Title: A Torturous Reminder
Chapter 18: Battling the Darkness
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!
Mr. Bates walked over to his car and motioned them inside. Another auror was in the front seat, and Harry and Draco ended up sitting on the backseat.
"Hey guys!" exclaimed Anne, looking, once again, very excited.
Harry smiled, and Draco just looked at her, scowling slightly.
"Hello, Anne, I take it you're going to come with us?" asked Harry in a polite manner. Draco had to give it to Harry; he sure knew how to mask his feelings. 'And I should know,' he thought grudgingly to himself.
"Yes I'm in my last year of auror training and this is part of my training, going out and getting some field experience."
Harry raised his eyebrow, "And they gave you this one?"
"Yeah, and I'm really excited!" exclaimed Anne, beaming at them.
Draco felt that Anne should not be there with them. This was a mission that was very dangerous-death eaters were involved. Not to mention, Anne did not have enough experience to work in cases such as the one they were currently in. Apparently, Anne did not realize the danger she would be facing.
"We have discussed with Ms. Travis the danger of this task. We feel she is ready for this," said Mr. Bates hurriedly, sensing Harry's and Draco's discomfort.
"Yes, they have, and I am really honored for this opportunity," said Anne, looking at Mr. Bates appreciatively.
They drove in silence to the outskirts of the city and into the wooded area. Ancient trees loomed over them threateningly, almost beckoning them inside, and the foreboding aura added to their mystery.
Mr. Bates drove into the woods, hiding his car behind the large amount of trees.
"Now, before you all get out let me explain some things. We are almost certain that they are in this area right here. The wooded area covers a range of five miles, but magic was detected in this part yesterday. Please be careful. If you hear anything, alert me about it. We have aurors on stand guard. We couldn't bring them here with us since their presence would probably have driven the death eaters away."
"Not if you have Draco here," said Harry bitterly.
Mr. Bates chose to ignore him, "So be on your way. Please report to me every thirty minutes or so, don't forget. Anne, you're coming with me. We'll see you later, and good luck," said Mr. Bates and turned to walk away from them.
Draco and Harry looked after them before turning around and facing the woods.
Harry put his hand in Draco's and gave it a tight squeeze, his eyes shortly shifting to Draco's before facing the woods.
Draco did the same, squeezed Harry's hand in reassurance, all the while looking at him before turning back to the forest.
They both stepped in wordlessly, the feeling of magic coming off everywhere. Harry let Draco's hand fall and instead replaced it with his wand.
Draco reluctantly let Harry go and stayed close by his side, nearly jumping at every owl hoot and rustle. The sound of their twin footsteps on dry leaves sounded harsh amid the calmness that seemed too terrible at the same time.
They walked down into the forest, going deeper and following the trail of magic they felt. It grew dark but neither wanted to cast a light charm, knowing it would just make them more visible.
"I think it's this way," Harry finally spoke after the silence, though in a whisper.
Draco didn't trust his own voice, and he merely nodded, trusting Harry but with a bad feeling.
Harry glanced at Draco and gave him a small smile, trying to calm him down; he knew his boyfriend seemed troubled about what might happen.
"You're the one that wanted to come here, remember?"
"I'm not complaining."
"But you're shaking."
"I can't help it."
"You have me as your human shield, what do you have to be afraid of?"
"Losing you."
Harry looked at him rather stunned, and then laughed slightly, "Fat chance of that, Draco. After surviving against their leader many times, I'm sure I can handle the followers."
Draco sighed, his shoulders drooping, "If you think so, but…"
"But what?"
"I still have a bad feeling about this."
Harry looked up, worry filling his bright green orbs.
"Same here but…we're got to go through with it, and we'll make it in the end," he said with a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Draco stepped forward and planted his lips on Harry, giving him a small kiss before stepping back.
"You know, we really shouldn't be having escapades in the middle of a forest filled with death eaters."
Draco shrugged, "Who knows, we might just be able to distract them with a small display."
Harry smiled. "As much as it is tempting, I have to refuse. I prefer my eyes to be the only ones looking at your visible body."
Draco nodded, blushing slightly, and continued walking, turning back questioningly when Harry didn't join him.
"Harry?"
Harry snapped out of his thoughts, and with a deep sigh walked over to Draco.
They walked deeper into the heart of the forest, their steps getting slower and more hesitant. They had not found anything; it would only be a matter of time.
Harry took out his phone and called Mr. Bates, motioning for Draco to come closer to him.
"Hello, Mr. Bates….no nothing yet, and you?"
Draco looked silently at Harry. His Harry. He was not dumb, he knew what was coming. He knew his father, and he knew his father would recognize his weakness the instant his cold grey eyes landed on him. Today was the day he would get rid of his father. He had been unable to live a peaceful life, the threat of his father looming over him. He just hoped that Harry would be fine, Harry - his weakness. Harry the man that drove him wild with desire, the one that ignited his anger and got inside his skin quicker than anyone else. Harry, the man he loved. He hoped that everything would be fine, but his hope seemed shallow, seemed impossible.
"Well, we'll keep in touch then…bye," said Harry, closing his phone and pushing it into his pocket.
"Nothing new, I expect?"
"No, Mr. Bates and Anne have not found anything. Nothing at all. They are in the same situation as us, although he said that the presence of magic in his area was diminishing, so he was going to head in another direction."
Draco nodded, "How much do you want to bet we are right in Lucius' path?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair, "I agree…I can feel the magic practically pulsating now."
They continued walking, stopping occasionally to rest. They came to a clearing with a river, the sound of the river flowing and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees made them both stop and take in the view. It was beautiful. The water of the river was clear, and with the wind, leaves fell all over the water and themselves. Both stood there for a while, taking in the sight in front of them. It seemed something so simple, yet it seemed to relax them.
"Beautiful," said Harry, sitting down on a rock, and bringing Draco to sit next to him.
"Yes," whispered Draco looking at Harry.
They sat in silence until Harry stood up, and held a hand out to Draco.
Draco took the hand in his, and was hoisted up. He cleaned himself as he noticed his dark slacks had gotten dirt on them.
"Only you would that," said Harry smiling.
"Do what?"
"Clean your pants."
"Well, they are dirty, you see, or do you need better glasses?"
"Want me to change my glasses?"
"Yes…wait…no."
"No?"
"No. What is Harry Potter without his trademark glasses?"
Harry laughed softly, "Okay, fine, but you're still weird."
Draco scoffed, "I thought it was decided that you were the weird one."
"I thought you meant I was the stupid one."
"Well I meant both. You are stupid and weird."
"And you are a snobbish git that worries too much over his appearance, are overly dramatic, and afraid at the sight of rats."
"Am not!"
"Whatever you say, dear."
They left the clearing and, with the change of setting, their attitudes went back to how they had been previously.
It was dead silent.
Not even the wind rustled the leaves. Animals could not be heard. The owl hoots were long gone. The only sound was their footsteps, echoing loudly for all to hear.
Draco shivered slightly, as the temperature dropped even more. He hadn't thought of bringing a coat with him, which now he battered himself for forgetting.
"Cold?"
Draco nodded, and then felt a hand go around his shoulder, bringing him closer to Harry.
"Better?"
Draco gave him a small smile, and they continued walking, not knowing when they would meet their fate.
Harry had called Mr. Bates multiple times, and Anne and he had found absolutely nothing. They had agreed to go back and search another day; they only had one more hour of searching.
One more hour.
Draco continued shivering, but his eyes and ears remained sharp against any sound or anything that he could see. Harry had a look of deep concentration on his face, his eyes moving in all directions, trying to look at everything.
Suddenly Harry gave a big gasp that stilled Draco's heart.
Draco turned around to look at Harry, his heart in his throat, and saw nothing.
"What was it?" he whispered, walking closer to Harry.
Harry's serious face suddenly turned into a big grin as he chuckled. "Nothing," he said, "I just thought I should make something interesting happen."
"What are you trying to pull! You had me worried there! Don't ever do that again," Draco said, furiously shaking and looking with cold, yet relieved eyes at Harry.
"I know, I'm sorry. I guess I was just trying to liven up the situation, as much for you as for me. Well, let's head back then," Harry said, his shoulders slumping. "It seems like they're not going to take you today."
Draco looked around them, still not entirely too sure when he suddenly heard a twig snap.
"Harry," he said, calling Harry to him as he turned around.
Harry had already started walking when he heard Draco's voice call out to him, full of fear and desperation.
'Maybe he's trying to pull one on me,' he thought, 'as payback.' He turned around, expecting to see only Draco there, possibly smirking, and was not ready for the sight he was about to see.
Instead of Draco, there was Alex, standing in what appeared to be black robes and smirking at him.
Harry's anger rose within him as he turned and found no one. He faced Alex once again, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "What have you done to Draco?" he asked, his voice taking much effort to be controlled.
"I thought a little family reunion was in progress," Alex said with the same smile on his face. Harry pulled up his wand and Alex pulled his up, before beginning to shake his head. Harry looked at him warily, his wand still aimed at Alex, and wishing he could perform the killing curse right then and there. But he had to wait, had to find out where Draco was first.
"Where… did you… take him?" Harry said once again, his voice now ebbing on the edge of self-control.
"I don't see what you like in him," Alex said, looking over at Harry, his face changing from a smile to one of distraught. He sighed, casting his eyes down, before looking back up at Harry, a malicious smile on his lips. "I can't wait until all this is over," he said, "and then we'll be able to be together."
Harry looked at Alex full of hate, his magic beginning to rage out of control. The wind was picking up speed and the trees were beginning to creak. "Tell me… where the fuck he is… before I… kill you," Harry said, his green eyes blazing with fury and willing to do anything to get Draco back.
Alex just laughed, a tint of fear in his voice. He had stood in the same place the whole time, not wanting to get nearer to Harry now for fear of what might happen to him.
"Oh, you'll get your explanations soon enough," Alex said. "We'll keep in touch," he whispered, blowing Harry a kiss and laughing maniacally before he disappeared.
Harry stood staring at the place Alex had just stood, the wind beginning to swirl around him and picking up leaves, even small pebbles from the ground. He glared in disgust and anger, his mind reeling with too many emotions to cohere them, but only with one action in mind. 'Get Draco back,' his mind screamed, but he had no idea where and how to start. A heavy feeling settled in his chest as he looked around. No other thought, no other feeling entered him. It was a wonder he was able to think straight.
"Fuck the ministry! Fuck everything," he said, his voice low and in too much pain to yell. He let his wand droop in his hand, knowing full well that there could be other death eaters in the forest, but not caring. All he wanted was Draco, the whereabouts of Draco if that was the only thing he could get. He was going to save Draco, give his life up if he had to. All he wanted was to see Draco at least one more time, and leave him safe and well, without his father to bother him, without Alex's jealousy.
He glared at the ground, his vision becoming blurred as hot tears sprung up into his eyes, but he wasn't going to let them run. No, he was too angry to let these tears run. He had too much to do to let them run. Instead he thought about how Draco had been right, how Draco had been right about Alex and his over-obsessive self.
'The bastard,' thought Harry, his anger only increasing. Then he realized another thing. If he had turned around in time, he might have prevented it. If he hadn't thought it had all been a trick, like his had been. Harry stared wide in shock at nothing in particular, his eyes going lifeless as the thought formed in his head. 'It was his fault.' Once again, it was his fault someone was going to get hurt, his fault someone was probably going to die. Guilt, anger, and resentment, all aimed towards himself began to rise up. The tears in his eyes pushed their way forward, now more than ever as Harry stood there stupidly, all his thoughts replaced with guilt.
First Sirius, then Dumbledore. Was it going to be Draco this time? He mused on it, wondering whether, in order to save the world, he had to give up the lives of those that were precious to him. He had loved both Sirius and Dumbledore, in their own way. They had been the parents and mentors he had needed so much, had continued to need, but they had been taken away from him at a bitter time. And now, the same was happening to Draco. And all because of him. He muttered angrily, wondering if he wasn't off better dead. Maybe then, he wouldn't have caused all this pandemonium.
The wind was still rising around him, rising to unreasonable heights that were now making the ancient trees creak, made the ancient trees feel like they were being pulled out, but Harry was oblivious to it all. Instead, in his blind rage and full of anger, anger intended for everyone but Draco, even anger aimed at him, he got up and with heavy footsteps began to trace his way back to the place they had to go after everything.
He had felt like running into the forest, like searching it all, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to, he knew that it was probably futile and the best thing to do now was wait, and hope. If he didn't kill himself, or anyone for that matter, before then.
He walked out into the clearing, his eyes dull and void but with power still surging all around him. He looked up, only to take in an unexpected sight. Mr. Bates and Anne both lay on the ground, mouths wide in astonishment and eyes dead and rolled back. He would have stared in shock at them, wondering what had caused this, but he knew what had caused them, and he was feeling too void to be surprised. He glared down at them, but couldn't find anything related to pity in his heart for them. Instead, he found himself thinking they were better off like that, better off dead rather than having to face the world. And better off dead because they were the ones that had pushed Draco into it.
He knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn't help it. He grabbed Mr. Bates' cell phone that he had clutched in his hand, and prying Mr. Bates' cold fingers off of it, he dialed for the aurors and then threw the phone down. They would be found soon enough, he was sure of it. Without a backwards glance, he began walking back towards the hotel, clouds beginning to unfurl in the sky and drizzling rain, that was soon to be made into heavy rain, began to pour, lightning and thunder accompanying it.
A/N: Hope you guys liked it. Tried to… get things right. Hmm… now we have to figure out where Draco is… hmm…. Well, hope this chapter was enjoyable and… we'll update soon….