Chapter 32 prep

Draco's prov

I watched from the window, everyone was decorating, happy despite the war that would happen soon. In two days I would be married to the vile monster Lord. Millicent and Pansy were the only ones who could come and go and two guards were stationed at my door at all times. Vince who was with me at the time of my father's murder was beheaded that very night. Gagged to not tell secrets, he had been framed for father's murder. I had heard nothing from Greg or Severus and prayed they were alright. I missed my family terribly, Leo and Harry the most.

The cool wind played with my hair, I had several times thought of jumping, dyeing. It was my son's face, Harry's smile that stopped me from doing so.

"Princess," the boy spoke, I had found out his name was Alec, and he had been taken from his family near the borders and brought to a brothel where father bought, trained and passed him off as me.

"Yes," I replied.

"What are you going to do?" he questioned.

I shook my head "I don't know, I'm well watched here."

"Your very sad," he came over to stand beside me.

"I miss… people," I replied.

"I miss people too," Alec frowned sadly.

"Your mother? Father?" I wondered out loud.

"Yes and my two sisters, her husband and my niece," Alec replied "who do you miss?"

"My son, my lover, father and my friends Severus, Vince and Greg," I replied masking my face.

"Your son?" Alec asked surprised "you're supposed to be virgin! To marry Harold Potter!"

"Harry is the father," I answered turning to go back inside.

"Then he will come for you?" Alec asked eagerly and my guard suddenly went up, something was off.

"I don't know, we didn't part on the best terms," I lied a bit. The idea that we parted was the worst of it.

This seemed to placate him and he stopped talking to me, further tipping me off that he was working with the snake. After all why was he still with me at all?

Harry's Prov

Father, I and his generals worked tiressly preparing for the war, gathering troops and moving up the attack date. Father originally wished to attack a week from now but need pressed us to work harder. Draco needed me and if anything happened to him I would never forgive myself. Leo needed him and so did I.

We set too march two days later. The riders moved quickly and ground troops were loaded into wagons to make transportation faster. We had no time, our spies informed us that Draco was to be wed in three days. Thus giving Voldemort iron clad control over all armies. They were gathered. Ex king Lucius was forceful in bringing everyone together but none would move till after the ceremony.

Father and I pushed on from the marching ranks, I wished him to meet Leo as the ranks rode a bit slower. The Grangers and Ron met us, bowing to father and I. Hermione moved forward and placed my son in my arms. Leo looked up at me with such love and adoration that it brought a sting of mixed happiness and sorrow to my eyes. Father stepped up behind me looking surprised over my shoulder; Leo was the princling, heir to the Potter kingdom.

"He has yours and your mother's eyes," father spoke softly watching Leo whose eyes were following me.

"Draco's nose, his hair," I smiled.

"He is beautiful," King James smiled "my precious grandson."

Harry and James spent a bit of time watching Leo, catching up on the story of how both fathers met. All too soon the sounds of approaching horns sounded. The army had caught up and James, Harry and Ron joined the ranks and pushed hard to gain as much ground as they could. We worked the horses till they needed to stop and marched well into the night, the high moon aiding in our sight. We eventually stopped for a few hours of rest.

"We made excellent progress," King James spoke lifting his goblet to his lips. He was dinning with me, Remus, Sirius, Kingsley, and Ron.

I simply nodded, Storm sensing my nerves placed his head on my leg and whined "hey boy." He barked softly, whining again "I wish I could understand you like Draco."

"He can speak to wolves?" Remus asked curiously.

"All animals, he has a gift." I replied thinking back on fonder thoughts.

"Don't know how many times I caught him having conversations with them," Ron smiled, "Always snuck bits of meat for them too, after a whine or two."

I smiled, "he thought we didn't notice too, Hermione called him on feeding pets at the table and he looked so adorable faking unknowing," my smile then turned slowly into a frown.

"We'll get him back mate, he's strong, he will find a way to hold on," Ron assured.

"Yah," I replied "time to get some sleep, long days ride ahead of us tomorrow."

I curled up in my bed trying to sleep, haunted by thoughts of that vile man touching my angel. It wasn't long till I heard the sounds of wagons, the foot soldiers were arriving, some placed up tents others stayed put already asleep. Finally in the wee hours I did too.

Draco's Prov

I sat frowning at the mirror, almost princess perfect. I looked like a sick, tired doll. My pale skin was ashen from restless nights, my eyes like a demon, blood lines of red and shadows dark. Pansy had tried to put make up on me as I was requested to dinner with the snake and his minions.

"I will not be beautiful for that man," I looked her in the eye "he has caused my father's death, imprisoned my mother and me and has plans to hold my country captive in his rein. I will not be beautiful nor will I join the man."

"Princess your mother?" Pansy frowned "what if he hurts the queen?"

My eyes narrowed "leave me."

She hurried away as Alec came to my side, weary of Lunte. They allowed me to keep her as long as she remained docile. One move they did not like and she would be killed.

"You should worry more for the queen," he spoke softly; no doubt something father's training had taught him.

"I do worry, I love mother very much which is why I am still here," I replied catching a peek at my white silk self in the mirror and wincing.

Alec went to put a hand on my shoulder when Lunte rose from my right side, he being on my left and placed herself in between us "Princess?" his voice quaked a bit.

I pat her on the head "she just doesn't like that your taking attention away from her, Lunte good girl." She licked my cheek and I noted the disgust on Alec's face. Smirking I threw my arms around her in a cuddle, "my good cub."

Alec rose at that realizing I wasn't going to speak further to him.

My joy was short lived as the guards came to me and took me to the man I was to wed.

The beautiful tapestries in the great hall were covered with black giving the room a cold unwelcome feel. Each and every person at the table looked foul; nothing was good about his minions, the death eaters. Then my eyes rested on mother. She looked like a vision except her eyes which had aged many years in a few days.

"Princessss, my beautiful bride to be," the leader hissed, Voldemort was a pasty white man, very old and bald. He had succumbed to a disease in his formative years and his nose had come clean off. It made him look like the demon he truly was. I was placed on his right. A place my mother once sat, beside father. Mother now sat several seats down the table as Lord Voldemort's two sons and daughter sat nearest to me.

"I'm not sure you have met my family Draconisss," he hissed out, "my eldest Fenrir, he commands with me the armies I have, preferring the wild people to the far south of my territories. Then Amycus my second son and his twin sister Alecto, both powerful magic users like me."

I nodded a greeting preferring to stay silent; these people were not the type I would willingly associate with. We were served a dinner the kitchens I'm sure were proud of, braised duck with lemon and wine.

Looking at the food on my plate I couldn't help but think back to the days I did the cooking, Harry would come back from a hunt and I would prepare fresh stew. Simple meals I missed dearly.

"Not hungry my pet?" Voldemort asked me breaking me from my thoughts.

"Not at all," I replied watching the man's eyes narrow dangerously "I had the kitchens prepare your favorite."

I felt I must tread lightly "I have not been sleeping well and it has affected my appetite, I thank you Lord for the thought." I couldn't help my tongue from reminding this man of his place and whom he was dinning with. The queen and princess themselves.

Suddenly he rose from the table his hand grabbing mine and dragging me up "listen you little child, you will speak to me with the respect of your future husband."

I pulled my hand from his, feeling fire for the first time in days "No, you are a lord and I am a princess you have no right to treat me in this manner, I demand you leave my home and take your people with you!"

Then a stinging, he smacked me. I could feel the burn upon my face "you are a nothing but a breeding bitch with rich blood. You will obey me!" he roared "when we are wed tomorrow you will submit to me, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!"

"Never," I glared defiantly back at him.

"Then your mother dies," he smiled a blacked gapped toothed smile.

My eyes finally met my mother who was looking at me with pride "I love you Draco, you will make a fine King for this country." I was too late to even scream out as she took her dinner knife and thrust it into her chest… blood instantly began too pool onto her dress.

"Mother!" I scream rushing towards her, but she was already dead. The knife went directly into her own heart. My heart broke, tears flooded as I simply felt limp. The guards took me to my room and bolted me in. I sat on my bed sobbing. Pansy, Millicent, Alec and Lunte tried to comfort me but nothing helped. I lay staring at the ceiling until my body remembered mother's words, she called me a king… she was telling me to fight… to win. But how? I knew escape was impossible but… I might have stirrings of a plan.