Staking Claims

A/N: I nicked a couple lines from Lord of the Rings...Can you find them? Also I'm sorry for the long, long, long wait. School and what not has kept me pretty tied down. But I'm trying to get back on my writing feet. Especially since my muse beats me daily. sigh. Also Sorry its sooooo short but I had to cut the next chapter up. So the next one will be longer, I promise.


***

“You must be kidding.” Draco was seated on a squishy white armchair in the infirmary of Hogwarts with a blank expression and one hand gripping the bedsheet of his mother’s bed to his right. ‘They can’t possibly think this is a good idea.’ His eyes were as wide as saucers and his mouth hung slightly open as neither the Headmaster nor his mate said anything else. “Seriously, you want to use Malfoy Manor as a Headquarters for the Order… Seriously? You can’t possibly think this is a good idea!?!

“Well, as you know Mister Malfoy, that will be the last place that Voldemort would think to search for signs of the Order. And I am sure that your parents will maintain a tight control of the wards once they awake.”

“You would put them back into danger!” Harry leaned over and rubbed between Draco’s shoulder blades in an attempt to calm the usually reserved youth. Dumbledore merely twinkled away in front of them.

“I think not. I believe Voldemort will assume they’ve gone into hiding and once he strips the Manor of whatever he deems useful he will abandon it or perhaps gift it to a loyal follower.”

“What would make you think that? You’re absolutely barmy, honestly!” Draco worked himself into a fluster. ‘Strip it, gift it. IT doesn’t belong to that bastard, or the Order. It belongs to me and MY mate!’

“I have heard rumors from a trusted friend.” This time Harry looked up at Albus and took his attention momentarily from the blond beside him.

“You mean Snape?”

“Professor Snape, Harry. But yes, insofar as he understands it. It will be given to him for his service in furthering their cause. Voldemort does not yet suspect Severus of deception and therefore sees no reason not to provide him with a better living arrangement. Though he is not foolish enough to leave the powerful dark possessions of the Malfoy’s in capable hands that are not his own.”

‘No kidding.’

“Well at least Severus will be with mum and dad. I couldn’t think of anyone else that would be much more protection or comfort to them. Do think this could work?” Draco spoke to Dumbledore but he looked to Harry.

“I do.”

Harry nodded his agreement with Dumbledore. “You know the closer they are to danger the farther they are from harm,” Harry whispered in his blond lover’s ear. Draco dropped his head in between his knees and nodded his assent. ‘Absolutely ridiculous, what kind of logic is that? Where did he ever hear such a thing?’

“High risk, low chance of success, high level of danger and possibly death…Well, what are we waiting for?” Harry snickered at Draco’s sarcasm. Dumbledore nodded and patted Draco’s back.

“We will do everything in our power to keep your parents safe.” Draco nodded again but his head remained firmly between his legs. He heard Dumbledore’s steps echo away as the old man exited the infirmary. His mind went blank.

***

“Draco?” Harry received no answer, not even a twitch. “Draco...” He decided on a new approach. “MALFOY!”

The blond head shut up and swung to the side, his eyes were red rimmed and sparkling steel blue. “Ahhh, what now!?!” Draco’s irritated tone indicated to Harry that he did not like to be interrupted when he was sulking. Harry did not care in the least.

“Stop sulking.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” The impenetrable and inscrutable mask fell into place on Draco’s face and Harry felt a chilling shudder pass through him. He had almost forgot how cool and calm and absolutely heartless his lover could be. “Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“That. That cold, I don’t give a damn because I’m a sodding Malfoy, mask thing. Don’t shut me out.”

“Malfoy mask thing? Forget it, just don’t bother me”

“Bother you? Who said anything about bothering you! I was going to try to comfort you, you prig!” Draco’s eyes glazed over and his pupils grew large.

“I’m sorry. I just-” His voice cracked and he let his head drop to his chest. “I feel beyond comfort.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic. They’re not dead. They’re not even mortally wounded. Nothing has been done to your parents that a few weeks of bed rest and some TLC can’t cure.”

“TLC?”

“Tender Loving Care.”

“Muggle phrase?” Harry smiled at Draco’s raised eyebrow and uncharacteristic slouch. ‘Purebloods. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.’

“I guess it must be.” He couldn’t help the sarcasm.

“Look Harry, I know that I should be happy they’re alive. But I can’t be happy when every time I close my eyes I see my mother on her knees at the wrong end of HIS wand.”

“I know. Believe me, I do. But you can’t let it debilitate you. You have to be strong and you have to keep going.”

“I don’t HAVE to do anything.” Draco lifted his head up and looked into Harry’s eyes. “I want to.” Harry had never seen anything so beautiful in his life as the determination on that fair face. Draco’s hair had tumbled over his forehead and hung in a broken veil of platinum lace over his now darkened beryl eyes. The color had gone from steel to cobalt and the irises were rimmed in black. Draco’s full lips were set in a smirk that Harry knew too well. It was the same smirk Harry used to see when Draco was about to throw a particularly nasty or painful curse his way. “And I intend to.”

“I see that.” Harry couldn’t help but giggle childishly when Draco’s angry smirk widened into the satisfied smile of the cat that caught the canary.

“So, off to Malfoy Manor then.” Harry marveled at the resilience of the blond. Moments ago he had been inconsolable. Now he looked ready for anything. He felt the determination radiating off of Draco in waves of angry heat. He felt his magic pooling and boiling in the pit of his stomach as Draco’s magic undulated in the air. Draco lived up to his namesake, the boiling magic like fire coming from him and lighting everything it touched. The room was charged with energy as Draco stood up and extended a hand. “Shall we?”

Harry reached out a trembling hand and when it was clasped with the blonde’s it felt as though they were melted together. Harry tried to suppress a moan but failed. Draco smiled again and pulled Harry onto his feet and into the waiting arms of his lover.

“Draco?” Draco nuzzled the crook of Harry’s neck and inhaled deeply.

“Hmmm?” His muffled reply was short and sent vibrations down Harry’s spine.

“Should-shouldn’t we-” Harry tried to catch his breath as Draco began placing open mouthed kisses along his collar bone and on that sensitive place beneath his ear. “-be going? Sometime…soon, uh...” He stopped short as Draco pulled Harry’s earlobe into his mouth with his teeth and tickled it with his tongue. Draco abruptly pulled away and grinned happily.

“Your right of course, lets get going.” He then turned and strode off towards the door. “You coming?” Harry groaned.

“Tease.”