Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or places. They belong to JKR.
A/N: I hope you enjoy this one! Only one more to go! Oh no! I'm really enjoying writing them! Thanks again to my bestest best mate, Nargil, for letting me use her pc to upload this. And thanks to the Stepmonster who forgot to change the password on my pc so I could type this out instead of my 'English essay'. Thank you all for your reviews!
Locker Room.Harry waited until the Quidditch team had left the locker rooms and entered the castle before he landed.
Making his way inside, Harry quickly stripped and switched on the shower. Waiting for the water to heat up, Harry caught sight of his reflection in a mirror. Cautiously stepping in front of it, Harry studied himself.
Criss-crossing across his chest and stomach ran deep scars, still dark and pink against his pale skin. Turning around, Harry studied his back over his shoulder. A giant Dark Mark, burned there by Death Eaters when he was kidnapped during the summer, marred the once smooth skin.
FLASHBACK
"Hello Potter," Lucius Malfoy's voice rang out through the cave, torchlight cutting through the darkness. "Are you ready to be punished?"
The knife's blade gleamed unnaturally in the gloom. Lucius brought the cold, cruel edge to Harry's skin and began to slash, not caring how deeply he sliced, or if he crossed other cuts. Harry refused to scream, clenching his jaw and straining against his chains.
Lucius disappeared after a while, and Harry was left alone to ignore the pain as best he could. The emerald-eyed teen could feel the warm blood flowing from his wounds, dripping down his sides and pooling beneath him on the floor.
After what seemed an age, Lucius returned, with Bellatrix, Crabbe, Goyle and Snape in ow.
"We are going to Mark you, so that when Our Lord arrives and kills you, we can return the Baby Potter to Dumblydor, a spoiled child!" Bellatrix jeered.
Crabbe and Goyle released Harry's chains and forced him to his knees, holding him firmly in place. Bellatrix, Lucius and Snape all pointed their wands at his trembling back and began to chant under their breath.
A fiery burning sensation began in his back, and Harry felt as though his skin was boiling. Harry could feel the Dark Mark as it formed on his back. The skull began between his shoulder blades, and the edges curved out across them. The snake reached right down into the curve of his back. This time, Harry screamed.
The Marking ended, and the Death Eaters released his arms. Harry fell forward on his face, but couldn't move to push himself up.
After jeering for a bit, the Death Eaters turned to go, but Snape bent down.
"You filth!" he spat. "I'm glad I shall never have to look upon your ugly face again!"
Behind him, the insane Death Eaters laughed, and under the cover of their taunts, Snape lowered his voice and spoke quickly.
"The Order's coming Harry, hold on a bit longer. I'm sorry."
Spitting on Harry for show, Snape joined his ex-comrades and left the cave with them.
END FLASHBACK
It was not long after that the Order arrived and rescued him. Bellatrix had been killed in the struggle, Crabbe and Goyle were once more imprisoned, but Lucius Malfoy once again managed to escape.
Harry had spent days in the Hogwart's Hospital Wing. It turned out that Lucius' knife had been spelled to leave scars, and no spell or potion could counter-act the effects. Harry, ashamed that his body was such a mess, now hid himself under clothes and never undressed in front of people. Plus, he didn't want to be reminded of the dark meaning associated with the mark on his back. He preferred to forget it existed.
Moving away from he mirror in disgust, Harry stepped into the warm spray, relaxing as it pounded on his muscles. Tilting his head back, Harry felt the water pour over his face and once more felt glad that he'd had an eye correction procedure before school started.
Hearing a noise, Harry's eyes snapped open and landed on the naked figure of Draco Malfoy. Startled, Harry backed up against the wall and covered his chest and stomach as best he could with his arms.
"Draco, what are you doing here?" he asked.
He wasn't particularly scared; Draco had run away from home and come to Dumbledore for protection from Voldemort. He'd been the only person apart from Snape, Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Remus and Tonks who had seen Harry's wounds, as he'd been in the Hospital Wing recovering from a severe beating. Even so, Harry wasn't keen on the Slytherin seeing his scars.
"I came because of you," Draco replied. "Because I'm in love with you."
"What?" Harry was shocked.
Draco came closer to Harry, the light shining off his hair.
"I said I'm in love with you," he repeated.
"How can you be in love with me?" Harry was stunned. "We've been enemies for years, and, you don't even know me!"
"But I do!" Draco insisted. "I don't need to be close to you to have fallen in love with you. You're beautiful!"
"No, I'm not," Harry muttered.
"But you are!" Draco replied. "I've never met anyone who is as beautiful as you. And I don't just mean on the outside. I love you for who you are. And the fact that you're drop-dead gorgeous is just a bonus."
Harry dropped his arms and stepped towards the blonde.
"Do I look gorgeous to you?" he demanded. "How can someone with so many scars be anything but ugly?"
"You're beautiful to me," Draco answered. "Doesn't that mean anything? And it's not just your body I'm in love with! It's you! Think about me, don't you feel anything for me?"
Harry looked at Draco. The Slytherin was standing there open, honest and so very, very close. He looked stunning, but more than that, in the past few months, Harry had gotten to know that Draco was an amazing person. Suddenly, he knew. He was in love with Draco, and always had been.
Reaching out, Harry caressed Draco's jaw gently. The blonde sighed and leaned into his touch, his own hand reaching up to grasp Harry's.
"I love you too," Harry whispered.
Draco smiled softly and leaned in to kiss Harry. Wrapping his arms around Draco's neck, Harry felt hands on his back, strong arms moving around his waist. Breaking away, Draco leaned his forehead on Harry's and stared into the mesmerising emerald eyes.
"I want you," he panted.
Harry smiled and pressed closer to him.
"I want you, too!" he whispered.
Smiling, Draco began to kiss his way down Harry's chest, taking care to kiss every scar on Harry's body, just to make him feel loved.
Soon, both boys were ready, and Harry quickly performed a wandless lubrication charm as Draco gently lowered them to the floor. Positioning himself, Draco carefully slipped inside his lover.
"I love you!" he sighed, as he waited for Harry to adjust to his intrusion.
"I love you too, Draco," Harry whispered, bucking his hips to show Draco he was ready.
They began to move together slowly, before building up their pace. Their bodies fit together perfectly, their hips moving as though they'd done this thousands of times.
Soon, with a cry of "Draco!" Harry came, with Draco following him shortly afterwards.
Collapsing on top of Harry, Draco kissed his lover, once more whispering that he loved him.
"I know," Harry replied. "I love you. I feel so happy."
"I'm glad you do," Draco smiled.
They lay together for a while longer, before getting up to take a shower together. Running his hands down Harry's chest, Draco noticed that the bumps where Harry's scars were had disappeared. Frowning, he looked down, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Come with me," he whispered, leading Harry over to the mirror, hands over his eyes. "Look."
Dropping his hands, he watched Harry's reflection as the boy saw himself.
"My scars!" he murmured. "They're gone!"
"It looks like the way to defeat Lucius' scarring spell is love," Draco smiled.
Harry turned around and flung himself upon Draco.
"Thank you, Love!" he whispered.
"Don't mention it," Draco held Harry close. "I'm happy that I've made you happy."
Together, they finished their shower and made their way up to the school, already discussing the rest of their lives together.
A/N: I hope you liked it! I may not be able to update again for a while, but I'll try my best not to keep you waiting for the last story.
