Title: Passive Aggressive (2/3)
Author/pseudonym: NemKess
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: H/D
Rating: R

Disclaimers: Harry Potter belong to me? I could only wish. Nope, not mine. These delightful characters are the sole property of J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers Studios, and a few other people I'd name if I could remember them. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is made. This is purely to silence the voices in my head.

"Bloody bastard! Who the hell does he think he is!?" Draco ignored the quietly offered "Our master?" from his father and continued storming down the dark hallway. The pair trailing along behind him- or pulled along, in Potter's case- were barely acknowledged as he ranted. "It's one thing to borrow my pet for his sick games. I am a Malfoy! I am not a performing monkey!"

"We are all subject to the Dark Lord's whims, Draco." The older man trailed off with a sigh when it was obvious that his son was not listening. The younger blonde's annoyed voice simply rose an octave higher.

"He's a bloody sick Wanker, that's what he is..."

Lucius sensed that the raving was going to go off on a tangent that was going to get them all into a great deal of trouble if something wasn't done to divert his son's attention. The heavy emphasis on serpents used in the castle's decor wasn't just for show, after all. The wall's might not have ears, but all those parsletongue's were the next best thing.

There'd certainly been a lion's share of resentment and petty in-fighting between them over the years since Lucius had been replaced as Voldemort's second by his own son, but they were still family and at least the Malfoy's were still the most prominent pureblooded family in the Wizarding world. He couldn't allow the young man to let his tendency of venting his spleen regardless of possible ease droppers run rampant.

At least there was one sure way to distract Draco. "I rather think Nott will ask to be in my place the next time our Lord chooses to amuse himself this way."

For a short moment, Lucius thought he saw faint surprise in Potter's eyes before the words brought the younger blonde to a sudden halt. He whirled around and glared at the sticky raven hair of his favorite toy.

"Bloody Nott," Draco ground out, his fury successfully manipulated. Nott had been trying to get Voldemort to switch Potter's ownership almost from the moment the prize had been offered to Draco. Reaching out, he grabbed the shorter man by the hair and jerked him close to plant a punishing kiss on already bruised lips. "You're mine. I'll kill you myself before I let that bastard take you away from me."

His lips curled in a snarl as he tasted other men on his pet.

It re-ignited his anger at the one who'd ordered the 'playtime', but more than anything else he was consumed by the need to scrub Harry clean, to remove all traces of the others off what was his.

Just as Lucius had intended.

Not that having achieved his desired results kept him from pointing out the inherent dangers in Draco's thinking. "Draco, you're getting far too attached to him and you know it. Your possessiveness of Potter will be used against you one day."

Draco merely glared at his father before grabbing Potter's arm and dragging him off to the baths.

The elder Malfoy sighed and followed along at a more dignified and leisurely pace.

The moon was high and bright, reflecting off the two figures silhouetted in the open window of the luxurious second's suite on the top floor of the castle. One, more than twice as tall as the other, leaned casually against the window pane, a rare moment of pure relaxation and near-contentment giving him a peaceful look that few would have recognized. The second shifted nervously at his side, wringing snarled hands and radiating more than enough tension to make up for his companion's lack.

There was no apparent difference in this night or any other night. Indeed, this particular pair had stood similarly more nights than not in the several years they'd been in their current situation.

There was nothing that had marked the day to be any different either. Harsh and unwelcome as certain of the day's activities had been, they weren't unheard of. Uncommon, thankfully, but still frequent enough to blend in with the seams of their lives.

Days and nights, weeks and months... Anything like real time had long since ceased to have meaning for them. One day bled into the next in a seemingly unending stream of surreal time that had become almost comforting.

Despite that comforting sameness, something was different. Something neither of them could really define, only accept as truth.

"It is time, Sir?"

A serene nod was the only response to the tense question, but it was more than enough. A burst of relief seemed to take all the starch out of the asker.

It was finally time.

The taller of the pair was unclothed but for a small dressing gown which he slid off without thought or embarrassment. If nothing else came of the years he'd spent waiting for this night, at least he'd long since shed any shame over his body.
There was no one but his most loyal friend to see anyways.

Indeed, the smaller being's large elf eyes never strayed beyond the bared arm he'd moved to. He wrapped his own tiny hands around the thin arm and concentrated as best he could.

He knew, after all, that there was only one chance to do this and if he botched it up, well... There was no suitable punishment in existence that he could give himself. Everything they'd lost or given up to get this far would be in vain. He refused to let all his companion's sacrifice be for nothing.

A tiny spark emitted from his palms as the elf slowly released the spells he'd placed so very long ago.

For a brief moment the flare of the unlocked magical power threatened to escape them both and all that nervous tension came flooding back.

Fortunately, control and patience were things that the wizard had an abundance of.

The elf let go of the wizard's arm and merely watched as the potential disaster was averted easily. His friend even offered a crooked smile of reassurance. The rarity of that smile made it worth all the praise in the world and the elf offered a small one of his own back.

The moment was lost as a faint golden glow began to pulse in the crook of the wizards arm and an answering one sputtered to life in the elf's.

Across the country side dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of other tiny glows pulsed on other arms as their leader called them back to his side once more. It lasted only long enough to make sure that everyone understood before fading away again.

Hope sputtered back to life with that call and it spread.

TBC

Author's Notes
If anyone noticed any glaring mistakes in this, please let me know. My current beta is holding out on me at the moment until I write her some non-HP ficcage. I told her it wasn't my fault that my HP muse seems to have grown some serious attitude recently. And he used to be so shy and quite! lol.. So, any mistakes are completely my own. The 'light mark' will be explained a little more in the last part. I'm not as happy with the flow of this as I'd like, despite the fact that the whole thing was written in one sitting. It was originally longer, but I had to take out a rather NC-17ish bath scene. ;; I might put that back and up on my LJ at some point, but right now I'll stick with the edited version. Thanks for reading!- NemKess

Notes to individual Reviewers
KatBell- The two speakers at the beginning of the first part were Ron and Ginny, although I guess Neville would be workable too.
Nightengale13- I'm not really obsessed with the idea of the Dark winning, just in Harry having to make drastic sacrifices to beat them. I'm glad you enjoyed the first part and I hope this second part isn't too disappointing.
dntfckwifme- (and everyone else who's ever pointed this out to me) yes. I realize the correct spelling of his name. Unfortunately my computer with it's automatic spell-check really couldn't care less what we mere mortals know. It's a pain in the butt actually and one of these days I'm going to remember to go in and fix that.
Skeet- Dumbledore isn't hiding, he died before Harry ever got captured.
Miss Lesley- Unfortunately, his inability to speak is physical and not going to change.
Opal Rain Dragon- Don't we all?
Angel Baby and Waters Reflection- I guess this part rather answered your questions, eh?