Chapter 18
Draco sighed, silently sitting up in bed, his silver eyes looking back at the sleeping dark lord, his grey eyes flashing as he sneered. He pulled the finely woven robe from the ornately carved chair, the silken material cool to the touch as he slide his naked limbs into the black fabric. He pulled his hair back aggitatedly, quickly and efficiently tying the ribbon around the short ponytail, his small hands moving assuredly around the sprig of hair capturing up any loose strands in the black ribbon before slipping off the bed and on to the stone floor.
He moved through the corridors, his pale, bare feet padding throught the halls as silently as possible with his extended frame, as he walked to the harem, shivering shaking his frame as he walked the familiar halls, his eyes seeming to look at nothing as his feet took him to his distination, the familiarity of the place guiding him when his mind was occupied. He entered the atrium, his eyes seeming to flash back to life as he looked at writhing bodies on the floor, a small smile replacing his blank face as he stepped over the bodies, coming upon his friends, gingerly kicking them.
Dark eyes looked up at him, before nearly rolling back into the familiar face, as the olive skinned boy rode out the pleasure that was being beckoned from his young body, another young boy thrusting intimately into his willing body, placing kisses, open mouthed, wet, sloppy, inexperienced kisses on his body. Draco rolled his eyes, absently rubbing the swell of his stomach, moving on to the next of his friends, gently probing Pansy, watching for her nod before moving along to the next of his small, elite group, seating himself quite comfortably in one of the pillowed gazebos, reclining against the copious amounts of cushions, watching disinterestedly as the bodies seemed to writhe in unison.
Blaise limped over to him a few moments later, lazily clothing his naked form with a simple robe, before collapsing next to the blonde, nestling tiredly next to him. Draco returned the affection, both boys placing twin kisses on each others cheeks as they watched the others pulling themselves from the grips of their passions. Theo emerged next, his need for modesty even more relaxed than Blaise, not even bothering to cloth himself, placing a kiss on the blonde's cheek before slipping a robe onto his shoulders, not even bothering to tie it allowing it to remain open, revealing his highly impressive body. Pansy pulled herself up next, her robe in place, ever hair on her head in impeccable order, as she too kissed the blonde on the cheek in greeting.
Draco looked at his group, his coral pink lips curving at the corners as he tucked a piece of hair behind Theo's ear, kissing the taller boy gently on the lips, feeling the boy nuzzle closer to him. He repeated the gesture with Pansy, messing with her dark hair briefly before look sitting back against the cushions, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind his ear, watching as the other teens stood from their spots, Blaise reaching out his hand to the blonde in silent aid. The blonde accepted the hand, allowing the boy to pull him to his feet, swaying slightly as he changed positions, vertigo taking over his functioning. Theo steadied him, placing his hands around the smaller boy's waist to hold him. The three looked at each other, their eyes betraying nothing as they watched the blonde compose himself quickly, their worry hidden under layers of emotionlessness.
Draco recovered quickly, gently batting away the taller boy's hands before silently leading them out of the harem and into the night, the halls seeming to be muffled against the sounds of their feet, allowing them to walk as though they were shadows that existed only in the dreams of sleeping children, the harmless, nameless beings that haunted adults if only in memory. They moved seductively against the moonlight, their skin seeming to glow with the moon's light, almost as though they were back in their harem, having sex with some other courtesan.
They stood silently by the apparation point, deep within the forest, their ageless eyes watching as the moon cast it's light on the castle one last time before apparating away, cracks of what seemed like lightening resounding as they disappeared.
Harry sat silently by the window, his green eyes staring out at the dark night, his thoughts seeming to be just as dark as he waited up for the blonde, his heart seeming to wrench with each thought directed at the blonde. He looked around the room, his eyes taking in those that waited with him, some out of hope, like Severus, whose dark eyes stayed as sharp as ever as he waited, his back straight and alert as he listened for any type of sign that his child had returned; some waited out of spite, like Ron, who snored loudly next to Hermione, his red hair falling over his eyes as he leant forward in his seat, before he caught himself falling, grumbling under his breath out 'ferrets' and 'loosing sleep' as he tried to get back into a comfortable position; but then some that waited along with him did so out of concern for him, like Remus and Sirius. Remus leaned on the animagus, his amber eyes fighting to stay open, as he rubbed his protruding stomach, a small contented smile on his face as Sirius whispered sweet nothings into his ear.
Harry sighed, his gaze turning back to the window as though he would know when the blonde would come into view, when they would be able to see those familiar blonde strands that reminded him of starlight. 'Great.' thought Harry, shaking his head as he smiled to himself, 'don't I sound poetic.'
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of something, the blinding light of the moon seeming to reflect off the bright blonde hair as he stared out the window at that beautiful hair, that familiar, fae-like face relaxed as he walked amongst the shadows. The dark haired boy stood, knocking the chair out from under him as he ran to meet the blonde, a laugh of pure joy and happiness escaping his lips as he hurried down the countless stairs. He could hear the others behind him, could practically feel their footsteps as they pounded behind him, as he raced toward the main entrance.
He jumped the last few stairs, his long legs allowing such a move as he landed on his feet, his eyes catching sight of the blonde as the large door opened. Harry sprinted towards him, swooping down on him, scooping him into his arms and placing kisses allover that beautiful pale face, forehead, cheeks, nose, eyelids, lips, every place his lips could find a fragment of unclothed skin they planted a seed of affection. The small blonde laughed slightly, allowing the taller of the two to smother him in kisses, feeling the emotion behind those small gestures of affection, feeling the worry and relief over his return. Harry finally stopped his onslaught, his nose nuzzling the blonde's neck as he place yet another kiss on his lips, this one fleeting and chaste, before placing he pregnant boy on his feet, his strong arms around the boy as he steadied himself.
"Well," said Pansy, a small smirk forming on her lips as she watched the large Gryffindor hold her friend close to his body," I guess he missed you, hmm?"
Draco swatted at her, though his eyes spoke of the fondness he had for the dark haired boy, as he allowed the taller of the two to tuck him into his side. Harry looked the new group over, his green eyes seeming to darken in a way that made them more intimidating, more threatening then the boy they had known from school. He glanced over their attaire, furrowing his brow in confusion at their state of undress, seeming to remember them clothed mostly when he had last seen them.
Theo sighed slightly, running his hand through his dark hair, not at all bothered by the stares he was receiving as they others filed into the entrance hall, their eyes seeming to judge before they understood the situation. Ron, being himself, was the first to comment on the Slytherins attire, or lack there of.
"Oi, are your parents so caught up in their 'lord' that they didn't bother to buy you clothes?" he yelled out, his blue eyes flashing with amusement at his own 'inteligence'.
All the Slytherins present rolled their eyes at the boy, ignoring the comment. They looked over at the group at the end of the hall, their masks falling into place, hiding their emotions, a way of protecting all that they could of themselves. It was their way of protection, of keeping themselves together when the world turned against them. They could read each other but that was only because they knew each other, had lived with each other for as long as they could remember, had grown up with each other, had shared experiences that drew them closer, their bond tighter, almost asphyxicating.
Severus came into view, his dark eyes flashing with some unnamed emotion as he gracefully made his way over to the small group, his potion stained hands reaching out, gently ruffling Draco's bright blonde hair, needing the physical proof that his child was there, alive, was within his grasp. He turned his gaze onto the others, those dark eyes seeming to sift out the truth, seeming to search out the faults in their masks, their facades. He touched each child's cheek, his penetrating gaze searching theirs. The children allowed him, their well built walls crumbling around them as they were searched, feeling relief wash over them as he gently spoke into their minds, his dark voice seeming to mimic the velvet night that they had just emerged from.
"Welcome back," said the older slytherin, his dark eyes shuttered, shielded against the prying gaze of the others.
The three returning children nodded, their eyes seeming to follow his example, the depths becoming obscured, as though they were a muddy river bank. They followed him silently, looking over their shoulders to look at Draco, their eyes seemingly empty and dull. The small blonde waved them off impatiently, the sleeve of his robe moving along his arm, the silken material shimmering in the dull light of the hall. He tucked a stray piece of long blonde hair behind his ear, stretching leisurely as he slowly made his way toward his and Harry's shared suite, the dark haired Gryffindor glued to his side as though he was a body guard.
Draco sighed, collapsing on the couch in their rooms, groaning as he pulled his feet on to the plush sofa, breathing deeply in hopes of ridding his body of the soreness the dark lord invoked. Harry gently settled next to him, silence blanketing the room, thick and warm, the comfort affecting the blonde that lay upon the couch. Slowly, Draco began to pull his mind back from the depths of darkness, his grey eyes focusing once more on the dark haired boy by his feet.
Harry offered him a strained smile, his emerald green eyes taking in the tired, dull, lifeless grey, hid heart breaking as he saw the flash of mistrust in those Slytherin silver eyes. He gently tugged on the blonde's robe, helping him strip it off his pale naked body, wincing as he saw the bruises that littered the that flawlessly pale skin. The dark purple, yellow, and green looked sickening on his small body, the marks seeming to make you want to hold that fragile body close, tuck him under your chin, your arms wrapped around that frame that shook ever-so-slightly from the pain in his body, and tell him that you were there, that you were going to keep him safe, that you were going to protect him from the pain, all the pain that could ever happen to him. But, Harry thought, he couldn't do that. That would be a betrayal in the eyes of a Slytherin, that would be weakness, and if Draco was anything, it was Slytherin.
So Harry gently pulled the robe from his battered body, folding the expensive fabric into a neat little square, his eyes watching the small grey eyed boy, watching as he shook, unable to comfort, knowing that comfort was weakness, and right now, Harry had to be the hero that everyone wanted, because that's what Draco needed. He needed to know that Harry would be able to fulfill his duty, to do what needed to be done, to be what the world needed him to be, because knowing the the saviour was a human just like you, made you want to curl into a ball, it made you want to hide under your parents because they could protect you better than that weak boy that needed a hug.
Harry stood, his long, leanly muscled body moving almost clumsily to the small kitchenette, filling a bowl with warm water, gathering a bar of soap and wash cloth in his arms, his steps leading him back to the tired blonde, gently setting the items on the coffee table, kneeling on the floor, a sign of submission, as he gently, quietly dipped the washcloth into the water, rubbing the cloth against the bar of soap, releasing the scent of milk and honey into the air, relaxing the blonde. Harry gently took his hand in his, caressing the cloth along that pale arm, washing without a sound, watching the boy relax, hearing the small sigh, the delicate shudder of his shoulders, as his muscles were relieved of their tension. Harry gently washed his body, his arms, his neck, his face, his chest, his beautifully rounded stomach, his legs, his feet, he washed the evidence from him, taking the weight off those pale shoulders and placing them on his own, shouldering the burden, if only for a little while.