I don't own Harry Potter.
Trade Mistakes: Chapter 4
Harry sat hugging his knees to his chest in a chair across from Albus Dumbledore's desk. Remus Lupin stood behind him, his hand gently squeezing Harry's shoulder every few minutes hoping to comfort him. Harry's eyes lazily followed as Severus Snape paced around the Headmaster's office. Every few turns, the Potions Master would let out a frustrated groan, pulling at his hand as he mumbled to himself about how he could have prevented this.
"I knew Lucius was planning something! I should have kept Draco safe!" He yelled at no one. Harry bit his lip and buried his face in his knees as tears welled up in his eyes. Lupin stifled a sigh as he tightened the grip on Harry's shoulder.
"It's okay," the werewolf whispered in Harry's ear. "It's all going to be okay. We'll figure something out." Harry let out a small sob as he nodded his head. The three men remained in silence, the only sounds being Harry's occasional sniffle and Snape's groans. Finally the door slid open to revel a stressed looking Dumbledore. The Headmaster gently lowered himself into his chair, laying down a stack of parchment as he did so.
"Albus…" Snape whispered, his entire body tense in misery.
"I'm afraid I have no news, bad or otherwise," he said, shaking his head sadly. "Whoever it was-Draco or someone disguised as him-" Harry couldn't stop the sob that escaped him as he tightened his arms around his legs. "disapparated as soon as he left the grounds. We have not been able to trace him."
"So what does that mean?" Remus asked quietly, pulling up a chair to sit next to Harry, moving his hand down lower to trace patterns on the young boy's back. "If we can't find who did it, if they can't prove if it was Draco or not, what will happen now? The Prophet is in a tizzy; Slughorn had many fans."
Albus sighed, removing his half-moon spectacles and pinching the bridge of his nose. "We are working on it, Remus. Aurors, led by Kingsley of course, will be searching Malfoy Manor this week. Whether or not Draco was actually behind the attack, it would make since to find him in his home; either running home to his father or if his father has kidnapped him."
"He didn't do it," Harry said, his voice quiet and hoarse. "He couldn't…He wouldn't! I…I know him, Professor. I'd like to think I know him quiet well. He would never go back willingly."
"Harry," Professor Dumbledore said with a small sigh. "I know you believe in him. But we have to look at all possibilities. There…there is a possibility that Draco fooled us all; Convinced us he wanted to switch sides only to learn as much information about the Order as possible. And then when the time was right he returned to his father. Now I do not wish to believe this, but we have to be prepared."
"Albus," Snape began again, his voice a bit stronger. "How…how can help?"
Again, Dumblerdore sighed, clasping his hands in front of him. "That, Severus, is where things are going to be tricky. If Draco did return with information about the Order, you are no longer safe to return."
"I have to try, Albus! This is my godson we're talking about!"
"I know, Severus. We will have to decide as the time comes what to do." The Potion Master looked eyes with the Headmaster for a moment before nodding his head.
"What…What do I do now?" Harry asked, tear tracks still staining his face.
"Harry my boy," Albus said sadly. "I am so sorry this has happened to you. I know you care for Draco dearly. For now, I just need you to keep your head down. People are going to be saying horrible, horrible things about Draco. You are not to let them get a rise out of you. Don't answer their questions. And most importantly, don't give up on Draco. No matter how thin hope seems, do not give up on him, Harry."
Harry bit his lip, nodding his head. He let out a shuddering breath as he whipped the tears from his face. He felt sick to his stomach and wanted nothing more than to be laying in his bed pretending none of this was happening. Remus squeezed his shoulder again, bringing him back to the here and now.
"For now, gentleman," Albus said, his eyes trailing over all of them, "I suggest you return to your rooms. It has been a stress filled weekend and I feel that this is only the beginning. As more information comes about we will have more of these meetings. I will be keeping you involved in this Harry, you deserve as much." Harry nodded his thanks, not trusting his voice.
Remus stood, gently taking Harry's elbow to lift him from his seat.
"Ah, Remus! Before you go, I have your Wolfesbane Potion for the coming full moon. I can't believe it's coming on us so soon!" With that, Dumbledore unlocked a drawer of his desk and pulled out a steaming goblet. The smell caught Harry as Remus picked it up and his stomach lurched. He scrambled to the small waste bin near his chair.
Harry clutched his stomach tightly as he expelled the small amount of shepard's pie he'd been able to get down at dinner. His throat burned and he couldn't help the sobs that were starting to shake his body. Soon he could do nothing more than dry heave. Looking alarmed, Snape charmed the goblet not to spill and Remus quickly put it away in his traveling cloak.
"Potter, what in Merlin's name is wrong with you?" Snape asked, passing the shaking boy a glass of water that he had summoned.
"I, uh, I don't really know. The, uh, stress, I guess." Remus bit his lip, pulling Harry to his feet.
"Well why don't you go on up to the Tower, Pup," The werewolf said, his eyes full of worry. "I'm sure a good night's sleep will help you feel better."
"Thanks, Moony," Harry whispered, taking comfort in the arm around his shoulders as he was led out of the Headmaster's office.
Draco screamed as his body was put under another round of the Cruciatus Curse. His nerves felt like they were on fire and his vision swam slightly as his convulsions caused his skull to smack off the hardwood floor of the dining room. The grin on Lucius' face couldn't get any bigger as he watched his son suffer.
"Oh Draco, did you really think you could just leave? Just walk away from our cause? Oh you foolish, foolish little boy!" He lifted the curse, watching as his son's chest heaved. Lucius bent and caught Draco's arm, dragging him to his feet. He practically dragged Draco to the dungeons, the blonde boy sobbing the entire time.
"Father, please," he begged, his voice hoarse from screaming so much. "Please, I'm sorry! I'll be faithful, oh Merlin, please, I'll be faithful." At the top of the stairs Lucius gave Draco a small shove. The shaking boy's limbs were still too weak and he fell down the stone stairs, smacking his head off the wall again. He let out a sob as his world tilted only for his father to revive him right away. He was dragged, kicking and screaming, to a plain brick wall where Lucius tapped the seventh brick from the right side and the tenth from the floor with his wand.
The bricks began to tumble away, much like the ones at Diagon Alley. As soon as they stepped into the hidden room, the bricks returned to their place. He dragged Draco down a small hell to a heavy wooden door with a small window covered in bars. The door flew open with a swish of the wand and Draco was shoved to the floor again.
"Please, Father. I'm sorry! Don't do this! I'm sorry, so sorry!" Draco sobbed, trying in vain to pull away from his father. Before he even knew what was happening, a hand had reached out and slapped him across the face. Draco yelped, a hand going to his cheek. He tried to no avail to get his breathing under control. With another swish of Lucius' wand, Draco's clothes vanished, leaving the pale, too skinny body on display.
"Draco, dear," Lucius drawled, a mad glint in his eyes. "These scars, where did they come from?" Draco's eyes widened and he tried to come up with an excuse.
"Quidditch! Quidditch accidents!" He cried, curling on himself to keep his father from seeing them. Words like 'worthless' and 'failure' had been carved into his thigh some time ago but they had been deep enough to leave dark scars.
"You're been cutting yourself like some common muggle, Draco? Well maybe I can help you with that. Sectumsempra!" Deep cuts began to litter Draco's body; his pale arms were suddenly a sea of red, his chest burned as cuts appeared there. One even ran along his hip bone and Draco couldn't stop himself from jumping, causing the cut to run close to his prick.
"Father, please! I'm sorry!" Draco sobbed as Lucius lifted his wand. Although the cuts were deep Draco was sure he wouldn't die from the blood loss.
"Crucio!" Lucius screamed, and Draco sobbed as his abused body withered again. Just as soon as it had started, the curse stopped. Lucius came forward, grabbing Draco by his wrist and dragging him across the dungeon floor when his son seemed unwilling or unable to stand on his own.
They approached a wide wooden table with shackles attached to it. Draco was slammed face down onto the table and his father wrestled his wrists and ankles into the metal cuffs. With a flick of his wand, Lucius caused the shackles to move so Draco was forced to be spread eagle, his hips and shoulders screaming in protest.
"Oh we are going to have so much fun together, Draco!" Lucius said the Malfoy family smirk plastered on his face. He clapped his hands together loudly, causing his son to jump in fear. "But I don't want to do it all in one night, you see. I want to drag this out as long as possible. Sleep tight my boy."
As soon as Lucius left the cell, the room went pitch dark. It was a little known fact that Draco was terrified of the dark. Maybe it was because Aunt Bella had looked him in her cellar to teach him a lesson about respecting his elders when he was younger and he had been left in the dark for close to a week with only the rats for company. Harry had laughed at first when he asked if it was okay to leave a little light on at night but the Boy-Who-Lived soon understood.
Draco let out deep sob when his mind wondered to Harry. His boyfriend had to be worried sick and Draco had no way to let him know where he was. He wondered what was going at the castle and how long it had taken them to realize he was gone. He tried to pull his arms down but hissed when the metal of the cuff cut into his wrist.
"Harry," he whimpered in a small voice. He tried to keep himself from crying since he knew it was useless but he couldn't help the fat tears that ran down his face. "Merlin, Harry please save me."
AN: I hope you liked it. Please review.