A few days ago, I had an incident (not on this archive) where someone copied and posted word for word one of the stories I had written, disregarding the format. I filed a complaint with the mods of the archive and within 24 hours the copied story as well as the account of the thief were removed from the archive.
Please don't copy another's work and try and pass it off as your own. It just makes you look foolish and could result in the termination of your account. If you're having a plot problem, there are numerous Livejournal communities that are dedicated to "plot bunnies" for you to draw inspiration from.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled program...
- - -
Harry tried to curb the nausea. He really did. But the constant rocking of the boat on the ocean water was not helping.
They had been on board for three days, destination unknown. He couldn't remember how he came to be on the boat. He woke up the morning after Dudley had murdered Pansy and discovered he was locked in a cabin. His arms were unbound but when he tried to gain his freedom, discovered that while he was asleep, Dudley had chained his ankle to the metal bed frame that was bolted to the floor of the cabin.
At least I can move around. Was his first thought.
- - -
Dudley entered the cabin carrying a tray of sweet meats and fruit. The smell assaulted Harry immediately and he bolted for the small basin in the corner of the room, retching his guts out. Dudley sneered in disgust.
"Must you do that around me?"
"I'm sorry. I don't do well on ships." Harry told him, laying down on the narrow bed. Dudley handed him an apple and Harry shook his head, turning away from the sight of food.
"What are you going to do with me?" Harry asked after some silence had passed.
"Well...since you married Malfoy, I'm going to sell you back to him for a tidy profit."
"You mean ransom?"
"Aye."
"W-Why did you try to rape me all those years ago?" Harry stammered.
"I did it on a dare." Dudley shrugged. Harry was stunned.
"You mean all this time...I was afraid of you...on a DARE!" he shouted.
A moment later, his head hit the wall as Dudley backhanded him across the mouth.
"Keep it down!" Dudley hissed as Harry cupped a hand around his bleeding mouth. "You forget, I can kill you now and return you in pieces to your husband."
Harry believed he actually would and kept silent, unaware that their conversation had been heard.
- - -
Draco was livid. He really wanted to charge into the room and take back Harry from the fat whale man. But Severus warned him against it.
He and Severus (who had caught up to him) had managed to procure the last two seats on the same boat that Dudley had taken Harry. Draco didn't have much opportunity to search for Harry once they were on board. The captain had confined everyone to their cabins while they maneuvered the ship into choppy waters. He didn't want to risk anyone falling overboard.
It was the morning of their second day. Draco had been prowling around above deck when he had spotted Dudley carrying a tray of food and followed him. He took note of what cabin the man had entered and immediately went back for Severus.
"You don't want to just go charging in there!" Severus exclaimed.
"Why not?"
"He's got a knife or have you forgotten? You could get hurt, he could hurt Harry or worse, kill you both and be done with it."
"He stole Harry away from me!"
"And we will get him back. You just need to have patience. Let me handle things. Harry would never forgive you if you were sent to prison for murder."
"It wouldn't be murder!" he scowled darkly.
"To you maybe. But not the constable. Do you think Harry would appreciate you if you're locked up."
"No." Draco muttered, knowing his uncle was right.
"Then please, Draco. Let me handle this. I will get Harry back for you."
"I'm glad you came with me." Draco sighed, hugging the enigmatic man. Severus patted his back in sympathy.
"We're family, Draco. That includes Harry. I'd do anything for you, you know that."
"All the same, thank you."
"You're welcome." Severus smiled. After a moment, Draco pulled away.
"So, what's the plan..."
- - -
It was their fifth night aboard the ship. Harry was nauseous all the time and he was literally sick of it. And Dudley was becoming more and more unstable. Glaring at Harry at the most odd times, smacking him about for no reason. Harry's face and upper body was a mass of black and blues. And the further he got away from home, the more depressed he became.
Harry was losing hope of ever being rescued..
Draco's not coming for me. He probably doesn't even care anymore. He sighed. He walked to the only port window he could reach and stared out into the blackness of night. A single star lit the sky and he stared at it, making a wish. Then he went to the bed and lay back down.
I want to go home. Tears began to leak from his eyes and he curled into a ball and cried silently.
- - -
It couldn't have been more than an hour or so later that Dudley charged into the room, scowling darkly. He grabbed Harry by the throat and slammed him into the wall.
"Where the fuck is he?" he snarled, spittle smacking Harry in the cheek.
"Where is who?" Harry rasped, struggling to pry the man's fingers from his throat.
"Your 'loving' husband! There's been no replies to the notes I've sent! Now where the fuck is he?"
"I don't know! He could be on a business trip or working in the fields! He doesn't share his work with me and I've never asked him to!"
"Fucking liar!" Dudley shouted, squeezing Harry's throat. Harry choked, feeling his air supply starting to dwindle. He caught the slight scent of alcohol on Dudley's breath; the man was drunk apparently.
"Where is he?" Dudley snarled, squeezing tighter.
"I...don't...know!" Harry gasped out. "Let...go...of...me!"
Instead of letting go, Dudley began pounding Harry's head into the wall behind him. Harry's vision began to waver and fade and he welcomed it with a smile on his face.
He didn't come to when Dudley was pulled off of him and thrown into the wall by Severus.
He didn't come to when Dudley pulled a knife and attacked the man as he was bent down to check on Harry.
He didn't come to when a crewman alerted the captain to the disturbance below deck.
He didn't come to when the captain found them, gun drawn, while Dudley was about to stab Severus once again.
He didn't come to when the captain felled Dudley with a solitary shot to the head.
He didn't come to when Draco entered the room calling Harry and Severus's names.
He didn't come to when the captain returned to shore.
He didn't come to when Draco's family physician came to their home to check over Severus and Harry.
He didn't come to when the doctor explained Harry's head trauma, and if it was doubtful Harry would ever wake up or if he'd be in his right mind.
He didn't come to when Draco curled up next to him, tears rolling down his cheeks and a silent plea on his lips.
But he did hear him...
"Come back to me, love. Don't leave me alone again. I couldn't bear it if you didn't."
- - -
Almost a week later, Harry opened his eyes. The sun was shining brightly through the windows as he took in his surroundings. He recognized his and Draco's room, wondering what had happened.
He slowly sat up, resting his back against the pillows as a dull throbbing began to make his head ache.
A soft sound from the door alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone and he turned toward the noise.
Draco stood there, his mouth open in shock, staring at Harry as if he'd never seen him before.
The two men stared at each other for a full minute, drinking in the sight of each other.
Tears welled up in Harry's eyes as happiness, almost forgotten, filled his soul.
"Draco!" Harry whispered. Draco heard him all the same, dropping the breakfast tray he had been holding and launching himself across the room, nearly tripping over the rug, to get to Harry.
In a moment, Harry was in his arms, sobbing his heart out, feeling safe for the first time in weeks.
Draco whispered into his ear, surrounding him with love until Harry exhausted himself and fell asleep in his arms. Draco was content to hold him, knowing that Harry was still with him, still his, and he was never going to let go ever again.