The Devil Runs Wild

******** ~Lovers~

Harry slipped out of bed, rather reluctantly, put on his boxers and quietly walked out the door, closing it softly behind him. He headed across the hall toward the bathroom and closed the door - or at least thought he did. As he moved to relieve himself he jumped when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Draco standing right next to him.

“What the - Draco,” Harry breathed. “What are you doing here?” Harry asked, looking at Draco.

Draco shrugged. He didn’t know why he had followed Harry when he left the room. He just had wanted to, needed to.

Harry waited for Draco to say something and when he didn’t, Harry spoke. “Well you can go now,” Harry said and moved to stand up to the toilet.

Draco shook his head and made no attempt to move.

“Um…” Harry didn’t know what to do. He really had to go but Draco was just standing there.

“I’m not leaving,” Draco said.

“But I have to…..,” Harry said, gesturing slightly.

Draco leaned his hip against the sink counter and smirked. “So go,” he said.

“No!” Harry said sharply and was surprised when he did so without feeling guilty about going against Draco. Something was definitely different about their “bond.” “I think there’s something different about the bond,” Harry decided to voice.

*******

Harry, unfortunately, had to let Malfoy stay in the bathroom while he relieved himself. Draco said something about not wanting him “out of his sight” and Harry didn’t have time to argue. At least, Draco had looked away when he had asked him to.

Now, they both were dressed and sitting around the kitchen table with Mrs. Weasley bustling about merrily serving Harry pounds and pounds of food.

“He’s only been gone a month,” Ron said, looking sulkily at the wonderful food filling up his friend’s plate.

“And a month’s worth of magic lost!” Mrs. Weasley said sharply, putting more bacon onto Harry’s plate. “He needs his strength!”

“He most certainly does,” Draco muttered softly enough so that only Harry could hear. He winked at Harry and watched as Harry’s cheeks flushed and his eyes sought his plate. Draco smirked. Merlin, he had missed messing with Potter.

“Harry,” Hermione started. “How are you feeling?”

Harry looked up. “I feel fine.”

Hermione’s eyes widened but it was the voice of Severus Snape that sounded out behind Harry, who jumped in surprise, not having known Snape had been there.

“Completely?” Snape asked.

Harry’s eyes drew in confusion. Why were they so worried that he was feeling fine? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Wait. Hadn’t Mrs. Weasley said that he would need his strength? So was he suppose to still be feeling weak like he had while he was kidnapped?

“Oi!” Ron said and poked him in the arm. Harry, realizing that he had wondered off, now looked up to find everyone staring at him, including Dumbledore’s portrait.

“I really do feel fine,” Harry said and watched as everyone looked at him in confusion. “If anything,” Harry went on, “I feel..,” Harry paused, contemplating whether or not saying what he was about to say would lead to more worrying. He looked to Draco who was looking expectantly at him. “I feel stronger,” he said.

“Stronger?” Snape snapped and leaned in closer and Harry moved back on the bench a bit to escape being poked by that unusually large nose. He backed right into Draco, though, who proceeded to wrap warm arms around his waist. Harry almost jumped up out of his seat at the touch.

“You feel stronger, Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Yes. It feels like it did last - ,” Harry stopped abruptly.

Draco chuckled, knowing what Potter had been about to say. “Last night?” Draco questioned, his breath tickling Harry’s ear. Harry turned his head and glared, not wanting Draco to share anything about last night. Then Harry’s eyes widened suddenly.

“Right! The bond!” Harry shouted and scrambled out of Draco’s arms, attempting to stand up but catching his leg on the bench and falling onto the kitchen floor. Draco started laughing and Harry glared, rubbing his elbow. Harry sent another glare at his friend as Ron started laughing too.

Severus Snape was not amused. Potter had been saying something important about the bond. “What about the bond, Potter?!”

Harry stopped glaring long enough to look up at Snape who was glaring down at him. “The bond is different. It feels different,” Harry said.

Severus turned to Draco. “Is that correct?” he asked and saw Potter’s affronted look at not having been believed, but considering he had been kidnapped for a month by Voldemort, it was expected that Severus would be wary of him, even after having checked for any new spells on him, which he had done, through the walls of Draco’s room last night. He had certainly kept the silencing charm up, however.

Draco paused long enough from his laughing spell to add, “Yes, Potter doesn’t seem to have to obey my every wish anymore,” and at that Draco’s face turned to one of disappointment. Harry proceeded to do that glaring thing again at him.

Severus immediately took out his wand. He had not detected any change in the bond last night, therefore, something must have happened since then. He pointed his wand at first Draco and then Potter. The bond had been changed.

“What is it, Severus?” Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.

“It is…,” and for lack of a better description, Severus simply spat out “…different.”

“What does that mean?” Draco demanded.

“I do not know what it is. I have not seen…,” and at that Severus paused. He had not seen anything like this bond before, that was for certain. However, he had seen something similar to it. “I must check something,” he said and swiftly walked out of the room and to the basement of the Weasley’s home, which he had taken over for his own use. Books and potions of his he had taken down there, knowing it was simply easier to be here when his skills were undoubtedly needed on every occasion.

Hermione rushed out of the kitchen after him, of course and Ron looked at Harry.

“You can get up off the floor now, mate,” Ron said and grinned cheerfully as Harry glared at him.

Draco laughed and saw Ron glare at him slightly for laughing at something he had said. Draco wanted to glare at himself for it, though, and did nothing in retaliation. Laughing at Ron Weasley was certainly okay, but laughing with him was a whole different story. Harry was about to sit back down next to him, but Draco stopped him, gripping his arm, standing up and leading him out of the kitchen.

“Hey!” Harry said and jerked his arm away from Draco’s grip. “What do you think you’re doing?” Draco’s eyebrow raised up in surprise. Right, Potter wouldn’t do what he wanted anymore. Potter, being a man who likes to point the obvious out, reiterated Draco’s thoughts. “I don’t have to do what you say anymore.”

“Right, of course, Harry. I just thought you’d be interested in seeing what Severus and Granger were up to. You do want to know what is going on, don’t you?” Draco asked politely.

“Yeah!” Harry snapped back and blushed at his sudden outburst. Malfoy had just taken him away from a very delicious meal that he had barely touched, though, and he didn’t want Draco thinking he could make him do things..like skipping out on a perfectly good meal. Harry looked back in the direction of the kitchen forlornly.

“Potter!” Draco snapped and Harry glared at him. Draco sighed. “Fine, do whatever you want, Potter. I’m going to find out if the Dark Lord has put a dark spell on me,” and with that Draco stormed off.

Harry looked back at the kitchen and saw Ron coming out carrying several pieces of toast in his hand. Ron handed him two pieces and Harry smiled in relief. “Thanks.”

“Thought you’d want something more,” Ron said and continued walking in the direction Malfoy had gone. Harry followed.

********

Severus Snape was leafing through a book as a gang of children entered his “office.” He merrily glanced up and glared before returning to his reading. Granger was asking questions that he had not answered as of yet.

“What is it? What is it similar to?” Hermione asked, agitated that he would not answer. Finally Snape set the book down and looked up at all of them.

“It is similar to a Lovers Bond,” Severus said, sighing.

Several things happened at once. Hermione yanked the book from Snape’s hands and began speed reading, Ron choked on his bit of toast, Draco smirked at seeing that Harry had followed him here and Harry asked a simple question.

“A what?”

Hermione sighed and set down the book. She took her wand out and pointed it at Harry and Draco. “It’s true. It is similar to the Lovers Bond but it’s different,” she said.

Snape nodded.

“But how is this possible?” Hermione asked. Snape just looked at Draco and Potter.

“What?” Harry asked at Hermione’s and Snape’s stares.

“Harry, the Lovers Bond is…well, it only works when both partners truly want it,” Hermione said slowly.

“Okay….” Harry said. Bonds were suppose to be like that, right?

“A Lovers Bond was made for lovers, Harry,” she said.

“Okay….” Harry said again, confused.

“It was made for those in love,” she said.

“Ah-hum,” Harry said, trying to follow.

“In love,” Hemione repeated.

“Right,” Harry said.

“Lovers,” Hermione said.

“Lovers,” Harry repeated. Harry’s eyes widened “Oh!” He looked over at Draco who was apparently attempting not to laugh.

******
Awhile later, Draco was no longer laughing and glaring at everyone. He certainly had not and did not “love” Potter. They were all mad!

“It’s different than a Lover’s bond, you said!” Draco yelled at Severus.

“It’s different than a Lover’s bond, yes, but it is very similar to the ‘Lovers Bond’,” Snape answered carefully.

“What’s the difference?” Draco snapped.

“Your bond now is similar to THE Lovers Bond. The original,” Severus said and watched as Draco’s eyes widened. The original Lovers Bond, the first ever created, like many other first spells, had never been duplicated since. The original wizards and witches, the founders, as they call them, used magic differently than they way they used it now. Many say the founders were more powerful, others disagreed. Since then, wizards and witches have created spells based off the original cases documented, but rarely if ever were able to get close to the original spells. The Lovers Bond had been used once, according to history books. The bond between Potter and Draco was the closest to the original that Severus had ever seen.

Severus heard Granger explain things to Potter and Weasley. Draco was staring, open-mouthed at the book he now had in his hands.

Draco slammed the book down on floor. “It’s complete rubbish!” and Draco stormed out of the room.

Harry looked at him, a bit shocked, then tentatively reached down to pick up the book Malfoy had dropped.

The book described the only case on record of the bond. Harry soon found passages that were likely causes of Draco’s outburst. Words like “eternity” and “everlasting bond” could have done it or “marriage,” “soul mates,” and “true love” could have done it. Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin, Harry thought, might find “love” a bit scary and Harry laughed at his own thought. Snakes and parseltongue wouldn’t scare Malfoy, but love? That must be like a nightmare!

“What’s so funny?” Ron asked him, reading over his shoulder.

Harry shook his head, “Nothing.”

“Harry,” Hermione said, “You weren’t trying to create a bond, were you?” she asked biting her lip slightly.

Harry shook his head, “Of course not, Hermione.”

“Well, Malfoy didn’t seem like he would at all either,” Ron said. “Could Vold -”

“No,” Severus said. He had checked Potter for spells beforehand. Besides, the Dark Lord had….difficulties with light spells. The Lovers Bond was one of the light spells, some argue it was the first of the light spells. The last time he had seen the Dark Lord use a light spell, he had burned his hand off. That had been nearly twenty years ago. The Dark Lord had detested pure light magic because he could not control it. No, this was not the workings of the Dark Lord.

“Well, it isn’t hurting either of us, right?” Harry asked and Hermione and Snape nodded. “Okay, good,” Harry said. None of them could do anything about the spell, it didn’t hurt them, it was a light spell, and what was even better was that he no longer had to be a slave to Malfoy. The spell was still different than the original and that meant, Harry thought, that it was possible that “love” had nothing to do with the creation of it. Harry shrugged and put the book down, turned and asked Ron if he wanted to play a game or something. Ron smiled and led the way up the stairs. Hermione sighed, looked at Severus who was dusting off his book and glaring at it as if it was the book’s fault it was dropped on the floor, and then she turned to follow the other two out of the room.

*******
At around lunch time, Harry realized that he hadn’t seen Malfoy for several hours and wondered what he was doing. Harry climbed the stairs and knocked on his door.

“Hi,” Harry said as Draco opened the door. “Mrs. Weasley is making lunch,” he said.

“Not hungry,” Draco said, closing the door. Harry was confused. Why was Malfoy so upset? The new bond arrangement didn’t seem so bad to him. Perhaps Malfoy was upset for another reason? Was it because he couldn’t order him around anymore? Harry knocked on the door again and Draco opened it sharply.

“What’s wrong?” Harry asked and was surprised that his voice sounded concerned rather than demanding like he had intended.

“Nothing, Potter,” Draco said and began closing the door but Potter’s foot got in the way. Draco sighed and went for the sympathy act that Gryffindor’s fall for easily. “I’m just tired,” he said.

Harry blushed as he was reminded of why Malfoy might be tired and moved his foot and Malfoy shut the door.

Harry walked down the stairs slowly. Harry began thinking of that morning and how Malfoy had followed him to the bathroom and had put his arms around his waist at breakfast and how he had still acted like they were bonded like before. But this new bond didn’t restrict free will like the other because it was light magic. Had Malfoy done all those things because he wanted to?

*******
Draco looked out the window of his room. He could see the little gnomes picking flowers from the Weasley’s garden.

Draco had known that the bond was different, had felt it. He had just hoped that..

Harry could do whatever he wanted to now. He certainly wouldn’t do anything Draco said and Harry wouldn’t send for him like before. It’s not like Potter needed him, would be forced to need him…not anymore.

It wasn’t like Draco Malfoy cared or anything. Attachments were meant for Gryffindor’s and Hufflepuffs, not Slytherins. He didn’t actually feel anything for Potter and he certainly hadn’t this morning.

Draco Malfoy continued to sulk, not even being able to use the excuse of a restrictive bond spell to explain away his ‘feelings.’