Blind Beauty
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
36
Views:
40,023
Reviews:
227
Recommended:
2
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
36
Views:
40,023
Reviews:
227
Recommended:
2
Currently Reading:
0
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.
On the Record
Chapter Number/Total: 24/36
Chapter Title: On the Record
Words: 1807 Words
They had taken the Floo to the offices of the Daily Prophet. Hermione went first so that she could help Harry when he arrived. They were now dusting themselves off as a man greeted them. "Mr Potter, I am so glad to meet you," he said. "I am Warton Dobbs."
"Nice to meet you, too," Harry answered politely, holding out his hand.
Dobbs shook his hand firmly. "And Miss Granger, I presume?" Dobbs said. "A pleasure. Please join me in my office."
Hermione put her hand on Harry's arm, helping to steer him and directing him to a chair in the office.
Harry took a deep breath as he sat down, nervously smoothing his palms down the front of his robes.
"Would you care for tea?" Dobbs asked.
"No, thank you," Harry said with a small smile. He didn't trust this man yet, and he wouldn't take any chances.
"Well, just let me know if you would like anything," he said. "I can't tell you how delighted we were to get your Owl. The only news we have had about you since your victory has been through Ministry channels. We really would like to hear it from your perspective."
Harry smiled again, feeling his skin heat up slightly at the man's words. "Well, I thought it would be best if I did tell everyone my side of the story. So ... I sent you an owl, and here I am."
"So how did you get inside Voldemort's headquarters?" Dobbs asked.
"I was ... well, I was captured," he answered after a moment of silence, running his hands over the arms of the chair.
"Really?" Dobbs sounded shocked. "What happened?"
Harry bit his lip and shook his head. "I don't really remember that part ... but it is how I lost my sight," he said quietly.
"Is it permanent?" Dobbs asked. "And do they know why?"
"It's obviously permanent," he stated, shrugging, "and it might be because of a spell ...."
"So you were captured and blinded. That must have been frightening. What happened next?" Dobbs asked.
"Uhm ... I was just in this room ... for a long time," he replied softly. He couldn't remember it all, but he did remember the days he spent tied up on the bed.
"And then ..." Dobbs encouraged.
"And then I found out that someone was there. Draco Malfoy. At first I fought with him, trying to make him let me go ... but then ...." He paused, wondering how he should phrase it. "We decided to compromise."
"A compromise?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes. He would help me kill Voldemort, and we'd both be free of his torment," he said, nodding.
"Why would he do that if he was one of Voldemort's followers?" Dobbs asked. "He did take the Dark Mark."
"Doesn't mean he wanted to take the mark," Harry countered.
"So, why did he then?" Dobbs asked.
"I don't know that much about it, but I'm sure he was forced into it."
"So how did he help you and what did you do?" Dobbs asked.
"I don't think that information is really necessary. Just know that he helped me, and if he didn't, I probably wouldn't be sitting here today," Harry answered firmly.
"Mr Potter, our readers want to know what happened. That is what is more likely to get them to listen to you. To read this," Dobbs said.
Harry shook his head. "They only need to know that he helped me."
"So how did you kill Voldemort?" Dobbs asked.
"The killing curse," he replied, glad he didn't push the other issue.
"If you were a prisoner, how did you get a wand?" Dobbs replied.
"I used Draco's wand."
"The one that was broken when he confessed and was convicted?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes, and that confession wasn't the truth, either," he murmured.
"According to the Ministry, he confessed to being a Death Eater and to having tortured you," Dobbs said. "Are you saying that he didn't torture you?"
Harry swallowed, beginning to get lost in his memories as he fought to make sure his story made sense. "Yes."
"Our sources at St Mungo's said you were badly beaten and bleeding," Dobbs said.
"In order to get close enough to Voldemort, there had to be ... something that would catch his interest," he mumbled, not knowing what else to say. He had wanted to cover up this part, but now he realised that he couldn't. "He wanted to see me bleeding ...."
"So Malfoy did torture you, as witnesses have said," Dobbs said.
"Because I asked him to. I wouldn't call it torture ... it was all an act," Harry said slowly.
Hermione took Harry's hand, squeezing gently.
"So what he confessed was essentially true, except that you say he didn't willingly take the Dark Mark and that you asked him to hurt and humiliate you as a part of your plan," Dobbs said, sounding sceptical. "Why would you trust him? You two were known to have hated each other while you were at Hogwarts."
Harry bit his lip when she took his hand, his heart beating faster. There were too many questions. He should've expected it. "He could've killed me ... whenever. I was wandless, blind ... yet, he didn't, and we talked ...."
"You talked?" Dobbs asked. "What could he possibly have said to convince you?"
"I'll keep that to myself, as well," he replied quietly.
"So it is your assertion that because he helped you get close to Voldemort," Dobbs said, "he should not be punished for his participation in Headmaster Dumbledore's death or for taking the Dark Mark."
"Not only did he help me with that, but do you actually think that I could've killed him in the middle of all those Death Eaters and made it out alive? No. He risked his life and fought them ... if there's anyone that should be punished for all of this, it's Lucius Malfoy."
"Yes, he escaped," Dobbs said. "Are you sure his son didn't help him get away?"
"Very sure ... he's the one who really tortured me," he said, shuddering as the memories flashed through his mind. "He tortured both of us."
"Lucius Malfoy tortured both you and his son?" Dobbs asked, incredulous. Hermione gasped beside Harry.
Harry nodded slowly, turning his head away. He squeezed Hermione's hand tightly.
"Was that part of your plan?" Dobbs asked.
"No, it wasn't," he whispered, feeling his eyes well up with tears.
"Did he and his son rape you?" Dobbs asked.
Harry rubbed at his eyes, trying to control his emotions. "Just him."
"Just who?" Dobbs asked.
"Lucius," he mumbled.
"Lucius Malfoy raped you?" Dobbs asked.
Beside him, Harry heard the sound of a sob from Hermione. "Yes," he whispered, reaching for Hermione's hand again.
"Have you had sex with Draco Malfoy?" Dobbs asked.
"I ... I think I want to keep that to myself, too."
"Where is Draco Malfoy now?" Dobbs asked.
"He was put in my custody," he replied.
"Does he live with you?" Dobbs continued.
"Yes, he does." He ran his hands through his hair, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
"You live with a werewolf then?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes," Harry said simply, finding no fault in it.
"Draco Malfoy is a werewolf then?" Dobbs continued.
"He was bitten while he was protecting me from the Death Eaters after I killed Voldemort," Harry explained.
"Bitten by the infamous Fenrir Greyback?" Dobbs asked.
Harry nodded, gritting his teeth at the name.
"So you want the wizarding public to help free a former Death Eater werewolf? Why?" Dobbs asked.
"Because he doesn't deserve the treatment he's gotten since everything happened," Harry commented.
"Isn't he dangerous?" Dobbs asked.
"No," Harry responded honestly, thinking about Draco waiting for him at home.
"What will you do if he is sent back to Azkaban?" Dobbs asked.
"I'll go there with him."
"Why?" Dobbs asked, sounding shocked.
"Because he's a hero just as much as I am. If he's sent there, they're sending me as well."
"Are you in love with him?" Dobbs asked, sounding surprised.
"He's a part of me now," Harry said instead of answering.
"You are," Dobbs said with a strange sound in his voice.
"I am," Harry confirmed quietly.
Dobbs was silent for a minute. Hermione sniffed but held Harry's hand tight.
Harry closed his eyes, resting his head back against the chair. He had made it through the worst part of the interview, thankfully, with only a bad headache and memories.
"Mr Potter," Dobbs said quietly, "I am grateful for your candour and ... bravery."
"Thank you for listening, Mr Dobbs. Really listening," he replied, just as quiet.
"I can't promise what parts the paper will print," Dobbs said, "but I can promise to push to make sure that the parts that are important to you are included."
"That's all I wanted," he said, nodding.
"I understand," Dobbs said, his voice sympathetic. "You know the paper will want ... sensational, but at least Mr Malfoy’s contribution to your victory will be part of it."
"That's the most important part," Harry sighed, feeling relieved.
Hermione helped him to his feet and led him to the Floo.
Harry felt drained, emotionally and physically. He fell through the Floo again, not even bothering to pick himself up as fast as he normally would.
Hermione went with him, falling to her knees beside him and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry, Harry, so sorry," she said.
"Sorry for what?" he mumbled, his face pressed against her chest.
"You didn't tell us," she sobbed, "about his father."
"I didn't want to think about him," Harry whispered.
She held him tight, patting his back. "Is there more? I mean, more you want to tell me?" she asked quietly.
"He hurt me ... badly ... and Draco, too," Harry said softly. "I hate him."
"Why did he hurt Draco?" she asked.
"I don't know, but he did. I don't think it was the first time either."
Hermione nodded, her head brushing against his.
"Thanks, Hermione," he murmured. The headache was still there, reminding him of everything he went through that afternoon. He winced slightly. "Ow ...."
"Remus is on assignment," Hermione said. "Should I find Draco for you?"
Harry nodded slowly. "That would be good."
"I'm right up here," Draco said from the stairs, slowly coming down them.
"Draco?" he called out, badly needing to be in his arms.
Draco came down the stairs but hid the marred side of his face behind his hair in front of Hermione.
Hermione looked at him. "Do you want me to stay, Harry?"
"You can go. I just need Draco," he replied quietly.
She kissed Harry on the cheek and stood up. "Let me know if you need anything," she said and then stepped into the Floo.
Chapter Title: On the Record
Words: 1807 Words
They had taken the Floo to the offices of the Daily Prophet. Hermione went first so that she could help Harry when he arrived. They were now dusting themselves off as a man greeted them. "Mr Potter, I am so glad to meet you," he said. "I am Warton Dobbs."
"Nice to meet you, too," Harry answered politely, holding out his hand.
Dobbs shook his hand firmly. "And Miss Granger, I presume?" Dobbs said. "A pleasure. Please join me in my office."
Hermione put her hand on Harry's arm, helping to steer him and directing him to a chair in the office.
Harry took a deep breath as he sat down, nervously smoothing his palms down the front of his robes.
"Would you care for tea?" Dobbs asked.
"No, thank you," Harry said with a small smile. He didn't trust this man yet, and he wouldn't take any chances.
"Well, just let me know if you would like anything," he said. "I can't tell you how delighted we were to get your Owl. The only news we have had about you since your victory has been through Ministry channels. We really would like to hear it from your perspective."
Harry smiled again, feeling his skin heat up slightly at the man's words. "Well, I thought it would be best if I did tell everyone my side of the story. So ... I sent you an owl, and here I am."
"So how did you get inside Voldemort's headquarters?" Dobbs asked.
"I was ... well, I was captured," he answered after a moment of silence, running his hands over the arms of the chair.
"Really?" Dobbs sounded shocked. "What happened?"
Harry bit his lip and shook his head. "I don't really remember that part ... but it is how I lost my sight," he said quietly.
"Is it permanent?" Dobbs asked. "And do they know why?"
"It's obviously permanent," he stated, shrugging, "and it might be because of a spell ...."
"So you were captured and blinded. That must have been frightening. What happened next?" Dobbs asked.
"Uhm ... I was just in this room ... for a long time," he replied softly. He couldn't remember it all, but he did remember the days he spent tied up on the bed.
"And then ..." Dobbs encouraged.
"And then I found out that someone was there. Draco Malfoy. At first I fought with him, trying to make him let me go ... but then ...." He paused, wondering how he should phrase it. "We decided to compromise."
"A compromise?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes. He would help me kill Voldemort, and we'd both be free of his torment," he said, nodding.
"Why would he do that if he was one of Voldemort's followers?" Dobbs asked. "He did take the Dark Mark."
"Doesn't mean he wanted to take the mark," Harry countered.
"So, why did he then?" Dobbs asked.
"I don't know that much about it, but I'm sure he was forced into it."
"So how did he help you and what did you do?" Dobbs asked.
"I don't think that information is really necessary. Just know that he helped me, and if he didn't, I probably wouldn't be sitting here today," Harry answered firmly.
"Mr Potter, our readers want to know what happened. That is what is more likely to get them to listen to you. To read this," Dobbs said.
Harry shook his head. "They only need to know that he helped me."
"So how did you kill Voldemort?" Dobbs asked.
"The killing curse," he replied, glad he didn't push the other issue.
"If you were a prisoner, how did you get a wand?" Dobbs replied.
"I used Draco's wand."
"The one that was broken when he confessed and was convicted?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes, and that confession wasn't the truth, either," he murmured.
"According to the Ministry, he confessed to being a Death Eater and to having tortured you," Dobbs said. "Are you saying that he didn't torture you?"
Harry swallowed, beginning to get lost in his memories as he fought to make sure his story made sense. "Yes."
"Our sources at St Mungo's said you were badly beaten and bleeding," Dobbs said.
"In order to get close enough to Voldemort, there had to be ... something that would catch his interest," he mumbled, not knowing what else to say. He had wanted to cover up this part, but now he realised that he couldn't. "He wanted to see me bleeding ...."
"So Malfoy did torture you, as witnesses have said," Dobbs said.
"Because I asked him to. I wouldn't call it torture ... it was all an act," Harry said slowly.
Hermione took Harry's hand, squeezing gently.
"So what he confessed was essentially true, except that you say he didn't willingly take the Dark Mark and that you asked him to hurt and humiliate you as a part of your plan," Dobbs said, sounding sceptical. "Why would you trust him? You two were known to have hated each other while you were at Hogwarts."
Harry bit his lip when she took his hand, his heart beating faster. There were too many questions. He should've expected it. "He could've killed me ... whenever. I was wandless, blind ... yet, he didn't, and we talked ...."
"You talked?" Dobbs asked. "What could he possibly have said to convince you?"
"I'll keep that to myself, as well," he replied quietly.
"So it is your assertion that because he helped you get close to Voldemort," Dobbs said, "he should not be punished for his participation in Headmaster Dumbledore's death or for taking the Dark Mark."
"Not only did he help me with that, but do you actually think that I could've killed him in the middle of all those Death Eaters and made it out alive? No. He risked his life and fought them ... if there's anyone that should be punished for all of this, it's Lucius Malfoy."
"Yes, he escaped," Dobbs said. "Are you sure his son didn't help him get away?"
"Very sure ... he's the one who really tortured me," he said, shuddering as the memories flashed through his mind. "He tortured both of us."
"Lucius Malfoy tortured both you and his son?" Dobbs asked, incredulous. Hermione gasped beside Harry.
Harry nodded slowly, turning his head away. He squeezed Hermione's hand tightly.
"Was that part of your plan?" Dobbs asked.
"No, it wasn't," he whispered, feeling his eyes well up with tears.
"Did he and his son rape you?" Dobbs asked.
Harry rubbed at his eyes, trying to control his emotions. "Just him."
"Just who?" Dobbs asked.
"Lucius," he mumbled.
"Lucius Malfoy raped you?" Dobbs asked.
Beside him, Harry heard the sound of a sob from Hermione. "Yes," he whispered, reaching for Hermione's hand again.
"Have you had sex with Draco Malfoy?" Dobbs asked.
"I ... I think I want to keep that to myself, too."
"Where is Draco Malfoy now?" Dobbs asked.
"He was put in my custody," he replied.
"Does he live with you?" Dobbs continued.
"Yes, he does." He ran his hands through his hair, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
"You live with a werewolf then?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes," Harry said simply, finding no fault in it.
"Draco Malfoy is a werewolf then?" Dobbs continued.
"He was bitten while he was protecting me from the Death Eaters after I killed Voldemort," Harry explained.
"Bitten by the infamous Fenrir Greyback?" Dobbs asked.
Harry nodded, gritting his teeth at the name.
"So you want the wizarding public to help free a former Death Eater werewolf? Why?" Dobbs asked.
"Because he doesn't deserve the treatment he's gotten since everything happened," Harry commented.
"Isn't he dangerous?" Dobbs asked.
"No," Harry responded honestly, thinking about Draco waiting for him at home.
"What will you do if he is sent back to Azkaban?" Dobbs asked.
"I'll go there with him."
"Why?" Dobbs asked, sounding shocked.
"Because he's a hero just as much as I am. If he's sent there, they're sending me as well."
"Are you in love with him?" Dobbs asked, sounding surprised.
"He's a part of me now," Harry said instead of answering.
"You are," Dobbs said with a strange sound in his voice.
"I am," Harry confirmed quietly.
Dobbs was silent for a minute. Hermione sniffed but held Harry's hand tight.
Harry closed his eyes, resting his head back against the chair. He had made it through the worst part of the interview, thankfully, with only a bad headache and memories.
"Mr Potter," Dobbs said quietly, "I am grateful for your candour and ... bravery."
"Thank you for listening, Mr Dobbs. Really listening," he replied, just as quiet.
"I can't promise what parts the paper will print," Dobbs said, "but I can promise to push to make sure that the parts that are important to you are included."
"That's all I wanted," he said, nodding.
"I understand," Dobbs said, his voice sympathetic. "You know the paper will want ... sensational, but at least Mr Malfoy’s contribution to your victory will be part of it."
"That's the most important part," Harry sighed, feeling relieved.
Hermione helped him to his feet and led him to the Floo.
Harry felt drained, emotionally and physically. He fell through the Floo again, not even bothering to pick himself up as fast as he normally would.
Hermione went with him, falling to her knees beside him and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry, Harry, so sorry," she said.
"Sorry for what?" he mumbled, his face pressed against her chest.
"You didn't tell us," she sobbed, "about his father."
"I didn't want to think about him," Harry whispered.
She held him tight, patting his back. "Is there more? I mean, more you want to tell me?" she asked quietly.
"He hurt me ... badly ... and Draco, too," Harry said softly. "I hate him."
"Why did he hurt Draco?" she asked.
"I don't know, but he did. I don't think it was the first time either."
Hermione nodded, her head brushing against his.
"Thanks, Hermione," he murmured. The headache was still there, reminding him of everything he went through that afternoon. He winced slightly. "Ow ...."
"Remus is on assignment," Hermione said. "Should I find Draco for you?"
Harry nodded slowly. "That would be good."
"I'm right up here," Draco said from the stairs, slowly coming down them.
"Draco?" he called out, badly needing to be in his arms.
Draco came down the stairs but hid the marred side of his face behind his hair in front of Hermione.
Hermione looked at him. "Do you want me to stay, Harry?"
"You can go. I just need Draco," he replied quietly.
She kissed Harry on the cheek and stood up. "Let me know if you need anything," she said and then stepped into the Floo.