek, hugging him carefully so not to wake up Draco.
"If you're sure, I'll support you," she told him, smiling warmly. Then her face darkened. "But if he hurts you in any way, I'll kill him with my bare hands."
Harry chuckled. "Love you, too, Gin."
She smiled at him and bounced back to her seat next to Neville. Harry smiled in spite of the threat and laid his against Draco's forehead again, holding him close.
"You're stealing my heart and you don't even know it," Harry whispered, almost inaudibly.
The next thing Harry was aware of was a hand resting on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw blurred shapes. Then someone handed him his glasses. He placed them over his eyes and looking up at Hermione smiling softly at him.
"Hey, sleepyhead," she teased.
"I fell asleep?" Harry asked groggily, rubbing his eyes. Hermione grinned.
"Yeah. And no, Draco hasn't woken yet," she added as Harry opened his mouth. He closed it and smiled tiredly. "But you'd better wake him up soon. We're nearly at school."
Harry nodded and she walked away. He looked down at Draco and smiled softly, unable to help the feeling of happiness that he felt as he gazed at the blonde beauty. He rubbed one hand lazily over his back and kissed his brow.
"Draco, darling, it's time to wake up. We're almost at Hogwarts," he murmured. He smiled when he saw Draco's eyes flutter and open slightly, silvery-grey eyes clouded with sleep. "Hello."
Draco smiled and yawned, then sat up a bit so he was next to Harry, leaning against the window. Harry placed his arm around Draco's shoulder, kissing his temple.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked quietly. Draco's gaze dropped and he fidgeted with his fingers.
"The last time something like . . . that happened, I was plagued with nightmares for weeks," he replied softly. "But this time . . . I felt safe." He looked at Harry, tears shining in his eyes. "Thank you."
Harry smiled sadly and pulled Draco into his lap.
"Love, you never need thank me for anything. I'll always be here for you," he whispered hoarsely, kissing the blonde sweetly. Draco framed Harry's face with his hands and touched their foreheads together.
"This may sound stupid and preemptive, but I think I'm well on my way of falling for you," he told Harry. The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor felt his heart soar and stole a kiss.
"It's neither stupid nor preemptive, as I feel the same way," Harry told him, giddiness bubbling up inside his chest. Draco's face lit up and he grinned. Harry swooped in and captured Draco's lips in a deep kiss, pouring his every emotion into the expression. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's neck and nipped at his full lower lip. Harry pulled him flush against his body and dove into his mouth, their tongues dueling. Harry tangled his hand in Draco's hair and inwardly marveled at the softness of the silken strands. Draco pulled away suddenly and buried his face in Harry's neck. He kissed it softly and murmured something unintelligible.
"What was that?" Harry asked softly, wrapping his arms around the blonde.
"I said, I want you to know that no matter what you say or what happens to us, you will always be my saviour and I'm eternally thankful, I always will be," Draco told Harry seriously, tears shining unshed in his silver eyes. Harry found the words had rendered him speechless and just pulled Draco close, holding him tightly.
"Harry . . ." The two men looked up and saw Hermione standing there timidly. "I'm really sorry to interrupt, but we're pulling into Hogsmeade Station."
Harry nodded and she hurried away. He looked at Draco and grinned.
"Are you ready to rejoin the madness that is Hogwarts?" he asked cheekily.
"More than ever," Draco replied excitedly, laughing. Harry stood and held out his hands to pull him to his feet. The blonde's face paled and he clutched Harry's arms tightly.
"Hermione!" Harry called warningly. She hurried over immediately and helped Draco sit back down. "What can we do?" he asked worriedly, sitting next to the blonde.
"I suppose . . . This will definitely feel odd, but there is one spell I can think of that will keep the pain at bay until we can get Poppy to see you," she murmured, pulling out her wand. She swish-and-flicked said stick of wood, muttering a few choice words under her breath. Draco's eyes widened.
"What? What is it? What's wrong?" Harry fussed.
"I don't think I've ever had my arse numbed before," Draco told him honestly.
"WHAT?"
"Harry, relax. I just cast a temporary Numbing Charm, for about forty-five minutes, just long enough to get him up to the castle, so he'll be able to stomach the Thestral ride up to Hogwarts without discomfort," Hermione explained, inwardly considering the very real fact she might have to sedate her friend to get him to stop yelling.
"Without discomfort?!? He can't feel his bloody arse!!" Harry exclaimed, staring at Hermione as though she desperately needed a visit to St. Mungo's.
"Harry . . ." Draco interrupted, catching hold of Harry's hand. "I'll be fine. Let's just go."
Harry visibly calmed and he nodded. Draco stood up and swayed on his feet. Harry caught him before he fell to the floor, steadying him.
"Definitely haven't ever felt anything this unnatural," Draco stated conversationally, grinning. Harry frowned disapprovingly, but said nothing. They followed Hermione, Ron, and the others off the train to the edge of the village. Draco and Harry clambered into a carriage by themselves, while Ron and Hermione joined Neville and Ginny n theirs. Draco curled up against Harry's side. After a few moments, the carriage started off. The Defense professor pulled Draco into his lap and kissed him deeply.
"What was that for?" the blonde asked breathlessly when they parted.
"I nearly lost you," Harry whispered. Draco smiled sadly and traced a finger down Harry's face. He leaned in and captured Harry's lips in a sweet kiss. It quickly grew from a light touch of the lips to something much more intense. Draco ravaged Harry's mouth with a ferocity he hadn't ever seen in the blonde before. Harry wrapped his arms around the lithe young man and pulled him close as the searing kiss continued. The carriage they occupied suddenly took a sharp turn and they both tumbled off the seat. Draco tried to stifle his giggles by hiding his face in Harry's shirt.
"What on earth is so funny?" Harry asked incredulously.
"D'you think that was McGonagall's way of telling us to stop?" the blonde choked out. Harry burst out laughing and relaxed on the floor for the rest of the ride, deciding he was too lazy to pick himself up. Draco disagreed and flopped onto the cushioned seat, facedown. The rest of the ride up to the castle was spent in silence as one of Draco's hands drifted down to Harry's chest and began tracing indifferent designs through the shirt against the sculpted skin.
The remainder of the ride passed fairly quickly and the carriages soon stopped in front of the castle. The door to their carriage opened and bright sunlight streamed in.
"Why are you on the floor?" Hermione asked incredulously, staring at Harry.
"I fell." Draco snorted. Hermione looked at him.
"Why is he on the floor?"
"Magical repercussions." It was Harry's turn to start laughing as they scrambled out of the carriage. Harry wound an arm around Draco's waist to help and they started up the steps with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Seamus, Dean, and Remus. The door opened and Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore stepped out. Minerva shot Draco and Harry a reproachful look as the group of teachers approached.
"Really, boys . . ." she muttered, turning and leading them inside while Albus struck up a conversation with Remus and Neville. Draco and Harry looked at each other, wide-eyed, before dissolving into laughter. Hermione and Ron glanced at them oddly.
"What on earth are you two laughing at?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing you'd understand," Draco managed to choke out. Hermione sighed and everyone entered the castle. Harry spoke with Albus for a moment before motioning to Draco.
"What's going on?" the blonde asked as he reached Harry's side.
"Come on, you've got to go see Poppy," Harry told him, guiding him up the stairs. They were less than five minutes away from the Hospital Wing when the Numbing Charm ended and Draco collapsed against the wall, pain shooting through him.
"Draco?! What's wrong?" Harry asked urgently dropping to his knees as Draco slid to the floor. "Oh, no. Hermione's spell wore off . . ." he muttered to himself.
"It hurts so much . . ." Draco whispered, a tear slipping free.
"Bloody hell . . . come on, love, we're nearly there. Come on, I'll help you, just hold on for a few more minutes, can you do that for me?" Harry asked softly. Draco winced, but nodded. Harry wrapped an arm around Draco's waist and held him tightly, one of the blonde's arms around Harry's shoulders. After a few painfully long minutes, the Hospital Wing came into sight. "Poppy!" Harry shouted. The mediwitch ran out a moment later, her hair falling out of its meticulous bun.
"Oh, what happened?!" she exclaimed. Then a double take as she realized who it was. "Draco Malfoy?!"
"Yes, he's alive. Oh, my, look at him. Now, get a bed ready. Hurry!" Harry ordered. Poppy nodded and raced into the ward. Harry and Draco passed through the doorway a few moments later and made their way over to the bed the nurse was hurriedly setting up. Harry laid the blonde down on the crisp sheets and dropped into a nearby chair, scooting it right up to the bed.
"Mr. Potter, what happened?" Poppy hissed as she pulled out a dozen different salves, stacking them on the bedside table.
"He was raped," Harry whispered, almost inaudibly. Poppy's mouth dropped open and she bustled about, setting up a tray towards the lower half of the bed, getting ready for Draco's examination. Harry turned back to the pale ex-Slytherin and smoothed the blonde locks.
"Harry . . ."
"I'm right here, Draco. I'm not going to leave, I promise," he murmured softly, taking the blonde's hand. Draco looked up at him and, holding the Defense professor's hand tightly, fell into an uneasy sleep after being given a draft from Poppy. Harry looked up at the mediwitch, his eyes unusually bright.
"Help him . . . please . . ."
She said nothing, but nodded fervently.
Author's Notes: Not exactly a happy ending, but oh well . . . REVIEW!!!!!
More Author's Notes: All right, everyone, we have . . . a website! (Finally . . .) It's rather small at the moment, but I have full confidence in all of you that you'll send in your work (please?) – as of ::checks watch:: right now, it's just my fics ::grins::). The website can be found at www. ladyofthehearts. com (minus the spaces). I hope, once we get off the ground, to have polls, image galleries, beta lists, and fiction contests, in a loose sense of the word (if I can figure out how to get polls and image galleries – anyone care to help??). I also hope to be able to give each author their own board.
I just have a few requests for all of you: please, please, please don't post your fics directly onto the forums. I need to set up a board for you first. So I ask you to instead email your fics to me two to four chapters at a time (do not send me a while 24-chapter fic at once; it takes bloody forever to post that much all at once and I just won't post it). Once I set up your board and post the first chapters, I will email you and then you are free to sent me the next few chapters. I must ask you to please follow the requirements on the "Submissions" page. I'd appreciate it greatly if you'd include them in the first chapter of your fic.
Please don't think I'm trying to be a royal bitch with this (I'm really not!). I just want this website to be successful. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, ideas, anything, email or IM me; I will me more than happy to hear from you! Hope to see you all at the forums!!
By the way, I'm going to be deleting my LiveJournal account. Also, don't be surprised if, over the Christmas break, the site is under maintenance; I'm kind of fiddling around with a few different ideas for the layout of the site.