Dancing With Both Eyes Closed
By: warwithdarkness
Paring: HP/DM or DM/HP as a main pairing, others will most likely pop up later.
Rating: M for Mature
Warnings: slash, relationships between two males (of the sexual kind), violence, language, AU, angst, character death
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it.
Chapter Five
Old Impurities
"Sit down, Harry, I'll pour you a cup 'o tea. Sugar? Crème?"Two lumps please."
"So what is it that you wanted to talk about, dear?" "I…Well, you see…""Spit it out, Harry. You need to learn to speak your mind and not fear the consequences. Hmph, even though that can get you into some trouble I dare say."
"I need your permission to leave the grounds, Vivian."
"Why? Everything you need is here. Protection, food, water, magical books, training grounds…pleasure."
"I know, but I need to get out. The wards wont let me unless I have your permission or I am in danger, which, currently I have neither of those."
"That is a good thing. The answer is no, Harry, unless you tell me why you need out."
"Vivian, I can't do that."
"And why not? You are not very good at persuading people, I think Mr. Snape needs to up his standards."
"Damn it, Vivian! I don't give a flying shit about my lessons with Snape. Say I can leave! Say it or so help me I will force my way through the wards both you and Dumbledore put up."
"Calm down, Harry. You won't be able to breath through them, we made sure of that."
"He's going to get there. He's going to get there before me and it will all be over. Everything. It will end, just like that. I can't let him have it, Vivian. I know they wanted to wait, but we've waited to long."
"Are you sure, dear? How do you know?"
"Dreams. I see him and…the eclipse…"
"The eclipse? There isn't one for a few more months, dear. We'll owl Dumbledore and tell him what—"
"Madame! Madame! Death Eaters and Werewolves! The northern station spotted them about six miles away. They're coming on foot."
"The wards won't allow them to come here any other way. Get everybody into position, get the—"
…BOOM…
"SHIT! What was that!"
"They couldn't have gotten this close so fast!"
…BOOM…
"Calm down, Tanya, get to your position and make sure everybody around you has what they need. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter."
"Good. Why haven't the crystals started?
"Go jump start them, Harry, the flow of magic must have been interrupted from the blows on the wards."
…shatter…
"VIVIAN!"
Harry woke to the sound of screaming. It rang oddly in his ears and he began to wish that whoever it was would stop, he didn't think he could take any more of the gut wrenching shrieks of pure and utter pain.
Harry felt his hands being yanked away from his ears and being pressed into something soft and his legs being pinned down by several sets of hands. It took him a moment to register that the screams were coming from him and that his throat hurt from use and dryness.
Snapping open his eyes, he stopped the noise, closing his mouth shut with a click of his teeth. His whole body shook and sweat poured off of him soaking his clothes and the sheets underneath him. It hurt to inhale his shaky breaths. He stared up at the ceiling for a long while, ignoring the people that restrained him to the bed, and let several tears drip from his watery eyes.
Blinking back the rest of his tears, he took one last shaky breath before he looked at the people who held him captive. Snape held one arm down, his pale face a few shades paler than Harry remembered it, and his black eyes were wide in what Harry knew was concern. Turing his head slightly he saw Yuuri gripping his other arm so hard that his hand was asleep. Looking down at his legs he saw six employees of the bordello grasping his legs, including Mercedes, the girl that had told them of Yuuri's arrival. All of them were looking at him in worry, not a trace of fear in their eyes.
Dropping his head back onto the pillow, Harry said hoarsely, "You can let go of me now." Slowly the hands left his limbs, many of them patting or caressing them in a reassuring way. The sound of soft footsteps and the door creaking shut were the only sounds in the room for a moment and then silence reigned.
Harry knew that both Snape and Yuuri were standing beside his bed watching him regain control of his mind and body.
'Why? I haven't dreamed that in a long time. It must be this place. Coming back wasn't a good idea. No…no…not a good idea.' Harry curled up onto his side, his good eye staring at a place passed the cream colored wall. 'Brian, what will happen if I decide to leave.'
"Love, it's all right." A cool hand caressed his tousled black hair and bushed away the single tear that escaped his eyes. "Shh, cry all you need to."
"Leave." Harry growled, his voice broken and soft from his yelling. Harry didn't have to look at either man to tell frowns had appeared on their faces. Yuuri turned him onto his back, exposing his face for them to see.
"No." Snape hissed. "You need to deal with this, Potter. I know what you were dreaming about so don't question me, insolent brat. Is this why you never came back? You couldn't manage living in a place where the memories haunted you at every corner? You should have come back. The people here would have helped you and they will still help you even if you refuse it. They are some bizarre witches and wizards." Snape said, his voice getting soft as he continued to watch Harry's good eye darken with misery.
"Remember, Harry, you have to want it. You have to want it with every fiber of your being. If you don't it will backfire and then you will feel pain beyond your Crucio experiences."
"Thanks, Hermione, way to make me not want to do this."
"Oh. Well that wasn't the best of tactics, was it?"
"No, no it wasn't."
"Sorry, Harry. Just want it, ok? Forget what I said earlier."
"This is so much fucking trouble for a protection spell that we don't even know will work."
"This will work! You just have to—"
"Want it. I got you the first time."
"WANT IT!"
"You are so bizarre, Hermione."
"Must you always daydream, Potter?"
"I was not daydreaming, Snape. I was remembering." Harry sat up in bed, his tears and anguish momentarily forgotten. "Where's Hermione?"
If Snape was startled at the sudden change of topic he didn't show it. "Ms. Granger is currently working as head of the Department of Magical Artifacts and does not know of your return yet. She didn't want to get her hopes up after we sent you the warning letter and so decided to bury herself in her work. No doubt that as soon as she gets my letter she'll be here."
"Well, when are you planning on sending that letter, Snape?" Harry growled his tongue sticky in his dry mouth.
"At the end of the week. I know that you wish to see her, but at the moment I do not trust your mental stability—"
"Stability? Are you saying that I'm insane, Professor?" Harry snarled, feeling slightly good at the fact that Snape flinched at the title.
"No. I'm saying that you may have another break down. My statement is not unfounded either, Potter, so not another word. You will not be leaving the premises and Yuuri will be watching your every move, so do not even dream about leaving the bordello to go to Granger. Is that clear?" Snape's face contorted into a sinister grin.
Harry glared at the man, his fists clutching at the bed sheets. His magic was calling out for him to strangle him, kill him for being the pompous ass that he was. "Fine." And the magic faded back into the background, it's lusty whispers of pain and death were nothing more than a recent memory.
"Good. Get dressed and get to the kitchens. It's lunchtime and you haven't eaten in almost two days." Snape said, a flicker of concern showing in his eyes before he turned on his heel and exited the room.
Letting out a sigh, Harry turned to his right and glowered at Yuuri who was smiling pleasantly at him. "He cares about you more than he would like to admit, love. He talks about you like one would talk about an annoying little brother."
"Shut up, Yuuri. I'm not in the mood to think of Snape as a close and personal family member." Harry grumbled, swinging his legs off the bed and walking to the dresser where he knew the clothes the bordello provided him would be. The close he wore smelled of sweat and he needed a bath.
"There's no need to be angry, lovely. It's a good thing, you wouldn't want him to be against you would you?"
"How many, Snape? How many did you kill to keep me safe?""Don't flatter yourself, brat."
"How many, Snape? How many?"
"Why does it matter? They are dead and you, nor anyone else, can bring them back to life…Well, bring them back to life while still being human."
"How many, Snape? You were assigned to protect me one year ago and you were to annihilate anyone who was threat that you could reach. You were to be my teacher and my friend…my…DAMN IT, SNAPE! HOW MANY?"
"Three hundred and twenty-nine."
"Excuse me? Did you just say three hundred and twenty-nine people?"
"Do you need to clean out your ears?"
"But…how?"
"Poison mostly. Sometimes with spells."
"Who?"
"Death Eaters, giants, trolls, werewolves, anybody that I could touch that was a threat. Don't give me that look, Harry Potter. War isn't pretty, and I have to do what I have to. I do it so that the Dark Lord will fall and we can finally have peace."
"The path to peace is bathed in blood."
"And poison."
"I don't think I would be alive if he wasn't on my side." Harry said as he shuffled through the drawer, pulling out a pair of trousers, a shirt and some underwear. Yuuri laughed, his purple eyes alight with mischief.
"More like at your side, wouldn't you say? It seems that no matter who I ask everyone says that you a Severus were hardly ever apart during the war after he was found out to be a spy. William said it was like you two were attached at the hip and never out of each other's site. He found it quite amusing." Yuuri said, smiling so that he could see every bit of his white teeth.
"Bill? He's alive?" Harry said, almost dropping his clothes as he turned to face the purple-eyed man.
"That he is, love. Along with Ginny, Fred, George, Charlie and dear Ms. Weasley." The smile on Yuuri's face never faltered as Harry let out a stream of insane laughter that floated out the window and into the ears of most of the workers of the bordello.
"They're alive! THEY'RE ALIVE!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs as he jumped up and down like a giddy school girl. Grabbing Yuuri's hands he twirled them about, laughter as pure as new fallen snow. The older man's grin just widened. Harry hadn't felt such euphoria in years. It flowed through his blood like the warm, Italian sun beat down on his brown skin.
Soon his laughter died down when he again remember neither Ron nor Mr. Weasley were alive. They didn't even get to see it halfway through the war. Dropping Yuuri's hands, slightly embarrassed by such a childish and emotional display, he turned and picked up his clothes and walked to the door that lead out into the hallway. If he remembered correctly he still knew where the bathroom was.
"Accept it, love, and it will make everything much more easier."
Harry glanced over his shoulder to find Yuuri's face quiet serious, all evidence of his previous joy was gone. With a nod, Harry left, shutting the door softly behind him.
After his bath, Harry walked down stairs and headed to the garden. He bypassed the numerous employees of the bordello playing games and laughing.
'Just call them prostitutes, Harry.' Harry thought, but knew that he never could. They were employees, but they were prostitutes, yet Harry couldn't call them something so derogatory in his mind. They were wonderful people.
Sighing, Harry passed a young male couple talking quietly, their heads close together and their hands clasped between them. He could tell by the look in their eyes that they were lovers and felt a slight pang in his chest at the thought. Turning away, he walked to the fountain that he had landed in when he arrived and sat at the edge.
'This place is so peaceful.' Harry thought as he closed his eyes and let the wind caress his hair.
"Such calmness, love."
Harry didn't even bother to open his eyes as he felt the older man slide in beside him with their shoulder's brushing each other. "I love this place," Harry murmured. "Why are you a part of this?"
"A part of what, lovely?"
Opening his good eye, Harry frowned at the man. "A part of whatever is going on here, because there is something going on since I was almost killed by that thing in red."
Yuuri sighed, "All in good time, my love. We will explain it once Draco arrives, for I am sure he will have something too add?"
"Malfoy? Why would he be here?" Harry grimaced at how eager he sounded at the mere mention of the man. 'Breath deeply, he's still an ass no matter how gorgeous he is.'
Yuuri smiled gently, "He's been a part of this thing since the war ended, why wouldn't he be here? I think he'll come in tomorrow or the next?"
"Probably having a fun with that man at the Wailing Banshee." Harry said, closing his eyes, and trying to focus on the man's breathing next to him. 'Wait. He's not breathing.' Snapping his eyes open, Harry fell off the rim of the fountain and into the water behind him. Sputtering as the cold water surrounded him, he tried his best to glare at Yuuri who was chuckling from his seat.
"Figured it out, have you, love? I must say you found out quicker than Draco did. It took him almost a week to figure it out. But in all honesty you slept for most of the time that I've been around." Yuuri said, tapping his chin with his finger as he was lost in thought.
Harry clambered out of the water, brushing his black and white hair out of his face and sat down next to him. "You must be powerful considering that you're out in the daylight." Harry paused for a moment. "You're not part of the Cover are you? I would have seen you at Hogwarts."
Yuuri waved his hand absently and Harry was dry. The man's magic seemed to stroke his whole body, leaving a pleasurable feeling behind. "No, I'm not a part of the Coven. I find that being alone has many more perks than being a part of that group." Harry studied the vampire, his eyes lingering on his pasty complexion.
'Vampires aren't usually this pale unless they haven't feed.' Harry reminded himself.
"You haven't feed recently have you?" Harry asked, his green eye showing curiosity.
"Not recently, no. Severus mentioned that you might be a willing meal." Yuuri smirked, his purple eyes swinging around to look at Harry suggestively.
Harry's mouth opened in surprise. 'I haven't met a vampire so…forward.'
"Aren't used to vampires asking you blatantly, are you, lovely?" Yuuri asked, his lips stretching into a smile. Harry swore that the older man could feel his blood pounding in his veins. When he was younger Harry remembered that Dumbledore had given Julius a stern talking too about making the feeding process comfortable but not pleasurable because he was only a child. But now, the idea of a feeding as an adult made his heart beat faster. He had only heard stories, and most said it was something that was extraordinary. "I take it that you are not adverse to the idea, love?" Yuuri smiled, his fangs slightly elongated.
Shaking his head, Harry blushed and turned away from the vampire. 'I'm not a fucking virgin? Why the hell am I blushing like one?'
Yuuri laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "No need to blush, lovely. It's nothing worth being embarrassed about."
'Brian, what the hell did I get into?' Harry thought as he tried to get the rather risqué images floating in his head.
Author's Note: AHH! ANOTHER CHAPTER! SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! Draco appears in the next chapter, plus a bit of Harry/Yuuri (I know I said that it is Harry/Draco/Harry but I need Yuuri for Draco to get his ass in gear, if you know what I mean.) Also, some much needed info about the mysterious thing(?) in red. Thanks for reading!
Don't forget to review! It would be much appreciated!