Title: Return to Me Part-11
Rating: pg-13
Genre: Romance
Summary: The night when Harry Potter leaves his husband behind as he goes to war.
Spoilers: 1-5
Warning: slash, m-preg
Disclaimer: I own only the plot of this story. Nothing else. Everything else belongs to JKR.
Chapter-11
A Different Kind of you
"Lentitudo-funero" Harry whispered as he read the aged text that lay in his hands. Agonizing death. The dull candlelight by which he was reading the
Potions book caused shadows to flicker across the ancient pages. The situation had been dealt with, the poison countered. The private rooms were quiet;
even thewind refrained from making an intrusion into the grand quarters of a Malfoy. The rooms were beautiful, draped in deep green materials flowing from
the tall windows and pooling neatly on the stone floors. Rich mahogany tables outlined the main room, surrounded by furniture fit for the private chambers
of a King. The bedroom that stood slightly raised from the rest of the tower held a grand bed with forest green sheets. Somewhere among the silk Draco
Malfoy now slept, alone.
The night passed slowly and sleep moved further and further away from Harry's mind. Even as he tried, he couldn't get himself to leave Malfoy's bedside
or rooms for that matter. So he gave up. After all it wasn't like he would be missed in the Gryffindor dorms anyway. The grand clock in the room chimed
every hour and announced the countdown toward sunrise, which, Harry had decided, would be his cue to leave. Malfoy had slept peacefully for the last few
hours since the second time that he woke up coughing and begging for water. Yet a sense of discomfort had settled in Harry's stomach and was now blazing,
fuelled by anxiety. This was, after all, no small matter. Malfoy had been poisoned. But why? And by whom? This was, as far as Harry knew, the second
attack on the blonde's life and it didn't seem to be coming from the light side. Then where did Malfoy's loyalties truly lie?
Harry watched as the candlelight dimmed and then slowly faded away as sunlight cautiously approached the centre of the room from all the windows.
Afraid that the bright light might awaken the pale boy, Harry pulled all the curtains closed, enveloping the room in comfortable darkness. The arrival of dawn
brought his vigil to an end so Harry parted with his comfortable chair, setting the potion book aside, and made his way across the room to the door. He
stopped halfway, hesitating slightly, before searching for the figure that lay on the bed with his gaze. His feet slowly carried him up the small set of stairs
and into Draco's bedroom that over looked the hall. Harry came up close to the grand bed and looked down into the sleeping face of Draco Malfoy. And
something stirred within him.
The day passed in a haze for Harry Potter. As he walked into the great hall for an early breakfast, his mind slipped into auto pilot mode. His hands moved
mechanically, whether it was the journey of the scrambled eggs from the plate to his tongue or the continuous movement of scrawling notes on a piece of
parchment. Where his mind was, even I as the writer do not know. All the teachers, well those who had hearts at least, could not bring themselves to ask for
Harry Potter's attention. The Tri-Wizard tournament had brought most of the school against Harry Potter, who now stood as an under aged fourth
champion. Snape, unfortunately, did not come under that category. So Harry Potter sat through double potions alone with scathing remarks being thrown at
him along with several gleeful insults. None of his housemates bothered to help or intervene. Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
Dinner came, but not soon enough. Yet when it arrived Harry, instead of going to the great hall, made his way gradually to Malfoy's quarters. He was
fully aware of exactly where his feet were taking him. And so Harry Potter finally realized that a different part of him was taking over his rational side. What
exactly this part was he honestly didn't want to know. All he knew was that he didn't want to fight it so he wouldn't pretend to. He reached the portrait
and knocked politely. His wait lasted approximately 3.48 minutes, and then the door opened.
It was the least to say that Malfoy was surprised to see him, but he didn't question as to why Harry was there. Instead he stood aside and offered the
Gryffindor entrance into his "humble" chambers. He was still in his nightclothes, hair surprisingly dishevelled and dark circles under his eyes. An unexpected
state for the heir to the Malfoy name.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you." Harry said after he had sat down at the dinning table accompanied by Draco Malfoy and a mug of tea.
Malfoy's eyes were dead set upon him, his face passive and his lips pressed tightly together. Slowly he shook his head. Silence fell deeply around the
table and the two boys continued to hold a strong gaze.
"How are you feeling Malfoy?" Harry said after he had taken a gulp from his mug.
"I'm fine." Harry nodded and looked around the room trying to find something to do or say. Obvious questions were burning in his head but he couldn't
get his tongue around them.
Minutes passed and Harry avoided Malfoy's grey eyes, which continued to stare at him.
"What is it Potter?"
"Hm…?" The Gryffindor asked looking at him.
"What is it that you're absolutely dying to ask?" The pale boy looked determined, his hands wrapping tightly against the heat the mug was providing.
"Erm." Harry took a huge gulp of his tea to unhinge his throat. "I want to know what this is all about."
"What?"
"This whole thing about you being attacked. This is the second time. I mean come on. Why would someone poison you? I don't understand."
"Fourth time."
Harry looked up to see that Malfoy had said that unconsciously. "What?"
"This is the fourth attack on my life. You weren't present at the other two." Malfoy was looking down at his tea as if he could see something of great interest in there.
"Who's doing this Malfoy?" Harry asked finally. "And why?"
Draco sharply looked up at this, his grey eyes furiously meeting emerald.
"Are you that thick Potter? Don't you now what's going on here?"
Harry shook his head taken aback from the sudden attack. Malfoy looked at him in disbelief.
"Do you know nothing?"
Harry shook his head again.
"Come now Potter. Open you eyes." He said viciously. "For once in your life try to figure out what the hell is going on. Don't you wonder about who
entered you in the tournament, or why these sudden disappearances are taking place? Didn't you wonder why Baddock suddenly disappeared?"
Harry sat still waiting for Malfoy to continue.
"Potter I told you before there's a bigger scheme behind this tournament than you can see. And you're the target." His gaze shifted now. He was looking at
the mug again. "Voldemort is behind all this and he's using my father to carry out his plan. It's a test for Lucius, to prove his loyalty. And my father will do
anything for this plan to succeed."
"What is this plan?" Harry leaned forward.
"I don't know Potter. All I know is that you are in danger and you need to stop walking around blindly."
"I still don't understand why you've suddenly become a target."
Draco took a deep breath at this and let out a sigh. "My father now considers me as a threat and a traitor. Just like Baddock was considered to be a threat
and a traitor. After Baddock's big mistake over the summer, my father went to all lengths to eliminate him. And now he will do the same for me."
"But why?" Harry whispered.
"That Potter," Draco stood at this, "is none of your concern." He walked away and Harry knew that he should leave. Setting his mug down Harry, rose from
his chair and walked towards the portrait, slipping out silently.
Malfoy had given him a lot to think about. And as he finally stepped out of the castle, cold air greeting his skin, Harry couldn't help but feel grateful.
TBC…