Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Harry Potter that will be used, unfortunately.
Summary: Harry was captured by Death Eaters and taken to Voldemort. Can he defeat him and come out alive?
Warning: Torture, Blood, Death, Slash
Title: The end…or the Beginning?
Chapter Three
It was two days after the defeat of Voldemort. Two days since they brought in those who had been prisoners in the former Dark Lord's dwelling. Two days since years of fear and pain was brought down in a spectacular show of white light that only Harry saw. Two day's since Harry became free of the madman that was Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA Voldemort. And in those two days Harry had been interviewed, congratulated and thanked too many times to count. He had given exclusive interviews to the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly and the Quibbler but only if they were done on his terms and he got to read the final edited version before it was published. He had each reporter put under a binding magical contract that they hold to their word before the interview because he didn't want any of his words getting used the wrong way. He had posed for pictures and did the whole publicity thing that he personally found annoying and a load of bullshit.
In the two days since then he and many other people of the Order had been given Order's of Merlin for their work to the cause of defeating the Dark Lord. People had celebrated and partied for the new freedom that was upon them but Harry had had one thing in mind the whole time. It had been two days since he'd gone to St. Mungo's. The other three prisoners of Voldemort's hadn't been anyone familiar, two witches and a wizard that had been held captive. But Harry hadn't been back to see Draco since he and Severus had got the blonde there. He had wanted to go back and check on him and with the interviewing problem done he decided to head there.
That was why three days after the final battle he had made his way to St. Mungo's and was now walking to the private room that held Draco Malfoy. He had made sure the healers gave him a private room before he had to leave. He had asked Severus, who had been to see Draco the day after they got him there how the other was and the man had said he was still unconscious but healing but Harry wanted to see the blonde for him self.
So his trip to St. Mungo's. He walked up to the door of the room that was closed and knocked lightly. When there was no answer from the inside he cautiously turned the doorknob and peeked into the room. On the bed in the room lay the person he came to see, clean and looking much better then when he first saw him in that cell/room. Walking into the room and closing the door behind him Harry walked over to the bed and sat in the chair that was beside it.
Draco's hair was now clean and neat again, splayed out on the pillow around his head, the blood and dirt now gone from it. Draco's face was clean, devoid of blood, dirt and bruises. He was wearing a hospital robe as he lay covered by the sheet up to his stomach. Harry sighed as he sat back and looked at the young man in front of him.
He was happy to see that the blonde looked to be healing well though he had yet to awaken. That worried him just a bit but he got from Severus, who persuaded a healer to tell him, that Draco was recovering from the amount of torture he'd been under but they had high hopes of him waking up and being fine. Harry had been happy to hear that bit of information.
Looking at the pale figure for a moment Harry hesitantly reached out his hand and brushed the fringe from his forehead, resting his hand in the blonde hair a moment more than necessary. Only Severus and Lupin, and possibly Dumbledore because he seemed to know everything, knew why Harry had wanted to come to the hospital, why he was so frantic when Draco had been found in the state he'd been in. They knew about Harry's secret crush on Draco Malfoy since the beginning of seventh year. Harry had been devastated, though not surprised, when Draco disappeared with the rest of the majority of the Slytherins and some other students after graduation.
He had, irrationally, hoped that Draco wouldn't join that monster and even when he thought he had Harry still couldn't rid him self of the attraction he had to the blonde. So imagine his surprise when he found that Draco was indeed with Voldemort but as a prisoner and not a follower. It shocked him to his very core. But what he wanted to know was WHY Draco had been a prisoner in his supposed master's manor. That was what was bugging Harry, scratching at the back of his mind and demanded answers.
He had talked to Dumbledore about the possible reasons for Draco's condition when they found him and why he was even like that to begin with. All Dumbledore had done was give him a sad look and say that it was for him to talk about if he so wished. It was obvious that the old man knew and wasn't going to divulge any information so Harry contented himself with hoping to figure out why from Draco.
Pulling his hand from the blonde strands he caressed the back of his hand down the smooth pale cheek, running a thumb over the full pink bottom lip lightly before pulling his hand away completely.
"Oh Draco," Harry said in a voice just above a whisper, deep voice slightly hoarse, gazing at the face that haunted him since seventh year. He sighed and clasped the pale hand lightly as he continued, "I wish I knew why you were held prisoner by Voldemort and tortured. It was a shock to find out you were being held captive there, I thought I would be sick thinking about all they could have done to you. I defeated him, you know? Well, you probably don't but I'm telling you, I defeated him and he's gone. It wasn't a spectacular ending or anything but its over and that's all that matters." He paused again briefly looking to the floor before looking back at Draco.
"I was worried when I remembered you were there, captured, possibly and most likely hurt. I couldn't think you might already be dead it wasn't an option for me to consider because you HAD to be alive. So we searched; me, Severus McGonagall, Dumbledore and Remus. I was the one who found you and a bit of me wishes I hadn't. You weren't anything like I remembered. You were broken and bloody and I couldn't stand the fact that that was you, Draco Malfoy.
I hadn't been able to get away from the fucking press until now. Two days after we brought you in. I wanted to see you before than but I couldn't get away. I asked Severus about you as he had checked up on you on but I had to see you for myself. I had to know for myself you were alright. I know you probably wouldn't appreciate my concern and probably would mock me for my crush on you. I mean, why would you want Harry bloody Potter of all people attracted to you when there are so many people more worthy of your time and attention?" Harry's voice broke a bit and he suppressed a sob that was bubbling in his throat. He didn't know why he was doing this to himself, torturing himself like this. He let go of Draco's hand and sat up straight, clearing his throat a bit.
"I…I'll return again, probably only hurting myself by doing this but I'll return until you wake up and then if you want me to I'll keep coming back until your recovered. I," he choked back another sob wondering when he became such a self emotional masochist. "I'll see you later Draco." he said and hesitated a moment before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to the pale cheek. He straightened up, cast one last forlorn look to the unconscious figure and strode out the room. He didn't see the pair of eyes that watched his back with a sad look or the man who stepped into the vacated room. He didn't see any of it as he walked out of St. Mungo's and apparated.
Severus Snape had stood outside the door to Draco Malfoy's room as he listened to the words that Harry spoke. He had come to the door and realized that it wasn't closed all the way and a fraction of it was open; enough to hear the one sided conversation being held inside. He had arrived just as Harry started about not being able to get away from the press. He had listened as the man spilled his heart to the unconscious man on the bed. He knew of Harry's infatuation with Draco as the two had become something of friends and Harry confided his feelings for his supposed enemy.
Severus wasn't as cold as many thought him to be but cold to those he didn't what to get close to. Severus had listened to Harry's confession that night when the young man, not even out of seventh year yet, had come to him to vent. Harry couldn't understand then why he would have such an attraction to a person that was his supposed enemy. He had ranted for an hour before he quieted down, slumped in a chair and stared into the fire. Severus had been more understanding than most would have been or thought him to be. He had told Harry, quite bluntly, that you couldn't choose who you were attracted to because sometimes your body and subconscious latch onto something you normally wouldn't see. That night Severus had shown a bit of understanding to the young man and that was the night they began to get closer.
Sighing, Severus walked into the room making sure the door was firmly closed behind him before walking over and taking the seat Harry had vacated gracefully. He knew Harry had most likely apparated back to Snape Manor where he was currently staying with him and Remus. He looked at the blonde on the bed, his star pupil when in school. He also wished to know why the blonde had been a prisoner but Dumbledore wouldn't speak of it to anyone only saying that it was Draco's choice to tell them. In frustrated him to not know though he had a few theories on it. Shaking the thoughts from his head he looked back at the blonde.
He didn't understand why Harry would hurt himself so much just to see Draco. Severus knew Harry had no illusions just as Severus himself had no illusions that Draco would be warm towards his affections much less that it was Harry who basically found him and saved him. And he felt a pang of sadness or maybe regret he wasn't too sure at that thought. He had gotten over his hate of James Potter enough to realize Harry was his own person and he had gotten to know him and found that he wasn't as much like James as he originally thought. He didn't know if Draco would give Harry that same courtesy.
"You don't know how much he cares for you Draco, he was distraught when he couldn't get away to see you. You would have been amused to see him almost snarling at the reporters and photographers," He paused and chuckled throatily, remembering Harry's terse behavior on the second day after the defeat. "He was even snapping at his friends when we had a meeting on the first night after the defeat and they wanted to know about his training that they weren't privy to and why they weren't. He was anxious to see you." He paused again and looked out the window of the room. It was charmed to show the time of day like the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall.
"If you were awake you'd be shocked to hear me talking about Harry Potter of all people like this," he said and cringed a bit at unthinkingly echoing Harry's earlier words. Harry was generally a confident person with high self-esteem but when it came to wanting certain people to like him he was afraid of rejection but pressed on anyways no matter how much it would hurt him with that Gryffindor courage of his. "I hope you don't hurt him too much Draco, he's had enough of that." he said softly thinking to the abusive past he and Harry had in common. No he didn't need to be hurt any more. But why is he setting himself up for something that he knows will hurt him in the end? Severus thought as he gazed back at the blonde trying to suppress the feeling of protectiveness the thought of the young man getting hurt brought. He couldn't and gave up knowing he had come to care for Harry in an almost paternal way.
He chuckled wickedly at the thought. Potter Sr. would be rolling in his grave if he knew I considered his son in such a fashion. The thought made an evil smile cross his face. Looking back at Draco he sighed and stood, gazed at the blonde a moment before walking to the door, opening it and stepping through closing it behind him. He would be back to check on the blonde again but for now he was going to head to his home and be with his lover for some much needed private time. With a loud crack he apparated away, after leaving St. Mungo's and reappeared at the edge of his words. He walked swiftly to his manor and entered. He knew his lover would be here for he had said he would be.
A house elf popped in front of him and bowed swiftly.
"Master Remus tells Kippy to tell Master Severus that he be in study when Master get home! And Master Harry comes home awhile ago, he's says he be in his room if needed," The elf squeaked in a high voice that sounded vaguely female.
"That will be all Kippy please do not disturb us," Severus said as he was already leaving to head to the study. He knew Harry would be fine and if he really needed to talk he would come to him and Remus, so he wasn't too worried about that. He walked into the study to see he his lover curled in a comfy chair book in hand as he read in front of the fire. Remus looked up as he walked over to him. Remus hadn't changed much except his honey brown hair now fell to his ears and was liberally streaked with sliver grey strands and his once tired amber eyes held a little more life to them.
"Sev how was the visit?" Remus asked marking his place in the book he was reading and putting his full attention of his dark haired lover. Severus wasn't as pasty pale as he used to be now a creamier pale that went wonderfully with his pitch black hair and deep black eyes. His hair was now just brushing his shoulder blades.
"It was good though he is still unconscious. I arrived not long before Harry left. He was talking to Draco. Rem, he's only hurting himself by doing this. We all know Draco's attitude towards him and he's only going to get hurt when Draco awakens." Severus said as he leant against the arm of the chair. He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Remus's lips before pulling away.
Remus smiled at his lover's concern for someone he used to despise. Severus had come so far in letting go of some of his bitterness and hate. He was so proud of him. "Severus there is nothing we can do about that he is determined to go there as you know. Did you here any of the conversation?" Remus asked. Severus nodded and repeated what he had heard of Harry's conversation. Remus looked sad but nodded his head. "He will go back and keep going until he is rejected. He really cares for him Sev, might even love him, who knows? If he is rejected we will be here for him, you know he'll be devastated like when he thought Draco joined the Death Eaters. We were there then and helped him through it and we will this time, love."
Severus sighed but nodded his head. "I know we will its just when he's hurt whatever he's feeling is let out through his magic so those surrounding him feel it too. His emotions are extreme enough without having to experience them also," Severus replied wryly with a smile then frowned. "And what did you mean IF he is rejected? I'm under the impression he will be, this is Draco Malfoy after all and no matter how much he was my favorite student and how well we got on he is still who he is and as I remember he didn't particularly get along with Harry," Severus said sarcastically.
"Well no they didn't get on at first and neither did you two Severus. We haven't seen or heard from Draco in two years maybe he's changed. We don't know what has happened in the last two years for him to have had become a prisoner and with Dumbledore not talking its obvious it's something important. But as I said we will be here for him," Remus stated with a small smile. Severus nodded and leaned in to kiss his lover deciding to worry about Harry later.
Harry sat up in his room at Snape manor that Severus had given him to stay in little over year ago after he got out of Hogwarts. He had arrived here after leaving the hospital and came straight here having a house elf tell Remus he was home. He wasn't in the mood to talk to Remus about his visit and had sought the solitude of his room that was done in emerald green and black with light blue and green accents. He was currently lying on his bed that had black and green bed coverings and green pillows with black trim.
Remus and Severus were like family to him as strange as the latter sounded and he respected and cared for both men. He didn't want to disappoint either man and the real reason he didn't want to face them was because he was afraid they would be disappointed in his continued attraction to Draco. He hadn't been really alone with them in three days and was supremely relieved. He couldn't face them and possibly the dissatisfaction they were sure to have. They knew of Harry's crush and hadn't a problem with it or the person really but he knew that he could be hurt and knew that Remus and Severus knew this too. And he didn't want to disappoint them with his weakness, his inability to just walk away before he got hurt. But he couldn't because he had to know, even if it would hurt, that Draco wouldn't give him a chance.
He sighed and turned onto his side. Ron and Hermione were another problem. They didn't know everything going on in his life anymore; not that he and Severus were closer, not his crush on Draco. They knew some things now like his training, his current living residence and that he was closer to Severus. It took them awhile to wrap their minds around everything but they finally did. They were hurt that they weren't in the know about all that had been going on with him and as of now things were a bit rocky with them but they did understand that the fewer people who knew the better. They still didn't know about his crush on Draco and he had no plan on telling them if nothing came of it.
He was glad the war was over; glad Voldemort was gone for good this time and glad to be free. Now he just had to figure out what he was going to do with his life now that he no longer had red-eyed Dark Lords after him. He snorted and decided to think about it tomorrow for now he was going to rest.
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