Cyrusys 5

(Chapter Eleven/Twelve events)

Draco was sick of Hogsmeade weekends by this point in his school-life. However, his plans were disrupted ever since the Hand of Glory was delayed in its arrival; thus, he had to go into the wizarding village personally to see to the successful completion of next few phases of the grand scheme.

The fact that the Vanishing Cabinets were still broken was also not advancing his progress. He decided that the drink he was about to consume was to be a cry-in-the-Butterbeer, rather then a celebratory drink. Another nerve twinge was at the idea that at this moment, Rosmerta was lurking in the girl's bathroom waiting to give a lethal piece of jewelry to an unsuspecting Hogwarts student, who in turn would (hopefully) introduce it into the castle without Filch spotting it through his damned security measures. But alas, Draco decided that there was nothing that had to be done before this drink was finished.

Unfortunately, before he was able to take a deep sip of the warming drink, Harry and the wonder-trio came into The Three Broomsticks.

'Damn.'

He looked up at Harry, but the group did not notice Draco's presence, for which he was glad. It was a nice change to have to not raise himself up to his normal pain-in-the-ass reputation for once and just eye Harry over in peace. Draco was reminded of a Lion he saw stalking its prey on a safari trip he went on one holiday. Observing Harry's normal behavior was somehow satisfying…despite the fact that Harry seemed particularly enraged at this moment. (Mundungus was nicking Sirius' stuff, then disapparated.)

Draco's energy level was not as fiery as normal, he was exhausted from last night's multi-orgasmic escapades, and using the Imperius Curse for long periods of time on Rosmerta was becoming taxing. But he knew that his neck, and his families were on the line unless he succeeded at this plan. He did not have a choice. He could not fail.

He could not have enjoyed this Butterbeer more at the present moment.

---

Draco returned to the Slytherin common room before any commotion surrounding the necklace began. He left before Harry and his friends in order to have little, or hopefully no suspect involvement with its activity.

He lay on his bed, looking at the emerald green hangings over his head. Over the past few months, he had begun appreciating details around himself more and more. The linings of the drapery were silver, and he imagined that the Slytherin décor and fabrics were slightly more luscious then other houses because they were in the dungeon levels after all.

He shared his room with 5 other boys, but the room was very…cool.

At the top of the high and rounded ceiling was a huge window, from which one can view the waters of the lake, literally. It was enchanted just like the ceiling of the Great Hall; however, instead of the sky overhead, it was the waters of the lake.

Their room, as well as the entire Slytherin house, was under the lake, as such, the windows were akin to a submarine's vantage and viewings of fish, the Giant Squid and water snakes. On full moons one could on occasion see a mermaid and other rare magical water inhabitants.

The natural light from the lake made the walls move with the watery refraction of the light, and it was nothing short of soothing. Thankfully the walls never leaked because of the magical spells, but it was like being in an inside out aquarium from time to time, but Draco rather liked this.

He was just about to get up and look around in his desk for a book he was doing some research in when something fell out of his satchel. It was a note from Harry.

'Malfoy,

I know what you are doing.'

"Shit."

'The Room of Requirement is a place I am very familiar with. But what else can it be used for I wonder? Meet me in front of the tapestry at midnight Saturday.'

"Tonight?" 'Damn I am glad I found this thing.' Draco thought mentally, what if he hadn't? He would have left Harry out at night in the carefully watched halls of Hogwarts…now there was an idea. No, he wanted some physical release from the mental torment of his assignment.

---

Harry was outside the entrance to the Room of Requirement when something tapped him on the shoulder. But when he turned around, there was no one there.

"And I will still be wanting my cloak back, Malfoy."

"Impressive, but you're not getting it back, at least not tonight Potter. Now, open the damn door."

"What thought do you suggest I use to open the door? You and I both know it will impact the interior accordingly."

"I will be a nice little boy and leave that one up to your creativity," Draco said coolly.

Harry just huffed in a naive pout, then stood resolute with a new air of confidence. "Oh, it will hold some creativity." He began the ritualistic pacing with a low, barely audible whisper of request of the magical accommodations. Draco picked up on a small hint of malice in Harry's voice, but ignored it and chose to focus on making sure no one was coming up the hall.

After a minute, a door appeared. Somehow, Harry managed to grab Draco's arm even with the Invisibility Cloak on and led Draco in the same harsh manner as Draco had led Harry into the bathroom a night before.

"Ouch, Harry! Damn It."

"Maybe you like it, Draco. Have you ever considered it?" Harry spat in sarcastic imitation of Draco's late suggestion.

"Harry, I…woah." Draco was silenced by what Harry had conjured within the room.

The room was nothing short of…medieval.

It was smaller then when Harry and Draco used it respectively, and there were no cushions, at all. Chains were the dominant feature of the walls' décor, and there was something akin to a nail bed on a slope right behind Draco. "Harry, what the hell is this?"

But before Draco could get his answer, he was deprived of the cloak and punched backwards right onto the nails. Draco let out a silent scream as the sharp points pierced his skin. Draco suddenly realized that he was not safe here with Harry tonight; he was in severe danger as it were.

"Harry what are you doing? Stop it!" but Harry wielded his wand swiftly around Draco so that the biggest set of chains wrapped around Draco's stomach. Then, Harry hooked the chain around behind them so that they could not be reached. He used another fast flick of his wand and cuffed Draco's hands so that Draco was spread-eagle on the nails, terrified. "What the hell is going on? Harry? What are you doing?"

Harry stood there glaring at Draco for a moment before his face spread into a huge, maniacal grin.

Harry had spend so much time lately thinking of what Draco was up to in the Room of Requirement all those times he was not on the Marauders Map.

However he wanted more to go on than a hunch before he confronted Draco about it.

The fact that Draco knew the tapestry and the means to use the room confirmed his involvement in the room.

Harry would have let his curiosity rest with this knowledge, but the attack on the girl was just too bold a move. Harry did not mention his suspicions to Ron or Hermione, but he and his adrenaline fully intended to act.

In Harry's mind, perhaps a warning would hinder Draco's deviancy, perhaps a scare would set back his plans (whatever they were,) and perhaps Harry was getting too attached to Draco.

All these thoughts crossed Harry's mind before conjuring the Room of Requirement, but he was never the less impressed with the spaces' delivery.

"I know you were behind it today, Draco. It was your necklace that cursed the girl."

Draco managed to gather some courage to retaliate the accusations, "Prove it, Potter."

"I don't need to. But I know you are spending a lot of time in this room lately, and I will find out why." Harry was looking…dark. Draco was fighting the urge to curse him.

"If I knew how to do silent curses, Potter, you would be in pain."

"Why not just kill me, Malfoy?"

"Because that's not my job here."

"What?"

"You heard me, Potter. You are not to be killed by anyone but him."

Harry was momentarily silenced. Not only had Draco confirmed that he had joined the circle of Death eaters, but that he knew about the future plans of Voldemort himself.

"Draco, what are you supposed to do exactly then?" Harry said slowly.

"Why the fuck would I tell you, Harry. Plus, what exactly do you plan on doing, chaining me up like this? It's not going to accomplish anything significant."

"The hell it isn't." Draco had insulted Harry's idea of trying to scare someone into not being bad. Harry knew he would be damned scared if he were in Draco's place right now. Did that mean that Draco was tougher than Harry? 'He is not getting the point yet.'

Harry leaned onto Draco's torso, forcing Draco's skin deeper on the nails.

Draco let out a scream that he didn't mean to.

"The way I see it, Draco, is that I will get my cloak back, and my book."

"The book is not with me, Potter. So how are you going to get it?" Draco was unintentionally tearing up with the pain. He could feel the blood running through his shirt and could visualize his blood slowly dripping down the nails tips' onto the metal bearing them. He was letting out small gasp of pain with every breath, but this was nothing compared to his pain experienced under the Dark Lord' company. Nothing.

"You are going to get it for me, and I will not put you under the Cruciatus Curse as long as you do."

"Harry, you would not curse me after what we have done," Draco was in horrible pain at this point, but still nothing against the Dark Lord's capabilities…yet. " Not after what you experienced with me. I took you to levels of pleasure your body has never felt."

"And you enjoyed every moment of it. But this has nothing to do with sex, Draco."
"We have not had sex, Harry. You are such a little virgin, it's pathetic."

"Not too pathetic for your attention or desire, Draco."

"Me, desire you? Please." Draco was in extreme pain, but he was still a genuine brat who hated to loose when all was said and done.

"Oh Draco, you want me, I can see it even now." Harry had a tone of desperation. He wanted Draco to realize that he, Harry, was doing this to embed in his brain that he would get into serious trouble if he did anything else. But more so, Harry realized that he desired Draco to desire him, and the only way that the message of protection would get through was if the feeling was mutual. Harry wanted to protect Draco from the Death Eaters, and Voldemort himself. However Harry was still an emotional teen, and the only way he could think of telling Draco this was to tell him that anyone else hurting him would be wrong. It was twisted, but so was yelling his head off at Ron and Hermione when he got to Sirius' house that summer. It was this damned raw anger that made him act out like this.

But in addition to being angry, he was also extremely confused as to his own motives and wants.

However, Draco could see a little bit of sense, and interpret a little bit of understanding into Harry's actions, and Harry's words hit deep. Too deep.

It was true. Draco wanted Harry in so many ways. He wanted his body, sure enough, but he wanted Harry to save him from this defunct image of a life. He wanted to be saved by this person who was currently hurting him, in more ways than one.

Harry's suggestion that he was only interested in Draco for his stolen book and his eagerness to hurt him rather than offer him salvation meant that Harry is one more person in the world that has refused to care for, like and love him.

After a very lengthy pause, Draco, not meeting Harry's eyes, spoke very silently.

"I do."

"What?" Harry's temper had subsided; he was never good at maintaining a level of emotion without persistent, continuous provocation, and Draco seemed to know his stopwatch when it came to controlling his emotions at times like these.

"Why is this Hero hurting me?" Draco yelled at the floor. He was past the point of caring about his image as 'The Draco Malfoy.'
"Hero?" Harry said in question, but Draco just continued.

"I want you to save me, need you to save me. I am so lost, Harry."

"What? Draco, your right here." Harry was slightly abashed at this change, but it meant that Draco might have realized that Harry was trying to relay a message to him and just didn't know how.

He wanted Draco to know he cared about him enough to hurt him, unlike the Death Eaters who hurt him because they didn't give a damn.

It occurred to Harry that he was still leaning on Draco, and that Draco's blood was now covering the table and slowly dripping on the floor. Still, Harry hesitated. Could Draco be tricking him?

No.

"Draco, I…" Harry summoned the table away, but the chains remained, as did the cuffs. "Draco," Harry murmured tenderly. Draco looked awful. His shirt was covered in blood and in shreds now that the nails are not holding the cloth together. He was shaking softly.

"Harry," Draco was down right out of it. He was totally out of control of himself at the moment. He never imagined that he would be in a situation like this inside of Hogwarts, with Harry Potter nonetheless.

"My only pain right now springs from the idea that no matter what you do to me, I am still his servant. Branded. I don't belong to myself anymore, and I know they think I will die during this damned mission, and I probably will."

"Draco, what mission?"

"Save me, Harry Potter." with that, Draco passed out from the blood loss. He went limp, still cuffed and wrapped in the chain's coil.

Harry was horrified with himself. He hurt Draco too much. He went too far, and now someone else was hurt because of him, directly because of him. He was disgusted with himself. His anger, which was so prominent these days, had claimed his judgment and actions.

Harry stopped the bleeding on Draco's back; he had the charm placed on himself so many times after Quiddich that he was able to perform the incantation without a problem. "Finite Incantatum!" He yelled at the room, only during this incantation he had placed a very solid image of another king of room in his mind.

The Room of Requirement did not let him down. It changed immediately into a soft living space with a huge futon in front of a warm fire. Next to the futon was a small table with a set of clean clothes. Harry sighed in relief.

After a change of clothes Harry moved Draco onto the futon, then he covered the blond in the giant blanket after checking that he was recovering from the blood loss. Harry had not noticed just how pale Draco until he was cleaning the blood off his back. Draco's skin when covered in Draco's blood was a ghastly contrast that Harry never wants to see again.

Slowly Harry got to his feet and walked around Draco to see his face, he crouched low and placed a hand on Draco's wrist, then pulled his arm out to see the Dark Mark. He was curious as to what the curse looked like up close.

It was horrible and angry looking. It moved slightly, but Harry instinctually knew that something more would happen if he touched it.

Harry looked at Draco's now peaceful face, then back down to the mark. He then moved his head forward, hesitated, and then kissed the Dark Mark.

Immediately, Harry's scar begins to burn.

Kissing the Dark Mark had caused the Dark Lord pain somehow…Harry didn't care how. But he did it again, ignoring the white pain from his scar.

"Draco," Harry looked down at the boy, and surprisingly Draco was staring back at him. "Your awake!"

Draco looked from Harry to the Mark, and quickly recoiled his arm. "What do you think you are doing?" Draco was horrified.

"Talking to Voldemort," Harry slowly stood up again, and walked slowly towards the door.

"Harry, he…"

"I know, Draco. But he has hurt you, and so I hurt him. But I also hurt you, so I am no better than he is." Harry picked up his cloak and threw it over his shoulder.

"Harry, please."

"What? You wanted me to help you, so tell me how I can and I will as much as you let me. I know you bottle yourself up more than is healthy, and I know that like Voldemort you don't have close friend and allies. But take it from someone that is Voldemort's number one target: he can be defeated." Harry let a small smile grace his features. His resolve was so strong, even when he did not intent it to be so visible.

"Harry, you fool." Draco was still very weak from the blood loss, but he was going to be heard. "He will hurt me instead of you until he kills you, same goes for Severus. Until you kill him or he kills you, we will suffer, and even after that apocalyptic event, if he wins we are screwed." Draco opened his mouth but Harry interrupted him.

"Draco, I will kill him, haven't you listened to me at all? I will kill him even if I have to sacrifice myself to do so, which happens to be the most likely outcome. Once that happens, you will be free, so what you do to prepare yourself for that freedom is up to you. But just remember that in time, I will give you freedom."

What that Harry left the room with his cloak. The door shut lightly behind him.

"If you die I will not be happy. Even if he dies with you, Harry."

Then Draco drifted off to sleep…

It