Devil's Snare
Enemies
Title: Devil's Snare
Rating: R
Word Count: 446
025: Enemies
Paring: Harry/Draco
Summary: Harry is told to bring Draco to the light side of the war at any cost. Post-HBP, D/s, dubious consent, Post-Hogwarts, war!fic.
Disclaimer: Unoriginal characters and situations belong to JKRowling. No copyright infringement is intended.
Table of Contents found at http://www.livejournal.com/users/mahoganyhandle/9713.html
~
A fine golden mist rose up from the chalice as Harry drained his wound into it. It made a thick haze through which Malfoy, standing across from him, appeared burnished. It sifted through the air like gases, like heat, distorting his view. Harry offered him the chalice, and Malfoy accepted, cupping it in both hands, as if it were precious to him.
"I offer you my devotion," Harry said, "with these men here as witnesses." Malfoy's gaze slid past Harry to the circle of witnesses. There were six in all: Hermione, Ron, and Lupin, naturally, along with Moody, Lawson and Lavender Brown. When Malfoy met Harry's gaze again, his eyes were oddly bright.
A full moon gleamed over head, and Malfoy looked pale in its light, angelic almost, for he was so fair and the air around him shimmered with the golden mist. But how foul his soul was beneath that beatific exterior, Harry could only wonder.
They had come out to Stonehenge, and the magic around them was palpable. It felt like hands caressing every bare strip of skin, like Malfoy's fingertips coasting over him so lightly it felt as if he'd been touched by a ghost.
"I will hear your oath," Malfoy said, glancing down at the chalice.
"For you I reserve my fealty, forsaking all other duties in the name of your claim. For you I reserve my valor, in the same manner that I shall protect you and what you hold most dear. I will provide for you, and cherish you, and honor you above all others. I will bind my thoughts, my soul, and my magic to yours…. I – I will love you. Not pain or dishonor or death will sunder me from you. I cleave to you. This is my choice."
Malfoy did not hesitate before he brought the chalice to his lips and drained it. His voice, when he spoke, was airy. "This oath is pleasing to me. I accept it and charge those who bear witness to uphold it before the Wizengamot."
The magic, already thick in the air, wove between them. It would around Harry, heavy like a chain, but versatile like a silken cord. It bound him to Malfoy most unyieldingly.
Malfoy flicked his wrist and the chalice disappeared with a crack. Harry approached him and took his hand. Malfoy flushed and seemed to struggle with some dark thought; it was flitting.
"Take me as I am, Harry, and I will accept this from you gladly. Your enemy, whose name many fear to speak, Voldemort, last of Slytherin's line, will be my enemy…. To mark my acceptance of your oath, I choose to stand with you."