Title: A Torturous Reminder

Chapter 10: Treason

Rating: M

Warnings: H/D SLASH, HBP SPOILERS

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter! Characters (except those created by us) belong to the amazingly talented J.K. Rowling, WB, and the publishing companies. Don't sue us! We are just bored teenagers having a go at poor Harry and Draco!

They walked through a deserted park, trash littered everywhere. The houses around them where in shabby conditions, none looked like they would last another day. Decay and corruption seemed to fill the air, the horrid stench present in every inch of the desolate place.

Their steps slowed as they got nearer to the house, which, like its counterparts, seemed to be on the urge of collapsing.

"We should enter through the back door or through a window, get them by surprise."

"Well I bet they have wards and an alarm system set up around the house, so it doesn't matter from where we enter. Before we even get to the door, they'll be outside," said Harry in a business-like tone.

"Okay, so you think we can take off all the wards without them noticing?"

"It depends what kind they are, but maybe. It will be much easier for us."

Suddenly, Harry threw him arms out, grabbing Draco, pushing him backwards.

"Wha.."

"The wards start there," muttered Harry, taking out his wand, Draco mimicking his action. There were no muggles outside to notice their activities.

Harry felt the pulsation of the magic and, with his wand, uttered a quick incantation, while Draco watched by his side.

Slowly, a smile crept over Harry's face. He turned to look at Draco, a crooked grin on his features.

"We can take these wards away, it will be difficult, not to mention time consuming, but at least it can be done."

"Great, let's get started then," said Draco with a sigh, moving behind a building with Harry close behind.

"Alright, we will start by removing the outer wards first, the tracing wards. Hit it with any spell you can think of, it will work on them," said Harry, taking a stand beside Draco.

"On the count of 3, 1…2…3!"

Both of them raised their wands simultaneously and started to work.

An hour passed by and the outside wards were mainly gone. Harry and Draco were working on the last one, though it didn't seem to want to budge.

"What do we do now?" Draco asked, looking annoyed and tired. This ward alone was taking the time it had taken to get rid of the other wards.

Harry stood thinking, his wand clenched tightly in his hand. "Move back, Draco," he said suddenly, stepping forward and lifting his wand. He muttered a short incantation, followed by various procedures as Draco stood staring at him wide-eyed.

"That should do it," Harry muttered, and after feeling no other wards around, he turned back to an astonished Draco. "What?" he said as he caught a glimpse of his face.

"I didn't know you knew any dark magic," Draco said.

Harry merely shrugged it off. "I knew a bit before, but not that much. Actually I learned most of it recently. What else was I supposed to do over the week that you didn't talk to me?" he said, nearing the house. "Come on, there's a back way in."

Draco followed, pushing his past thoughts away and carefully following right behind Harry.

Harry reached the door, mumbled something as the doorknob rattled, then entered.

There was dust everywhere, and cobwebs clung to the scarce furniture that was inside. Darkness crept everywhere and did not feel in such a hurry to leave. The little light came from a crack on the wall, and the opened door, which was quickly shut by Draco.

"Come on," Harry said, beckoning Draco forward and being careful where he stepped.

"It doesn't look like anyone's been here," Draco said, looking around the place.

"True, but that's because the dust has settled in too deep. If you look carefully, you can see light footsteps," Harry said, continuing on, "Though, I think the dust has been enchanted to do that."

Draco followed in Harry's footsteps, musing at the things around him, when he suddenly bumped into Harry.

"Be careful where you're going Draco," Harry said.

"It's not easy creeping around in the dark, you know," Draco returned.

"Shh," Harry said, clasping a hand on Draco's lips and pulling him forward.

Draco stared awkwardly at him, and even thought a part of him wanted to slap that hand away, another part was savoring the moment.

'Wait what am I doing! We're about to possibly get killed, and here I am, melting at the touch of his hand,' he thought, pushing the hand away reluctantly.

"Hide," Harry said, snapping Draco out of his internal thoughts, "they're coming."

He pulled Draco towards a corner where they were out of sight. Harry pushed himself closer to Draco, slowly moving his head to see if he could catch a glimpse of what was going on.

"They haven't been here yet, and I doubt they'll get here!" they heard a voice that was all-too-familiar say angrily.

"But we're still under orders and have to stay here," they heard another voice say, pleading with her.

"I'm not staying in his house one more day. Tell Lucius he can stay if he wants in this god forsaken hellhole, but as for me, I'm tired of it," Lestrange said, coming into Harry's view, and walking towards the door before a hand caught her.

Harry, though, brought himself back in and placed his head on Draco's shoulder, breathing heavily, and trying to come up with something.

"Bella, we cannot leave! We must stay! Listen to me!" exclaimed the man, tightly grasping her hand.

"Alright, Draco, stun them when I give the signal, okay?" whispered Harry hoarsely.

Draco nodded, and took a strong hold of his wand, slowly moving away from Harry.

"Now!" whispered Harry, and pulling himself away from the wall threw a stunner at the man, Draco following suit but aiming the stunner at Bellatrix.

A loud thud was heard as the man fell on the floor, his eyes holding a shocked, blank look. As soon as she heard movement, Bellatrix turned around, reflecting the stunning spell towards Draco. A loud bang resulted as Draco moved to the side, making the spell hit the crumbling wall.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Harry, when just after he had spoken, a spell hit him in the back, and he doubled over in pain.

"Harry!" exclaimed Draco as soon as he saw Harry being hit, and turning around he saw why; they had more company.

Another spell was sent his way, and grabbing Harry's hand, he hauled him off the floor, narrowly missing the spell Bellatrix had sent.

Bellatrix laughed, a maniacal laugh that seemed to envelope the house. "Both of you think you're so great, don't you!" she yelled. "Stronger than my master! Everyone knows it was just luck on your part, Potter!"

Not caring the slightest with her comment, he shut her off, but out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the death eater that had just arrived come closer to Draco. Suddenly, he raised his wand, and Harry's eyes widened. "Cruci-"

Without thinking, Harry turned and sent a spell at the death eater, slamming him against the wall. At that same instant Draco sent a stunner to Bellatrix, who sent it back to Harry in one quick swish of her wand. Harry, being with his back turned, felt his body stiffen, and he dropped to the floor.

Draco looked at Harry, then quickly turned back as Bellatrix aimed a spell at him, wasting no time.

Draco quickly crouched on the floor, just as the spell whizzed past him, and, still on the ground, he muttered a spell at Bellatrix, whom reflected it just in time.

Draco took the time to stand as Bellatrix eyed him wearily.

"Think you can beat me, Draco? I'm hurt, hurting your own aunt like that. Tsk Tsk. Then again, what can we expect from a traitor," Lestrange said, a small smirk on her face, though her wand was still in her tightened grasp.

Draco glared at her, and tightened his hold on his wand, but didn't reply. Instead, he raised his wand, ready to catch her off guard.

Bellatrix continued to smile at him, though now turning into a full, yet somewhat manic, smile. "Awe, maybe Draco really does care for his aunt. Well, so sad buttercup, but I can't say the same for you. Left your father, tut tut," she said, shaking her head, and circling the room, eyes fully trained on Draco. "If I were him, I would have dealt with you long before. But then again, Lucius always knew how to get the best out of you," she said, noticing Draco's flashing eyes, an encouragement for her remarks. "If only I had such a loving father when I grew up," she said, half laughing and with a voice full of sarcasm.

Draco glared at her, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, I'm sure you would've loved him," he said coldly.

"Awe, is Draco mad?" Bellatrix asked with mock concern, then turned her gaze to Harry. "Not much good now, is he?" she said, hatred visible in her eyes. "How he could have defeated the Dark Lord when he can't even fight a few death eaters is beyond me," she said, her wand rising into the air, and pointing it down to Harry.

"Don't you dare touch him," Draco said threateningly.

Bellatrix raised her eyes, and put on a laughing smile. "Well your father would not be happy to know you've fallen in love with the enemy. I can see that horrid emotion in your face…You know, your father won't permit it."

"I don't care what my father says."

"Well then, we'll have to do this the hard way and get rid of this useless boy," she said smiling.

"You better not lay a finger on him, Lestrange," he said as she raised her arm.

"Av-"

"Stupefy," he muttered, aiming at Lestrange but missing her and instead hitting one of the death eaters already on the floor.

"Well, Potter will get his turn. A boy with no parents and tainted blood, a mere boy, and he went against our Dark Lord," she said, shaking her head.

"Don't talk about him that way!" said Draco icily, looking directly into Bellatrix's eyes, and advancing towards her.

"Touchy about him, aren't you? Caring will get you nowhere," she hissed. "Do you want to hear him scream, Draco? Do you want to?" she continued, giving a kick to Harry's back, and noticing that Draco flinched, she laughed.

"We should wake him up so you can see his pathetic eyes looking up at you…pleading…worthless," she whispered.

Draco tightened his grip on his hand until he felt he could no longer hold it tighter, his anger rising with each breath he took. At her words his eyes flashed, and the only thing he wanted now was to make her scream.

"Cru-" he started, his arm very steady when he suddenly heard a pop. Bellatrix had left, apparated out of the building. "Damn," he muttered, continuing to curse, and looking at the bodies on the floor. He stared at the place where she had stood just seconds ago, then felt a groan to his right. He noticed one of the death eaters slowly arousing and aimed another stunning spell at him. 'I guess I should alert headquarters,' he thought as he looked at the two before turning to Harry.

He dropped his gaze to the floor and got on his knees. He looked at Harry's still form, and with a shuddering breath whispered, "Ennervate."

Harry's eyes fluttered open, and, amid the darkness, he saw a pair of concerned silver eyes looking at him.

Draco helped him stand up but noticed how Harry had placed a hand on his back, the place where Lestrange had hit him. 'Fucking bitch' he thought, gritting his teeth, 'Why wasn't I quick enough? We could have gotten her too!'

"Are you okay, Harry?" asked Draco softly, his arm now around Harry's shoulders.

"It just hurts a bit," he said, rubbing the sore spot on his back, "Draco what happened?" he asked, eyeing the death eaters on the floor.

"Well, here are two that we got. Unfortunately, Lestrange apparated out of here," he said tiredly.

Harry noticed Draco's tone and looked at him with concern, "Draco, did she say something that bothered you?

Draco gave a humorless laugh and shaking his head, he took out a cell phone from his pocket. "I need to inform the office," he said as he waited for them to answer him.

Draco talked for a few minutes while Harry contemplated the situation. Why had he been so stupid as to be stunned not even halfway in the duel? What if Draco had needed him? What if Lestrange had caused something….?

Draco finished talking on the phone, and looked over at Harry, "Harry, it's not your fault."

"I didn't say anything!"

"Harry, I can practically feel the shame rolling off you. It's not your fault, okay? Let's just deal with it."

Harry nodded and yelped when, out nowhere, three aurors apparated into the room.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter," acknowledged a tall, thin, middle-aged man, "We're going to bring these two to the office for interrogation, but first we need you to tell us what happened."

Harry and Draco nodded, and the second voice that spoke shocked Harry beyond belief.

"Peter, let's make this quick. I believe you have a case to go back to," said a voice from the corner, amid the shadows - a voice that unmistakably belonged to Alex.

'Great, just what I needed,' Harry thought, trying to look at everywhere but where the voice seemed to be coming from.

Draco noticed Harry's sudden tenseness and began to relate everything that had happened to Peter as Harry stood uncomfortably by his side.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter. I'm sure headquarters will be highly delighted. Come back soon, Mr. Bradford wishes to talk to you both about the same thing. He told us he is giving you tomorrow off to rest up," Peter said amiably, shaking their hands, and along with another auror, apparated away with the two unconscious bodies.

"Harry…" a voice spoke from the shadows tentatively as Alex's figured emerged.

Harry looked up at him critically, eyeing him warily. He hadn't seen Alex since the incident had happened and still did not wish to see him.

"What?" Harry practically spat out.

"I… I was wondering… if you'd forgive me, Harry. I know what I did was wrong, but it was an urge. Before you, Harry, I was with everyone, and anyone. I couldn't control myself, but for you, I'm willing to change. Harry, please, say you'll forgive me. Please," Alex said pleadingly, stretching out his arm, and taking a hold of Harry's hand.

Although Harry's first instinct was to recoil in disgust, he held on. Alex's plead seemed truthful, but he wasn't going to go back with him. He was trying to think up of a way to tell Alex what his feelings were when he felt an arm drape around his waist.

A/N: Three guesses whose hand is on Harry's waist! This chapter is shorter, we know, but it makes way for the next one…which we are sure you will enjoy…;-)

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! Keep them coming, hehe

Heh… oops, my fault this chapter wasn't updated as quickly. Sorry, I sort of forgot… in a way… then forgot again… and yeah… even forgot some homework was due… which I'm pretty sure is now ten points off… sigh once again, sorry this update wasn't as soon as it could have been, but hopefully it was satisfying. Like previously stated, the next one should be even more…. Enjoyable…