"Hey Harry." An annoyingly loud voice echoed in his ears.

"Go away." He mumbled.

"You hear that?" The voice above him held an incredulous air. "He's telling me to go away, after we've been worried sick about him and searched through half the castle."

What the hell? James?

"We should start working on that map idea." Another voice piped up. "We could have found him a lot sooner."

"Eh, whatever Moony. But you're right of course."

Sirius?

Wait…Harry slowly came back to his senses. He was somewhere soft – a couch – definitely not leather though, so he couldn't be in the Slytherin common room.

A timid eye was cracked opened and immediately closed as Harry spied the Marauders standing over him. He groaned and buried his face into the cushions.

"I think he's awake."

"Really Peter? We couldn't tell." Sirius scoffed.

"Leave him alone Padfoot." James sighed. "Harry's the one who's in trouble."

A muffled whine rose from Harry's direction.

"What was that Potter?" A light voice teased. "We couldn't hear your excuse."

Harry lifted his head and glared. "I said, what did I do?"

"It's what you didn't do bro." James clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "You skived off the whole day, not even we do that."

"It's true; Rem is a real slave driver when it comes to class." Sirius sighed. "Bed too, now that I think about it."

He was smacked across the head. "Not in front of Harry!" Remus cried.

Harry chuckled despite himself and rubbed his eyes as he sat up. "Why am I here?" He yawned slowly.

"That's what we want to know." James said. "It's after dinner, why have you been hiding out in Gryffindor Tower all day?"

"I don't know, the last thing I remember was leaving the Great Hall." His little brother retorted.

"D-did someone hex you?" Peter asked fearfully.

Sirius scowled. "Come off it Wormtail, who would hex Harry Potter?"

"He has an idea Padfoot." James said lightly. "If Harry can't remember even getting here, maybe someone did hex him."

"So I blacked out, that's no big deal." Harry glowered. "Maybe someone was just nice enough to bring me to my brother's dorm. There's no proof that I got hexed." I'm not a weakling who can't take a hex head-on.

He was ignored. "Should we take him to Madam Pomfrey?" Remus asked.

Harry glared at the older boys, he was fine! With a huff he stood and moved away from the overbearing figures.

Hey, there's Lily. His mood brightened immediately. "Hi Lily." He smiled as he sat down beside her. "It seems like I haven't seen you in forever."

An equally bright smile greeted the Slytherin. "I know Harry, where've you been?" Lily put aside her quill as she gave her full attention to the boy.

"Here and there." Harry grinned wickedly. He spied a soft looking brush in the girl's bag. "Hey, can I brush your hair?" He asked eagerly.

Lily laughed lightly. "Sure." She agreed to the odd request.

Yay. He bounced beside her and stared at the auburn hair, it really was nice looking, soft…

Harry's eyes lidded as he reached out and stroked the witch's hair. So soft…

"Ow!"

Emerald eyes jerked open in surprise as Lily pulled away with a light scowl. "Harry, you pulled my hair." She frowned.

I did? "I-I'm sorry." He flushed. What's wrong with me today?

The witch smiled. "It's fine." She waved off his apology. "I was just surprised."

Harry flushed. "Er…I think I should go." He stuffed his hands in his pockets in embarrassment, shuffling his shoe.

"Oh, but why?" Lily frowned. "I'm not mad at you Harry, you don't have to go."

"It's not that." Harry smiled. "My brother is just being an arse at the moment."

Lily scoffed. "I know how that is." She smiled. "I don't blame you then." She turned and picked up her quill.

The Slytherin seemed reluctant to leave right away and he shot a quick glance in James' direction.

"You know, he really does like you Lily." He squeaked.

"What?"

"James, he's liked you for a long time. In fact he never stops talking abut you." Harry said nervously.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "Did he put you up to this?"

"No!" He cried quickly, he blushed at her dubious look. "I just feel bad for him; give him a chance, for me." He smiled before walking away.

As he walked past the Marauders he laughed and called out to them.

"Bye guys, I'm off to go snog my boyfriend!"

All four heads shot up as the portrait slammed shut.

"Damn that little bugger." James frowned.

--- --- ---

Down some corridors and staircases later, Harry was in the dungeons.

He stared up at the Slytherin portrait and scowled. "Why can't you just let me in?"

"Password."

"Eh, Salazar Slytherin."

The painting swung open with a hiss and he walked through, shooting a glare over his shoulder.

Harry slipped into the common room, trying to remain unnoticed and quiet. He almost managed it too, before he saw Snape. A grin split his face as he moved toward his boyfriend.

Severus and Lucius glanced up from their conversation beside the fire and Harry flushed as Snape actually smiled at him.

"Evening Severus, Lucius." He nodded.

"Harry." Severus smiled. "Did you have fun with your friends tonight?"

"Er…yes." He slowly sat beside the two.

"That's excellent, Precious."

Harry's eyes widened and then glazed over as he slumped in his seat.

"Hm, very nice." Lucius murmured. "I didn't think you were telling me the truth when you said the younger Potter was your 'lover'."

Severus merely sneered and turned back toward Harry who was staring forward dully. "Kneel beside us Harry." He demanded.

Harry slid to the ground at the wizards' feet, kneeling and placing his hands in his lap calmly.

"Did you bring what I asked?" Severus looked down on the boy.

"Yes." Harry whispered.

Lucius laughed cruelly. "You really do have him under your control Severus." He smirked. "How did you do it?"

The younger wizard shrugged, absentmindedly patting Harry's head. "A simple potion brewed and you can control even the fiercest of beasts."

"Indeed." The blonde watched Harry with a strange light in his cool eyes.

Severus turned his attention back to the kneeling figure. "Give them to me." He demanded lightly.

A clumsy hand shot forward and thrust his prize into the awaiting hand. Lucius raised a curious brow.

"You had him find string?"

Severus forced his patience to remain steady. "They're hairs." He replied lightly. "Evans' hair." He added as an afterthought.

"You have her hair?" Malfoy repeated. "Surely you aren't thinking of going through with your plan." His eyes widened as he realized the teen's goal.

"Why not, I'm a Slytherin aren't I?" Severus retorted. "And with Potter at my side it will not fail."

Lucius nodded reluctantly. "What does your potion do exactly?" He peered at Harry.

"It instills the need to serve by destroying his will."

"His will?" Lucius flicked his gaze toward Severus.

"His will to fight, his will to disobey." There was a haughty smirk. "I also placed a trigger so that he may pass as "normal" when not in my presence."

"This is very well thought out." The blonde commented.

Dark eyes narrowed. "There is no room for failure." Severus chuckled darkly. "If I am to have my revenge then my plan will have to be flawless."

Harry remained posed beside them, oblivious to the words spoken around him. Lucius trailed his eyes down the slight figure.

"Perhaps I can have a turn with him." The flushed lips curled into a deadly smile.

Severus grimaced. "Lucius, I didn't know your tastes ran in that direction. Isn't Narcissa enough for you?"

"There is nothing wrong with warming your bed with a young boy from time to time." Lucius retorted. "I really don't understand you Severus, why waste such a lovely being when you have him bowing to your every need?"

"I'm not queer."

"And neither am I, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a good fuck." He stroked Harry's thigh. "Such a fine specimen for being so small."

The darker of the two waved his hand. "Take him then, but do not fuck him. That will be my pleasure." His eyes flashed.

Lucius smiled and nodded. "That's fine, as long as I'm able to play with him for the time being." He turned his lecherous gaze onto Harry. "How does he work?"

Severus snapped his fingers and Harry rose. "Just tell him what you want him to do."

Lucius smirked. "That won't be a problem." He stood. "I think I will turn in for the night, mind if I take the pet now?"

"I don't care." Severus turned toward the fire.

The blonde nodded. "Come Harry, we have much to do."

Harry rose from the carpet and followed Lucius, eyes at half mast and sleepy. Severus remained posed on the couch, staring deeply into the fire.

I don't care what happens to Potter, he is nothing to me. His eyes closed. Nothing.

Silence surrounded him and he sighed.

What is this feeling in my chest and why does it hurt?