Chapter 9
A.N: thanks for reading and the cool reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Harry to be positively sure was at lost for words; of course Hermione couldn't blame him. It had been an utter shock to her when Albus had explained hers and Ron's involvement in this prophecy and their reactions hadn't been nearly as calm as this Harry Potter –Malfoy character was taking it. Hermione quietly admired the tight reign he held over his emotions and could not help but remit her earlier opinion of him.
"Please, let us sit down." Harry thanked the maid as she settled the golden tray on the table and took a seat once she had poured them some tea and took her leave. "I do not understand what or who you have come here for, but I assure that I am not the person you are looking for." His hand slightly shook as he settled his tea cup down, belying his calm façade.
Albus regarded the boy; truly looked at him, from eyes of one who has seen almost everything, with the eyes of a man who has read almost every magical signature throughout the centuries of their world and he knew; Albus was unquestionably sure that this boy was the one the prophecy spoke of. This one, this fragile little boy oozed the power of yin. His frailty veiled the depths of what he truly was, but Albus felt it…he knew it and he was a thousand times thankful that he hadn't gotten here so quickly.
"A week ago, there was a birth of new magic…the vibrations of it were felt throughout this world. I swear to you that every magic born felt that vibration…the call of it was resounding," Albus held Harry's gaze and continued. "I can still…even this very moment feel those vibrations...and their radiating off of you like beams from the moon."
"It was only a spurt of magic,"
Albus laughed the sound of it almost hysterical. "Yes…to you it only felt as though it were a spurt…no more than a tickle. And this is what I am trying to tell you. Your magic…you…the child of yin…you are so powerful that you don't even realize the extent." Hermione stared on, listening to every word; her eyes following her mentor as he stood and went to kneel before the dark haired boy. His worn hands reached out and gripped the small arms with such force that Hermione knew it would undoubtedly leave a mark on such porcelain skin. "You must hear me child. Your powers…you…you can not be taken into the wrong hands." Albus shook him and Hermione made to interrupt, but Ron's hand on her wrist stopped her. Their mentor had never acted this way…even with them…he had always been patient, but never had Hermione seen and felt this urgency about him and it frightened her.
"This is insane…you people…" Harry detached himself from Albus's hold and abruptly stood; distancing himself away from them. His eyes…magnificent pools of viridian green looked panicked and bewildered.
"Is this another ploy from my sadistic husband to drive me insane?" His features pleaded for them…anyone of them to answer yes. Hermione reinforced the mind blocks in her head; she could see the emotions or half of what the poor boy felt playing across his face.
"It's the truth." Ron silently answered; Harry gaze flew to the red-haired man and he involuntarily glared.
"How much did he pay you?"
"We have never met your husband, Mr. Malfoy." Ron answered. "But we have heard of the loathsome bastard."
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione chided.
"Mr. Malfoy…Harry…" Hermione attentively approached; steadily reaching out her arms in meaning no harm. "We have traveled a long way, from the base of the ancient mountains through the enchanted forest just to reach you. We couldn't possibly have gone through such a trek if it wasn't dire for us to do so. What we tell you now is not a falsehood…this is no trickery. We wish you no harm and only hope that you will try to listen to what we have come so far to tell you and try to understand." By the end of her softly spoken speech, Hermione was before a wary Harry.
"Do you not wonder where your powers come from? I can tell you who and what you are, Harry. I can tell you how and why you received your powers. I can tell you so much…" Albus piped in and Hermione hoped he would use a little more caution this time around.
Harry looked down at his hands; his doubts, his confusion slowly melted away and he slowly glanced at the strangers standing in his home, promising him answers; answers he had craved for years, more so these last few days.
"What am I? What is this child of prophecy? What is the prophecy?" All three strangers breathed a sigh of relief; this was the first positive step they had been waiting for; this had been important…Harry needed to trust them and as they all slowly retook their seats on the suede couches, Hermione knew that all would be okay.
Severus slid across the cherry wood floor, his body slammed against the wall and with a curse and an indignant huff, he stood and lifted himself once more through the air and readied his rapier with a double charge of obsidian magic. With a flick made quite simple from the turn of his wrist he sent the black wave of black flames at his godson. Severus watched with aggravated curiosity as Draco remained perfectly still until seconds before the best of Severus's attack could make impact, Draco curved his rapier through the air and absorbed every black flame.
"You're getting weak at your old age, Severus." Before Severus could blink, Draco disappeared and quietly reappeared in Severus's peripheral view, but before he could turn around to defend himself the attack came and Severus felt the electrical bolts sizzle through his veins and boil his blood. Either he was getting ridiculously old and loosing his powers or his snot of a godson was getting stronger and that Severus could not believe. But as Severus righted himself and tried to ease out of the electrical shock his body was experiencing, he slowly regarded his godson. Draco had never been adapt with his magic, even as a child he hadn't been the magical prodigy Lucius had hoped for, and in that Lucius found Draco sincerely lacking and there for emasculate. But were Lucius to see his son now, with the same intensity Severus was looking at Draco, he would surely be proud; for Severus himself did not yet know whether he should be proud or just a bit frightened.
Draco's once subtle hum of power was now a radiating force of frightening tremors, which he wielded with brilliant control. Where the hell had Draco received such powers? Was Lucius aware of this new development in his son? And how could they exploit this to their advantage? Severus's thoughts ran with great velocity, he had to think! He had to research!
A bolt of energy hit Severus once more. "Stop thinking, Severus and fight me."
"Enough!" Severus slowly came to his feet and immediately threw up a shield around himself as Draco sent another bolt towards him. "You said you did not come here for my advice; but me being your godfather and a spouse makes me undoubtedly wiser than you. So I tell you this now…no, I order that you return to your home, take your sable haired brat of a husband into your arms and apologize. You do not know how? Start with a kind word and restrain your biting tongue."
Draco came to land on the wooden floor with a dismissing grunt. "He does not respect me!"
"Do you respect him?" from the glare and scoff he received, Severus received his answer and he scowled.
"Insufferable little pup. Respect is earned! Give to receive."
Draco threw his rapier and watched it fly across the floor, frustration curled within his abdomen as he raked fingers through his flaxen locks and sighed in exasperation. He couldn't believe his godfather was repeating the same nonsense that twit he called husband had spoken.
He sighed and regarded his godfather…Severus he respected…his godfather was the sole reason Draco still had a sliver of humanity in him. If it weren't for the constant reassurance that he was more than what his father thought, Draco would've been even more of a prick than he was; he would've tried harder to become the little clone his father craved him to be. For Severus, Draco thought, he would do almost anything; even if it meant swallowing his pride and apologizing to his willful little husband.
"….Light and dark balance, and about the world All will fall silent…." Albus silently finished reciting the prophecy and watched for Harry's reaction.
"You say my mother knew of this? Of you?" Albus nodded.
"Yes; your mother apprenticed with me as one of the first oracles in my circle and the most powerful. She assured me that your birth would be a catalyst for what will transpire in the near future."
"The trials?" Albus nodded once more in assurance. He had briefly explained the trials and he hoped the boy understood them to be a set of three temptations that will be set before him when the time comes and his refusal of each will be what will help him and his yang defeat the dark forces that are even now rising up.
"Yes."
"And my father?"
At this point Albus scowled. "James Potter is and will always be an avaricious coward. He is of no concern to you Harry, believe me when I tell you that your father is no better than those who wish you harm. The Potter line had been a magnificent one, a powerful one, until it came to your father. He has brought shame upon the name, but I know you will redeem it. You are not like your father…your heart will not allow you to be."
Harry realized he should've been offended by the slanderous words spoken on behalf of his father, but he found that he could not defend the man even if he had wanted to. There was nothing remotely pleasant to say about James Potter that wouldn't be a complete and utter lie.
"What is it that you want from me? And who are these dark forces I should be wary of?"
"We wish you to allow us to train you…let me help you control the force of your power. And as for these dark forces…we believe that your husband may be in a league with them, along with your father-in-law."
It wasn't as farfetched as it sounded and to Harry it made a world of sense now as to why he had been purchased in the first place. It seemed his adulterous husband was not only an abusing snake, but now he was in workings with the forces of darkness.
"How splendid." Harry sarcastically muttered.
"Pardon?"
He shook his head toward Albus. "Who is the other child of prophecy? Has h/she awakened yet?"
"The second child remains dormant; but we hope it will not be too long in wakening. Until then we must begin your training, the more time lost the stronger our enemies become." Albus stood and along with him, the silent Hermione and Ron.
"We must take our leave. We will return for you is three days time. Until then, remain cautious." They exited as quietly as they entered and had Harry not been completely copasetic he would've questioned his sanity or better yet the sanity of his visitors.
His mother had been an oracle…that thought soothed Harry more than anything. He did not have complete answers, but he had some…the important one and the feeling of belonging was overwhelming. He was a child of prophecy…a yin…child of yin…Harry flexed his fingers, he now knew what he was…what these strange powers were…and he had a purpose. He had people…from what the elder had said…a horde of magics and non magics depending on him and one other person to destroy an entity of darkness. He felt numb and maybe that was the reason why he was not complaining about yet another unexpected detour his life had so suddenly taken; a life he hadn't felt was his until last evening…a life driven into hell by egotistical assholes who believed themselves conductors to the train wreck that was his life. Could the Elder and his brood be trusted? Harry stayed his judgment for now. Like he had said, he only went along as far as he could and if he found that he could no longer go, he will let people know.
Harry threw the beige towel on the floor and slowly submerged his body into the aurulent interior of the rounded tub and sighed in bliss as the scorching lap of water sluiced over his skin. This was a luxury he had denied himself for quiet a while now, and now that he knew his husband would not be coming home until the wee hours of morning Harry enjoyed a bath in the middle of their massive bedroom. The aromatic scent of honeysuckle and citrus permeated the air and Harry silently thanked the maids for their promptness in getting him these candles that were now positioned all about the room glowing in soft ambiance. Harry closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax; and he had just fallen into a state of slumber and wakefulness when he heard the turning of the brass knob to the bedroom.
His eyes opened fully and he sat up straighter in the tub and frowned; he had asked the maids not to disturb him, so he wondered just what the hell was so important that it couldn't have waited until the next morning. He opened his mouth to ask the maid to wait until tomorrow to tell him whatever it was that needed to be said, but Harry immediately closed his mouth as the silver blond head of his husband came through the door.
Wordlessly Draco closed and locked the door behind him and made his way about the room; he walked over to the vanity and set something down. Harry silently watched him and took in what he hadn't ever had the chance of truly assessing.
Draco's beauty was legendary; Harry had heard the whispered words spoken quietly behind fluttering fans when they thought he wasn't near. He had heard of the lithe yet magnificently powerful physique that was Draco's body; he had heard how adroit those hands and fingers where when it came to endless nights in the bedroom. Harry had heard how just one look from those smoldering slate grey eyes could have anyone quivering and had even heard how sexual gratifying it was to be with Draco and how giving he was when it came to his lovers. Harry silently scoffed at that…Draco was all those things and more to his admires and conquests, but to him, his husband was an ass.
"May I ask what you are doing in my bedroom?"
Draco continued to disrobe; the neck cloth around his neck was carelessly thrown on the ottoman behind him. "Last time I checked this happened to be our bedroom." He calmly answered, unbuttoning his shirt and throwing it behind him to join the tie.
"I'm surprised you remembered where it was."
"Is that longing I hear in your voice?" Draco parried with the unmitigated calm that unnerved and quite simply pissed off Harry.
"Hardly, just curious as to why you weren't playing musical bed this evening. Ran out of paramours?"
"For now."
"What do you want Draco?" Harry warily asked as Draco silently stripped the last item of clothing; leaving him completely and gloriously nude for Harry's fill. Harry's silent gasp caused Draco to complacently smirk. Draco by candlelight was a sight to behold and Harry swiftly jerked his eyes away, only to have his gaze involuntarily sweep back to Draco's body. In all his years Harry had never seen anything as stunning as this man, nor had he ever experienced such primal emotion that now coursed through his veins; heat rushed over his skin and settled shockingly between his thighs. And he damned himself for his reaction.
"Like what you see?" He was being mocked and Harry silently cursed Draco.
"I'd like it more if it where out of this room." He did all things possible to avoid looking up and that included using the loofah to scrub his skin raw. Harry tensed as hands slightly bigger and paler than his own, gently took the white sponge from his hands.
"What are you doing?" Harry splashed to the other side of the large tub as Draco settled on the other side.
"Bathing." Harry scowled.
"Can you not wait until I am through?" Draco's silence was Harry's answer. With a glower at the close eyed blond, Harry huffed and stood to get out of the tub; but did not properly set his foot on the floor and ungracefully found himself falling with a hard thud.
It hurt more than it should've and Harry bit his lip not to scream. Thinking he had only to rise up with enough grace to muster enough dignity Harry was sorely mistaken as he tried to rise and found that he could not; it was the coup de grace to top off his miserable moment when he was lifted with effortless ease into the arms of the man he thought hated him.
Draco climbed the three steps leading to their mattress and with gentleness he did not know he possessed he settled Harry into the downy comforts of their bed. Harry's face was turned away from him so Draco could not read his expression, but he knew Harry was in pain when he allowed his hands to skim over the rapidly yellowing bruise on Harry's left ankle.
"Are yo---"
"I'll be fine…just leave me be." The choking sign of tears could clearly be heard through Harry's voice and Draco was at lost as to what to do.
"Go away!" Draco would not of course…as tempted as he was to do so, he would not.
"Stop being acting like a brat and tell me if you can heal yourself?" After minutes of silence, Harry's strangled 'yes' was heard and Draco released the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
It was completely unexpected and their for shocking to them both as Draco found himself lying next to Harry, his arms seemed to work of their own accord as they gently maneuvered them until Harry was spooned against Draco. It was awkward, both their hearts thundered on in erratic tempo, wondering whether the other heard. But neither moved…as much as it seemed awkward and ridiculous…they both felt the foreign comfort and neither wanted to move.
"I'm sorry." Softly whispered against Harry's head it conveyed the depths of the emotions of a lost man. Harry despite the trickling tears softly smiled.
So Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter-Malfoy stayed in their awkward comfort… skin to skin …the lulling rhythm of their breathing…the need and curiosity to explore this feeling neither had felt before lulled them into a dreamless slumber.
A.N: long enough? Feedback please!