Harry Potter and The Secret Keeper (BP2)
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
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209
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
32,289
Reviews:
209
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Because of Who You Are
Chapter Number/Total: 11/44
Chapter Title: Because of Who You Are
Words: 4296 Words
Draco gratefully dropped his hands down; his left arm hurt from the strain of holding up the construct hand. It weighed a lot more than his own. He reached his own hand out to Harry.
Harry took Draco's hand and nodded to Mr Weasley.
Mr Weasley explained, "Charlie's waiting at the hospital so we can side-along. I don't want any more Floo accidents."
Draco was having trouble holding the pants up with his construct hand and had to let go of Harry's hand to pull them up a few times. He limped a bit as well.
That was when Harry noticed Draco's hand. "You got one?" he said, shocked that he'd been so out of it that he hadn't noticed before.
"Yes," Draco said, grimacing at it.
Harry winced a bit at Draco's expression. "You don't like it?" he asked.
"It's ... ugly," Draco answered sullenly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "No, it's not," he said dismissively, looking at the arm. It really wasn't all that bad.
Draco snorted but didn't actually reply.
Harry rolled his eyes again.
Charlie was waiting outside the "Muggle store," looking a bit nervous until he set eyes on Harry, Draco and Mr Weasley. He rushed forward.
"Are you lot all right?" he asked, eyes wide.
"We'll explain when we get them home," said Mr Weasley. "Your mother's probably pulling her hair out with worry."
Draco didn't say anything, looking down instead. The walk had made him aware of just how sore he was and how many bruises the Muggles had left as well.
"Hold my arm, Harry," Mr Weasley said.
Harry gripped his arm.
Charlie held his arm out to Draco, and in a moment they were all standing in the Weasleys' kitchen.
Draco sighed and nearly collapsed. He never would have thought of The Burrow as a safe place, but things seemed to have changed in the last few hours.
Harry pulled Draco to him and hugged him tightly.
"Molly! Everyone! They're okay!" Mr Weasley bellowed.
It was like a red explosion as everyone came running into the kitchen.
Draco winced but relaxed into Harry's embrace, his hand sliding around the other boy's waist.
Mrs Weasley looked like she wanted to hug them both, but she held back. "What on earth happened?" she asked, her voice a bit squeaky.
Harry looked around at all the pale faces in the room, all of their freckles standing out against their white skin. "Can we sit down?" he asked.
Everyone nodded frantically and they all headed into the living room. Harry was still holding Draco against his side as they followed.
Draco allowed himself to be led. Honestly, there wasn't anywhere at that point that he wouldn't follow Harry.
Harry sat down with Draco on one of the couches, and everyone stared at them.
"Get on with it," Fred said quickly.
Harry sighed. What he told them wasn't exactly the whole story, but it was close enough. The way he said it made it sound as if it had been too long since he and Draco had ... well he was sure they got the picture, and that Draco had got confused and disoriented and stumbled his way out into the streets. He didn't say that Draco had left on purpose. He told them about the men at the park, but he didn't mention anything about the sex; no one asked.
Ron was staring at Harry and Draco with very wide eyes, as was pretty much everyone else when Harry had finished talking. "What do you mean, he was disoriented because you guys haven't ... you know?" Ron asked, ears going red.
Harry's eyes widened a bit. He'd forgotten that none of them knew about that aspect of the binding. "Erm ... Draco'll die if we don’t do that. It's part of the promise we made. He starts to lose consciousness if it's been too long."
Everyone just stared.
"Bloody hell," said George, not joking at all.
Draco flushed pink to his ears but smirked as well. He reached his hand out to take Harry's.
Harry flushed as well and took Draco's hand.
"But ... what if you're both separated for a long time? What if you couldn't get back to each other? Would Draco die?" asked Ginny, frowning.
Harry winced and nodded.
"In less than a day, from what I can tell," Draco said.
Harry winced again. "I don't want to take the binding off, but it would make me feel much better if that weren't part of it. It's very scary when Draco starts to go cold, and I don't like thinking of what would happen if I were too late. Is there any way to change binding promises that any of you know of?"
Mr Weasley looked thoughtful. "There might be a way, but I don't know too much about this sort of thing," he said.
"Why does it only affect Draco that way?" Ginny asked.
Harry blushed. "It was because of what I said during ... the time the promise was made. Erm ... I'd repeat it, but, er ... It's sort of, erm ... Well ... Yeah..."
Ron flushed redder and Fed and George couldn't help their small, amused grins.
"Personal," Draco finished for him.
Harry swallowed. "Yes, very personal," he said.
Mr Weasley cleared his throat. "Well, I could look around for some things at work, boys," he said. "It seems as though you don't know anything, Harry, but I wouldn't expect you to. Draco, do you know anything about binding?"
"Yes," Draco said, sitting up more, wincing as he did. "I have been doing a fair amount of reading on it in the last month."
Harry rubbed Draco's back and looked at him with interest.
Mr Weasley nodded. "Have you found anything that might help you out? What I know about bindings might not be very much, but I hadn't ever heard of intercourse being a necessity to live."
Draco flushed again. "Yes, well, this binding wasn't set out in advance. Most such contracts are pre-written and adhered to carefully. We are seeing one of the reasons for that. Words said during a binding have literal meaning."
Mr Weasley nodded. "Yes, and your binding was an accident, so to speak. So whatever it was Harry said, and I don't need to know, has made it so that you must engage in intercourse - once a day you said? Is there anything else?"
Draco smirked. "Well there are a number of ... clauses ... in our ... contract," he said, not looking at anyone's face. "First, Harry must be the, shall we say, active partner in such. He has the power to magically compel me to do as he says. And I can ... feel things... about Harry's magic." Draco glanced at Harry, trying to read his expression since he hadn't actually told Harry that.
Harry looked at Draco and raised his eyebrows. "You can?" he asked. "Like what?"
Draco looked at Harry, smiling. "It seems to be changing, or my ability is," he answered. "I can tell how strong it is, how you feel when you are using it, and how much control you have at the moment."
"Oh," said Harry, a bit surprised. "That explains how you always seem to know when to calm me down. Is there anything else about the binding that you know?"
All the Weasleys were still listening and watching intently.
"As I said before, this binding most closely resembles that used to bind a concubine. It requires the concubine to obey and please his or her owner."
Harry sighed and nodded. "So we're going to have to look into how to change the ... sexual part of the binding," he said.
"I'll help in whatever way I can," said Mr Weasley.
"If you tell Hermione about it, she can help," said Ron.
"Well, that may be the problem," Draco said. "Concubine bindings aren't meant to have a voluntary end. They usually end if the concubine dies or if the contract is transferred to a different owner."
"Well, you're not dying and you're certainly not transferring to a different owner," said Harry. "There's nothing we can do about it?"
Draco chucked at the vehemence in Harry's voice. "No new owner, not allowed to die, got it," he said, grinning. "There is nothing written about actually modifying the contract. Nor do most of them have the specific clause you added." Draco couldn't help smirking as he said that again.
"Well, I didn't mean to add that," he said through his teeth, smiling. "How would we go about finding out if we can modify the contract?"
"Or clauses," Draco added with a raised eyebrow at Harry but without elaborating for the others. "But to answer you, I don't know if it is possible yet - or how, if it is. I need to read more of the archival type of materials on this. This isn't a type of binding practised much in the last couple of centuries."
Harry sighed. "Where would you be able to find stuff about this? We might need to get it done as soon as we can ... with all of this stuff going on with Voldemort ... we can't be sure about anything."
Draco shrugged. "I don't know where these type of things are archived. I think the Wizengamot might have records. These things are officially recognized still. The Ministry had to accept ours because of that."
"I know a few members," said Mr Weasley, "and quite a few of them are fans of Harry's. I could more than likely gain access to old records easily." He paused for a moment. "Ah, yes, and that reminds me. I asked about your interrogation, Draco. It seems as if Rufus knows you'll most likely get off. He's trying to put the meeting off now, but I insisted that it's important it be done as soon as possible. The soonest I could get you is this weekend. Will that work out okay?"
Draco looked at Harry, raising an eyebrow.
Harry looked at Draco for a moment and then realized that he wanted him to answer. "Oh, er, yeah, that'll be fine, I guess," he said.
Mr Weasley nodded. "It seems you both have a lot on your plates."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Nothing new, really," he said.
Draco smirked. "Well, I don't know if I would say nothing..."
Mrs Weasley tutted. "Enough of this talk for tonight. It's late, and none of you have had any dinner yet. And you! Look at the state of you!" she said, rounding on Draco. "You come with me," she said, pulling him up from the couch gently. "Ron, Ginny, go start dinner."
Ginny huffed and Ron looked like he was about to protest, but one look from Mrs Weasley had them both heading for the kitchen.
Harry didn't want to leave Draco at all right now. He stared at him and Mrs Weasley, a sad frown upon his face.
Mrs Weasley rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head. "Oh, you can come to," she said to Harry and he eagerly jumped up.
Draco did resist, looking back at Harry as well. He relaxed when Harry came with. He didn't feel he could be away from Harry right now.
Harry took Draco's hand as Mrs Weasley led them upstairs and to the bathroom. They all squeezed inside and Mrs Weasley took out some potions from drawers. "You don't have six boys and not learn a thing or two about healing," she said as she began coating a bruise on Draco's face with some sort of paste. "Where else are you hurt?"
Draco flushed, looking at the floor for a minute. "I don't remember everything they did," he said quietly.
"Just take your shirt off," said Harry, fearing what he might see there.
Mrs Weasley frowned and nodded her agreement with Harry.
The compulsion hit and Draco took his shirt off before he could reply, wincing as he did. He gasped in pain. "Well, my ribs and stomach hurt," he managed.
Harry hissed when he saw the bruises on Draco's chest and sides.
Mrs Weasley winced this time and began gently applying the paste on a large bruise on Draco's side. "Does anything feel broken, dear?" she asked quietly.
Draco snorted. "Ah, yes."
Harry's eyes widened. "Is anything broken?" he asked Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley pulled out her wand and pointed it at Draco's ribs. He seemed to glow faintly red in some places and green everywhere else.
"What's that mean?" asked Harry.
"He's got some damage, but it's not too serious. I have a simple mending potion he can take and he'll be good as new."
Harry sighed with relief.
Mrs Weasley finished with the paste over Draco's bruises and then mended his lip before handing him a bit of potion to drink.
Draco took the potion, trying not to shudder at its taste. "Mrs Weasley?" he asked, "does that paste work on any cuts or bruises?"
"Yes, dear; why?"
"May I borrow it?" he asked, not looking directly at her.
Mrs Weasley gave a light shrug. "Yes, certainly," she said, putting the other potion away. She turned back to Draco. "Now, you should wait five minutes before washing that off. You might want to take a bath; you're filthy! Unless you think you can manage a shower, but a bath might be more comfortable." She turned to leave. "Coming, Harry dear?"
Harry frowned, that sad look on his face again.
Mrs Weasley looked at him sternly for a few seconds. She huffed. "I suppose you can stay. Just don't -" she stopped and shook her head, deciding not to say anything. "Dinner should be done when you are," she said, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
Draco sighed, leaning back against the wall for a minute. He looked at Harry. "Lock the door please." Then he started to remove the torn trousers, a pained expression on his face as he bent over.
Harry nodded and locked the door. He placed a hand on Draco's back. "All right?" he asked for what seemed like the millionth time that night.
"I'll mend." Draco smiled softly. He kicked the ruined trousers away and put one leg up on the toilet seat. There was blood on his thigh.
Harry frowned, his brows pulling together. "What's that from?" he asked, indicating the blood.
"Harry, draw the bath, please?" Draco said. He dipped his fingers into the paste and reached back to spread at his entrance.
Harry winced as he saw what Draco was doing. He knew what the blood was from now and hung his head a bit as he went to turn the hot water on.
Draco worked some of the paste in a bit, hoping it was safe to use this way. He wasn't about to ask Mrs Weasley about it. He used the mirror to examine his body as much as he could and to find any other spots that needed attention.
Harry finished with the water and stood to lean against the wall. "Need help with anything?" he asked quietly.
Draco smiled at him, sitting down carefully on the seat and handing the jar to Harry. "My scalp hurts, too," he said. "Can you see if there are any cuts there?"
Harry nodded, took the jar and began to sift through Draco's hair, covering the few cuts he had here and there. "I don't like it when you're hurt," he murmured from above Draco.
"Neither do I." Draco smiled. "But it wasn't your fault. It was mine."
Harry shrugged. He supposed it was Draco's fault, but he didn't like him taking the blame for anything. He didn't want it to be his own fault, but he wanted to say that it was. "That's all the cuts there," he said, placing the jar on the sink.
"Has it been five minutes?" Draco asked, looking longingly at the old bathtub.
Harry shrugged again. "I guess so," he said.
"Not since you covered the cuts on my scalp," Draco said, but stood and began to climb carefully into the tub.
Harry watched him and sat down on the toilet. "Can you put that new arm in water?" he asked.
Draco looked at it, surprised for a moment to realize he had actually used the hand to hold onto the tub and it had worked. "Oh, I forgot," he said. He grasped it by the wrist with his real hand and said a spell that released it from his arm. "Uh, will you set it aside?" he asked, holding it out.
Harry took it, but stared at it instead of setting it aside. "So can you feel it and everything? Is it better with it?"
Draco frowned and leaned back in the tub, immersing himself to his neck. "I can sense where things are with it. But I can do that without it, actually. It is like having a kind of ... ghost hand. The construct just allows me to actually touch things with it."
Harry nodded studying the arm a bit longer before setting it aside. He smiled at Draco fondly. "I love you," he said, still feeling like he absolutely couldn't leave Draco right now.
Draco smiled. "I love you, too." He closed his eyes and sighed, the warmth seeming to loosen some of the pain. "Enough to wash my back?" he smirked.
Harry snorted. "No, maybe not that much," he said sarcastically, grabbing a washcloth and getting to his knees to kneel beside the bathtub.
Draco grinned and then opened his eyes to look at Harry. His grin grew wider. "You are a mess, my hero," he said. "Rolling around on the grass and all. Maybe you should take a bath, too?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Perhaps I should," he said, already pulling at his robe.
Draco sat up a bit more, making room for Harry and watching him strip. His heart sped up at the sight. He tried to remind himself that he wasn't up for anything more than bathing right now. It amazed him how much Harry affected him no matter what condition he was in.
Harry finished shedding his clothes and stepped into the hot water behind Draco and sat down. He pulled him to lie against his chest as he lay back against the bath, forgetting for the moment that he was supposed to wash Draco's back.
Draco relaxed back against Harry, feeling the heat of his body and the softness of the water, blending with the magic that was Harry. It was the most healing thing he could imagine. He let his head rest against Harry's shoulder and laid his hand on Harry's leg. He even allowed his other arm to rest beside him, touching Harry's other leg.
Harry smiled and absently trailed his fingers across the skin of Draco's stomach, enjoying being close to him again. "I could stay like this forever, you know," said calmly. "Just you and this old bath. It'd be all I needed."
"Sounds lovely," Draco said, utterly relaxed.
Harry chuckled and sighed, just lying silently for a few minutes. "Remember earlier when you said you didn't understand why I want you?"
"Mmm," Draco answered, his eyes closed.
"Well," Harry began quietly, nearly whispering, "I want you because you tell me you love me with everything you have. I want you because you never fawned over me in school like everyone else, and because you didn't want me because I was Harry Potter. I want you because I know you can give me what I need and because I know I can lean on you. I want you because you're so bloody stubborn sometimes and I want you because you make me want to scream and because everything about you sets me off. I want you because everything about you is perfect for me and because I know I'll never find someone I love so much." He paused and waited a few seconds. "Plus, you have a great arse," he said, smiling.
Draco nearly held his breath when Harry started. He was trembling by the time he got to the end of his speech. His eyes were still closed and he was breathing deep. Then Harry's last comment broke his control and he started to cry and laugh at the same time.
Harry's smile grew and he held Draco closely. "I promise to want you forever," he said quietly.
Draco tipped his face up, looking at Harry. "Good," he said.
"Good," Harry said too and sighed happily.
Draco jumped slightly at the sudden knock at the door.
Harry frowned and turned his head.
"Yes?" he said loudly.
"Er, Mum said to come and tell you dinner's nearly finished." It was Ron.
"All right," Harry called. "Draco's just finishing up with his bath."
"Yeah," said Ron, and he was gone.
Harry sighed. "I suppose we should get going, then," he said.
Draco nodded, but then sank down further in the tub, submerging most of his head, so that only his nose and mouth were above the water.
Harry watched him and then reached behind himself to grab the bar of soap from the holder on the wall.
Draco slid back up, holding Harry's leg as he did, and shook his now wet hair back. He reached for it with his other hand and stopped, realizing he couldn't use it.
Harry reached his hand up and slicked Draco's hair back himself. "Sit up so I can wash your back," he said, grabbing the washcloth he'd let rest on the side of the tub.
Draco complied immediately, almost laughing at the compulsion. Harry did it so often without realizing it. He leaned forward, letting his chin drop so it rested on his own chest.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I really need to stop doing that," he said, lathering up the washcloth and washing down Draco's back quickly.
"You have done it several times since we got back," Draco said with a chuckle. "I don't mind most of the time."
"I still shouldn't, though. I don't mean to do it," Harry said, working up Draco's neck now.
Draco sighed happily at the feeling of being washed. "It's part of who you are," he said. "You wouldn't have been able to bind me like that if it wasn’t."
Harry snorted. "I can't help being that way during sex. I usually can't believe the things that left my mouth afterwards." He wrapped his arm around Draco to wash the front of his neck and down his collarbone and chest.
Draco moaned as Harry continued to wash him. His eyes closed and his breathing sped up. He really couldn't be around Harry without getting turned on, could he?
Harry raised an eyebrow and continued washing down Draco's body. "I'm going to have to wash your cock soon and how exactly am I going to do that and get you to dinner if you start getting horny?" he snorted again.
"If I start?" Draco snorted. "Too late for ‘ifs’ on that one. But, by all means; you wouldn't want me to be dirty." Draco had been aroused before, but all Harry had to do was suggest touching him and he was hard again.
Harry shook his head and moved his hand down to grasp Draco's cock. "I suppose you want me to toss you off?" he asked huskily, already pumping his hand up once.
"Gods." Draco gasped, his body shuddering as Harry's hand wrapped around him.
Harry chuckled low in his throat. "I'll take that as a yes," he whispered, stroking Draco slowly. "Why is it we can scarcely do anything without wanting to fuck?" he asked, pressing against Draco's back and tonguing his ear.
If Harry expected a coherent answer while doing that, he would be disappointed. Draco was moaning under the multiple touches.
Harry chuckled again and sped his hand up slightly, increasing the pressure. "I could make you come just by telling you to," he whispered, licking Draco's ear again. "I would only have to say it you'd do it; all in this bath. Too bad I wouldn't be able to lick it up." Harry knew how much he was turning Draco on and was delighted with the knowledge that he could so strongly.
"Yes, yes," Draco said, spreading his legs further and shuddering at Harry's words and touch. "Yours," he said breathlessly.
"Oh, I know you're mine," Harry said lowly. "No one else could ever do the things that I do to you. They couldn't even if they tried." He twisted his hand slightly at the word "tried."
"Harry," Draco said, sighing, "close." He reached his hand up to grasp the tub, feeling like he was drowning, in a good way though.
Harry sped his hand up just a bit more and hissed, "Come for me," in Parseltongue, like he had used so long ago, or at least what felt like long ago.
Draco arched and came, feeling Harry's magic push him over the edge, even if he had no idea what he'd said.
Harry continued stroking Draco until he was totally spent and kissed his cheek. "See?" he said seriously. "I can't control what comes out of my mouth during sex."
"Mmm, good," Draco said with a sigh, turning his face toward Harry's for more of a kiss.
Harry smiled and kissed Draco slowly for a few moments, letting his tongue out. He pulled away gently. "Shower?" he asked, grinning stupidly.
"Hungry," Draco said sleepily, not moving.
"You don't want to finish getting washed first?" Harry asked, amused.
"No," Draco said. "Food, sleep, sex. Repeat." He smiled happily.
Harry laughed and kissed Draco again. "Anything you say, love. Anything you say."
Chapter Title: Because of Who You Are
Words: 4296 Words
Draco gratefully dropped his hands down; his left arm hurt from the strain of holding up the construct hand. It weighed a lot more than his own. He reached his own hand out to Harry.
Harry took Draco's hand and nodded to Mr Weasley.
Mr Weasley explained, "Charlie's waiting at the hospital so we can side-along. I don't want any more Floo accidents."
Draco was having trouble holding the pants up with his construct hand and had to let go of Harry's hand to pull them up a few times. He limped a bit as well.
That was when Harry noticed Draco's hand. "You got one?" he said, shocked that he'd been so out of it that he hadn't noticed before.
"Yes," Draco said, grimacing at it.
Harry winced a bit at Draco's expression. "You don't like it?" he asked.
"It's ... ugly," Draco answered sullenly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "No, it's not," he said dismissively, looking at the arm. It really wasn't all that bad.
Draco snorted but didn't actually reply.
Harry rolled his eyes again.
Charlie was waiting outside the "Muggle store," looking a bit nervous until he set eyes on Harry, Draco and Mr Weasley. He rushed forward.
"Are you lot all right?" he asked, eyes wide.
"We'll explain when we get them home," said Mr Weasley. "Your mother's probably pulling her hair out with worry."
Draco didn't say anything, looking down instead. The walk had made him aware of just how sore he was and how many bruises the Muggles had left as well.
"Hold my arm, Harry," Mr Weasley said.
Harry gripped his arm.
Charlie held his arm out to Draco, and in a moment they were all standing in the Weasleys' kitchen.
Draco sighed and nearly collapsed. He never would have thought of The Burrow as a safe place, but things seemed to have changed in the last few hours.
Harry pulled Draco to him and hugged him tightly.
"Molly! Everyone! They're okay!" Mr Weasley bellowed.
It was like a red explosion as everyone came running into the kitchen.
Draco winced but relaxed into Harry's embrace, his hand sliding around the other boy's waist.
Mrs Weasley looked like she wanted to hug them both, but she held back. "What on earth happened?" she asked, her voice a bit squeaky.
Harry looked around at all the pale faces in the room, all of their freckles standing out against their white skin. "Can we sit down?" he asked.
Everyone nodded frantically and they all headed into the living room. Harry was still holding Draco against his side as they followed.
Draco allowed himself to be led. Honestly, there wasn't anywhere at that point that he wouldn't follow Harry.
Harry sat down with Draco on one of the couches, and everyone stared at them.
"Get on with it," Fred said quickly.
Harry sighed. What he told them wasn't exactly the whole story, but it was close enough. The way he said it made it sound as if it had been too long since he and Draco had ... well he was sure they got the picture, and that Draco had got confused and disoriented and stumbled his way out into the streets. He didn't say that Draco had left on purpose. He told them about the men at the park, but he didn't mention anything about the sex; no one asked.
Ron was staring at Harry and Draco with very wide eyes, as was pretty much everyone else when Harry had finished talking. "What do you mean, he was disoriented because you guys haven't ... you know?" Ron asked, ears going red.
Harry's eyes widened a bit. He'd forgotten that none of them knew about that aspect of the binding. "Erm ... Draco'll die if we don’t do that. It's part of the promise we made. He starts to lose consciousness if it's been too long."
Everyone just stared.
"Bloody hell," said George, not joking at all.
Draco flushed pink to his ears but smirked as well. He reached his hand out to take Harry's.
Harry flushed as well and took Draco's hand.
"But ... what if you're both separated for a long time? What if you couldn't get back to each other? Would Draco die?" asked Ginny, frowning.
Harry winced and nodded.
"In less than a day, from what I can tell," Draco said.
Harry winced again. "I don't want to take the binding off, but it would make me feel much better if that weren't part of it. It's very scary when Draco starts to go cold, and I don't like thinking of what would happen if I were too late. Is there any way to change binding promises that any of you know of?"
Mr Weasley looked thoughtful. "There might be a way, but I don't know too much about this sort of thing," he said.
"Why does it only affect Draco that way?" Ginny asked.
Harry blushed. "It was because of what I said during ... the time the promise was made. Erm ... I'd repeat it, but, er ... It's sort of, erm ... Well ... Yeah..."
Ron flushed redder and Fed and George couldn't help their small, amused grins.
"Personal," Draco finished for him.
Harry swallowed. "Yes, very personal," he said.
Mr Weasley cleared his throat. "Well, I could look around for some things at work, boys," he said. "It seems as though you don't know anything, Harry, but I wouldn't expect you to. Draco, do you know anything about binding?"
"Yes," Draco said, sitting up more, wincing as he did. "I have been doing a fair amount of reading on it in the last month."
Harry rubbed Draco's back and looked at him with interest.
Mr Weasley nodded. "Have you found anything that might help you out? What I know about bindings might not be very much, but I hadn't ever heard of intercourse being a necessity to live."
Draco flushed again. "Yes, well, this binding wasn't set out in advance. Most such contracts are pre-written and adhered to carefully. We are seeing one of the reasons for that. Words said during a binding have literal meaning."
Mr Weasley nodded. "Yes, and your binding was an accident, so to speak. So whatever it was Harry said, and I don't need to know, has made it so that you must engage in intercourse - once a day you said? Is there anything else?"
Draco smirked. "Well there are a number of ... clauses ... in our ... contract," he said, not looking at anyone's face. "First, Harry must be the, shall we say, active partner in such. He has the power to magically compel me to do as he says. And I can ... feel things... about Harry's magic." Draco glanced at Harry, trying to read his expression since he hadn't actually told Harry that.
Harry looked at Draco and raised his eyebrows. "You can?" he asked. "Like what?"
Draco looked at Harry, smiling. "It seems to be changing, or my ability is," he answered. "I can tell how strong it is, how you feel when you are using it, and how much control you have at the moment."
"Oh," said Harry, a bit surprised. "That explains how you always seem to know when to calm me down. Is there anything else about the binding that you know?"
All the Weasleys were still listening and watching intently.
"As I said before, this binding most closely resembles that used to bind a concubine. It requires the concubine to obey and please his or her owner."
Harry sighed and nodded. "So we're going to have to look into how to change the ... sexual part of the binding," he said.
"I'll help in whatever way I can," said Mr Weasley.
"If you tell Hermione about it, she can help," said Ron.
"Well, that may be the problem," Draco said. "Concubine bindings aren't meant to have a voluntary end. They usually end if the concubine dies or if the contract is transferred to a different owner."
"Well, you're not dying and you're certainly not transferring to a different owner," said Harry. "There's nothing we can do about it?"
Draco chucked at the vehemence in Harry's voice. "No new owner, not allowed to die, got it," he said, grinning. "There is nothing written about actually modifying the contract. Nor do most of them have the specific clause you added." Draco couldn't help smirking as he said that again.
"Well, I didn't mean to add that," he said through his teeth, smiling. "How would we go about finding out if we can modify the contract?"
"Or clauses," Draco added with a raised eyebrow at Harry but without elaborating for the others. "But to answer you, I don't know if it is possible yet - or how, if it is. I need to read more of the archival type of materials on this. This isn't a type of binding practised much in the last couple of centuries."
Harry sighed. "Where would you be able to find stuff about this? We might need to get it done as soon as we can ... with all of this stuff going on with Voldemort ... we can't be sure about anything."
Draco shrugged. "I don't know where these type of things are archived. I think the Wizengamot might have records. These things are officially recognized still. The Ministry had to accept ours because of that."
"I know a few members," said Mr Weasley, "and quite a few of them are fans of Harry's. I could more than likely gain access to old records easily." He paused for a moment. "Ah, yes, and that reminds me. I asked about your interrogation, Draco. It seems as if Rufus knows you'll most likely get off. He's trying to put the meeting off now, but I insisted that it's important it be done as soon as possible. The soonest I could get you is this weekend. Will that work out okay?"
Draco looked at Harry, raising an eyebrow.
Harry looked at Draco for a moment and then realized that he wanted him to answer. "Oh, er, yeah, that'll be fine, I guess," he said.
Mr Weasley nodded. "It seems you both have a lot on your plates."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Nothing new, really," he said.
Draco smirked. "Well, I don't know if I would say nothing..."
Mrs Weasley tutted. "Enough of this talk for tonight. It's late, and none of you have had any dinner yet. And you! Look at the state of you!" she said, rounding on Draco. "You come with me," she said, pulling him up from the couch gently. "Ron, Ginny, go start dinner."
Ginny huffed and Ron looked like he was about to protest, but one look from Mrs Weasley had them both heading for the kitchen.
Harry didn't want to leave Draco at all right now. He stared at him and Mrs Weasley, a sad frown upon his face.
Mrs Weasley rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head. "Oh, you can come to," she said to Harry and he eagerly jumped up.
Draco did resist, looking back at Harry as well. He relaxed when Harry came with. He didn't feel he could be away from Harry right now.
Harry took Draco's hand as Mrs Weasley led them upstairs and to the bathroom. They all squeezed inside and Mrs Weasley took out some potions from drawers. "You don't have six boys and not learn a thing or two about healing," she said as she began coating a bruise on Draco's face with some sort of paste. "Where else are you hurt?"
Draco flushed, looking at the floor for a minute. "I don't remember everything they did," he said quietly.
"Just take your shirt off," said Harry, fearing what he might see there.
Mrs Weasley frowned and nodded her agreement with Harry.
The compulsion hit and Draco took his shirt off before he could reply, wincing as he did. He gasped in pain. "Well, my ribs and stomach hurt," he managed.
Harry hissed when he saw the bruises on Draco's chest and sides.
Mrs Weasley winced this time and began gently applying the paste on a large bruise on Draco's side. "Does anything feel broken, dear?" she asked quietly.
Draco snorted. "Ah, yes."
Harry's eyes widened. "Is anything broken?" he asked Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley pulled out her wand and pointed it at Draco's ribs. He seemed to glow faintly red in some places and green everywhere else.
"What's that mean?" asked Harry.
"He's got some damage, but it's not too serious. I have a simple mending potion he can take and he'll be good as new."
Harry sighed with relief.
Mrs Weasley finished with the paste over Draco's bruises and then mended his lip before handing him a bit of potion to drink.
Draco took the potion, trying not to shudder at its taste. "Mrs Weasley?" he asked, "does that paste work on any cuts or bruises?"
"Yes, dear; why?"
"May I borrow it?" he asked, not looking directly at her.
Mrs Weasley gave a light shrug. "Yes, certainly," she said, putting the other potion away. She turned back to Draco. "Now, you should wait five minutes before washing that off. You might want to take a bath; you're filthy! Unless you think you can manage a shower, but a bath might be more comfortable." She turned to leave. "Coming, Harry dear?"
Harry frowned, that sad look on his face again.
Mrs Weasley looked at him sternly for a few seconds. She huffed. "I suppose you can stay. Just don't -" she stopped and shook her head, deciding not to say anything. "Dinner should be done when you are," she said, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
Draco sighed, leaning back against the wall for a minute. He looked at Harry. "Lock the door please." Then he started to remove the torn trousers, a pained expression on his face as he bent over.
Harry nodded and locked the door. He placed a hand on Draco's back. "All right?" he asked for what seemed like the millionth time that night.
"I'll mend." Draco smiled softly. He kicked the ruined trousers away and put one leg up on the toilet seat. There was blood on his thigh.
Harry frowned, his brows pulling together. "What's that from?" he asked, indicating the blood.
"Harry, draw the bath, please?" Draco said. He dipped his fingers into the paste and reached back to spread at his entrance.
Harry winced as he saw what Draco was doing. He knew what the blood was from now and hung his head a bit as he went to turn the hot water on.
Draco worked some of the paste in a bit, hoping it was safe to use this way. He wasn't about to ask Mrs Weasley about it. He used the mirror to examine his body as much as he could and to find any other spots that needed attention.
Harry finished with the water and stood to lean against the wall. "Need help with anything?" he asked quietly.
Draco smiled at him, sitting down carefully on the seat and handing the jar to Harry. "My scalp hurts, too," he said. "Can you see if there are any cuts there?"
Harry nodded, took the jar and began to sift through Draco's hair, covering the few cuts he had here and there. "I don't like it when you're hurt," he murmured from above Draco.
"Neither do I." Draco smiled. "But it wasn't your fault. It was mine."
Harry shrugged. He supposed it was Draco's fault, but he didn't like him taking the blame for anything. He didn't want it to be his own fault, but he wanted to say that it was. "That's all the cuts there," he said, placing the jar on the sink.
"Has it been five minutes?" Draco asked, looking longingly at the old bathtub.
Harry shrugged again. "I guess so," he said.
"Not since you covered the cuts on my scalp," Draco said, but stood and began to climb carefully into the tub.
Harry watched him and sat down on the toilet. "Can you put that new arm in water?" he asked.
Draco looked at it, surprised for a moment to realize he had actually used the hand to hold onto the tub and it had worked. "Oh, I forgot," he said. He grasped it by the wrist with his real hand and said a spell that released it from his arm. "Uh, will you set it aside?" he asked, holding it out.
Harry took it, but stared at it instead of setting it aside. "So can you feel it and everything? Is it better with it?"
Draco frowned and leaned back in the tub, immersing himself to his neck. "I can sense where things are with it. But I can do that without it, actually. It is like having a kind of ... ghost hand. The construct just allows me to actually touch things with it."
Harry nodded studying the arm a bit longer before setting it aside. He smiled at Draco fondly. "I love you," he said, still feeling like he absolutely couldn't leave Draco right now.
Draco smiled. "I love you, too." He closed his eyes and sighed, the warmth seeming to loosen some of the pain. "Enough to wash my back?" he smirked.
Harry snorted. "No, maybe not that much," he said sarcastically, grabbing a washcloth and getting to his knees to kneel beside the bathtub.
Draco grinned and then opened his eyes to look at Harry. His grin grew wider. "You are a mess, my hero," he said. "Rolling around on the grass and all. Maybe you should take a bath, too?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Perhaps I should," he said, already pulling at his robe.
Draco sat up a bit more, making room for Harry and watching him strip. His heart sped up at the sight. He tried to remind himself that he wasn't up for anything more than bathing right now. It amazed him how much Harry affected him no matter what condition he was in.
Harry finished shedding his clothes and stepped into the hot water behind Draco and sat down. He pulled him to lie against his chest as he lay back against the bath, forgetting for the moment that he was supposed to wash Draco's back.
Draco relaxed back against Harry, feeling the heat of his body and the softness of the water, blending with the magic that was Harry. It was the most healing thing he could imagine. He let his head rest against Harry's shoulder and laid his hand on Harry's leg. He even allowed his other arm to rest beside him, touching Harry's other leg.
Harry smiled and absently trailed his fingers across the skin of Draco's stomach, enjoying being close to him again. "I could stay like this forever, you know," said calmly. "Just you and this old bath. It'd be all I needed."
"Sounds lovely," Draco said, utterly relaxed.
Harry chuckled and sighed, just lying silently for a few minutes. "Remember earlier when you said you didn't understand why I want you?"
"Mmm," Draco answered, his eyes closed.
"Well," Harry began quietly, nearly whispering, "I want you because you tell me you love me with everything you have. I want you because you never fawned over me in school like everyone else, and because you didn't want me because I was Harry Potter. I want you because I know you can give me what I need and because I know I can lean on you. I want you because you're so bloody stubborn sometimes and I want you because you make me want to scream and because everything about you sets me off. I want you because everything about you is perfect for me and because I know I'll never find someone I love so much." He paused and waited a few seconds. "Plus, you have a great arse," he said, smiling.
Draco nearly held his breath when Harry started. He was trembling by the time he got to the end of his speech. His eyes were still closed and he was breathing deep. Then Harry's last comment broke his control and he started to cry and laugh at the same time.
Harry's smile grew and he held Draco closely. "I promise to want you forever," he said quietly.
Draco tipped his face up, looking at Harry. "Good," he said.
"Good," Harry said too and sighed happily.
Draco jumped slightly at the sudden knock at the door.
Harry frowned and turned his head.
"Yes?" he said loudly.
"Er, Mum said to come and tell you dinner's nearly finished." It was Ron.
"All right," Harry called. "Draco's just finishing up with his bath."
"Yeah," said Ron, and he was gone.
Harry sighed. "I suppose we should get going, then," he said.
Draco nodded, but then sank down further in the tub, submerging most of his head, so that only his nose and mouth were above the water.
Harry watched him and then reached behind himself to grab the bar of soap from the holder on the wall.
Draco slid back up, holding Harry's leg as he did, and shook his now wet hair back. He reached for it with his other hand and stopped, realizing he couldn't use it.
Harry reached his hand up and slicked Draco's hair back himself. "Sit up so I can wash your back," he said, grabbing the washcloth he'd let rest on the side of the tub.
Draco complied immediately, almost laughing at the compulsion. Harry did it so often without realizing it. He leaned forward, letting his chin drop so it rested on his own chest.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I really need to stop doing that," he said, lathering up the washcloth and washing down Draco's back quickly.
"You have done it several times since we got back," Draco said with a chuckle. "I don't mind most of the time."
"I still shouldn't, though. I don't mean to do it," Harry said, working up Draco's neck now.
Draco sighed happily at the feeling of being washed. "It's part of who you are," he said. "You wouldn't have been able to bind me like that if it wasn’t."
Harry snorted. "I can't help being that way during sex. I usually can't believe the things that left my mouth afterwards." He wrapped his arm around Draco to wash the front of his neck and down his collarbone and chest.
Draco moaned as Harry continued to wash him. His eyes closed and his breathing sped up. He really couldn't be around Harry without getting turned on, could he?
Harry raised an eyebrow and continued washing down Draco's body. "I'm going to have to wash your cock soon and how exactly am I going to do that and get you to dinner if you start getting horny?" he snorted again.
"If I start?" Draco snorted. "Too late for ‘ifs’ on that one. But, by all means; you wouldn't want me to be dirty." Draco had been aroused before, but all Harry had to do was suggest touching him and he was hard again.
Harry shook his head and moved his hand down to grasp Draco's cock. "I suppose you want me to toss you off?" he asked huskily, already pumping his hand up once.
"Gods." Draco gasped, his body shuddering as Harry's hand wrapped around him.
Harry chuckled low in his throat. "I'll take that as a yes," he whispered, stroking Draco slowly. "Why is it we can scarcely do anything without wanting to fuck?" he asked, pressing against Draco's back and tonguing his ear.
If Harry expected a coherent answer while doing that, he would be disappointed. Draco was moaning under the multiple touches.
Harry chuckled again and sped his hand up slightly, increasing the pressure. "I could make you come just by telling you to," he whispered, licking Draco's ear again. "I would only have to say it you'd do it; all in this bath. Too bad I wouldn't be able to lick it up." Harry knew how much he was turning Draco on and was delighted with the knowledge that he could so strongly.
"Yes, yes," Draco said, spreading his legs further and shuddering at Harry's words and touch. "Yours," he said breathlessly.
"Oh, I know you're mine," Harry said lowly. "No one else could ever do the things that I do to you. They couldn't even if they tried." He twisted his hand slightly at the word "tried."
"Harry," Draco said, sighing, "close." He reached his hand up to grasp the tub, feeling like he was drowning, in a good way though.
Harry sped his hand up just a bit more and hissed, "Come for me," in Parseltongue, like he had used so long ago, or at least what felt like long ago.
Draco arched and came, feeling Harry's magic push him over the edge, even if he had no idea what he'd said.
Harry continued stroking Draco until he was totally spent and kissed his cheek. "See?" he said seriously. "I can't control what comes out of my mouth during sex."
"Mmm, good," Draco said with a sigh, turning his face toward Harry's for more of a kiss.
Harry smiled and kissed Draco slowly for a few moments, letting his tongue out. He pulled away gently. "Shower?" he asked, grinning stupidly.
"Hungry," Draco said sleepily, not moving.
"You don't want to finish getting washed first?" Harry asked, amused.
"No," Draco said. "Food, sleep, sex. Repeat." He smiled happily.
Harry laughed and kissed Draco again. "Anything you say, love. Anything you say."