Harry Potter and The Secret Keeper (BP2)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
32,312
Reviews:
209
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
32,312
Reviews:
209
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
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.
Painful Memories
Chapter Number/Total: 29/44
Chapter Title: Painful Memories
Words: 4037 Words
Harry didn't hug Draco like he usually did when they Apparated, he simply held his arm. They had just left Grimmauld Place and Ron and Hermione, who Harry had convinced should stay at the house so that they could be as inconspicuous as possible. They were standing in front of the Hog's Head now and Harry pulled the hood of his black robes up, not wanting anyone to notice him.
Draco had his hood up and looked around quickly to see if anyone had seen them. He nodded and led way to the Hog's Head. He scowled at the distasteful sign.
Harry followed Draco inside and then made his way over to the bar and took a seat. He brought out two glasses that he had brought himself and laid them on the counter. The dodgy barman walked over to them and Harry kept his face down.
"What do you want?" the barman asked, not looking surprised that they had brought their own glasses.
"How about some mead for both of us and a little chat with you?" Harry said, voice low and quiet.
Draco stood just to the back and right of Harry, watching and waiting. He had scanned the room when they had gone in and hadn't see anyone he recognised.
Harry looked up just enough to be able to see the man.
The man narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Harry for a few seconds and then bent to get the mead. He filled the glasses and then looked back at Harry again. "What is it you would like to chat about?" he asked, his voice low as well.
As Harry looked at him, he got the feeling, like he had before, that there was something familiar about the man. "I want to talk to you about Mundungus Fletcher," he said, his face still low enough that the man couldn't see him.
Draco frowned; he knew that voice. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought through the images in his mind. So many new ones that it was hard to figure out. Finally he said, "Abe?" That was the name in the memory, of the boy speaking with Dumbledore.
Harry frowned and resisted turning around to look at Draco, but the man's head snapped in Draco's direction.
"Who are you?" he asked, still quiet.
Harry finally lifted his head. "Abe," if that was his name, looked at Harry with slightly widened eyes.
"Your brother's allies," Draco said quietly.
Harry did look at Draco now. Had he just said brother's allies? Who's brother?
"I thought you might be coming down here eventually," Abe said. "Perhaps we should take this in the back?"
Harry thought for a moment, still slightly confused but trying his best not to show it. He nodded.
Abe gestured with his head for Harry and Draco to follow him into the back room behind the bar.
Harry stood and did just that.
Draco followed them both into the room. When the barkeep closed and locked the door, Draco let his hood fall back.
Harry let his hood down as well and stood waiting for the man to talk.
"How did you know?" the man asked Draco, eyebrow raised.
"The Order," Draco said, leaning against the door.
"You're Malfoy," the man said. "The new secret keeper. You know because of the memories, don't you? I have to presume that the spell worked."
"Yes, it did," Draco said calmly. "And you gave me the oldest memory. The one of him as a child."
"You're Dumbledore's brother?" Harry asked suddenly.
The man simply looked at Harry. "You're here for Horcruxes," he said, voice nearly a whisper. It wasn't a question.
Harry's eyes widened. "Is he part of the Order?" he asked Draco.
Draco nodded to the both of them.
Harry looked at the man that had to be Aberforth Dumbledore. "He told you about them?" he asked.
"Yes," Aberforth said simply.
"We're here for a Horcrux. We thought it possible that you might have it. I saw Mundungus Fletcher talking to you in Hogsmeade a while back. He had stolen things from Gr- Gr-" Harry sighed. "Tell him the secret, please, Draco."
Draco snorted. "He stole things from the Order's safe house," Draco said. "Do you still have them?"
Aberforth raised an eyebrow. "Yes. And I know that the locket is a Horcrux."
"Do you have it?" Harry asked quickly.
Aberforth looked at him again for a moment, but then nodded.
Harry sucked in a breath. "Where is it? Do you know how to destroy it?"
"It is safe and before I give it to you, I believe we need to talk."
Draco sighed. "You know what they are and why he needs them. If you need to talk, talk."
Aberforth smiled at Draco and Harry was so reminded of Dumbledore in that moment, it took his breath away.
"I know about the Horcruxes, but not nearly as much about them as Severus Snape does."
"Snape knows about them?" Harry asked. "Snape! Then Voldemort will surely know that I know about them!" Harry said it all in a furious whisper.
"You know where he is," Draco said. It was not a question either.
"Yes, I know where he is, and no, Voldemort does not know that anyone knows about the Horcruxes."
Harry was confused. "I don't understand," he said slowly. "Why do you know where Snape is if you're in the Order, and why wouldn't Voldemort know about the Horcruxes if Snape knows?"
"Severus Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, but he is loyal to the Order."
Harry glared. "What are you playing at?" he said angrily.
Draco stepped forward, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Listen to him." He looked at Aberforth. "Explain it."
"The whole thing was a plan," Aberforth said seriously. "Albus planned for Snape to kill him. There was an Unbreakable Vow made between Snape and your mother," he said to Draco. "Snape was left with no choice and he had to take the Vow. He was to protect you, and to finish your task if you could not complete it."
Harry listened, still glaring, but Draco's hands calmed him.
"Snape came to Albus and told him what had happened. Albus knew that he didn't want you to become a murderer and he knew that he would have to die for Severus to remain alive and the key spy for the Order. That was his plan. Snape was to kill him at the end of the year - once he had finished explaining to you, Harry, about Horcruxes."
"But I decided not to do it and threw their plans off schedule," Draco said. "That's why Snape was so mad at me."
"Yes," said Aberforth. "Your relationship with Harry was not anticipated."
"Are you lying?" Harry asked.
"I am not lying."
"How can I believe you? Snape killed him; I saw it. I saw the look on his face."
"I assure you it was planned."
"Because he was already dying," Draco said. He frowned, concentrating. "You put Snape's memory in with the other's didn't you?"
"He insisted. He wanted the spell to be as strong as it could be. To be as effective as possible."
"You have contact with him?" Harry asked.
"Yes," said Aberforth.
Draco swayed on his feet for a moment as the memory hit him full force. Dumbledore's face explaining it all to "Severus."
"Are you all right there, boy?" Aberforth asked, looking at Draco.
Harry turned. "Draco?" he asked, laying a hand on him to steady him.
Draco blinked, becoming aware of the room again. He nodded. "Take us to him," he said, "or bring him here."
Harry's eyes widened.
"It would not be safe to bring him here. I would need to take you to him," said Aberforth.
"Now?" Harry asked Draco incredulously.
Draco looked back at Aberforth. "Do you have the locket?"
"Snape has it," said Aberforth.
"Snape has the damn Horcrux?!" Harry asked, still unable to truly believe that the man who had killed Albus Dumbledore with such hatred on his face was on his side.
"Figures," Draco said, sighing.
"It was much safer with him then it would have been here in this pub," said Aberforth quietly.
"Why didn't you give it to me? Why didn't you give it to Dumbledore?" Harry asked, angry again.
"I did not get the locket on that day that you seen me speaking with Mundungus. It was not until later and then even later when I even realised I had it. By that time, it was too late to take it to Albus, and I didn't give it to you because you had to know the truth about Snape and this is the only way."
Draco nodded. "So he is expecting us."
"He knew that eventually you would be coming. He is actually rather annoyed, I believe, that you hadn't come yet," said Aberforth.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" asked Harry.
"Ask him," said Aberforth, pointing to Draco. "He has the memory."
Harry looked at Draco.
"Give us a minute," Draco told Aberforth.
Aberforth nodded.
"Alone," Draco added.
"Very well, but you should make it quick. This place has been known to hold spies," Aberforth said, and he walked out of the room quickly, with long strides that reminded Harry of Dumbledore with a shudder.
When the door closed, Draco turned to Harry. "I have a memory of Dumbledore telling Snape about the progression of his condition and that it would kill him by Summer Solstice."
Harry looked at Draco seriously. "Do you believe this then?" he asked. "Do we take his word and go to Snape?"
"The memory feels real," Draco said cautiously, "but that isn't a guarantee. I could go alone."
"No," Harry said firmly. "Absolutely not."
Draco brought a hand up to cup Harry's face. "He wouldn't hurt me," he said. "I know it."
"How do you know?" Harry asked, his eyebrows pulled together.
"Besides the fact that he is my Godfather and therefore sworn to my protection," Draco explained, "he also took an Unbreakable Vow to protect me."
Harry was still unwilling to let Draco go alone. "But - what if - what if he -" he couldn't think of anything to say against that.
"What if?" Draco raised an eyebrow. "He came to get you to save me when he didn't have to. Remember."
Harry sighed. "I can't explain it. I would probably have a nervous breakdown if I let you go alone."
Draco took a deep breathe and nodded. "So this isn't about Snape," he said. "This about not wanting me to go anywhere without you."
"I'm afraid, Draco," Harry said, still frowning. "I'm afraid that something will happen to you. Merlin, if something does happen to you ..." He sighed again and looked at the floor.
Draco slid his hand under Harry's chin and tipped it up, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "Then we go together?" he asked.
"I want to go together. I don't think you're an idiot, I don't think you're incapable of doing things yourself, I just - I just want to make sure you're okay. You don't want me to fight Voldemort alone," Harry said quietly.
"By your side, Harry." Draco nodded.
Harry nodded too. "Do we go today then?"
"I think we have to, don't we?" Draco asked.
"I think we should," said Harry. "We have to get this done and this is the only lead we have."
Draco kissed him quickly and went to the door to signal Aberforth. "We're ready," he said when the man came back in.
"Have you decided if you are going to see Snape?" Aberforth asked.
"We'll go," said Harry.
Aberforth nodded. "Good," he said seriously. "I will need to Apparate you there separately."
"That's fine," said Harry. "I'll go first."
"No," Draco said, "Let me at least go first."
Harry closed his eyes and after a few long moments, he nodded. "All right," he said quietly.
Aberforth moved towards Draco. "We'll go straight from this room. No one will know either one of you have left."
Draco nodded, squeezing Harry's hand with his before stepping forward.
Aberforth took Draco's arm and nodded to Harry before Apparating them both to a heavily wooded area that was very possibly in the Forbidden Forest. They were standing outside what looked like a very large boulder, and Aberforth strode forward and carefully prodded a few key places with his wand. It was about a minute before Snape Apparated with a quiet crack, standing outside the boulder.
"Took you long enough," Snape snapped. The man looked Draco up and down, frowning at the construct hand.
Draco nodded. "Here now."
Aberforth looked between them before Disapparating without a word to get Harry. He was back with him in seconds.
Harry moved toward Draco quickly, glaring at Snape defensively.
Snape glared back, but nodded to Aberforth.
"We should take this inside," said Aberforth pointedly, looking around him.
"You Apparate Potter," Snape said, walking forward to take Draco's arm.
Aberforth nodded and took Harry's arm again. Suddenly, the four of them were standing in the familiar room with no windows or doors. The room where Harry had cut Draco's arm off. He shivered at the memory.
Draco's eyes widened, and he would swear his energy hand hurt suddenly. The construct hand clenched in response and his right hand nearly pulled out his wand before he stopped himself.
Snape snorted and walked over to the table area where he pulled out a chair and sat down, obviously waiting for the others.
Aberforth moved to sit down as well, but Harry remained standing. "I thought you said only you could come or go here," he said to Snape.
"I lied," Snape said with a sneer and sat back, waiting for the fit of temper.
Draco rolled his eyes and took a step closer to Harry.
Harry glared, but surprisingly held back from shouting. "Where's the locket?" he asked, voice hard.
Draco shook his head, sighing. He reached for Harry's hand. "I want more than the locket," he said. "I want answers."
Snape grimaced and gestured to the empty chairs again.
Harry sighed heavily and took Draco's hand. He went over to the table and sat across from Aberforth, leaving the chair across from Snape open for Draco.
Draco sat down but didn't let go of Harry's hand. He found himself looking around the room, wondering, oddly enough, what Snape had done with his arm.
"Talk then," said Harry to Snape. "What's going on? Why did you kill Dumbledore?"
"You already know why," Snape said, gesturing to Draco. "Your new secret keeper can tell you that."
"Did he plan it?" Harry asked. "Did he tell you to kill him?"
"Yes. He was dying," Snape snapped, sounding annoyed. "He thought it was a way to save Mr Malfoy here and ensure the Dark Lord's trust in me. We didn't plan on ... your interference."
Draco smiled. His mind was now full of so many memories of Albus Dumbledore that he no longer had trouble believing this. It made sense. He found himself thinking again of that night on the tower and what the old man had tried to tell him.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment. "That's why he gave you the Defence job finally. It's cursed and he knew you would be gone by the end of the year.” Everything was clicking into place now. The conversation that Hagrid had overheard, the job, Snape weeping that night in this very room.
"Yesss," Snape hissed. "He couldn't deal with the Horcruxes himself, so he needed you. And the Dark Lord was becoming suspicious of me."
Draco nodded. "It's why you treated me like that," he said. "Because you couldn't be seen to approve of what we had done."
"I don't approve of what he has done to you," Snape snapped at him, scowling.
Harry glared again. "I haven't done anything to him," he spat.
Snape stood abruptly and paced away from the table, his face contorted in anger. "You never take responsibility do you? Just like your father!" He turned narrowed eyes back on Harry. "Did I not sit here and listen to you rape my Godson?"
Draco sucked in a breath, his hand tightening on Harry's and his face flushing.
Harry's face reddened with anger. "I did not rape him," he said voice shaking. His eyes actually brimmed with tears at such a suggestion.
"He told you no and you did it anyway!" Snape yelled. “And damn me, I let you!"
Draco was shaking, so stunned he had no idea what to say.
A tear fell from Harry's eye. Had he raped Draco? He felt sick at the thought. "I - if I hadn't he would have ... he would have died," Harry said, voice shaking even more violently now.
"Yes, I know," Snape sneered, "because you made it that way, didn't you? You turned him into your own personal sex slave. He has to allow you to do whatever you want to him or he dies."
Draco face was flushed and he was trembling. "No, it's not like that," he whispered.
Snape whirled toward him. "You are so enthralled with him; how would you know?"
Harry's entire body was shaking. Damn Snape for always making him feel inadequate, always making him feel like a fool, like a child. "I would never hurt him," he said, voice cracking. "I would die before I ever hurt him. We've been trying to find a way to dissolve that part of the bond." He didn't know why he needed Snape to know how he felt about Draco, but he did, badly.
"Let me ask you a question, Mr Potter." Snape leaned both hands on the table, facing Harry. "Did he say he loved you before or after he became your slave?"
Draco stood up quickly, facing Snape. "It's not like that!"
Harry dropped his head into his hands, trembling, tears falling freely from his eyes. "Please stop," he whispered, probably inaudibly.
Draco drew his wand, facing his Godfather. "Stop it! You have no right!"
Snape stood again, turning back toward Draco. "I had every right. And so did you. But now you have none!"
"If you cared so much about my rights," Draco hissed, "why didn't you stop Father when you knew what he was doing to me? And what he had planned for me?"
Harry looked up at Draco's tone and saw his drawn wand. He got to his feet, tears still falling, and stood so that he could help Draco if needed. He kept his eyes opened and focused on Snape, his hand over his pocket where his wand was hidden.
Snape did not draw his wand, but turned, striding away from the table to stand facing the wall, his whole body shaking.
"Don't have a quick answer for that, do you?" Draco sneered. "You and Dumbledore played us like pieces in a chess game. Only we didn't follow the rules."
Harry let out a gasping breath at Draco's words and closed his eyes. "I didn't come here for this," he said furiously. "If you are on the Order's side, on my side, then fine. Tell me what you know about Horcruxes, and you won't have to deal with us ever again, since you've never been able to stand the sight of me because of something my father did, and since you can't get past the thought that maybe, just maybe, your Godson loves me of his own free will."
Draco's body was taut and he felt like he wanted to hurt someone, preferably Snape. But he lowered his wand, looking between Harry and his Godfather.
Aberforth was watching the whole scene with wise blue eyes, silent. "Severus," he said quietly, calmly, and Harry almost broke down crying again at how much he sounded like Dumbledore.
“Yes, I suppose we should get back to business," Snape drawled and turned around.
Harry wanted to cling to Draco, wanted to make sure that he hadn't raped him, that Draco did love him. He stared blankly at the table and slowly took his seat again.
When Harry sat down, Draco took a deep breath and, eyeing his Godfather suspiciously, put his wand away and sat down again.
Snape walked over to the table and laid the locket in the centre of the wooden surface. "Are you any closer to figuring out how to destroy it?" he asked.
Harry stared at the locket and shook his head. "We don't know how to - or at least I don't. Draco and Hermione have been doing most of the research." His voice was very monotone. He didn't want to show Snape any emotion. Fuck him.
Draco reached his hand under the table, groping for Harry's hand. He nodded at what Harry said, "We were busy with the Fidelius research. Now that that is done, we will focus on this problem."
Harry closed his eyes for half a second when Draco found his hand and he clenched it tightly. "What has Dumbledore told you about the Horcruxes? Do you know anything more than I do?" he asked Snape.
Snape snorted at the question. "There are a great many things I know a lot more about than you, Mr Potter," he said with a sneer. "For today, I think we shall leave it at that. Figure out how to destroy this thing and it might be worth more lives to find the others."
Harry had to keep himself from pulling his wand on the man and from screaming, "Fuck you." He simply nodded. "Will you be here when we have found out how to destroy it?"
"Contact Abe." He gestured to the other man. "He will know how to reach me."
"Yes, just come to the pub," said Aberforth.
Harry nodded again. "Take us back," he said.
Snape had never sat down again, and he stepped beside Draco and reached for his arm. Draco flinched but didn't pull away. Snape Apparated them both back to beside the rock.
Harry grabbed the heavy locket from the table and put it safely in his inside robe pocket. He turned to Aberforth then and offered his arm.
Aberforth Apparated them both to outside the rock as well. "You could both simply Apparate from here to home, but it might be wise for you to return to the pub and let the people there see that you have left," he said.
Harry turned to Draco, ignoring Snape. "Do you think you can do it?" he asked quietly, needing so badly to hold him.
Draco pulled his arm from Snape's grasp, since the man had not let go. He glanced at him but didn't say anything more to his Godfather. "I believe so," he answered, then to Aberforth, "If the wards on the place will allow it."
"There are no wards," Aberforth said. "It would be too suspicious to have them with the types of people I get there and the type of man most people take me to be."
Draco stepped to Harry's side, sliding an arm around his waist and Apparating them back to the backroom at the Hog's Head without another word to either of the other men.
Harry hugged Draco tightly, but only for a moment, for Aberforth was there just a minute later, looking oddly enough a bit ... sad?
"Thank you for the help," Harry said quietly, pulling his hood back up. "We'll get back to you when we can."
Aberforth nodded. "Take care of yourselves," he said, holding out his hand.
Harry stepped forward and shook it.
Aberforth looked at Harry pointedly for a few seconds. "Don't do anything foolish," he said. "Focus on the task at hand."
Harry nodded.
Draco nodded to the man, looking at him strangely for a minute, remembering the images in his memory. Then he put his hood up and turned to Harry. "Let's go home."
Harry dropped his head down and headed out of the door, not looking at anyone in the main room. He went straight outside and then took a deep breath, his eyes closed.
Chapter Title: Painful Memories
Words: 4037 Words
Harry didn't hug Draco like he usually did when they Apparated, he simply held his arm. They had just left Grimmauld Place and Ron and Hermione, who Harry had convinced should stay at the house so that they could be as inconspicuous as possible. They were standing in front of the Hog's Head now and Harry pulled the hood of his black robes up, not wanting anyone to notice him.
Draco had his hood up and looked around quickly to see if anyone had seen them. He nodded and led way to the Hog's Head. He scowled at the distasteful sign.
Harry followed Draco inside and then made his way over to the bar and took a seat. He brought out two glasses that he had brought himself and laid them on the counter. The dodgy barman walked over to them and Harry kept his face down.
"What do you want?" the barman asked, not looking surprised that they had brought their own glasses.
"How about some mead for both of us and a little chat with you?" Harry said, voice low and quiet.
Draco stood just to the back and right of Harry, watching and waiting. He had scanned the room when they had gone in and hadn't see anyone he recognised.
Harry looked up just enough to be able to see the man.
The man narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Harry for a few seconds and then bent to get the mead. He filled the glasses and then looked back at Harry again. "What is it you would like to chat about?" he asked, his voice low as well.
As Harry looked at him, he got the feeling, like he had before, that there was something familiar about the man. "I want to talk to you about Mundungus Fletcher," he said, his face still low enough that the man couldn't see him.
Draco frowned; he knew that voice. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought through the images in his mind. So many new ones that it was hard to figure out. Finally he said, "Abe?" That was the name in the memory, of the boy speaking with Dumbledore.
Harry frowned and resisted turning around to look at Draco, but the man's head snapped in Draco's direction.
"Who are you?" he asked, still quiet.
Harry finally lifted his head. "Abe," if that was his name, looked at Harry with slightly widened eyes.
"Your brother's allies," Draco said quietly.
Harry did look at Draco now. Had he just said brother's allies? Who's brother?
"I thought you might be coming down here eventually," Abe said. "Perhaps we should take this in the back?"
Harry thought for a moment, still slightly confused but trying his best not to show it. He nodded.
Abe gestured with his head for Harry and Draco to follow him into the back room behind the bar.
Harry stood and did just that.
Draco followed them both into the room. When the barkeep closed and locked the door, Draco let his hood fall back.
Harry let his hood down as well and stood waiting for the man to talk.
"How did you know?" the man asked Draco, eyebrow raised.
"The Order," Draco said, leaning against the door.
"You're Malfoy," the man said. "The new secret keeper. You know because of the memories, don't you? I have to presume that the spell worked."
"Yes, it did," Draco said calmly. "And you gave me the oldest memory. The one of him as a child."
"You're Dumbledore's brother?" Harry asked suddenly.
The man simply looked at Harry. "You're here for Horcruxes," he said, voice nearly a whisper. It wasn't a question.
Harry's eyes widened. "Is he part of the Order?" he asked Draco.
Draco nodded to the both of them.
Harry looked at the man that had to be Aberforth Dumbledore. "He told you about them?" he asked.
"Yes," Aberforth said simply.
"We're here for a Horcrux. We thought it possible that you might have it. I saw Mundungus Fletcher talking to you in Hogsmeade a while back. He had stolen things from Gr- Gr-" Harry sighed. "Tell him the secret, please, Draco."
Draco snorted. "He stole things from the Order's safe house," Draco said. "Do you still have them?"
Aberforth raised an eyebrow. "Yes. And I know that the locket is a Horcrux."
"Do you have it?" Harry asked quickly.
Aberforth looked at him again for a moment, but then nodded.
Harry sucked in a breath. "Where is it? Do you know how to destroy it?"
"It is safe and before I give it to you, I believe we need to talk."
Draco sighed. "You know what they are and why he needs them. If you need to talk, talk."
Aberforth smiled at Draco and Harry was so reminded of Dumbledore in that moment, it took his breath away.
"I know about the Horcruxes, but not nearly as much about them as Severus Snape does."
"Snape knows about them?" Harry asked. "Snape! Then Voldemort will surely know that I know about them!" Harry said it all in a furious whisper.
"You know where he is," Draco said. It was not a question either.
"Yes, I know where he is, and no, Voldemort does not know that anyone knows about the Horcruxes."
Harry was confused. "I don't understand," he said slowly. "Why do you know where Snape is if you're in the Order, and why wouldn't Voldemort know about the Horcruxes if Snape knows?"
"Severus Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, but he is loyal to the Order."
Harry glared. "What are you playing at?" he said angrily.
Draco stepped forward, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Listen to him." He looked at Aberforth. "Explain it."
"The whole thing was a plan," Aberforth said seriously. "Albus planned for Snape to kill him. There was an Unbreakable Vow made between Snape and your mother," he said to Draco. "Snape was left with no choice and he had to take the Vow. He was to protect you, and to finish your task if you could not complete it."
Harry listened, still glaring, but Draco's hands calmed him.
"Snape came to Albus and told him what had happened. Albus knew that he didn't want you to become a murderer and he knew that he would have to die for Severus to remain alive and the key spy for the Order. That was his plan. Snape was to kill him at the end of the year - once he had finished explaining to you, Harry, about Horcruxes."
"But I decided not to do it and threw their plans off schedule," Draco said. "That's why Snape was so mad at me."
"Yes," said Aberforth. "Your relationship with Harry was not anticipated."
"Are you lying?" Harry asked.
"I am not lying."
"How can I believe you? Snape killed him; I saw it. I saw the look on his face."
"I assure you it was planned."
"Because he was already dying," Draco said. He frowned, concentrating. "You put Snape's memory in with the other's didn't you?"
"He insisted. He wanted the spell to be as strong as it could be. To be as effective as possible."
"You have contact with him?" Harry asked.
"Yes," said Aberforth.
Draco swayed on his feet for a moment as the memory hit him full force. Dumbledore's face explaining it all to "Severus."
"Are you all right there, boy?" Aberforth asked, looking at Draco.
Harry turned. "Draco?" he asked, laying a hand on him to steady him.
Draco blinked, becoming aware of the room again. He nodded. "Take us to him," he said, "or bring him here."
Harry's eyes widened.
"It would not be safe to bring him here. I would need to take you to him," said Aberforth.
"Now?" Harry asked Draco incredulously.
Draco looked back at Aberforth. "Do you have the locket?"
"Snape has it," said Aberforth.
"Snape has the damn Horcrux?!" Harry asked, still unable to truly believe that the man who had killed Albus Dumbledore with such hatred on his face was on his side.
"Figures," Draco said, sighing.
"It was much safer with him then it would have been here in this pub," said Aberforth quietly.
"Why didn't you give it to me? Why didn't you give it to Dumbledore?" Harry asked, angry again.
"I did not get the locket on that day that you seen me speaking with Mundungus. It was not until later and then even later when I even realised I had it. By that time, it was too late to take it to Albus, and I didn't give it to you because you had to know the truth about Snape and this is the only way."
Draco nodded. "So he is expecting us."
"He knew that eventually you would be coming. He is actually rather annoyed, I believe, that you hadn't come yet," said Aberforth.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" asked Harry.
"Ask him," said Aberforth, pointing to Draco. "He has the memory."
Harry looked at Draco.
"Give us a minute," Draco told Aberforth.
Aberforth nodded.
"Alone," Draco added.
"Very well, but you should make it quick. This place has been known to hold spies," Aberforth said, and he walked out of the room quickly, with long strides that reminded Harry of Dumbledore with a shudder.
When the door closed, Draco turned to Harry. "I have a memory of Dumbledore telling Snape about the progression of his condition and that it would kill him by Summer Solstice."
Harry looked at Draco seriously. "Do you believe this then?" he asked. "Do we take his word and go to Snape?"
"The memory feels real," Draco said cautiously, "but that isn't a guarantee. I could go alone."
"No," Harry said firmly. "Absolutely not."
Draco brought a hand up to cup Harry's face. "He wouldn't hurt me," he said. "I know it."
"How do you know?" Harry asked, his eyebrows pulled together.
"Besides the fact that he is my Godfather and therefore sworn to my protection," Draco explained, "he also took an Unbreakable Vow to protect me."
Harry was still unwilling to let Draco go alone. "But - what if - what if he -" he couldn't think of anything to say against that.
"What if?" Draco raised an eyebrow. "He came to get you to save me when he didn't have to. Remember."
Harry sighed. "I can't explain it. I would probably have a nervous breakdown if I let you go alone."
Draco took a deep breathe and nodded. "So this isn't about Snape," he said. "This about not wanting me to go anywhere without you."
"I'm afraid, Draco," Harry said, still frowning. "I'm afraid that something will happen to you. Merlin, if something does happen to you ..." He sighed again and looked at the floor.
Draco slid his hand under Harry's chin and tipped it up, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "Then we go together?" he asked.
"I want to go together. I don't think you're an idiot, I don't think you're incapable of doing things yourself, I just - I just want to make sure you're okay. You don't want me to fight Voldemort alone," Harry said quietly.
"By your side, Harry." Draco nodded.
Harry nodded too. "Do we go today then?"
"I think we have to, don't we?" Draco asked.
"I think we should," said Harry. "We have to get this done and this is the only lead we have."
Draco kissed him quickly and went to the door to signal Aberforth. "We're ready," he said when the man came back in.
"Have you decided if you are going to see Snape?" Aberforth asked.
"We'll go," said Harry.
Aberforth nodded. "Good," he said seriously. "I will need to Apparate you there separately."
"That's fine," said Harry. "I'll go first."
"No," Draco said, "Let me at least go first."
Harry closed his eyes and after a few long moments, he nodded. "All right," he said quietly.
Aberforth moved towards Draco. "We'll go straight from this room. No one will know either one of you have left."
Draco nodded, squeezing Harry's hand with his before stepping forward.
Aberforth took Draco's arm and nodded to Harry before Apparating them both to a heavily wooded area that was very possibly in the Forbidden Forest. They were standing outside what looked like a very large boulder, and Aberforth strode forward and carefully prodded a few key places with his wand. It was about a minute before Snape Apparated with a quiet crack, standing outside the boulder.
"Took you long enough," Snape snapped. The man looked Draco up and down, frowning at the construct hand.
Draco nodded. "Here now."
Aberforth looked between them before Disapparating without a word to get Harry. He was back with him in seconds.
Harry moved toward Draco quickly, glaring at Snape defensively.
Snape glared back, but nodded to Aberforth.
"We should take this inside," said Aberforth pointedly, looking around him.
"You Apparate Potter," Snape said, walking forward to take Draco's arm.
Aberforth nodded and took Harry's arm again. Suddenly, the four of them were standing in the familiar room with no windows or doors. The room where Harry had cut Draco's arm off. He shivered at the memory.
Draco's eyes widened, and he would swear his energy hand hurt suddenly. The construct hand clenched in response and his right hand nearly pulled out his wand before he stopped himself.
Snape snorted and walked over to the table area where he pulled out a chair and sat down, obviously waiting for the others.
Aberforth moved to sit down as well, but Harry remained standing. "I thought you said only you could come or go here," he said to Snape.
"I lied," Snape said with a sneer and sat back, waiting for the fit of temper.
Draco rolled his eyes and took a step closer to Harry.
Harry glared, but surprisingly held back from shouting. "Where's the locket?" he asked, voice hard.
Draco shook his head, sighing. He reached for Harry's hand. "I want more than the locket," he said. "I want answers."
Snape grimaced and gestured to the empty chairs again.
Harry sighed heavily and took Draco's hand. He went over to the table and sat across from Aberforth, leaving the chair across from Snape open for Draco.
Draco sat down but didn't let go of Harry's hand. He found himself looking around the room, wondering, oddly enough, what Snape had done with his arm.
"Talk then," said Harry to Snape. "What's going on? Why did you kill Dumbledore?"
"You already know why," Snape said, gesturing to Draco. "Your new secret keeper can tell you that."
"Did he plan it?" Harry asked. "Did he tell you to kill him?"
"Yes. He was dying," Snape snapped, sounding annoyed. "He thought it was a way to save Mr Malfoy here and ensure the Dark Lord's trust in me. We didn't plan on ... your interference."
Draco smiled. His mind was now full of so many memories of Albus Dumbledore that he no longer had trouble believing this. It made sense. He found himself thinking again of that night on the tower and what the old man had tried to tell him.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment. "That's why he gave you the Defence job finally. It's cursed and he knew you would be gone by the end of the year.” Everything was clicking into place now. The conversation that Hagrid had overheard, the job, Snape weeping that night in this very room.
"Yesss," Snape hissed. "He couldn't deal with the Horcruxes himself, so he needed you. And the Dark Lord was becoming suspicious of me."
Draco nodded. "It's why you treated me like that," he said. "Because you couldn't be seen to approve of what we had done."
"I don't approve of what he has done to you," Snape snapped at him, scowling.
Harry glared again. "I haven't done anything to him," he spat.
Snape stood abruptly and paced away from the table, his face contorted in anger. "You never take responsibility do you? Just like your father!" He turned narrowed eyes back on Harry. "Did I not sit here and listen to you rape my Godson?"
Draco sucked in a breath, his hand tightening on Harry's and his face flushing.
Harry's face reddened with anger. "I did not rape him," he said voice shaking. His eyes actually brimmed with tears at such a suggestion.
"He told you no and you did it anyway!" Snape yelled. “And damn me, I let you!"
Draco was shaking, so stunned he had no idea what to say.
A tear fell from Harry's eye. Had he raped Draco? He felt sick at the thought. "I - if I hadn't he would have ... he would have died," Harry said, voice shaking even more violently now.
"Yes, I know," Snape sneered, "because you made it that way, didn't you? You turned him into your own personal sex slave. He has to allow you to do whatever you want to him or he dies."
Draco face was flushed and he was trembling. "No, it's not like that," he whispered.
Snape whirled toward him. "You are so enthralled with him; how would you know?"
Harry's entire body was shaking. Damn Snape for always making him feel inadequate, always making him feel like a fool, like a child. "I would never hurt him," he said, voice cracking. "I would die before I ever hurt him. We've been trying to find a way to dissolve that part of the bond." He didn't know why he needed Snape to know how he felt about Draco, but he did, badly.
"Let me ask you a question, Mr Potter." Snape leaned both hands on the table, facing Harry. "Did he say he loved you before or after he became your slave?"
Draco stood up quickly, facing Snape. "It's not like that!"
Harry dropped his head into his hands, trembling, tears falling freely from his eyes. "Please stop," he whispered, probably inaudibly.
Draco drew his wand, facing his Godfather. "Stop it! You have no right!"
Snape stood again, turning back toward Draco. "I had every right. And so did you. But now you have none!"
"If you cared so much about my rights," Draco hissed, "why didn't you stop Father when you knew what he was doing to me? And what he had planned for me?"
Harry looked up at Draco's tone and saw his drawn wand. He got to his feet, tears still falling, and stood so that he could help Draco if needed. He kept his eyes opened and focused on Snape, his hand over his pocket where his wand was hidden.
Snape did not draw his wand, but turned, striding away from the table to stand facing the wall, his whole body shaking.
"Don't have a quick answer for that, do you?" Draco sneered. "You and Dumbledore played us like pieces in a chess game. Only we didn't follow the rules."
Harry let out a gasping breath at Draco's words and closed his eyes. "I didn't come here for this," he said furiously. "If you are on the Order's side, on my side, then fine. Tell me what you know about Horcruxes, and you won't have to deal with us ever again, since you've never been able to stand the sight of me because of something my father did, and since you can't get past the thought that maybe, just maybe, your Godson loves me of his own free will."
Draco's body was taut and he felt like he wanted to hurt someone, preferably Snape. But he lowered his wand, looking between Harry and his Godfather.
Aberforth was watching the whole scene with wise blue eyes, silent. "Severus," he said quietly, calmly, and Harry almost broke down crying again at how much he sounded like Dumbledore.
“Yes, I suppose we should get back to business," Snape drawled and turned around.
Harry wanted to cling to Draco, wanted to make sure that he hadn't raped him, that Draco did love him. He stared blankly at the table and slowly took his seat again.
When Harry sat down, Draco took a deep breath and, eyeing his Godfather suspiciously, put his wand away and sat down again.
Snape walked over to the table and laid the locket in the centre of the wooden surface. "Are you any closer to figuring out how to destroy it?" he asked.
Harry stared at the locket and shook his head. "We don't know how to - or at least I don't. Draco and Hermione have been doing most of the research." His voice was very monotone. He didn't want to show Snape any emotion. Fuck him.
Draco reached his hand under the table, groping for Harry's hand. He nodded at what Harry said, "We were busy with the Fidelius research. Now that that is done, we will focus on this problem."
Harry closed his eyes for half a second when Draco found his hand and he clenched it tightly. "What has Dumbledore told you about the Horcruxes? Do you know anything more than I do?" he asked Snape.
Snape snorted at the question. "There are a great many things I know a lot more about than you, Mr Potter," he said with a sneer. "For today, I think we shall leave it at that. Figure out how to destroy this thing and it might be worth more lives to find the others."
Harry had to keep himself from pulling his wand on the man and from screaming, "Fuck you." He simply nodded. "Will you be here when we have found out how to destroy it?"
"Contact Abe." He gestured to the other man. "He will know how to reach me."
"Yes, just come to the pub," said Aberforth.
Harry nodded again. "Take us back," he said.
Snape had never sat down again, and he stepped beside Draco and reached for his arm. Draco flinched but didn't pull away. Snape Apparated them both back to beside the rock.
Harry grabbed the heavy locket from the table and put it safely in his inside robe pocket. He turned to Aberforth then and offered his arm.
Aberforth Apparated them both to outside the rock as well. "You could both simply Apparate from here to home, but it might be wise for you to return to the pub and let the people there see that you have left," he said.
Harry turned to Draco, ignoring Snape. "Do you think you can do it?" he asked quietly, needing so badly to hold him.
Draco pulled his arm from Snape's grasp, since the man had not let go. He glanced at him but didn't say anything more to his Godfather. "I believe so," he answered, then to Aberforth, "If the wards on the place will allow it."
"There are no wards," Aberforth said. "It would be too suspicious to have them with the types of people I get there and the type of man most people take me to be."
Draco stepped to Harry's side, sliding an arm around his waist and Apparating them back to the backroom at the Hog's Head without another word to either of the other men.
Harry hugged Draco tightly, but only for a moment, for Aberforth was there just a minute later, looking oddly enough a bit ... sad?
"Thank you for the help," Harry said quietly, pulling his hood back up. "We'll get back to you when we can."
Aberforth nodded. "Take care of yourselves," he said, holding out his hand.
Harry stepped forward and shook it.
Aberforth looked at Harry pointedly for a few seconds. "Don't do anything foolish," he said. "Focus on the task at hand."
Harry nodded.
Draco nodded to the man, looking at him strangely for a minute, remembering the images in his memory. Then he put his hood up and turned to Harry. "Let's go home."
Harry dropped his head down and headed out of the door, not looking at anyone in the main room. He went straight outside and then took a deep breath, his eyes closed.