The Rules of the Game

A/N: In relation to a review question, my story is going to more or less follow the same path as the books up to book four; then all bets are off. Also if you were confused about what happened in the last chapter, basically within Harry there was something being blocked by Dumbledore, to heal Harry he had to release it for a short time, but Harry was aware while this was going on so prevented it from being sealed completely up again. Hopefully that helped clear up something, or confuse you more.

**Also special thanks to Lilith who made a very good point resulting in a slight alteration to the previous chapter. **

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Chapter 20

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The next day when I rejoined my classmates I went to every meal, much to Draco’s pleasure, but nothing was helping this deep hunger I felt. It wasn’t growing unbearable, but it was most annoying that food wasn’t fixing it. The only time the pain from it abated even slightly was when I was near Snape, and slightly when near Draco or some of the older Slytherins, but the hunger only increased at those times. Another annoying fact was that my potions in Snape’s class were suddenly turning to crap. It didn’t matter how precise I was, it always came out wrong and Snape was definitely not amused. I could feel that he was letting it slide for now because of my recent hospitalization, but his patience was anything but limitless.

Meanwhile I was still working on widening the crack that was still slowly leaking out, but having very little luck. Whatever Dumbledore used was very powerful making it seem like I was scratching with my nails to get through a steal door. I relished in what little did escape because it just felt… like me; it just fit.

But despite my personal problems the school was still continuing on and before I knew it it was time for the first Quidditch match. Draco had taken over one of the Chaser spots after last years graduated. He should have been on the team second year because he was the better player, but there was a balance of power in Slytherin so the 7th year had stayed. I just couldn’t wait until it was Draco and I with the power, and it would be sooner than the rest thought.

As we were heading down to the game I saw Persephone slithering by in the shadows and subtly picked her up, hoping she had the information I had been waiting for.

~The old man iss keeping much from you again. The Dementorsss are here becaussse of you.~ She hissed into my ear.

That surprised me; making a quick excuse I broke off from the others and entered an abandoned room. ~You had best explain that.~

~The man. Sssiriusss Black who essscaped isss your Godfather.~

I was shocked for a moment, trying to wrap my mind around the idea of having some kind of family. It didn’t work, I couldn’t even comprehend the idea of how that kind of thing works.

~Godfather? Sssuppossse it’sss fitting that I have a masssss murder for a Godfather.~ I hissed absentmindedly before returning my full attention to her. ~Do you know why he isss here then?~

~They sssussspect he’sss here to kill you. Wanting revenge for dessstroying his massster~

~Great~ I hissed annoyed, I really didn’t need another thing to think about right then. ~I guessss I’ll just keep an eye out.~

~I will protect you massster.~

~Thanksss Ssseph.~ I hissed with a smirk, using the nickname I had given her to let her know how pleased I was by the statement.

I released her to slither around the halls finding more information, and ran to catch up with the team.

*****

When I was up in the air I could almost forget all the problems I had. Though I spent the first 10 minutes of the game trying to clear my head of said problems, I wasn’t concerned about the Ravenclaw seeker finding the snitch. He truly had no talent and I felt pity for the fact that he was the best they could come up with.

I saw a flash of gold down at the other end of the field and started towards it at a slow pace, not really feeling an urgent need to end the game. I was half way there when I felt a prickling of strangeness at the edge of my senses. I opened them up a little more and recognized the feel of the Dementors. For a moment my body seized in nervousness but I forced it to relax, there was no way they would come here. The possibility though did change my mind on one fact and I shot off after the snitch as fast as my broom could go. I turned my full concentration to it, feeling completely comfortable and easily guiding the broom closer and closer. The snitch shot straight up in hope of getting away but I pulled my broom sharply going almost perpendicular to the ground and followed it up higher.

I was just feet away from the snitch when the feel of the Dementors forced its way back into my consciousness. I felt a cold chill run up my spine and phantom pains of old injuries echo through my body. I struggled against the memories pushing at the back of my mind a pushed my broom harder; I wasn’t going to disappoint the one person important to me by loosing this stupid game. When the snitch came within reach I lunged forward, locking my fingers tightly around the little ball just as the memories forcefully took over my mind sending me back into hell.

*****

When I woke I was once again in the bleak hospital wing. I groaned, half in annoyance and half from the throbbing pain throughout my body.

“Mr. Potter!” A voice shouted surprised and I wanted to groan again at the sound of the med-witch’s voice. “You took quite the fall young man. Foolish game Quidditch is, but having those Dementors around here is even more foolish.” She prattled on while running scans over my body. As usual she couldn’t find anything wrong, but gave me a sleeping potion demanding I stay for the night, and feeling too tired as it was I complied.

****

When I woke again it was to see Draco sitting by my side reading and my body instantly relaxed. The next thing I noticed was that the hunger that had been simmering inside of me had grown far stronger during my time unconscious. To my horror I let out a little whine; but I was so hungry. The noise caught Draco’s attention though and instantly the book was thrown aside and he leaned in closer.

“Hey Harry, how you doing?” He asked grabbing my hand. The contact forced his emotions through my shields and I was hit with his concern and anxiety. I wanted to shy away from the touch but at the same time the hunger had spiked and was telling me to lick his hand; that he could feed me. Past thinking I pulled him arm up closer to my mouth and liked down the back of his hand.

“Harry?” I heard the sharp gasp of my name from next to me at the same time as I felt shock and then a strong surge of lust from him. For once I wasn’t concerned with the emotions I was picking from another because the hunger had been right. Draco had what I needed and desperate I continued to run my tongue over his hand, sucking on each individual finger before turning his hand over and licking repeatedly at his pulse point. It felt so good, filling up the emptiness inside of me, what I needed was in his very blood and I was tempted to bite into his flesh, go directly to the source but wouldn’t dare. I licked and sucked and moaned but wouldn’t leave that spot where the blood was so close to the skin.

“Fuck. Harry!” Draco shouted and a surge of lust hit me so hard it knocked me out of the daze I had been. I jerked back, my body shaking in fear of the amount of desire Draco had for me, and confusion of what had just come over me. I glanced up shyly through the fringe of hair covering my eyes to see Draco panting heavily, his face burning red. “Harry… what?”

“I don’t know.” I said still in shock. “I’ll go.” I said and scrambled out of bed, seeing my clothes by the side and quickly pulling them on.

“Wait, wait! Don’t.” He said firmly, running around the bed to grab my trembling arms and force them to stop. I couldn’t look at him, I couldn’t believe I had lost control like that.

“You did nothing wrong. Quite frankly it felt damn good. A little odd, but amazing.” He said giving a nervous laugh. I could tell he was still nervous and confused, but I felt no disgust or anger from him like I had expected.

“You don’t…” The words ‘hate me’ we unspoken but loudly heard.

“No.” He said simply, calming the part of me that need to hear what I knew. “And if you ever needed… whatever again, I wouldn’t mind.” He said another blush fighting onto his face.

I looked away saying nothing, wanting to tell him it wasn’t going to happen again but feared that that wasn’t true.

“Come on. Let’s escape out of here and end all this Gryffindor mushiness.” He said, old mask of calm back on his face.

I gave a nod of thanks, allowing my own mask to slip on and get the rest of my body back under control. Without another word we both snuck out, leaving what happened in the hospital wing to be analyzed later, much later if I had any say.

*************

The thing that caused this entire incident was my next priority and after three days I finally found time to escape (with Persephone this time) down to the Chamber of Secrets. Persephone was enthralled by all the statues but that was nothing compared to her reaction to meeting Ira. It was like some human finally meeting the God they had worshiped all their life. Before the two got too caught up with each other I asked Ira about the strange hunger I had been feeling, but unfortunately she knew nothing. I searched Slytherin’s library again, but still found nothing that looked helpful. I began looking for ways to combat the Dementors as well but was making no success on the ‘Expecto Patronum’ spell. Disappointed I left the two talking happily together after gathering some more poison from the giant Basilisk. Slowly I made my way back up to the school, uncomfortable with what I knew I had to do.

I knew I would have to go to Professor Lupin for help and I despised the thought. The fact that I had to ask for help admitted I was weak, stupid, that I couldn’t do something and I could hardly stand it. But for all my research and study I was getting nowhere, and I needed his Boggart.

***

A few weeks later was a Hogsmeade weekend, and though Draco was thoroughly annoyed that I couldn’t go too, it did give me the chance to finally get up the nerve to ask Lupin about help. It wasn’t as painful as I had expected and he promised that after Christmas we would get started on the whole thing. I wanted to argue that I wanted this resolved now, but I still felt uncomfortable questioning people despite that this was a different world.

Professor Snape came in while I was talking to him, giving him some potion to drink and connecting a few more dots to the secret that is Remus Lupin. But it was the annoyed glare that Snape gave to me that made my gut clench. For a few days after the incident with Draco my potion abilities had been back to normal, but as the hunger began to grow again my potions turned out worse and worse. Now Snape glared at me like I was some Gryffindor, purposely messing up potions just to be a nuisance. The whole thing frustrated me greatly because besides Draco, Snape was the only other that I had the slightest amount of care for, and his looks and words stung deeply.

“Looking for more help in Defense against the Dark Arts Potter? Don’t you think you should try and salvage your potions grade first?” He snarled and I wasn’t sure if he was mad at the fact that I wasn’t doing best in his class, or that I had gone to Lupin for something.

“If you had the time Professor I would be more than grateful for some help.” I told him submissively. He paused for a second, looking me over for sincerity before answering.

“Fine, come by the class tomorrow afternoon, since it’s a Sunday and you don’t have a permission slip for Hogsmeade you shouldn’t mind giving the day up.” He said, knowingly twisting that barb deeper.

“Thank you Professor, it’s very considerate of you.” Unable to get a further response from me he stormed out in a swirl of robes, letting the door slam behind him.

*****

I left Lupin’s office, heading down to the Slytherin common room to get some work done since I wouldn’t have Sunday to do it.

My foot tapped incessantly while I worked, the hunger that had grown over the last three weeks distracting me from concentrating. The only thing that allowed me to get any work done was the fact that Draco and the older Slytherins were gone, since they were what usually stirred me up even more.

Just as I finished my last bit of work Draco stormed in Zabini and the two mindless drones behind him. My hunger surged again but the anger filling the room helped me keep control.

“Potter, we’ve got to talk, now.” He growled, hardly even looking at me but continuing to the 3rd year boy’s dorm. I followed behind, ignoring the pain I felt from him using my last name, and tried to figure why I was sensing so much anger rolling off of him.

He held the door open for me but as soon as I was through slammed it closed and threw up a silencing spell.

“What is this I hear about you shagging some Hufflepuff bitch?!” He shouted but I was too lost to even come up with a good answer.

“What?” I stuttered, sure I had miss heard; the mere idea was absurd on so many levels.

“Some fourth year Hufflepuff says you meet her at night and make-out and shag. And I know you sneak out at night sometimes.”

“Draco, yes I sneak out. But absolutely no way in hell is to make out with some girl, let alone a Hufflepuff. The idea of touching a girl disgusts me.” I snarled. I left out the fact that touching a male in a sexual way freaks me out too, figuring he didn’t want to hear that.

“Are you sure?” He questioned, reluctant to let go of his anger.

“Have I ever lied to you?” I asked harshly getting upset. Draco might have been able to get ride of his anger quickly but I still felt his as if it were my own, and it wasn’t leave. I wanted revenge; not for me, but because they had hurt the person important to me, and they would pay, no matter how inadvertent it was. “Who?” I said coldly.

“Her name’s Erin McKenny or something, why?” He questioned curiously.

“It’s time she learns why not to fuck with snakes.” I told him, stalking out of the room.