Warnings: Slightly lemonish, but more like a glass of water with a splash of lemon juice.
Guide: "Speech", Thoughts, ~letters and other written things
Beta: Destiny1195. Thank you for your help! All remaining errors are my own.
AN: Thank you for all the new reviews, comments and kudos. Now, back to Grimmauld Place in this extra long chapter. :)
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
-~-~-by Stillwatersaredeep-~-~-
-~-~- Chapter 6 -~-~-
Sunday, 3rd August 1997
The afternoon found Hermione sitting in the drawing room, Bartolomeo's journal laying open in her lap, starring at the Black family tapestry in front of her. All the time she'd spent thinking about and researching the Black curse made her wonder one thing: Was it possible that Walburga Black had also been a victim of the Black curse? It would certainly explain why she married her cousin, who may not have been her cousin after all.
Besides Orion's sister Lucretia, Walburga was the next closest female of Black blood from the last Lord Black, Arcturus. And if his wife, Melania Macmillan Black, had an affair, both of their children could have been a result of said affair, thus activating the Black curse when Orion became Lord Black.
Hermione doubted that she would get any answers out of Walburga's portrait. Maybe Mrs Malfoy has a better chance of success? It would be a great help if we could get first-hand information on exactly how the curse works.
As if summoned, Narcissa knocked on the door of the drawing room. "Miss Granger, you said I could read Bartolomeo's journal?"
"Yes, of course," Hermione answered. Picking up the journal from her lap, she handed it over to Narcissa who took a seat in the armchair next to the Gryffindor's.
Narcissa had just sat down when Kreacher appeared. "Kreacher brings you tea, Mrs Malfoy," he said as he placed the tea tray on a side table between the two armchairs.
"Kreacher," she called out after she looked at the tea tray, "the house of Black has more manners than to only bring one cup when two people are in the room!"
"A mudblood doesn't deserve to receive the Blacks' hospitality," Kreacher answered.
"Miss Granger is not a Mudblood, she is a respectable witch and a good friend of the current Lord Black; as such she more than deserves your respect Kreacher."
Thus reprimanded, Kreacher bowed lowly to first Narcissa and then Hermione, though only slightly, before he vanished to get a second teacup. Hermione did not know what she should think about the odd turn of events; Narcissa calling Kreacher out on his behaviour was unexpected. Was it just a show for Draco's sake, or was she truly a non believer when it came to the pure blood nonsense?
"Please excuse him, being alone with Aunt Walburga's portrait has not done him any good," Narcissa told Hermione as she poured a cup of tea for the younger woman. "Sugar? Milk?" she asked.
"One sugar, please," Hermione answered. "Thank you." After taking a cautious sip from the hot beverage, Hermione asked, "Mrs Malfoy? Do you think it's possible that Orion and Walburga were also subjected to the Black curse?"
Narcissa laughed softly, amused by the question. "I can see why you would come to such a conclusion as it is, indeed, very unusual, even for pure bloods, to marry your first cousin. If you take a closer look at the tapestry," she said pointing at the object, "you'll see that Arcturus outlived his son Orion. And because the only way to transfer the Black Lordship is for the previous Lord Black to die, Orion never became Lord Black. And Aunt Walburga was never Lady Black, even if she behaved as if she was."
"So the Black Lordship went directly from Arcturus to Sirius?" Hermione concluded.
"Yes. I believe that Arcturus first named either Orion or Regulus his heir, but both of them died before him, so the only male Black alive by the time he died was Sirius. So there wasn't really a choice for him to make. He, of course, could have named Draco as the next Lord Black, but what I know of him, makes me believe that he'd rather name a Gryffindor whose last name was Black as the new lord than to give the title to some Slytherin of Black blood, but without the Black name," Narcissa explained.
"So without Arcturus being out of choices, Sirius would never have become Lord Black," Hermione stated.
"I don't think so. Aunt Walburga would have made sure that it went to Draco rather than to my cousin," Narcissa said.
Curiosity satisfied for now, Hermione finally allowed Narcissa to start reading the journal, only to three minutes later interrupt her again when she looked over at the blonde. "Excuse me," she said. "Why are you studying the empty pages?"
"These?" Narcissa asked, turning the book around so that Hermione could see the pages better.
"Yes," Hermione confirmed.
"They are not blank," Narcissa stated. "Here, Bartolomeo gives an introduction to his journal."
"They are blank to me," Hermione stated. "These and the next two pages."
"Hmm," Narcissa hummed in thought. "It could be possible that some pages are enchanted so that only a Black can read them. We could ask the others to find out how much they can see."
"Harry and Draco are the obvious choices," Hermione said.
"And maybe Mr Weasley too. Out of him and my husband, he is the one with a closer connection to the Black family," Narcissa suggested. "I'll get Draco if you'll get Mr Potter?"
They met again in the drawing room five minutes later. "Draco is sleeping," Narcissa said. "I did not want to wake him."
"I didn't want to wake up Harry either," Hermione admitted.
"Then our little experiment has to wait until after dinner. Shall I read the first pages to you?" she offered and Hermione gratefully agreed. If this continued, spending time with Narcissa Malfoy could become rather enjoyable for Hermione. A bit like an aunt who lived in another country, Hermione would have said, if pressed to describe how she felt at that moment.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
While Draco had indeed been sleeping, Harry had been awake when Hermione checked on him. He'd closed his eyes to better think about everything that was bombarding his mind right now and had been so lost in thought that he did not hear, and therefore also had not reacted, when Hermione entered the room he shared with Ron. Giving the impression that he was sleeping, Hermione had left him without Harry being any the wiser.
The thoughts that occupied the brunet's mind were centred on Ginny, the upcoming marriage to Draco and what it would include, as well as Voldemort, his Horcruxes and how, once again, trouble seemed to always find him.
Harry, of course, was more than delighted to have received valuable information on two of the remaining Horcruxes from Lucuis. He, however, was not happy at all about the circumstances that made Lucius reveal the information. He found the whole situation so surreal. He'd read about the bond and what it required of the participants, but in the isolation of Grimmauld Place it had seemed so far away, like it was someone else's problem. But now, with Draco and his parents joining them, their constant presence made the situation more real to him. And it will only get worse during the next days, Harry groaned in anticipation.
Has it really been just a bit over one month since I broke up with Ginny? Harry wondered. To protect her! Harry let out a sarcastic "Hmph," at that thought. I wanted to protect her from Voldemort and his Death Eaters who would try to get to me through her. DAMMIT! Harry punched the mattress in anger. I wanted to get back together with her IF we both came out of the war alive. And while I did not say it to her, I felt that we both knew that we would pick up where we left of after this mess is over. And now? Harry asked himself. Now she'll think that I only broke up with her to marry Malfoy! A fine mess indeed!
Oh, yes, Harry. You are protecting her, alright, he thought sarcastically. Hopefully she'll find someone else to make her happy, he tried to tell himself but the thought of Ginny together with anyone else―a picture of her kissing Dean in the Gryffindor common room invaded his mind―made his heart ache. Being me really sucks! he thought in annoyance.
Maybe she'll understand if I explain it to her? Harry wondered, a flicker of hope sparkling up inside of him. Surely she'll forgive me for marrying Malfoy to save my life? And if I can divorce him later, when this madness is over and the curse is void, she and I can marry and start a family―Oh wait, I also have to have a child with Malfoy, Harry thought angrily, punching his mattress once more.
A child, the thought made him pause. Did he really want to curse an innocent child to a life growing up with parents that hated each other; divorced and spending half of their life with him and Ginny, and the other with the Malfoys? Harry feared that if they had any parental or maybe just general disagreements, it would be the child that would pay the price.
And if my memory is not betraying me, didn't the bond include something about both of us only being able to have a child with each other? Harry thought, remembering that little detail of their marriage bond. Maybe this restriction will be cancelled together with the bond? Harry could only hope that this was the case, otherwise he feared that Ginny would give him up to marry someone else with whom she could have biological children. It certainly was something he would have to look up later in the library.
'You're getting a bit obsessed with Malfoy, Harry. I mean, thinking about missing a match just to follow him…' Ron's words from so many months ago echoed in his mind. And Harry remembered how he'd never been less interested in Quidditch, but had rapidly become obsessed with Draco Malfoy in the last school year. But I'd been right, he was up to something, Harry thought, and the picture of a desperate Draco on the Astronomy tower resurfaced, followed by the blond crying and then lying on the damp floor of the bathroom, bleeding heavily.
He'd faced Voldemort, a basilisk, a mass murderer, and a nesting dragon. He'd watched the life drain out of Ginny, Sirius fall through the veil, but watching Draco lying on the damp floor, his blood mixing with the water around him, was the most terrifying moment of his life.
Was it only because I was the cause? Harry wondered briefly, but he'd asked himself exactly the same question so often since that fateful day that the answer came easily. No, even if someone else had cast the spell, I still would have felt the same. And Malfoy? Does he still have the scars? The ones on his faced healed, but on his chest? Snape said that they could heal them completely if they hurried.
Harry tried to imagine a shirtless Draco covered in scars from the collarbone downwards. He would hate them, and me for causing them, Harry thought bitterly. But a half naked Malfoy made him think about their upcoming marriage. They would have to consummate the marriage. I never went farther than kissing and some light touching―above the waist at that―with Ginny. I already miss her soft but experienced kisses, he though ruefully remembering Ginny's sweet smile before their very first kiss.
He tried to imagine kissing Draco. Easily, he envisioned the blond's high cheekbones, his aristocratic nose, how the lashes would cover the cold grey eyes as the other boy closed his eyes in anticipation of the kiss. No, Malfoy would keep his eyes open, Harry corrected. Malfoy would lean his head slightly to the left, his pink lips getting closer, the light grey circles underneath his eyes that had been deep black in colour not even three months ago, would become more prominent. Worried about his family's safety, his mind supplied the reason behind the blemish on the otherwise perfect face.
Harry shook his head. Imagining how he and Malfoy would kiss was not getting him anywhere. They could consummate the marriage without kissing each other, couldn't they? They just needed to perform the deed. Fucking Malfoy. Malfoy fucking me. Harry groaned. This is so FUCKED UP! Another punch to the mattress underlined the thought.
He tried to image him lying on the bed just as he was right now, Malfoy hovering above him, his weight resting on his forearms, kneeling between Harry's spread open legs. Unconsciously the brunet opened his legs wider. Would I put my legs on his shoulders? Or maybe around the waist to bring him closer? And then what? Harry asked himself. Would I allow him to take me the way he wanted? Harry had a hard time to imagine such a situation.
The brunet flipped over to lie on his stomach. Now he imagined Draco sprawled out beneath him, the blond's legs bend and knees tucked towards his chest, giving him a good view of his most private area, helpless and exposed for Harry's eyes alone. He could clearly see the well trained but not overly muscular hairless chest, a sharp contrast to the soft curves that would have been on Ginny's body, blond hair that almost blended together with the white pillow below his head, grey eyes darkened by lust.
Would he be willing? Eager even? Or would he be close to crying like the one time in the bathroom? Harry didn't know. But what he knew was that if he was on top, he could at least close his eyes and pretend that he was fucking a woman and not another man. Does it really matter? a small voice in the back of his mind asked. He is considered a very attractive man, isn't he? Lithe figure, the built of a Seeker, just like Ginny, just like Cho. Exactly your type, isn't he? the traitorous voice asked. No! I like Ginny! And women! Harry protested, shaking his head to get rid of the strange thoughts. It would be wise to stop imagining what having sex with Malfoy would be like.
How was it done anyway? he wondered. He knew that one of them would put his prick into the other's ass; as crass as it sounded. But would they need to clean themselves first? Lube certainly would be required to ease the way. Maybe some stretching too? Woman were supposed to get wet during sex, weren't they? Harry wondered, hating his sexual inexperience.
At least the bond will decide the position for us. One less thing for us to fight about. Though I still hope that I will end up as the top, Harry wished. But either way, he and Draco would have no choice but to accept the positions the bonding ritual picked for them.
But what does consummation entail exactly? he wondered. Does it just mean that one enters the other, or that the one on top must spill his seed inside the bottom? Ordo we both have to come? He'd learned from the Half-Blood Prince's adjusted potion receipts that a small change can significantly change the outcome. If they botch up the marriage bond, it could end very badly for them, e.g. both of them dying. And right now, Harry was not sure if he would be able to cum if he was the one bottoming. I need to look it up later, he noted to himself, adding another item to the ever growing research list.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
Lucius Malfoy had been researching possible marriage bonds that would get rid of the Dark mark, while also being compatible with his current marriage bond in the Black library for the last hour when Harry entered the room. He allowed the brunet to read the titles of the books he piled up on the desk. It was obvious from the look Potter send his way that he suspected him of studying books on the Dark Arts instead of marriage.
Without asking, Potter took one of the books that Lucius had laid out on the desk in front of him and set down at another desk. Lucius would have protested, he hadn't read that particular book yet, but these technically were Potter's books, and he still had another three books to go through. So he remained silent for the moment.
Twenty minutes later he heard Potter loudly snapping the book shut. Someone was obviously frustrated. Since he'd observed Potter skimming the index for one particular marriage bond, it was self-evident that he'd read about the 'union de la nouvelle lune' that he'd would be sharing with his son. With discomfort Lucius watched as Potter got up from his chair and walked towards the shelves, stopping in front of the section that held the books on marriage and divorce.
Since he'd been re-reading how his own current marriage to Narcissa could be annulled without either of them dying for half an hour before he started his research on marriage bonds, he easily identified the new book Potter chose as a book on divorce.
They're not even married yet and Potter is already looking up divorces, Lucius thought in annoyance. This was not a good sign for things to come. He feared that his son's marriage would not be a happy one. Even if it is a rather unlikely arranged marriage, Potter could at least try to get to know Draco! he complained, but was wise enough to not voice it out loud. Not on his first day in Potter's house.
While his son was not overly happy about having to marry Potter, he knew that Draco would still try his best to make the marriage work. He did not know if his son was interested in his own gender, but all the conversations that started with "Potter did that" and ended with "I'll show Potter!" made him sure that his son was not at all indifferent to the brunet. If it was just a materialisation of their rivalry, a seeking for Potter's general attention and approval or maybe a hidden infatuation, he could not say.
Right now, the only thing I can do is wait, allow all of us to come to terms with the upcoming marriage, and when the time comes, be there for Draco if he needs my support, Lucius thought and returned his attention to the books in front of him. So far, he'd found two possible solutions for his problems, but neither of them was ideal.
Option number one was to change his services and loyalties from the Dark Lord to Potter. While he'd already promised his allegiance to Potter via the Unbreakable Vow, it was too weak to break the servitude bond the Dark mark symbolised. The Dark mark was created when he'd given the servant vow to the Dark Lord, the branding of the Lord's mark the visualisation of the vow. Only the same servant vow could break his current bond of servitude as he entered another Lord's services, but only if his new lord was magically more powerful than his current one.
While Potter was powerful in his own right, Lucius did not believe for one moment that he was magically stronger than the Dark Lord. More fortunate, yes, but magically stronger? He doubted it. Besides, even if Potter was, despite the odds, magically stronger than the Dark Lord, the thought of replacing the Dark mark with Potter's mark repelled him. Who knew how ugly this one would look?
No, he rather preferred a bond, which like the 'Union de la nouvelle lune,' would result in a nearly equal marriage that simply did not allow you to have another lord besides your spouse and left no marks. Unfortunately, all the bonds he'd found so far that had exactly this effect required the participants to be unmarried, if not unbound.
The best compromise he'd found so far was option number two. It was a very old bond from the Norse, used when a tribe lost to the female ruled tribe of the Valkyrie. The Valkyrie would force the leader of the defeated tribe to bond to one of their women, essentially giving over the leadership of his tribe to his wife. During Bartolomeo's lifetime the Valkyrie bond had been twisted by a Spanish family to transfer a Ladyship of a female heiress to her husband so that he could become the new Lord and take over the family's power and influence.
Both the original and the adjusted Valkyrie bond did not allow the conquered tribe leader or Lady to have another master, only their spouse. Since he was the only one who had the Dark mark, performing a Valkyrie bond where the Malfoy Lordship took the place of the tribe leadership should get rid of his Dark mark.
However, if word got out that he, Lucius Malfoy, had willingly given up the Malfoy Lordship to his wife, his political career would be over. Something like this would be far worse than being a Death Eater, as even money would not be able to get him back into the political game. But then, as he thought back on the last decades, his decisions had not brought the family any good fortune. Even now, it was Narcissa that had helped Draco out of the current predicament and out of the one before it. The latter one he'd caused because he'd failed to get the prophecy, and thus, Draco had paid the price when the Dark Lord gave him a seemingly impossible task to fulfil.
But he'd rather fell from political grace, and would thus have more time on his hands to spend with his potential grandchildren, when faced with the possibility of being tortured via the Dark mark for months or maybe even years. His main concern, however, was that he was unsure if it was even possible for him to give Narcissa the Malfoy Lordship. While not as life-endangering as the Black curse, Lucius seemed to recall that the Malfoy Lordship could only be given to a male, never a female. At the very least, he did not know of any Lady Malfoy that was also a Malfoy by blood. Having access to the manor would be useful right now, he thought in frustration. He was here for just one afternoon and he already needed something from his ancestral home. Fantastic, he thought sarcastically.
While it would take some work, one possibility would be to further twist the Valkyrie bond to not make Narcissa, but rather her first-born the new Lord. It would evade the political dilemma, as giving the Malfoy Lordship over to Draco early would not be such a big scandal, especially if he explained it with wanting to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. It also had the added advantage that instead of Draco entering the marriage with Potter as just the heir, he would also be a Lord, bringing the two to an equal standing, and thus, increasing the chances that Potter, and not Draco, would be the one chosen by the bond to bear the children.
It's better than nothing, but still risky. And time consuming, Lucius thought. Maybe I can find another bond that is compatible with ours that doesn't require further adjustment.And so the search continued.
"I give up!" Potter loudly complained fifty minutes later.
"What is it that the great Harry Potter cannot solve? Or is it save?" he asked. Yes, he knew in the back of his mind that he should be nice to Potter. But still, seeing how desperately Potter searched for a way to divorce Draco before they had even married greatly angered the man; though not finding an alternative bond for himself and Narcissa did nothing to improve his mood.
Harry was ready to draw his wand and throw a curse at the older man, but he stopped himself from giving in to the temptation. Instead, he decided to blow off steam by snarling at Lucius. "I may be able to divorce your son and legally marry someone else, but I can still only have children with him and only they can inherit anything from me. Not to forget that I would still be bonded to him, even if we are not married."
"I would be happy if I could find a way to divorce Narcissa that doesn't involve either of us dying," Lucius countered, the situation starting to get out of hand as their animosity grew.
"Why would you want such a thing?" Harry asked, bewildered by what the blond'd said. But at least it dissolved the increasing tension in the room.
"I have my reasons, Mr Potter," Lucius stated calmly now.
Harry considered pressing the other man, but if it were a concern to him, the Unbreakable Vow would have made Malfoy spill the beans. It must not be important, Harry decided. He already had enough on his plate, without becoming involved in Malfoy's marriage problems. So, without another word, he left the library. He'd already found what he'd been looking for, even if the information was unfavourable. There were some other things still unanswered. But I'm not about to read up on gay sex with Malfoy senior in the room, Harry thought and went in search for Ron. A game of Exploding Snaps would be just the distraction he needed.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
Kreacher had wanted to serve dinner in the dining room, but Harry had protested, saying that they would eat all meals in the kitchen instead. The table was more than large enough for all six of them. It was only when Draco seconded Harry's command that Kreacher stopped complaining. Harry gave the blond a nod in thanks as they both walked towards the kitchen in silence.
Both boys sent a questioning look in Hermione and Narcissa's direction when the women entered the room together, deep in discussion. At least some members of the group were getting along it seemed.
"We all have to go to the drawing room after dinner," Hermione said as she sat down besides Harry.
"Do we?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Narcissa and I," Hermione began. Draco raised a questioning eyebrow at his mother for the use of her first name by Hermione, but didn't say anything; thus, Hermione continued uninterrupted, "found out that there's a spell on Bartolomeo's journal that enables Narcissa to read more than me. I didn't even know that there was anything written on the first pages!" she said, scandalised. "Anyway, since there are still some blank pages left, I thought that you two could try and see if you can read more than us. Especially you, as Lord Black," Hermione said to Harry. "We'll need you too, Ron," she added when her friend joined them.
"Need me for what?" he asked, hoping that Malfoy senior would join them soon so that he could begin eating. He was famished.
"For an experiment," she answered.
Draco stopped himself from commenting, "I didn't know that weasels were the new guinea pigs." He was very tempted though.
Over their dinner of beef casserole with mashed potatoes and green beans, Hermione informed them of what she and Narcissa had found out so far on their own. Apparently Narcissa could only see the writing on the first few pages if she was touching the book's cover with her bare skin. If the book lay on her clothed lap, the table, or if Hermione were holding it, she could see nothing, even when her finger touched the page. As Harry had never held the book while reading it, Hermione had high hopes that Harry would be able to see as much, if not more, than Narcissa. On the other hand, even if Narcissa was holding the book in her hands, Hermione was still unable to see anything but whiteness on the first few pages.
When everyone finished eating, all six of them went upstairs to the drawing room. The final outcome of the experiment was not to Hermione's likening. She had hoped that Harry, as Lord Black, would be able to see what was written on the final blank pages if he hold the journal in his own hands instead of reading it over Hermione's shoulder. But no, Harry could see exactly as much, or as little, as Hermione. Only Draco and Narcissa were able to read the first few pages, and only if they were holding the book themselves. Narcissa could not see anything when Draco was holding the book.
"Let's hope that nothing of importance is written on the last pages," Lucius had said at the end of the night.
"They could just be empty, left bare for others to add some notes of their own," Ron suggested.
I hope so, Harry though as he and Ron went to their room to get ready for bed.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
Today went well, Draco thought as he settled himself into a comfortable position beneath the bed sheets. He could live with the Unbreakable Vows he and his parents had sworn to Potter and was positively surprised with how little persuasion Potter had needed to agree to swear a vow of his own. Mother has the journal and will give it to me once she finished reading. And while he hated it at first that they had missed the opportunity to complete the marriage bond today, he was happy that he now had more time to prepare for the wedding. Like brewing a contraception potion, he thought as he drifted into the land of dreams.
In his dream, Draco was sitting up in his own bed in Malfoy manor, reading a book. When Harry, glad only in a towel, water droplets temptingly running down from the wet hair over his tanned chest and stomach before they were absorbed by the towel, appeared from Draco's en-suite bathroom, the book was quickly discarded.
With anticipation, Draco watched how Harry walked closer and closer to the bed, noticing with approval that the brunet was without his glasses―Would have fogged up in the shower, his mind helpfully supplied. Finally Harry reached the bed and crawled along it until he was comfortably sitting in Draco's lap. Draco sucked on his bottom lip and then Harry's bright green eyes connected with his own as the brunet leaned forward and their lips met in a kiss.
Soon one of Draco's hands was curled into Harry's still damp hair while the other one found its way underneath the towel, grabbing the firm globes of muscle. As his tongue moved over Harry's lips, he could taste the minty taste of the toothpaste Harry must have used. When Harry finally opened his lips enough for his tongue to slip in, Draco set himself the task of removing any last trace of the toothpaste from Harry's mouth.
When the meeting of tongues and lips were not enough anymore, Draco's pyjama top helpfully vanished in his dream, giving Harry unhindered access to his chest and back, which the brunet did not hesitate to explore, drawing circles down his back and following the lines of the scars down Draco's chest, over nipples and taunt stomach.
Draco's lips occupied themselves with kissing a trail down Harry's neck, lingering where the neck met the shoulder to leave a nice hickey. He'd just moved his left hand from Harry's ass towards the brunet's groin, wanting to open the knot that was holding the towel together, when a roll of thunder woke the blond from his pleasant dream.
"Argh," he hissed out in frustration. It had been such a good dream and was about to get to the interesting point. Should I? Draco asked himself, but not a moment later his hand found its way underneath his pyjama bottoms and finished what his dream had started.
The dreams are getting better at last, Draco thought in his post orgasm bliss as he cleaned up the mess with his wand.
Last year he'd been both thrilled and excited that Harry was finally taking an interest in him, but at the same time annoyed and frustrated that it was happening when he needed the attention the least. This dilemma had also moved into his dreams which mostly started with Harry catching him inside the Room of Hidden Things, but instead of handing him over to the Headmaster, the brunet would punish Draco himself. Harry would bind him to an old four-poster that was standing among the other abandoned and discarded things in the Room of Requirement. He would then proceed to undress him so that he could use a feather boa to tickle him, mixing in some sharp slaps to his thighs and abs for some variance. Only when he'd begged for mercy long enough, would Harry discard the feather boa and kiss away the tears that had fallen from Draco's eyes; he would whisper comforting words into his ear, accompanied by sweet kisses before the atmosphere in the room would change to a more heated nature again. But this time of a more enjoyable kind.
Luckily Draco did already have some erotic dreams of Harry back in fourth year, or he would have had another crisis on his hands. Back then his first reaction had been to create the 'Potter stinks' badges, entering the stage of denial. Over the years he'd had some small crushes here and there on both males and females, but never had one been as persistence as the one on Harry. But he'd always been fascinated by Harry, hadn't he?
It started back at Madame Malkin's. When Draco was fascinated by the brunet boy and wanted nothing more than to be his friend. But the more weeks that passed in their first year at Hogwarts, the more Draco began to crave even the smallest part of Harry's attention. If he had to become his rival, it would be what he would do. And then he tried out for the Slytherin Quidditch team, wanting to show Harry that he could be his equal; that he was worthy enough to stand by his side. The same thought process had brought him a nearly bitten off finger in third year when he'd tried to show off for Harry by taming a Hippogriff. Thinking back, Draco had the feeling that it was an early and unconscious attempt to try and impress his teenage crush.
So once in fourth year, when he'd finally overcome the shock of having a crush on Potter, Draco understood his own actions over the past years better. Harry was certainly turning into an attractive young man―if one disregarded the ugly glasses―who was kind to his friends but also magically powerful, something Draco very much appreciated in his partners. And how he hated the fact that he'd come to notice his love for Harry in the one year where the brunet was placed in constant danger due to the Tri-wizard tournament. The worst part was that unlike Granger and Weasley, he could not approach Harry himself, to check if he really was as unhurt as the brunet proclaimed to be.
At least he never had any illusion that his dreams, as pleasing and heated as they were, would ever become a reality. So, while he still pinned for Harry, Draco had entered some more or less meaningless flings with other students, but tried to keep the news from reaching Harry. Ridiculous, he knew, but it is as it is. With Slytherins and Gryffindors not on speaking terms and the one Ravenclaw and one Durmstrang students he'd a thing with being discreet, it had not been hard to stop rumours from reaching Potter.
But now it seemed like this totally unrealistic dream would come true. A year ago, more than one Death Eater had asked the Dark Lord for his body. They claimed that raping Lucius' only son would be a fair punishment for the failed task of retrieving the prophecy. Since then, Draco had avoided both Greyback and Dolohov. And now, while he wanted nothing more than to live through the Black curse, he could finally allow the weak spark of hope in his heart to grow larger. He and Harry would be married; and if Harry was not one thing, then it was a cheater. So while they were married, he would have Harry all for himself. At least in name, his logical side provided. Draco acknowledged that thought with a sigh and turned around in the bed to lie on his other side. No one else would have Harry once they were married, but neither would Draco.
He willed the newly risen fire of hope to decrease again until it was nothing but a tiny spark. Yes, Harry would be his husband, but outside of what the marriage bond and the Black curse demanded of them, he doubted that there would be any typical couple interactions between them. So very close now, but farther away than ever before, he thought remorsefully. He'd accepted three years ago that Harry would never be his, and thus decided that he would try to find personal happiness with someone else, built a relationship and a family with them, and hope to fall as deeply in love with them as he had with Harry.
But it seems Potter had once again disrupted his plans. He very much doubted that he could find another love now, with Harry so close to him, officially being his, yet not his at all. If Harry's natural talent between the sheets are as good as his flying and Quidditch skills, I'll at least get a lot of satisfaction out of it, Draco thought ruefully before he closed his eyes again, falling into a dreamless sleep.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
Monday, 4th August 1997
It was about five hours later at five thirty in the morning, the sun just starting to rise outside, that Draco woke up again, this time in pain. The last time this had happened, Draco had hardly noticed the ache on his right shoulder blade, when the Black star appeared, marring his flesh. But now he could feel the dull burn on his left shoulder blade, the pain getting stronger and stronger by the minute.
"Kreacher," he called out, the house-elf immediately appearing at the end of Draco's bed. "Please wake my parents and ask them to come here."
With the three Gryffindor's staying in the smaller bedrooms on the first and second floor, Narcissa and Lucius only hastily put on their dressing gowns before they hastened down the stairs to Draco's room on the third floor.
"Draco, are you alright?" his mother asked in worry when she saw the grimace on her son's face.
"Time will tell. It seems like another mark is appearing, it's just hurting more this time," Draco stated.
"Let us take a look," Lucius said kindly, helping his son to sit up so that he could take of his pyjama top. "Maybe the mark is vanishing?" he asked hopefully.
"No," Narcissa abnegated. "Once there, it will not vanish until either the bond is created, or the person dies."
"I don't think it's disappearing," Draco agreed with his mother, as he allowed his father to unbutton his top. He hated it when others saw the scars on his chest, but he wanted to know what was going on. "It's coming from my left shoulder, not the right. Argh," he groaned in pain when it felt like needles were pricking his skin.
When the top was removed, Narcissa and Lucius could see the outline of a star appearing on Draco's left shoulder blade. "It didn't hurt as much last time," Draco complained.
"I fear that it will take a while for it to be over," Narcissa said, squeezing her son's hand in comfort, not minding that he was pressing back hard.
"It feels like someone is holding a tattoo-needle to my back," Draco described the sensation he felt.
"It looks like it too," Lucius stated. "The outline is slowly being filled out."
"Aah," Draco screamed as the pain got worse, his skin becoming more sensitive to the touch. He needed to lie down again and turn on his right side, facing away from the door.
"Shh, we're here for you," Narcissa hushed, trying to comfort him.
The three Malfoys sat in the master bedroom, the silence only interrupted by Draco's screams of pain and his parents' softly spoken words of encouragement, promising that the pain would be over in an hour, just as it had been last time. At least they were here, away from the manor where Bellatrix could have overheard the screams of pain. We were lucky that the pain was so minimal when the first star appeared, Narcissa thought.
Ten minutes after they'd arrived, they could hear Ronald Weasley shout in panic, "Hermione!" It seems Potter was also receiving his second star, with a higher level of pain than the first one.
As another five minutes passed, the Malfoy's began to gradually hear screams making their way up from the floor below, no doubt from Potter, and were sure that Draco's screams, now increased in volume, could also be heard by the Gryffindors. The pain seemed to get worse as the minutes ticked by. It was another five minutes later, when they heard a soft knock on the door.
"Come in," Narcissa called out.
"Do you know what is going on?" Hermione asked, dressed in a pink and white striped pyjama set. "Or more importantly, when it will end?"
"The second mark is appearing," Narcissa stated, noticing how Hermione looked at Draco's back, a fourth of the black star now filled out. "When Draco's first mark appeared, the pain was much less, and it only lasted for an hour. I can only assume that the pain is getting worse as a warning to them that time is running out."
"They could have been married by now," Hermione voiced the importance of the timing. The sun had just started to rise, exactly the time that the marriage bond would have been completed, had they started the bond on the second of August.
"Yes," Narcissa confirmed, voice raised, not taking her eyes off Draco who was now screaming even louder than before.
"Let's hope that the marriage bond next month goes as planned; I have no desire to find out what the next warning will be like," Lucius spoke up for the first time since Hermione had entered the room.
"So we have to wait."
"Yes, there's nothing else we can do," Narcissa told her. And with a final nod of acknowledgement, Hermione left the room, closing the door behind her.
Hermione returned to the room Ron and Harry shared, telling them what she'd learned from Narcissa, even though it was not much, and Harry was in so much pain that he only heard half of what Hermione said. The fact that it would end in an hour was all Harry needed to know; he could hold on for this long. It was painful, but less so than the Cruciatus Curse that Voldemort had thrown at him in forth year, and in a sense, Draco's screams were comforting to Harry. At the very least he was not suffering alone.
Ron and Hermione exchanged worried glances as they prayed for the pain to be over, for their best friend's suffering to end. Hearing Harry's screams mix with Draco's made them feel uneasy, but also allowed them to sympathise with Draco and his parents. Once in a while both Hermione and Lucius would get up and wet a handkerchief to place it on Harry's and Draco's forehead, or to just wipe the sweat of their face. What little doubt that had been left in the backs of their minds that the Black curse may not be as serious as Narcissa and Bartolomeo's journal made it out to be vanished when they all saw, or in Harry and Draco's case felt, what not bowing down in time to the demands of the curse meant: pain and eventually death if they missed the next two opportunities to bond.
Over an hour later, at six forty-two when the moon was rising that the pain finally stopped. Both boys, now drenched in their own sweat, had a deep black, tennis ball sized star on each of their should blades, the symbol of the house of Black.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked when the screams finally subdued.
"Yeah, just tired and exhausted," Harry answered, his voice hoarse from screaming for so long.
"Sleep then," Hermione said. Harry nodded and closed his eyes, falling into an exhausted sleep.
A floor above, Draco was doing the same, relieved that the pain was over and hoping that everything would go well with his marriage bond next month.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
Credits: I thankhotflower901 on fanfiction for the idea of Lucius considering to make Harry his new Lord. Also ravenelanor on Archive of our Own voiced the idea of making Narcissa the master of Lucius, which I expanded to create the Valkyrie bond.
-~-~- Toujours pur, toujours du sang de Black -~-~-
AN: Tick. Tock. It's a clock. And time is running out for them. Only 2 new moons remain for them to perform the marriage bond. The next chapter includes the public well wishes from Voldemort, if you were wondering when it would appear. It is already written. It just needs to be betaed before publishing.
As for the last pages in Bartolomeo's journal, tell me in a comment/review who you believe is right: Lucius (something is there, hopefully not important) or Ron (blank for notes)?