Shades of Truth

Shades of Truth

Chapter 13

*****

“I’m busy just now.” As always, the sound of Fenrir Greyback’s voice made Draco’s skin crawl. He glanced over to see if Harry was just as perturbed, but the other man looked rather stoic and pensive. “And anyhow, Lucius told me to keep the boy until he was a fully capable servant of the Dark Lord. At this point, he is as soft as his mother still.”

“Don’t mistake me, Greyback.” Narcissa was using a tone of voice Draco had rarely heard from her, and it had never been directed at him, though she had once or twice turned it on Lucius. “I came here for my son, and I will not leave until I have him. Whatever his shortcomings, I would never turn him over to your gentle care. And as little as you respect me, I assure you that I respect you even less.”

“As though you’d do anything if I refused.” Fenrir growled a horrible laugh. “Your sister is dead, and your husband placed him here. Who else is there to defend you and your cute little boy?”

“I will,” at first, Draco thought his mother had spoken without moving her lips, but a pair moved into the scene projected over the Pensieve Harry and he were watching. One of them was himself, looking rather bedraggled. Tugging him along was Nymphadora Tonks, rage making her eyes glow. “You monster, keeping a boy in a cage. Now, before I kill you, tell me what you did with Remus, and I might¬ make things easier for you.

Narcissa immediately bundled Draco up in a swift hug before pulling her wand out to stand at Tonks’ side. “Thank you, Nymph—“

“Don’t bother, I couldn’t leave my worst enemy at his tender mercies. I did it for the boy’s sake, not yours.” She didn’t turn her eyes to meet Narcissa’s, but Draco didn’t blame her. One did not duel a deranged werewolf without a bit of caution.

“You think I’m afraid of you?” he had no wand out, just his clawed fingers and the threat of his bite. “I could kill all three of you without breaking a sweat.”

“Leave, this is between him and I,” Tonks made a shooing motion with her free hand, and at the same moment Fenrir sprang forward, going straight for her throat. Her Stunner barely phased him as he gnashed his teeth, tearing at the arms that were blocking access to her throat with both hands. Just as Narcissa turned to flee, they witnessed her accidental slip, leaving her throat open for his eager mouth. Her scream was cut short by a horrible gurgling, and then the scene faded, since Narcissa was now well away from the room where Tonks fell.

“That isn’t quite as I remembered it.” Draco offered, his voice a bit weaker than usual. “But now that I think of it, I remember some talk of me staying with Greyback, my mother being upset…I guess my father didn’t feel it was important to remember my time with the werewolves. Maybe worried I would question his parenting methods.” Harry was silent, prodding at the liquid in the Pensieve with his wand.

“I can’t believe she took the time to free me.” Draco sighed heavily, wondering if Harry and Tonks had been terribly close. “My mother certainly didn’t seem obligated to return the favor. Although I wasn’t exactly the hero of that battle, either. Or really any battle.”

“You were in your own sort of battle, Draco.” Harry finally spoke up. “You still are. Tonks was probably pleased to know she died saving someone else.”

“I wonder…” Draco leaned back, considering, “If my father placed me with Greyback, and my mother just snatched me back like that…she often disagreed with him, but I’ve never seen her openly defy him. He must have been furious. I don’t remember a fight, really, but maybe they took care of it while I wasn’t around.”

“Maybe.” Harry didn’t sound so sure.

“What do you think, she brought me home and he pretended nothing had happened? My father never allows disobedience, not even from his family.” Draco grumbled.

“I think I know who killed your father.” Harry answered after a long silence.

“Who?” Draco looked into the green gaze aimed at him, and for a moment, it was as though he could see straight into Harry’s mind. “My mother? That’s stupid. She’s never killed anyone. I don’t think she could. I’m more capable of murder than she is.”

“I know you don’t want to think she did it and then tried to frame you, but I’ll tell you this,” Harry leaned closer to Draco, “I may not know her especially well, but I know she’s keeping something from me. Even if she didn’t do it, I’m positive she was there when it happened. Why wouldn’t she give me that memory if it would clear your name? Tell me that.”

“My mother keeps a lot of secrets, but I very seriously doubt she killed him. However she seems, she genuinely loved him. And I think he may even have felt the same way about her. He certainly showed her more allowance than he did me.” Draco shrugged.

“Just so you know, we’ll have to use Legilimency for that one as well, unless she’s suddenly more cooperative.” Harry reached for Draco’s hand, and after a moment, the prisoner squeezed the grasping hand in return. “Are you willing to go through the procedure again?”

“It’s not bad.” Draco smiled at Harry, “Granger handles my mind much more carefully than my father ever did.”

“She’d be pleased to hear you actually praise her.” Harry offered a small smile in return. “She’s become a bit protective of you, oddly enough.”

“Yeah, you weren’t here two days ago,” Draco rolled his eyes. “She said she was just going to make sure there were no unexpected after-effects from the extraction, but after asking me the normal cognitive questions, she spent thirty minutes grilling me about what you were doing with me, and if I felt good about it, where I wanted it to go, how I felt about you…and then she starts gushing about her problems with Weasley…like I ever want to hear about him with a woman. Granger needs more friends. Ones that are girls, I mean. I’m sorry, Harry, but if you were fulfilling all her confidant needs, she wouldn’t be coming to me.”

“It’s okay. I know I’m awkward with that sort of thing. I can’t believe she told you about it, though. How much did she tell you?” Harry asked, surprised Hermione would be sharing her private life with someone who, until recently, she had considered an enemy.

“She started off with him not wanting to set a date. Probably giving her a chance to find a suitable male. Then she told me about all their squabbles, his family, the baby thing…I thought she was going to ask to paint each other’s nails or something. It was—“

“She told you that?!” Harry squawked, “She only just told me about the baby a few weeks ago. Why would she tell you that?”

“I guess I inspire confidence in others.” Draco straightened his back regally.

“Or you’re the closest thing she has to another girl.” Harry frowned grumpily.

“I am not!” Draco scowled, “You’re the girl. I am the epitome of masculinity.” Harry only smiled at that, not wanting to upset Draco over something so trivial, even if he was a bit offended about Hermione trusting him with so much so soon.

“So, what did you tell her?” he switched the line of conversation easily.

“I told her to marry someone less aggravating and richer who was better looking. But not me, because that would probably be the first person she’d think of with all those qualities.” Draco answered easily.

“No, I meant about us.” Harry couldn’t help smiling at Draco’s advice.

“Oh.” Draco looked down at their linked fingers nervously. “Not…not much.”

“Are you saying Hermione now knows more about us than I do?” Harry was a bit annoyed with Draco’s evasive reply. “Honestly, how fair is it that you’ll talk to her about it, and not me?”

“I told you that you were the girl.” Draco released his hand with a grin. “Why does it matter? You know how I feel already. Can’t that be enough?”

“Draco, I know you’re risking a lot here. So am I. Isn’t it better that we’re both on the same page?” Harry reached out for the other man’s hand, but he was closing his posture, both hands in his lap, his shoulders stooped, and his face blank. “Draco, please, you’ve listened to Hermione, you know what can happen when two people in a relationship won’t talk to each other.”

“I know, it’s just…” Draco sighed, fidgeting nervously. “Maybe this is too much. Maybe…we’re getting too serious too fast. Are you sure that this is what you want?”

“What?” Harry felt his stomach drop through the floor, he felt horribly dizzy, and he saw that he’d somehow ended up kneeling on the floor, his hands pressed flat against the cold floor. “I…you said that you…I thought you and I both were…serious, I…”

“I want to be with you, Harry, but what can I possibly offer you in return?” Draco couldn’t stop himself from sinking to the floor as well, his hands enfolding Harry’s own. “Look at me, really look. I want to be free, I want to have a chance for us to really be together, but what if that can’t happen? What if I’m in Azkaban forever?”

“You won’t be, you’ll see. We’ve only got two more cases to clear. They’ll have to release you.” Harry insisted, panic making him babble slightly.

“I know, but what if?” Draco pressed on in a determined tone. “What if they don’t take the evidence, or only accept part of it, or we can’t clear the last two cases? Do you want to commit to this?” he waved his hand around him to encompass his surroundings. “Do you want to be with me if I never leave here? What kind of relationship could we have?”

“But that won’t be a problem—“

“But what if it is?” Draco’s voice was steel. “Have you thought of that?”

“Why do we even have to consider that?” Harry sounded as though he might cry.

“The same reason we have to talk about what’s going on between us.” Draco was unbending, but he nuzzled the other man’s neck, one hand moving to his hair. “I don’t want you to be disappointed if things don’t go well.”

“Well,” Harry spoke after a long silence, “if it does come to that…obviously it will be difficult, but nothing between us has ever been simple, and it won’t be easy whether you’re free or not. We’re talking about two prominent wizards in a romantic relationship. No matter how we try to hide it, we’ll be found out, and hopefully we’ll have the chance to tell our friends before they read about it in the Daily Prophet.”

“Harry, do you really want to put yourself through that?” Draco’s tone was soft as the hand gently tracing Harry’s jaw line. “I don’t want you to suffer on my account.”

“I’d suffer more trying to forget you than I would spending all our time together here.” Harry’s voice cracked as he spoke, and a fat tear rolled down his cheek. “Are you…do you still want me if I can’t get you out of here?”

“I want you any way I can have you.” Draco’s voice quivered as he spoke. “Whatever happens, you’ve tried harder than anyone ever would to save me. That’s more than enough for me.”

“I had help.” Harry demurred.

“Yeah, but you’re the one I want.” Draco pushed forward, his lips meeting Harry’s in a kiss that was salty sweet with the taste of tears. When Harry kissed back, it was full of a desperate need that only seemed to build as they pressed closer together, their bodies collapsing on the icy floor as the heat built up between them. Soft noises became desperate pleas as the kissing continued, and their hands wandered beneath shirts, but when Draco’s hand slid down Harry’s trousers, the dark-haired man grabbed the other’s wrist to stop the situation going forward.

“Not here.” His eyes were full of lust, but they were tinged by a harsh pain. “Please, I wanted…I hoped that if we got this far, the first time would be…”

“Not in a prison?” Draco’s breathing was harsh, his cheeks flushed as his swollen lips. “Yeah, I know what you mean. But we may not have a choice.”

“If it comes to that…”

“I know, I know.” Draco sighed heavily. “Are you saying we have to wait until after the trial?”

“I’d rather…I mean…”

“Okay, okay.” Draco kissed him to show he wasn’t upset. “Get me all excited for nothing.”

“I’m glad we talked.” Harry blushed slightly.

“I hope our talks always end with my hand down your pants.” Draco kissed his cheek and ground his hips forward, letting Harry feel how aroused he was.

“Ah…stop that.” Harry flushed scarlet.

“What?” Draco feigned innocence. “Oh, this?” Draco ground forward again slowly, an evil smirk on his face as he held Harry’s own hips in place with one hand. “Is this bothering you?” and he ground forward again.

“You’re trying to make me change my mind about waiting.” Harry’s voice trembled as Draco nibbled his ear and then licked at a soft spot on his throat.

“Not at all,” came the husky reply, “I just want to make sure you think of me all night, and right when you wake up, all you want is to see me again.” A pause, as Draco dropped a kiss on his lips. “I want you to feel the way I do about you. That way, we won’t have to worry.”

“You’re already all I think about.” Harry kissed Draco’s eyelids tenderly after his eyes closed slowly at the words. “You don’t have to do anything as far as that goes.”

“Doesn’t hurt to be sure.” Draco kissed him again, and realized that when Harry was with him, he barely noticed the cold, hard floor, and it was hard to remember he wasn’t free already. Maybe he really would be, soon. Harry seemed so sure.

*****

To be Continued…