The Slave

New chapter!! Yay! Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers, I love you all!

Chapter Three: Confessions
Chapter Warnings: Ron being a douche, no smut (sorry)
Disclaimer: I don’t own it! Please don’t hurt me!!

Two weeks. Two weeks! It had been two whole weeks since Harry got time alone with Draco. Hell, it had been two weeks since Harry got any time with Draco, and it was showing. He was snapping at his friends and was falling behind on his school work. Every time he caught a glimpse of Draco he got excited and reminded himself that soon things would calm down enough at school for them to get together. The Yule-Ball was approaching and as a prefect Draco had extra work to do, not to mention the escalating war outside.

At the moment, Harry was sitting in the library “studying”. He kept gazing off into space, making Hermione mad. Ron appreciated it to a point since that meant that Hermione was laying off of him and his lack of studying, or interest for that matter, but he was slightly annoyed at his friend’s recent behavior.

“Harry! Pay attention!” Hermione snapped for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“What’s wrong with you mate?” Ron asked when Harry seemed to have returned to the third rock from the sun.

“It’s nothing, alright?” Harry snapped back. He felt bad for being such a prat, but he couldn’t help it. He missed his time with Draco and could even feel himself getting paranoid. Every time he saw Draco talking to another guy, especially Blaise, he couldn’t help but feel a red-hot streak of jealousy. He knew there was nothing going on there to worry about, but he couldn’t help it.

“Harry, I don’t know why you are so upset, and I want to help you, but I understand that you aren’t going to tell us until you’re ready and not a moment before. But please, PLEASE, don’t let whatever it is that is bothering you affect your schoolwork. When you get your life sorted out, you don’t want to have slipped so far down that slope that you can’t get back! You-“

“I get it, I get it! I need to focus, I know! I’m just, I’m just too distracted to focus. I’m going to go find a book on dissimulo charms.” Harry got up and left the table. He was grateful to Hermione and Ron for trying to help him keep up with school, but his heart just wasn’t in it. Right now all he wanted was to be left alone. Actually, he wanted something else more, but solitude was the only thing he could get at the moment.

Harry wandered back further and further into the library until he was at the shelf before the restricted section. No one else was in sight, so he took the opportunity to just relax. He leaned his back against the shelf and closed his eyes with a huge sigh. His eyes popped right back open again when a hand reached between the shelves he was leaning on to close over his mouth.

“Sshhh, don’t make a sound and don’t move,” a husky and familiar voice whispered before the hand disappeared. Harry felt his excitement rise as he looked to the end of the shelf to see Draco rounding the corner. Harry threw himself at Draco and kissed him soundly. He could feel the reverberations of Draco’s chuckle moving through his lips straight to his groin.

“I’ve missed you,” Harry whispered.

“I’ve missed you too. And, I might have a little present for you,” Draco teased. “First though, we need to have a little chat. What are you doing for Christmas?” Harry gave his lover a blank stare for a moment. “You know, that long break we get? There is usually a lot of red and green around? You usually get presents?”

“Yeah yeah, I know what Christmas is you prat. I usually spend Christmas here. Why?” Harry asked.

“Well,” Draco started to fidget, looking incredibly nervous. He suddenly seemed to come to himself, straightened tall and put an almost sneer on his face. “I was wondering if you’d like to come home with me and celebrate Christmas with my family.” Harry looked at him with a gaping mouth.

“Draco, I would love to, but I think there’s a problem with that plan…”

“I know I know, but, I think you need to talk to Professor Dumbledore about that. Look, if it’s possible, would you want to?” Draco asked. Harry was amazed by how vulnerable Draco sounded in that moment.

“Of course I would.”

“Great. Look, I know it’s important that you speak to the headmaster about this before committing to a plan. Do you think you could do that by tomorrow evening, say just before dinner?”

“Sure. I mean, I could try at least…”

“Don’t try, do. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow. I gotta go. I have a meeting. Bye.” With that, Draco placed one last searing kiss on Harry and disappeared.

888

Harry climbed the stairs to Dumbledore’s office. He did not have the patience to wait for the stairs to take them up there himself. He didn’t even have to knock on the office door, being bade to enter as soon as he got to the top of the stairs.

“Thank you for seeing me Professor,” Harry started.

“You are more than welcome Harry. Please, sit down. Would you like a lemon drop? No? Very well. Tell me, how is your…relationship…with young Mr. Malfoy?”

At this question Harry’s mouth dropped open. “H-how did you…”

Dumbledore’s eyes sparkled madly. “Oh, I have my way of knowing these things Harry.”

“Well, I-I-I guess things are going well…”

“Oh good for you. I am glad that you two have finally figured it out. Now, as pleasant as this is, I don’t believe that you asked to speak to me just for a pleasant interlude. What is on your mind Harry?”

Harry was inclined to believe that the headmaster already knew what he wanted to talk about, he just wanted to make Harry say something. “Well, sir, I wanted to talk to you about Draco. Actually about an offer he made. He, he has invited me to spend Christmas with him. I was inclined to turn him down for obvious reasons.”

The headmaster gave Harry a calculating look for a moment while he seemed to weigh his options and decided what exactly to say.

“Harry, you have a right to know, since Draco is your lover and this is your fight. However, what I am about to tell you, you may share with Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger only, and you may only share it with them because I know you will use it as an argument for your relationship when you tell them about yourself and Draco. The Malfoy family has been spying for the light for many years. In fact, Lucius came to me with Professor Snape when he wanted to leave Voldemort’s service. Professor Snape serves as our more obvious spy, getting what information he can. Lord Malfoy gets the information that is impossible for Professor Snape to aquire, making his spying seem less likely. Lady Malfoy spies on the homefront, gaining what knowledge she can from other aristocratic wives and from the men she encounters at society functions. And young master Malfoy has been reporting on his Slytherin classmates since your first year. You would be quite safe at the Malfoy home if you chose to go there for Christmas. You would have to keep out of site at times due to their responsibilities to the aristocratic society, but you would be safe and Grimmauld Place would only be a floo away.”

Harry was gob smacked. A million questions ran through his head, both for his headmaster and for his lover.

“Think about it Harry. Just let me know what you plan to do.”

Harry took this as a dismissal and thanked Professor Dumbledore for telling him this little glimpse into the life of the Malfoy family. He slowly walked back to Gryffindor tower, wondering what exactly his next course of action should be.

888

By the next morning Harry had made three huge decisions. Yes, he would spend Christmas with Draco and his family, provided he knew every escape route possible just in case something bad happened. Also, he decided it was time for Hermione and Ron to know what was going on between him and Draco. Finally, he needed to talk about Draco and what all they had apparently not talked about. He hadn’t decided just yet whether or not he was angry, but he figured he could wait to decide that for certain after hearing what Draco had to say.

Harry was amazed by how well he felt having made so many decisions. He went down to the common room with a bounce in his step and greeted Ron and Hermione with a large smile. His friends gave him questioning looks. They were happy to see Harry so happy lately, but they couldn’t help but be curious as to its cause. They were both smart enough to realize that Harry would talk to them when he was ready to.

Harry for his part had decided to hold off his revelations to his friends until after he had talked to Draco. There were still things he needed to get figured out. He left the common room with Ron and Hermione and the trio made their way to breakfast. It was Friday, therefore the last day of classes, so spirits were high all around the castle. Christmas was nearing and tomorrow they would all be going to Hogsmead for some much needed shopping.

Breakfast was wonderful as usual, the only downside being that potions followed. Three hours of potions to be exact. On his way he saw Draco. Harry couldn’t help but stare at the blonde, thinking about his Christmas plans. He apparently starred a little too long at his favorite blonde who noticed the attention.

“What do you want, Potter?” Draco demanded. Harry shook his head and stepped into his role.

“Nothing from you, Malfoy,” he snapped before storming past and into the classroom. Hating Draco was getting more and more difficult with each passing day. He took his normal seat next to Ron with this thought going through his head.

“What’s his problem?” Ron grumbled.

“Heh, yeah, his problem,” Harry mumbled. His thoughts shifted to what he was going to tell Ron later that day and how his best mate would take the news. He was sad to say that he had to take his friendship with Ron into consideration when he was making his decision to tell Ron and Hermione about Draco. In the end he decided that he was willing to give up his friendship with Ron for his relationship with Draco, though the decision had been a difficult one. His decision had amazed Harry, considering how uncertain his relationship with Draco was at the moment.

“Harry!” Ron yelled. Harry jumped at the loud outburst in his ear. Apparently Ron had been trying to say something for a while now.

“Harry, what’s up with you mate? Are you feeling ok? You have been a million miles away for a few weeks now, now what’s up?”

Professor Snape chose that moment to make his grand entrance. “I’ll explain later,” Harry assured the redhead.

As usual, Snape had set out to make class as miserable as he possibly could for his class.

“Today we shall be brewing the Acies potion. This potion was used by ancient religions, and some modern adaptations of those religions, to induce visions. This is an extremely potent potion, it is vital that you do not inhale it’s fumes and it is especially important not to ingest it for it will cause intense visions. People have been known to go mad because of this potion.” One brave hand rose into the air. “Yes, Mr. Switz?”

“Umm, Professor, if this is such a dangerous potion, why are we brewing it?”

“Excellent question. Five points to Slytherin. That is part of your assignment today. You will write an essay that is no less than 2 feet on the uses of this potion and why we would be brewing it here. I will be paring you up.” At this declaration Harry grew hopeful. Maybe Snape would try to make his life miserable by pairing him up with Draco. Unfortunately for Harry, luck was not on his side. Instead he found himself paired up with Blaise Zambini. Harry figured the next three hours would seem to drag by as Harry attempted to get along with Draco’s best friend. He figured the least he could do was be civil as it seemed Draco was attempting to do as he worked with Neville.

“I saw you.” Harry jumped when Blaise whispered this in his ear.

“Wh-wh-what?” Harry asked.

“When you snuck into the common room to, ‘entertain’, Draco.” Harry paled at this revelation, nearly cutting himself as he chopped dried toad liver. Blaise chuckled.

“Don’t worry, Potter. I only saw your hand. It was brief, but it was enough for me to know where Draco’s attention was really focused.”

“How do you know it was me?” Harry asked, trying to throw Blaise off of his trail. The Italian chuckled again.

“Well for one, your face wouldn’t be going from white to a lovely shade of pink if you didn’t know what I was talking about and two, who else in this school has an invisibility cloak?” Blaise wasn’t fooled. Damn. “Don’t worry. Draco is my best friend and if he wants to shag the Golden Boy than so be it. Just consider yourself warned, if you hurt him I WILL make sure you pay, severely.” Harry nodded. “Good. Now then, lets try to finish this potion.”

After his little revelation and threat, Blaise and Harry actually got along quite well. They even shared a laugh a time or two. By the end of the class Harry was certain he had made a new friend.

“We should get together and just hang sometime, Harry. I think if you spent more time around your Slytherin brotherin’ you’d find that you have a few more allies, and potential friends than you thought. I expect to see you in the common room soon, Harry. And, no offense, but preferably with clothes.”

Harry couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks. I’ll have to look into that.

888

Before dinner, Harry mumbled some excuses and ran to the Library. He quickly made his way to the back of the library where he had seen Draco the day before and sat on the floor to wait. He didn’t have to wait very long before Draco showed up, looking as impeccable as ever.

“Hi,” Draco chirped. He then laid down, his head in Harry’s lap. “You summoned me?” Draco asked cheekily.

Harry slowly ran his fingers through Draco’s hair as he watched the shadows caused by the nearby candles danced across his features. He could feel himself falling deeply in love with Draco, but he didn’t want to say anything for fear of jeopardizing what they had.

“We need to talk,” Harry said quietly.

“Yes we do. But not here. Let’s go to the Room of Requirement.” The two boys picked themselves up and walked to the room. They were greeted by a cozy fire with a large, overstuffed loveseat sitting in front of it with a bottle of champagne and two champagne floots on a coffee table in front of it. They made themselves comfortable, resuming a similar position to the one they had in the library with Harry sitting up and Draco resting his head in Harry’s lap. The questions could begin.

“You are a spy.”

“Yes.”

“Your mother is a spy.”

“Yes.”

“Your father is a spy.”

“Yes.”

“You never told me.”

“I couldn’t and you know it. You are a constant target in this war, Harry. I mean, let’s face it, whichever side has you is going to win. With that said, the less you know, the better off our side is. If you get captured, the Dark Lord would know everything you do. That’s why I couldn’t tell you. I wanted to Harry, I’ve always wanted to tell you. Ever since I was a first year I have coveted your friendship, but I realized that because of the war I couldn’t be nice to you, I couldn’t be your friend. It, hurt,” Draco confessed the last part quietly.

“But Draco, we weren’t fighting a war during our first year,” Harry said. “It wasn’t until fourth year the war started up again.”

“No Harry, the war never really ended. It quieted down. Those of us who were ‘Deatheaters’ knew this, well, those worth anything did, and continued fighting the war quietly. It was a tough time for my family because we had to continue spying, looking for things that weren’t as obvious as before. I still couldn’t be your friend. Luckily my job is fairly easy. All but a couple of the Slytherins realize that the war is pointless and that muggleborns are a necessity if our world is to continue.”

Harry was quiet for a moment, taking all of this in. While he was contemplating his newfound knowledge Draco poured the champagne and handed him a glass. They drank in silence for a few minutes, Harry gently resting his head on Draco’s shoulder, enjoying just being with him.

“So, what should I pack for Christmas?” Harry asked. A huge smile spread across Draco’s face.

“You really are going to come home with me?!” Draco laughed, delighted. He had to admit that a small part of him expected Harry to turn down the offer.

“Yeah, I’m really excited!”

“This is going to be so much fun. And, this means we can add a new dimension to our relationship,” Draco said.

“Really, what?” Harry asked, excited.

“I will tell you later. I have some work to do before we venture down that road. But, I do have a little present for you.” Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a black leather collar. He took it and slipped it around Harry’s neck. It fit loosely so it would not cut into the skin and would not cause discomfort, but it could be tightened.

“You will wear this at all times. During classes you may put a concealing charm on it, but you may not take it off. Only I can take it off of you. Do you understand?” Draco asked, not taking his hands off of the collar.

“Yes sir,” Harry whispered. He couldn’t help the ‘sir’ that slipped through his lips. The symbolism of the collar was not lost on Harry.

Draco smiled. “Good.” He dropped his hands back into his own lap. “Now, was there anything else that you wanted to talk about?” Harry hesitated for a minute, not sure if he really wanted to talk about this yet or not. He decided that it was something that really needed aired before he approached Ron and Hermione.

“What is this between us? I mean, is this just a result of an agreement, or are we actually, an item?” Harry asked, unsure of himself. Draco was quiet for a moment before he said anything.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Harry. But what I want, I want, *sigh*, I want an actual relationship with you. If you tell anyone I said any of this I will deny it, but I want the sappy relationship with the sappy eyes and the pillow talk and….” Draco trailed off, pink tingeing his cheeks. Harry smiled warmly at the blushing young man.

“I want something real too. I want, more than just sex, not that there’s anything wrong with wild kinky sex mind you, I would just like to go on a date every once in a while and, I’d like to see this grow into something. Maybe have not such kinky sex once in a while…” Harry confessed. Draco smiled at him then buried his head in Harry’s chest. He breathed deeply and smiled a goofy smile. “You smell nice.” Harry colored a little bit at the complement.

The two boys sat on the love seat until it was time for dinner, sometimes staring at the fire, sometimes staring at each other, and sometimes gently kissing. They finally left the room and reluctantly went their separate ways. Harry wanted to tell Draco about what Blaise said, but he decided that that could wait for another day. Now, he had to go and face the music.

888

Ron and Hermione started asking Harry questions when they got back from dinner about his disappearance before the meal. He promised to answer their questions after everyone else had gone to bed. Once they were alone, he was bombarded by questions of where he had been and why he had been acting so weird lately. He waited for the questions to end (a feat which Hermione managed when she realized that that was what Harry was waiting for with a swift kick to Ron’s shin).

“Look, guys, I have a, confession of sorts, and I don’t think you’re going to like it. First, I’m gay.” Harry was quiet after this little declaration. Hermione just smiled knowingly. Ron first went white, then pulled a little away from Harry. His mouth started working like he was trying to say something, but no sounds came out.

“I’m glad you finally felt comfortable enough to come out of the closet, Harry,” Hermione offered, her smile still firmly in place. Harry knew that Hermione would not be the problem, he was worried about when Ron finally got his voice back.

“What?” Ron squeaked.

“Ron,” Hermione snapped. He stayed quiet, though he didn’t look happy. Well, Harry thought, Might as well get this over with…

“And I have a boyfriend. I’m dating Draco Malfoy.” Hermione’s whole face lit up with joy. She started babbling about how she always knew that they would finally figure it out and hook up. Ron just hit the ground.


OK, so I was going to make this longer, but I decided that this was a good place to end this chapter. The next chapter will be shorter and I don’t know when I’ll be able to update.

I’m sorry for odd mistakes, I forgot what I was doing and had to go back and change half of the chapter.

Feed a plot bunny, REVIEW!!! Please review!!! I take your thoughts into consideration when I write, so please, your thoughts do matter! And they make me update faster.