The Contract

Chapter Twenty Eight -- Hogwarts -- The Demolition of a Hero.





Draco had his checkups with Madame Pomfrey every other week. Not that she needed to see him that often, but he found solitude with her than he couldn’t find otherwise. It was near the end of October, just a bit under three months along in his seven-month pregnancy. He showed a bit, and his robes hid that well. He didn’t swagger around school anymore. As Severus had promised, he received his own quarters. They had actually been for staff, but since they weren’t in use, Draco was given the option. He took the offer. They were safer than being in a dorm full of seventh year Slytherins.



Draco still had chosen to tell none of the students about the babies. Severus and Poppy had kept their promise, and he was not sure if even the Headmaster knew about them.



He corresponded regularly with the bank manager. He was sent the full text copy of the will, as well as certain laws that had been enacted since Grindewald had been defeated. Each of these had been proposed by one, Albus W.B. Dumbledore and were very interesting in the way the laws were structured. From different areas such as Family, Corporate, and Bonding laws were effected in some way.



There was also an obscure law, buried deep inside of another area that Percy sent separately that showed the family with the most political power was the one that Gringott’s determined to be the wealthiest. Draco figured that if Harry had received his full monetary inheritance at seventeen, as was usual for the Wizarding world, then he would be in the running to remove Scrimgeour from office.



Percy had also sent Draco a notice of the Contract which he would need to discuss over the Christmas holidays. Draco’s reply was that Percy was free to discuss it with Molly and Arthur and streamline the meeting.



Draco had received mail from many people, none of which was Harry. But dutifully, he continued to write and send owls every day. Hoping at some point, Harry would at least acknowledge the effort he had put forth.



His school schedule was arranged so he had most of his classes with Ravenclaws rather than Gryffindors. The only class he would have to be in with Harry was Charms. He knew that eventually, Harry would return to the school.



As the weeks progressed, Ron and Hermione could often be found studying in his quarters. Blaise and some of the others came by on occasion, but he found he did not enjoy their company. As time passed, he found his sleep disturbed by memories or realizations from the information that was sent.



He missed Harry. He knew it. Ron and Hermione knew it. Severus and Remus knew it. It was pathetic that he could not get over the brunette, but he felt as though he were half a person, which was saying something because he was carrying two babies.



Molly had not contacted her children to let them know that Harry was to return the week before Halloween, but had continued to encourage him to write Draco and give him a chance. He refused as his assumption was if Draco wanted to write him, he would. Harry did at least promise to answer any letter that Draco did write.



Harry had convinced Remus that he wanted to visit a certain specialty shop in Muggle London before leaving for school, so it was during dinner when he arrived. Ron and Hermione were sitting in their usual places at the Gryffindor table while Draco sat with Blaise and Goyle among the Slytherin. The staff table was full as usual, and no one was the wiser when the cloaked figure walked in the double doors unescorted.



Harry reminded himself of a Jedi Knight, but knew it was the best option if he wanted to make an appearance. And an appearance he did. He walked across the hall until he was at the end of the Gryffindor table.



With a smile, he pulled his hood down to reveal a double lip piercing. He was rather proud of them, but not nearly as proud as the other four he had hidden beneath his clothes. He had black knee boots and leather pants that slung low on his hips. His shirt, a loose silk tucked in to complete the look.



Hermione and Ron were chatting happily just before she let out a shriek and he a shout. Harry was swept into hugs by his friends, grinning all the while.



He did not look across the room to see Draco. He felt the gray eyes upon him, however. When he turned to look in the general direction, he saw only the back of a blonde leave the Great Hall.



That was the last meal Draco would be in for as long as possible. Upon reaching his quarters, he threw himself on his bed, curled around a pillow and softly cried himself into a fitful sleep.



Harry watched the retreating figure. His friends watched him. Draco’s friends watched Draco. He wanted to chase after the man he could see himself with the rest of his life, but pride did not allow him to do this. Instead, he took a deep breath, exchanged looks with his friends and sat down to have some pudding.



“Harry, when did you get pierced?” Hermione asked with a little apprehension.



“I wanted them before I returned to school, Remus took me. Suggested that I get these in my mouth…”



Seamus walked up behind Harry, “They are dead sexy Harry. Welcome home.” A smile and wink later and Ron pinned Seamus against the wall.



“Do not ever flirt with him again. I will hurt you. Do you understand me?”



“Aye… are you a bit jealous?” Seamus asked with the hint of a grin.



Ron looked him straight in the eye, “He’s been through enough. He can’t handle a whore like you. If you do anything to hurt him…”



“RON!” Harry yelled. “I can handle anything I want to. Don’t do this, Mate. I’m okay, really.” He was a bit calmer when Ron let Seamus down.



“Ten points from Gryffindor! Never seen such a display in our own house!” Professor McGonagall roared at the pair. “And you! You will take those… rings out of your mouth this instant!”



“No. I don’t think so. I like them. Girls can wear earrings, why can’t I wear these?”



Spluttering, she did not have an answer. Harry knew he was in trouble, but he did have a point.





It was general chaos anywhere Harry went during the next few weeks. Draco ignored him in Charms class, always sat at the front of the class and did not once meet his gaze. It was driving Harry up the wall for Draco to not look at him. He was disruptive in class. He started fights in the halls between classes.



His only respite from general havoc wreaking was the library. He was in regular classes but would be assigned a tutor for each subject to learn what he had missed the first month and three weeks he had missed. He spent copious amounts of time in the library. His tutors ranging from Luna Lovegood to Hermione Granger, thrown in with Neville Longbottom and Justin Finch-Fletchly, spent hours teaching him what he had missed.



What he did not know was that Draco Malfoy was in the library every evening, waiting for the time he could watch Harry study. When there was no anger behind the green eyes. When there was no hatred when he looked across the Great Hall. When Harry looked like his Harry. Merlin! Draco missed being able to call him that: ‘His Harry.”



Weeks of stalking the brunette filled his sleep with details of Harry. Draco was losing his mind.



It wasn’t until the last Friday in November when things literally blew up to the point they could no longer be ignored.



Professor Dumbledore received a letter asking that Draco be allowed to come spend the holidays with the Zabinis. He sent Draco to get Zabini and return to his office to discuss whether Draco wished to accept the invitation. After all, Blaise and Draco had grown up together and were close friends.





Harry had been in Potions listening to Snape drawl on about something or other that he had not cared to listen to. Dozing lightly, he heard the door open. Hermione elbowed him to full consciousness. He looked at her and she motioned to the front of the class. Rolling his eyes, he turned to see Draco speaking with Snape.



He had not gotten to look at Draco properly since his return. Draco had gained a few pounds and generally looked happier than he had ever seen the man. It was when Snape called Blaise up with his things that Harry lost his cool completely.



Draco held a hand out to the other boy, who took it.



Draco gave him his best smile and Blaise returned it.



Draco and Blaise walked out of the class laughing and whispering.



The air began to move around the room with the closing of the door.



The potion ingredients began swirling.



Snape was yelling at everyone to get out.



He had been smart enough to leave the room as well.



The bricks, held together with mortar and magic, began to break apart, bit-by-bit. The room was empty except for Harry.



Harry’s eyes were closed in fury.



Harry Potter, the strongest magical being of the age, had lost his temper.



Harry Potter’s magic was out of control.



The professor’s desk slid away from its plinth, the students’ desks were pelted with bits of stone. Glass shattered. The ceiling fell in around him. It only took a few minutes, but the Potions Laboratory Classroom was completely destroyed.



Harry stood and walked out of the classroom. When he got to the Entrance Hall, he saw the crater that showed, clearly, what was left of the Potions Lab. Shrugging, Harry walked out into the sunlight.





He sat there for hours. By the tree he had first met with Draco the year before. He stared out across the water, the chill of the air ignored as he became lost in his memories. He broke down completely when he remembered the happiness Draco had shown toward Blaise. It wasn’t fair! Harry was supposed to be the one that made Draco happy! Not some sodding Slytherin! Harry.



No one approached him. No one came to talk to him. He knew he had pushed too far that time. He was truly alone. Just as this thought threatened to overwhelm him, Hedwig swooped down and gave him a letter.



Harry,



Your actions are unacceptable. They must be dealt with appropriately. You will meet me in the Room of Requirement at 2:00 this afternoon. Your punishment will depend on your actions during the first part of your entrance.”



Harry looked at his watch; it was 1:15 now.



Do not be late.



Until 2:00, -- Your Trainer.



Harry stood and walked back into the castle. The students milling around separated to allow him to pass. The floor was fixed, but roped off for good measure. Entering the Prefect’s Bathroom with a bounce in his step, he prepared his mind and body for the meeting.



At 1:58, he was in front of the door leading into the Room of Requirement. He shuddered with anticipation at the fact that he did not have classes the rest of the afternoon, or tomorrow. At precisely 2:00, he opened the door and entered.





It was not Draco that waited for him on the other side, it was Remus Lupin. He stood in a pair of black pants and a shirt. Nothing remotely erotic, but the set look on his face was one of fury.



Harry supposed he had been trying to get someone’s attention. He hadn’t realized that it would be Remus, but since this was the closest thing to a father figure he had left, he couldn’t be too shocked either.



Remus said as much as the door closed behind Harry. He had not done this in almost six months, and had hoped it was over. Albus had contacted him at his flat in Hogsmeade and asked that he come at once. Albus restored his memories, and he was told to get Harry’s attention by any means necessary. The headmaster also said, in no uncertain terms that, if Remus were unable or unwilling to assist, Harry would be expelled.



Coming out of his memories, Remus looked to see Harry had complied with a speed he had shown in the past. “Come to me and kneel.”



Harry walked, his head down in submission, until he was a few feet from the werewolf, then knelt; his knees shoulder width apart, his back straight, his hands clasp behind his back, his head bent at a thirty-degree angle. “So perfect, Harry. I’ve missed you.”



Harry’s mind was whirling. He had been to this room before, heard this voice, and lived this scene a thousand times before last summer. Coming to the realization within seconds, he gasped out loud.



Remus was his tormentor!



Remus, kind, gentle, loving, Remus was the man who had taught him submission!



And now,’ Harry realized, he is about to teach me a bit more!



But wait… why?



Why teach me anything?



The Contract has been broken.



Draco doesn't want me...



“Harry, look at me.” The teary green eyes moved from the feet, up the legs and torso into the brown eyes. “Now, it has come to my attention that you cannot seem to behave yourself since returning to school. Later tonight, you will list your offenses and then I will discipline you. I do not care why you did these things, but it must stop. If resuming your lessons with me is the only answer, so be it. But I have visited you twice, you have been called to Minerva’s office several times, I cannot even fathom how many detentions you have served or how many other students and staff have gone to the Hospital Wing for treatment because of your actions. Do you wish to say anything?”



Harry thought, clearly and carefully about what he had done. Then clearing his voice, he said, “Why? I mean…I… am sorry sir.”



“That’s it? Sorry? You destroyed the Potions Lab. Not made a mess, but literally destroyed part of the dungeon. What made you do such a thing?”



“Draco walked into the room.” Harry’s voice was small, but clear. He knew better than to mumble in this man’s presence.



Remus walked around the kneeling teen. He had no true right to do this to him, but was terrified that there would be no other way. “What does Draco have to do with your actions?”



“I love him. He threw me away. He gave me to his father. He didn’t want me, Sir.”



Remus nodded, even though Harry couldn’t see him. “Go on.”



“When I saw him, I knew I wanted him to look at me. Show me he still cared about me. But when he looked across the room, all I saw was indifference. It didn’t matter that I was there. I got no more attention than a bug on a leaf. His attention was toward Zabini. He looked so happy when he saw that git. I wanted him to look at me that way.”



“Why do you deserve his attention?”



“I don’t deserve anything from him.”



“Why do you want his attention?”



“Because when I was with him, I felt alive and whole. I haven’t felt that way since. I miss the feeling of being happy. I had never felt that way before and with him it was so easy. And now, I know that my feelings and happiness did not matter to him.”



Remus stared at the man on the floor. “You are excused. I am too disappointed in you right now to look at you.” Harry gawked at him. “You will get your emotions under control. Do as I say.”



Harry stood. “Your antics caused Draco to be sent to the Hospital Wing. He is there now. You will go to him and apologize for your actions. From there you are on ‘house arrest’. You will go to your dorm and remain there until I come to get you. If you choose not to, you will find yourself expelled from this school.”



“Sir, Remus, will you come get me?”



“I have been your trainer for seventeen years. I have never missed a scheduled session with you. I will always do as I say. Now, I have some things to mull over. Go do as you were told.”





And as the door closed behind him, Remus remembered that he had never missed a training session with Harry… ever. When Severus stepped out of the shadows, he held the man while he cried.