Dark as Pitch

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Draco was waiting in some sort of holding pen. The muggles had left him there after the examination, leashing him to the wall.

He had his wrists tied firmly behind his back, with some kind of plastic cord that pulled tight without cutting into his skin. They had tipped his head back, held his jaw open, and fitted some kind of thick metal piece between his teeth, which was buckled behind his head.

He didn’t know why. He never bothered to try and talk, anymore.

Finally they had tied something over his face, some kind of fabric. It smelled musky, vaguely – familiar? - and the knot behind his head held it tight across his eyes. He didn’t understand anything, but there was really no sense in struggling. As long as the magical dampening field was in place, he could do nothing.

So he waited.

He didn’t know if he was alone in the room, but he didn’t think so. Sometimes he thought he heard someone else shifting about, but it was drowned out by the blood pounding in his ears.

“I think you’re going to be real satisfied with this one,” the muggle was saying suddenly, and it was so loud, so abrupt that Draco flinched, realized they must have just walked in through the door.

“Indeed.”

Draco strained, listening; did he know that voice?

“He’s pretty, and young. Just like you described.”

“Hm.” Hands, on his shoulders, gently turning him around. Draco went, willingly enough. There was nothing else to do.

“We’re using the shirt you gave us, to help him adjust,” said the muggle helpfully. “He’ll remember your scent this way, it speeds up the transition.” Draco realized must be what was tied around his face. “Got the idea from horse breeders,” the muggle added.

A finger under his chin, lifting his head up.

“He’s unharmed?”

Draco recognized him now. He grunted, softly – it was impossible to make any other sound, his mouth held open by the metal bit. He squirmed a little under the hand that came to land on his shoulder, and felt it tighten for a moment. Reassurance.

“Oh, sure, we’ve taken good care of `em, just as the law dictates. Just the spell to keep the magic off, nothing else. It leaves them a bit dopey, that’s all.”

Draco’s eyes were already pinned closed, but if they weren’t, he would have needed to close them against this reminder that his magic was gone.

“I’ll take him,” said Snape. “Now. Today.”

“There’s usually a waiting period, Mr. Hanover,” said the muggle, “but if you don’t have any other people in the house, he can serve out his quarantine with you.”

“There’s nobody else.”

“I’ve got the paperwork right here.” Draco heard the shuffling of papers, then the sound of someone clearing their throat. There was a brief silence. “I accept,” said Snape, and Draco imagined the sight of him signing the contract.

“So now, do you understand how to – care for him – properly?”

“Of course,” said Snape impatiently. Draco felt the loosening of the leash at his throat, and then he was pulled away from the wall. Snape held Draco protectively against his side. It reminded Draco that he was only dressed in a thin sheet, and he felt awkward and uncomfortable. But at the same time, he needed it so badly.

“And your intent is to have … relations with him,” the muggle hinted, chosing his words with care.

“Yes,” said Snape viciously. “That is what I’m keeping him for. I intend to use this pretty little boy for my sexual pleasure, do we have an understanding?”

“There, now, I’m not attacking you. The law doesn’t say what you can and can’t use `em for, but it does stipulate humane treatment. That was Mr. Potter’s influence, you know. You wouldn’t want to go counter to the Boy Who Lived, now, would you?”

“I should like nothing better,” snapped Snape. “Now, if we are finished with this conversation, I would very much like to take my – new toy home.

“Look, if you’re planning on having him, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it!”

“As if I need lessons from the likes of – ”

“If you’re not careful with him, you can really hurt his bottom, that’s no good. You gotta get in three fingers, and wiggle `em around good in there, before you even take out yer cock, you get it?”

“Excuse me, Sir – ”

“You’ll be monitored,” said the muggle unexpectedly, his voice high and decidedly rushed. “Someone will come by after the quarantine, and if you’ve been – abusing him, he’ll be taken away from you. You don’t have the right to hurt him like that. So, I’m telling you for your own good. You treat him right, you hear?”

Draco felt Snape tense. “I see,” said Snape, and his voice was odd. His grip on Draco’s shoulder tightened. “Thank you for explaining.”

“There’s an ongoing monitoring process,” the muggle added, sounding suspicious.

“I understand.”

“Well, then, if you’re sure you’re ready, I suppose you can take him home.”

Snape’s hand was very gentle as it stroked Draco’s hair, passing over the places where it was trapped under the ropes and knots.

“We’re ready now,” he said.