Title:Game Without Tears

Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.

Author: ShaeLynn Teelle

All other information: See first chapter.

Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.

Chapter 24: Just Like Me

"What's wrong, Headmaster?" Harry asked quickly.

"The two Death Eaters that had attacked you were caught and have been in custody since the attack. We have waited to ensure who they were before questioning both under Veritaserum, but one has been demanding to see all five of the students here for several days," Dumbledore said gravely.

"Who is it, Professor?" Draco asked quietly as he stepped behind the couch where Daphne and Gregory sat.

"It is your father and Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Malfoy. I wasn't sure if any of you would want to see them, but your father has demanded several times that he sees you. Will you indulge his request?"

Draco nodded once to the old wizard who sat before him, "I will go, Headmaster."

The other four Slytherins stood and briefly nodded their acceptance. The group left the suite of rooms and traveled down to the dungeons. In a remote corner of the castle, where even the other Slytherins had never been, they came to a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bars across the thick planks. They could feel the magic suppressing wards on the room as far away as the hall leading to it. The five Slytherins followed the Headmaster in and spread out into a line near the wall opposite of the two Death Eaters whom were bound in chains on uncomfortable looking stools.

Severus went to a table in one corner and began measuring out two tiny vials of Veritaserum, three drops in each. McGonagall, Lupin, and Harry stood near the door so they were within view of every occupant in the room. It was only after the heavy door had closed that Lucius Malfoy looked up and across the room where his son stood, flanked on both sides by his friends and comrades .

"Vain. You still insist on appearing before me looking like that? When I know what you really look like? Take those ridiculous costumes off at once!" Lucius shouted at the five.

No one else in the room had any idea what Lucius was talking about until the five students caught their attention. As the rest of the room watched, the Slytherins' forms blurred as though they were being shaken incredibly fast. When the forms came into focus again there were several startled gasps, then, Lucius's laughter echoed about the room accompanied by the elder Parkinson.

"So he taught you all did he? Vain peacocks, refusing to shine with these improvements we made to you. Take pride in how the people will see your improvements," Lucius said loudly between his laughter, but the five did not even flinch.

Harry stared at Draco, still hardly believing his eyes. He could only see the Slytherin's right side clearly and he wasn't sure if he wanted to see the left. Draco's right ear was missing the top quarter of it and there was a scar around Draco's right eye that would have been a perfect circle if it were completed. It started under the center of the eyebrow and wrapped around Draco's eye to his cheek where it ended at the corner of his nose. Harry looked to the other Slytherins, shocked again by each new scar he saw.

Vincent had a scar running from each corner of his mouth back until they ended just below his ears as though he had once been gagged for so long that it cut into his skin. Pansy had multiple scars running vertical across her upper and lower lips and Harry didn't even want to imagine what they were from. A scar that ended just shy of her windpipe ran half-way around Daphne's neck. Gregory's right eye was no more than a dull gray color and a scar ran through the center of it, starting above his eyebrow and ending just beyond his cheekbone.

All five of the Slytherins' eyes had dark circles around them like they never really got enough sleep. 'Which', Harry thought to himself, 'might explain why they are nearly always sleeping early in the evenings and some afternoons.'

"You wanted to see us, Lucius. What do you want as we all know it is not to see you under the effects of a truth serum," Draco asked as coldly as if he were in Voldemort's presence.

"I just had to make sure that what they said was true. You're all still alive, amazing. I was sure that you all would be dead. Such weak children, really disappointing," Lucius answered and went off into another cruel laugh.

"Severus, the Veritaserum."

The Potions Master nodded and lifted one of the prepared vials of the truth potion. He walked over to Lucius and was about to force the potion down the Death Eater's throat when a voice stopped him.

"Wait. One moment, Professor Snape."

Draco said and walked forward until he was within touching distance of his father. Everyone stared at the damage revealed when he raised his left hand to touch the side of Lucius's head. Draco's hand only sported four fingers. The outside edge of his hand, where the pinky should have been, was a dark pink and slightly violet. The pinky and the edge of his hand were gone.

Draco touched his fingertips to Lucius's face and held it there for a few moments, a look of concentration on his face. Then, he pulled away and spoke to Dumbledore, never taking his eyes off Lucius.

"This is not my father."

"Are you certain about that, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, if this were Lucius Malfoy he would be burning already. Like I was when Ron touched me."

"Severus, the truth serum, please," Dumbledore said, gesturing with his hand to where the two Death Eaters were bound to their chairs.

Snape silently forced the Veritaserum down the throat of the one that looked like Lucius Malfoy.

"What is your name?" Dumbledore asked.

The Death Eater struggled, sweat breaking out on his face and hands curling into fists at his sides. Finally he answered the question, "Avis Parkinson."

There was a brief moment of silence in which Draco turned around and took a step towards where the others waited. Then, a low growl sounded behind him. Suddenly Pansy screamed 'Ground!' even as she herself started forward. Harry saw Draco drop to the stone floor just as something sailed over the top of his head. There was a sudden flurry of movement that even years later, Harry still wasn't sure what had happened, but when the activity stopped he saw just how efficiently the Slytherins worked together without any form of plan or their wands.

Vincent had the arms of the Death Eater that looked like Parkinson trapped behind his back where he was forced to kneel before Draco. Gregory had the second man on his knees in front of the stools. Pansy was closely watching her father as he tried to move to help the other. Daphne was helping Draco to his feet and Draco had blood slowly running down the side of his face from a small gash at his hairline where the fake Parkinson had managed to strike him as he went overhead.

"You fool!" the Death Eater spat out, the Veritaserum ensuring that every word he said was true in his own mind and glaring at Draco in such a way that made Snape shudder with its intensity. "You have cost me everything! You've betrayed the Malfoy name for the son of a Mudblood and the traitor that you've saved twice now!"

"Headmaster?" Draco asked quietly, his eyes never leaving his father's furious gaze, though the eyes that stared at him from Parkinson's body were a deep brown. "If you have no more need for us might we return to our chambers?"

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy. Professor Lupin and Mr. Potter can escort you to the infirmary for your injury and then, back to your chambers. I will take over restraining the elder Malfoy," Dumbledore answered solemnly, no trace of the usual sparkle in his eyes. Then, he waved his wand and put Lucius in a full body bind, allowing Vincent to let him go, and then placing one on Parkinson as well.

Remus opened the chamber door and the five Slytherins followed him from the room. Harry fell in line at the end, right behind Draco who was, for once, not at the head of the Slytherin procession. After they were all out of the room and the door had closed behind them, the Slytherins blurred and returned to their usual appearances.

In front of the line Narcissa's ghost appeared, floating towards the room they had just come from. As she passed her son, she reached out with one hand, brushing against his cheek as he softly smiled at her. Then, she was behind them and through the door into the room where Lucius was bound. A moment passed and they all heard a horrified scream that could only have come from Lucius. Draco started to laugh quietly and when he was finished he collapsed. Harry reacted instantly and caught the Slytherin before he hit the floor.

He lifted the blonde into his arms, surprised by how light he was and addressed Remus, his eyes on the other Slytherins whom had turned at Draco's laughter, "I trust them, Remus. Meet us at the infirmary." Then, Harry took off running, using every short-cut he had memorized from the Marauders Map until he reached the infirmary and Madam Pomfrey's capable hands.

\/\/\/\/\/

When everyone was settled and Draco was safe in the hands of Madam Pomfrey, Harry and Remus returned to the room where the Death Eaters were being held and watched as Dumbledore questioned them both, especially Lucius, on everything he could that had reference to Voldemort. Then, he took Harry to the side and asked him if there was anything he wanted asked. Harry wanted to know about the scars that the five Slytherins bore. What Lucius told them in vivid detail under the influence of Veritaserum made Harry's blood boil with rage, but he kept his composure to the best of his abilities.

From the corner of the room where she had stayed, Narcissa spoke up, "There was nothing we could do. He and the other fathers never hurt them when we were there. It was only after we came back that we found them like that. Us mothers thought there was no one that we could tell that would believe us and we couldn't be there all the time to keep them safe.

"All of us assumed that they'd be safe when they started Hogwarts, but even there, Lucius and their fathers got to them. It was only after Lucius and the other fathers knew that they would have learned concealment charms that they hurt them where it could be seen so readily. I taught Draco how to hide like he does and he shared what he knew with Vincent and Gregory so they wouldn't have to use concealing charms as their magic is weak. I taught Violet when we were in school together as everyone knew that Trael Greengrass was physical in his anger and she must have taught Amber Parkinson whom then taught the girls.

"It's not something that will disappear unless they will it or die. Even unconsciousness won't disrupt the concealment. There was nothing else we could do but wait and ease their pain when it happened. Not even you would not have been able to help them, Headmaster, not with the connections and influence Lucius has."

"What are we going to do with them, Albus?" Minerva asked coldly, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"We can't keep them here. Perhaps the ministry can hold them, but I'm not sure for how long. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

"Let Draco and Pansy decide," Harry said quietly from his corner of the room next to Lupin. "Let them decide the fate of their fathers or appoint someone else to decide for them. I have a strong feeling they will know how to ensure that Malfoy and Parkinson do not bother us for some time."

\/\/\/\/\/

Draco was allowed back to his rooms the next evening with the promise that he rest. He had only had a slight concussion, but he had lost enough blood that Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep him there an entire day to ensure that he rested. The other Slytherins had only left the infirmary when Madam Pomfrey kicked them out for the night.

When Pomfrey released him, Harry was there to walk him back to the Slytherins' suite. He stayed for a few hours that night, explaining what had happened with the two Death Eaters after they had left and telling Draco and Pansy what had been decided. He promised he'd return the next day after lunch with the Headmaster for the two's decision on what would happen to their fathers. As the two couples retired to their rooms for the night, Harry left as well, but not before brushing a brief kiss across Draco's lips.

\/\/\/\/\/

Dobby had just finished clearing away the used dishes and remaining food when Dumbledore walked into the rooms. Remus trailed behind him with Severus and Minerva. Harry did not appear. There were no words spoken in the room for a few moments as the five Slytherins hoped that Harry would show.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Crabbe, have the two of you reached a suggestion on what is to happen to your fathers?"

"Yes, sir," Draco spoke, not allowing his disappointment to show or be heard. "We thought it might be best to send them back to the Snake… Excuse me, back to Voldemort. As long as he finds out that they have given over all the information that they know, he will consider them traitors and deal with them accordingly. They might survive and be able to fight again at some point, but they will never again be the same as they are now."

"Are you sure that you really want to give them the opportunity to continue harming others?" Dumbledore asked in surprise while Severus snorted from behind the Headmaster.

"Sir, I'm rather counting on Voldemort simply killing them when he learns of what they've told you. Even if he doesn't kill them, they'll be weak and I don't believe they'll pose much of a problem even if they do fight again."

"Harry believes that the two of you should have the decision on what to do with your fathers. While I don't have the same faith that Voldemort will kill them, I can understand the reasoning behind why you think this would be a fitting punishment for them. Unfortunately, throwing them in Azkaban is not something that is an option any longer with the Dementors having gone to Voldemort's side. So, I will consider your choice in punishment and see how quickly that can be brought about. Until then, good afternoon to you all."

Dumbledore turned away as did the other Professors and began to move towards the door. The five looked at each other in slight confusion before Draco called out to the Headmaster.

"Sir!"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Sir, he said he'd come today. Is Harry alright?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. His friends decided to return for a visit an hour ago. He is currently with them," with that the Headmaster nodded at the Slytherins and the four Professors left the suite, leaving behind five rather upset Slytherins.

\/\/\/\/\/

It was no more than an hour after Dumbledore and the other Professors left that the Slytherins heard the portrait outside the suite rise and the door opened. Harry entered the rooms with a smile on his face, but the smile slowly disappeared as he looked at the occupants of the room. Only the two couples were present and the door to Draco's room was closed. Harry looked around at the others, but none of them would meet his gaze.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Gregory answered quietly.

"Dumbledore's already come and left," Pansy added, barely hiding the accusation in her voice.

"I know, he wouldn't postpone his visit until I could come along..." Harry trailed off, seeing the four trade glances, but still refusing to look at him. "Something's going on. Why's Draco in his room?"

"He locked himself in there shortly after Dumbledore and the others left," Pansy paused before she began again. "We didn't think you were coming what with your visitors and all." This time the accusation came through clearly, as did the hurt.

"Yeah, Ron and Hermione. I didn't know they were coming…" he paused, realization dawning. "I see. I'm sorry. I need to talk to Draco."

"If he'll open the door go ahead, but please don't talk where the rest of us can hear it," Vincent said, still refusing to look Harry in the eye.

The rest ignored Harry as well just as they had done when they were first brought to the rooms. Harry watched them for a moment before he sighed and moved over to Draco's door.

"Draco?" he called and knocked softly on the door. "May I talk to you?"

There was no sound from within the room and Harry was just about to raise his hand to knock again when he heard the door unlock from the inside. Then, there was silence again. Harry looked over to the two couples to see that Daphne was watching him. She nodded once, looking at the door and Harry took it as permission that he could enter the unlocked room.

Quietly he opened the door, a brief thought flashing across his mind that he was going to be hexed when he walked through, but there were no curses aimed at him as he stepped over the threshold and he recalled that not a single one of them had a wand. Remembering what Vincent had told him just moments earlier, Harry closed the door behind him as he gazed about the room.

"Draco?"

"Did you want something, Harry? I thought you'd be spending the day with your friends since you don't seem to have seen them lately with spending so much time with us," the voice came from the darkness of the bed where half of the bed-hangings were closed.

"I've been friends with the two of them for over six years. I'm not worried if I have to cut a visit short, no matter how long it's been since I've seen them." There was silence in the room. "Pansy said that none of you thought I would come still, since Ron and Hermione showed up unexpectedly. I'm sorry that you thought that."

"It's what most people would have done. You've been in to see us quite often since we're right here and not going anywhere, but you haven't had a chance to see your friends for a while. I couldn't fault you for wanting to spend time with them," Draco answered quietly, but still didn't emerge from the bed.

"They're my friends, Draco, but so are the five of you. And you're… more than just a friend to me. It took me a while to think it through, but I realized a lot in those days that I wasn't able to visit. The amount of people I consider friends grew by five in that time and I have no intention of neglecting some just so I can spend time with others. Draco…"

Harry stopped and began to walk purposefully towards the bed. When he reached it he could finally see Draco where he leaned against the headboard, knees pulled up towards his chest, and arms wrapped around them. Harry climbed up onto the mattress, remembering vividly for a moment the last time he had sat there with the Slytherin. He shifted around until he sat within touching distance of Draco, but left room between them. For a minute neither of them spoke.

"Hermione wants to see you. She wants to thank you again for what you did for her, especially after the attack on her parents' home. If she hadn't been around to get them out of there they would have been dead. Ron's willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and be civil if you come with me," Harry paused, watching Draco's reaction.

"I told them I refused to single you out from the group and that if they wanted to see you they would have to meet and be polite to all five of you. The Headmaster agreed that if you wanted, the five of you could come down to the Great Hall for dinner. Please, Draco, will you come?"

The blonde man stared at Harry in surprise for a time, "If you would like me to come, Harry, then, I will. But you'll have to ask the other four if they want to come. They might not be too keen on being stared at while they eat."

Harry laughed quietly, "I wouldn't imagine assuming anything without asking them first. I hope I've at least learned enough to not underestimate them or believe I know what they might say or do. You've all surprised me in the time I've spent with you in any number of small ways. And I'm proud to call you all my friends. If Ron and my other friends can't understand that, it's their loss. I won't give any of you up. Especially you, Draco."

With that Harry leaned in slowly until his face was mere inches from Draco's. He gave the Slytherin a moment to protest or turn away before moving the final distance until their lips brushed. Draco's arms released his legs and he reached up, pulling on Harry's shoulders until he overbalanced and fell forward over Draco, his hands coming up to catch himself before he landed hard on the blonde. The kiss never broke and Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's back, holding tightly as the other man's mouth moved over his.

Then, Harry pulled back, a frown on his face and Draco looked up at him questioning. "Draco, were you crying?"

The Slytherin looked away before turning his gaze back to the man above him. "It doesn't matter anymore," and he tried to pull Harry back down to him, but the Gryffindor held back.

"Yes, it does matter. Draco, why were you crying?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. I… You… When Dumbledore told us why you hadn't come with them, I honestly thought that it was good and you needed to spend some time with your friends, but afterwards I started thinking. I began wondering if what had happened after those ten days when you came back… I was thinking it was a momentary thing, that it just happened, and it grew from there."

Draco looked away again, finding it hard to look into Harry's understanding eyes, "The others could tell something was wrong and I think that they knew something had happened that day. They started to get angry, especially Pansy. She knows me the best and I think she knew what direction my thoughts were going, but I wouldn't let any of them say anything. Then, I locked myself in here and I had nothing to distract me from my thoughts and it just…"

The words were stopped as Harry leaned down and brushed his lips against Draco's again. "I'm sorry, Draco. Never think that. The more I thought in those days, after having spent so much time around you and talking to you, the more I felt for you. With Voldemort around I don't know how long we'll have, but this isn't just a momentary thing. I want this to last for as long as it will, Draco, if that's what you want."

Draco's answer was to push hard against Harry, rolling him over to his back and Draco straddled him across the thighs before he leaned in and brushed his lips against Harry's. Slowly the kiss grew more heated and for long minutes there was no sound in the room, but for the kisses and brief gasps of air.

"How long do we have before we need to be in the Great Hall?"

"Umm," Harry thought hard against the feel of Draco's fingers pushing his shirt up and playing briefly across the small nubs hidden there and waved his wand for the time to show briefly in the air beside him. "We have an hour before I told Hermione I'd meet her in the corridor up here. She knows where the rooms are, but not the password."

"Do you think that's enough time?"

"Enough time for what?" Harry asked and watched, startled, as Draco's hands went to the zipper on his trousers with determination.

"Draco?"

"Yes, Harry," the amused answer was accompanied by the sound of the zipper slowly coming undone.

"Please."

*edited out for ffn*

"Thank you, Draco."

The Slytherin grinned at his lover, "It was entirely my pleasure. I think that perhaps we should make ourselves presentable before we ask the others if they want to accompany us down to the Great Hall."

"Why are we going to the Great Hall?" Harry asked, still slightly dazed.

"Well, you told Hermione that you would meet her with me for dinner and the others if they would like to join us. I don't want either of them to think that I've kept you a prisoner in here."

A sudden light entered Harry's eyes at the last sentence and it wasn't one of worry. Draco smirked and chuckled lightly, "Perhaps we'll save that one for after the Snake's demise."

There was an odd half-smile on the Gryffindor's face and Draco laughed loudly as he rolled out of the bed. He straightened his clothes and turned back to Harry to help him, but stopped at the sight before him. Harry still lay on the bed with his shirt pushed half-way up his chest and his pants down to his knees with the same half-smile still plastered on his face.

It took all of Draco's momentary willpower to ignore the urge to return to the bed and not leave it for a long time. However, he didn't completely trust either Hermione or Ron to not go to the Headmaster or one of the other Professors if Harry didn't show up and he didn't want anyone to intrude on what had just begun between them.

He pulled the Gryffindor from his relaxed pose and off the bed, bringing his attention back to what was happening around them. Almost sheepishly Harry straightened his clothes out. He looked at Draco and pulled the Slytherin against him for a final kiss before they went out into the main room.

Reviews are appreciated.