Miscalculations

Disclaimer:
Harry Potter belongs to JKR.




Miscalculations




by
JanusEris



Translated
by Lex



A/N: Thank
you very much for all
your reviews. You don't have to worry that this story wont be finished,
because it's already written. But you might want to give
your encouragement to our wonderful Lex, who is translating this for
you! Thank you so much, Lex!




Chapter
3



How to
rescue a snake




The
physical exam at the Ministry was in every way as humiliating as Draco
had
feared. The malicious comments of the Ministry Officials were the
worst. The
healer who actually performed the exam was at least sufferable. Though,
she
didn’t keep the Aurors that were present from reading the
results. When one of
them asked what it felt like to be Potter’s whore Draco
finally lost his temper
and snapped back.



“What’s
it
like to know the saviour of the Wizarding World has to pay to get a
good fuck?”



The
Auror,
of course, took his pleasure telling Harry about his lapse at the very
next
opportunity. Only Draco could see the distress beneath
Harry’s enraged front.
Of course, Harry whipped him as soon as they were back at home. The
Ministry
Officials probably watched eagerly.



When
Harry
kissed Draco later that evening the pain faded into the background.



Draco
hadn’t slept on the floor since their first time.
He’d started to enjoy the
sex, in a desperate kind of way. He didn’t hate Harry any
longer. After that
night, he just couldn’t, oddly enough. It was as if the hate
had disappeared
into the deep darkness of nothing, together with every other resistance
he’d
ever had.



“I
wish I could
give you a healing potion.” Harry mumbled. “There
has to be something the
Ministry wouldn’t detect.”



“Severus
would know.” Draco replied sadly. He looked at Harry.
“Can’t you do anything?
At least to get him out of Azkaban? It’s a terrible place,
Harry. It makes you
insane, even without the Dementors.”



Harry
stroked Draco’s leg with a comforting gesture. He lay curled
beside Draco, his
head on his chest. Draco absent-mindedly caressed the mop of dark hair.



“I
cannot
think of a way.” Harry said. “But I’ll
keep looking for it, I promise.
Professor Snape and I never were friends but I really respected him.
Particularly at the end.”



***



The
days
went and became weeks. Draco’s master increasingly spent his
time at home.
Harry worked at a security company but his status and reputation
allowed him to
make his own schedule. Not that he needed to work. It wasn’t
because of money.
But he said it gave his life sense.



Outside
the
bedroom, Draco was a good and obedient slave. They had talked
about it and Draco
had admitted to Harry that he couldn’t stand living the way
he’d done the first
weeks. Never before had he worked physically. But he prefered even
domestic chores
to being trapped in that tiny room the whole day. A
small garden belonged to the house and Draco started to take care of
it.
He
learned to cook. He even did laundry and scrubbed floors. Dobby was
enormously
aggravated when his duties were taken away from him. The work of a
house-elf.
Draco realized that he didn’t mind. He’d left his
pride behind, any kind of
pride. He also served Harry’s guests, the few that would come
visiting.



The
werewolf came a few times. Then there was that wacky girl he only knew
as
Loony. He called her Miss Lovegood so it didn’t matter when
he repeatedly forgot her first
name. Neville Longbottom … Draco hated his
visits because
Longbottom enjoyed taunting him. Then some Ministry Officials and some
of
Harry’s colleagues … them he hated too. And last
but not least Mudblood
Granger. She refused to let Draco serve her, what amused him. She
insisted Draco
sat at the table to eat with them. Harry reluctantly allowed it. Draco
loved
her visits so Harry invited her most often.



In
bed,
Harry insisted they’d switch, even though it was much harder
for Harry to give up
control to someone else. Unlike Draco. That was surprising because
Draco had
always thought of Harry as somewhat submissive. But that obviously
didn’t
include the bed. Draco surprised himself at how easy he submitted
himself. He’d
been convinced that he was a natural leader. Maybe it wasn’t
so surprising,
though, considering how well he took to the life as slave.
Draco’s father,
authoritarian as he might have been, had submitted to the Dark Lord,
after all.
Harry had told Draco how the Death Eaters had acted. Not even Severus
had talked about some of those things. Draco couldn’t imagine
his proud father
crawling on the
ground to kiss the robe of this creature – knowing he
was a half-blood!
Not that he could imagine Severus doing that. But his father had done
it. On his
own free will. Draco, at least, hadn’t become a slave
voluntarily.



Draco
and
Harry talked in the evenings. Draco learned about the Muggles Harry
lived
with
while growing up and how their time at school had been from Harrys
point
of view.
It helped him to understand some things better. They were direct
opposites, like
black and white, he and Harry. Nevertheless, Draco somehow could
understand
him. Sometimes Draco wondered if he’d been able to gain such
insight without
being ripped out of his sheltered, glittering world by that awful law.
Draco
hadn’t been naïve, exactly. But he grew up spoilt,
in shielded and to an extent
unrealistic surroundings. He’d never felt sympathetic for the
poor and
mistreated, like Harry did. There was nothing in Draco’s life
to help him
identify with them. One evening Harry told him about a Muggle Queen
who, when
she was told that the poor in her country did have not even
bread to eat,
answered: “Let them eat cake.”
Draco laughed, but deep inside
he knew once he’d been just like her. Maybe not regarding
bread and cake, but
in many other ways. He would rather bite his tongue off than say it out
loud,
but some part of him knew his fate as slave had made him a different
person, in some way a
better person. It went against every ideal of the
Malfoys and
his father would turn in his grave, could he hear that, but
nevertheless, it
was true.



***



About
half
a year after his arrival at Harry’s things changed again.
Harry stayed home
more often. While he let Draco take control when they were in the
bedroom, he
became increasingly demanding and cruel outside of it.



He
never
answered Draco’s questions as of why, just told him to
take him harder. Not
that Draco didn’t enjoy being in control of their sex, but it
disturbed him
slightly, too. He knew Harry didn’t enjoy it. It was
Harry’s way of rectifying
his behaviour during the rest of the day.



He
whipped
Draco more frequently and for absurd reasons. Finally Draco started to
give him
reasons, just so he knew why he was punished. Harry seemed to be
unhappy about
it, and grateful at the same time. Draco just wished he would tell him
what was
wrong.



If
Draco,
as a slave, still had had some dignity left now it was gone. The last
bit
disappeared when he gave Harry a blowjob in front of his colleagues.
Harry had
lost a bet, but still … He didn’t have to accept
the bet. Never in his life had
Draco felt so humiliated. On that evening, for the first time, he
really hurt
Harry when he took him. Harry didn’t say anything; he
didn’t even heal his
wounds. For some reason that didn’t make it better, only
worse.



***



“Do
you
know who that is, slave?” Harry asked. He sound malicious,
but he sound often
like this, recently.



Draco
knew
his master didn’t really expect an answer. Of course he knew
the red haired
man.



“He
is the
Minister of Magic. Won’t you welcome him
appropriately?”



A
flicker
of panic seized Draco. He had no clue what Harry deemed appropriate.



The
minister must have seen his panic because he laughed. “Just
bow very low, slave.”



Instantly
Draco fell to his knees and bowed so low that his forehead touched the
floor.
“Welcome Minister Weasley.”



The
minister laughed again. “Well trained, I have to admit,
Harry. I have little
time. Should we get down to business?”



“Of
course,
Minister.” Harry replied assiduously. “That way,
please.” He beckoned to him. “Come,
slave.”



“Please,
Harry.” smiled the minister. “When will you call me
Percy? We can regard each other as
friends, right?”



“I'm
honoured, Percy.”



The
minister gestured dismissively. “We’ve known each
other since we went to
school, Harry. We’ve had our differences, yes. But who
hasn’t? For mother you
were like a son, I know that. If things had been different I might call
you
brother.”



Harry
nodded gravely. “We all miss them, Percy. I can hardly
imagine how hard it has to
be for you, I can not repeat it enough.”



Percy
sighed grief-stricken. “If anybody can understand,
it’s you Harry. But enough
of these gloomy thoughts. I’m here for something
pleasant, after all.”



The
look he
gave Draco while saying that made Draco feel uncomfortable.



They
entered the bedroom and Percy sat on the bed. “I could always
understand why
you insisted on your privacy here, Harry. I have to say I found your
outburst
at poor Dawlish greatly amusing. Understandable, of course. There are
things a man prefers to do without an audience.”



Harry
grinned. “That goes without saying, Percy.”



He
turned
to Draco. His gaze was pleading even if his voice was cold.
“The minister saw
your talents and took great interest in them, slave. I owe him a
favour, so I
decided to satisfy his curiosity. That’s the least a friend
can do, after all.
You’ll serve him like you serve me. You will obey,
right?”



“Master
…”
Draco tried. It was their unofficial safeword when something became too
much.
Harry would stop doing whatever he did when he said it. The thought of
being
intimate with the man on the bed made him sick. It was one thing to
satisfy
Harry, even in public, but Percy Weasley? He wasn’t a whore,
even if they
called him that.



Draco
felt
an almost painful sense of resignation, when Harry almost imperceptibly
shook
his head. He bowed low without looking into his eyes. “As
you wish, Sir.” He
had to believe that there was a good reason why Harry would ask
something like
that from him. If there weren’t he would refuse, but then any
kind of trust
that had ever existed between them would be destroyed.



“I
want you to serve him.” Harry emphasized.



He
bowed
again. “Should I clean myself first, Sir?”



“No,
not
necessary.” the Minister said from the bed. “I
don’t have much time as I
already said.”



Harry
nodded at him. “I’ll wait in the living room,
Percy. Have fun.”



“I
will.”
the Minister grinned.



Draco
winced when the door fell closed behind Harry.



“Come
on,
strip.” the minister said impatiently.



Draco
forced a smile on his face and obeyed. The eyes of the Minister watched
his
body greedily.



“Come
here,“ the red haired man said breathlessly.



Draco
went to him,
suppressing his dislike. The Minister pulled him close, until Draco
stood
between his
legs. Then he trailed his sweaty hands over Draco’s body.
Draco had to
pull himself together not to shudder in disgust. “So pale
…” the man murmured.
“Like porcelain … I’d never thought that
a man could arouse me. But you, you are
different … I love my wife, I do. But you …
it’s not really cheating, is it …
you are not a real person, after all … more like a doll
… a precious porcelain
doll, yes …”



The
inane
chatter of the man made Draco sick, but at the same time made him
think. He hadn’t known that the minister was
married. His wife
certainly would be deeply hurt if she knew that he’d slept
with a slave … a
male slave at that. Was that Harry’s reason? An opportunity
to blackmail the
Minister of Magic might be worth the shame …



“Kneel.”
the Minister suddenly said.



Draco
did
as he was told and knelt between the man’s legs. The Minister
stroked his head
and then pushed down so Draco’s head lay in his lap.
“Delicious …” he mumbled.
He drew his fingers over Draco’s back and giggled softly.



Draco
seriously wondered if the man was a tad insane.



“I
see
Harry’s cracked his doll a little. Tell me, doll, did it
hurt?”



Draco
realized that he talked about the scars that adorned his back.
“Yes, Minister.”
he whispered.



The Minister smiled. “He lets you suffer. Do you like that,
doll?”



“No,
Minister.” He wondered where this was going.



“Good,
you
should suffer. Like all the victims of your Master did. Like my parents
and
brothers did. You should scream like they did. Do you scream,
doll?”



“Yes,
Minister.” he grinded out.



The Minister chuckled. “I know. I heard you. They are
exquisite,
your screams.”



Draco
couldn’t help the tremors that seized his body.



“You
cry
for mercy, don’t you? But Harry doesn’t have mercy
with you.”



“Yes,
Minister.” Even his voice was trembling now.



The Minister laughed out loud. “You are afraid! How
delectable,
how downright delicious. I knew it was the right decision. To hell with
Penelope.”



He
pulled
Draco back on his hair and pushed his robe up to reveal his red and
swollen
member.



“Show
me
what Harry taught you, doll.”



The Minister was smaller than Harry, thank Merlin. Draco’s
ability
to relax his throat had recently improved, but he’d never
been overly talented
at this trick. Still, he took Harry’s advice and gave his
best, like he did
with Harry. The Minister didn’t last half as long as Harry.
He moaned
without restraint and pulled Draco’s hair until it hurt. It
didn’t take long
and he grabbed Draco’s head, thrust his whole length down his
throat and came.
Draco swallowed the bitter-salty fluid and licked up the traces of the
milky semen even though it turned his stomach.



“Delectable.”
the Minister gasped. Red blotches stained his face.



After
that,
he pushed Draco to the floor, rose and straightened his robe. He took a
deep
breath and left.



For
a
while, Draco stayed where he was. When the man didn’t return
he finally crawled
to the bathroom and threw up. That was how Harry found him.



Draco
sensed Harry kneeling next to him and winced when his master touched
his hair.
Harry flinched and whimpered.



“I’m
sorry,
Dragon. Forgive me, please forgive me …”



Draco
spat.
“You forced me to suck the prick of this disgusting,
appalling man. You had
better have a very good reason. I’m far from ready to forgive
you.”



Harry
swallowed.



Draco
stood
to rinse his mouth. He poured so much of the mint mouthwash in the cup;
it
burned his mouth. But at least the taste was gone afterwards. Then he
threw
Harry out of the bathroom and slammed the door shut. He took his time
to wash
until the feeling of the sweaty hands of the Minister faded.



When
Draco
entered the bedroom Harry lay naked on the bed, waiting for him. Draco
gladly
noticed the fresh sheets. That proved everyone wrong who claimed that
house
elves weren’t intelligent.



“Do
you
want me first or should we talk?”



He
glared
at Harry. “Sex is the last thing on my mind right now.
The last several
weeks I’ve tried to get you to talk. Now, talk.”



Harry
bit
his lips. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t warn
you. When he demanded it I couldn’t
deny him, and he wanted it right then. There was no time to talk to
you, first.



“That’s
it?” Draco thundered. “That’s your damned
excuse?”



“No.”
Harry
said hastily. “It’s not.”



Draco
calmed himself forcibly and sat on the edge of the bed.



Harry
nervously kneaded his hands. “I found a way to get Snape out
of Azkaban.”



Draco
stared at Harry and tried to get the connection.
“That’s … uhm … great? Why
are
you nervous about it?”



Harry
avoided his gaze. “I’m not sure you’ll
like the ‘How’.”



Draco
watched his every move, hoping it could erase the dull feeling of fear
in his
guts. “What is it? Did you promise me to the Minister as his
sex toy, free of
charge?” His voice was high pitched, much to his dismay.



Harry
winced. “No.”



Draco breathed a sigh of relief. Part of him refused to acknowledge
that, for
a
second, he’d actually believed it. But Harry
wouldn’t do this to him. Draco
knew that. Still, for a moment there had been doubt. “Thank
Merlin. So, what is
it?”



Harry
eyed
him hesitantly. “I didn’t really get him free. I
have … sort of … bought him.”



“Bought.”
Draco repeated slowly. The thought took a while to settle.
“You bought Severus.
As a slave? Severus is your slave?”



“Yes.”
Harry said softly. “That’s to say, he will be.
Tomorrow morning he will be
brought from Azkaban. Percy looks upon it as a big favour. He calls it
a kind
of
amnesty. Hypocrite. I spent months to convince him that it is the
harsher
punishment for Snape. Percy always hated Snape. He's regarding it as
his
opportunity
for vengeance. I told him Snape is a proud man who’ll hate
the humiliation and
submission. Even before, I worked to achieve the trust of the
monitoring
division. It took time but they finally believe that I can control a
Death
Eater. They even gave me access to the surveillance protocols, in such
a way as to enable me to see
what happens here while I’m away. Amazing what a few fire
whiskeys and … some
other small favours … can do."



“I
see.”
Draco tried to keep up. “And I was the price for this
favour?”



“Only
that
once.” Harry hastily assured. “He saw you when I
… you know, lost the bet. From
that point on, he tried to convince me to let him ‘try it
out’ as he called it.
Of course, I refused. I eventually said I’d let him if he
sold
me Snape. I didn’t
expect him to agree, honestly. I expected less that he would sign the
papers
the same
instant.



Draco
breathed deeply. “Severus will be here tomorrow?”



“Yes.”
Harry answered unsurely.



Draco
smiled, bent down and kissed him. “I forgive you,
Harry.”



Hesitantly
Harry kissed him back. “He will be a slave, Draco. He is a
proud man …”



“He’ll
understand. He’ll adjust.” Draco continued to kiss
the green-eyed man.



Harry
panted when Draco took one of his nipples in his mouth.
“It’ll be difficult to talk
to him. I told them I wanted him to brew potions for me.
There’ll be hardly a
reason to call him to my bedroom.”



“We’ll
find
a way. Minor details.” Draco said.



Harry
moaned when Draco took the oil from the nightstand and wedged his
slippery
fingers between the tight muscles of Harry’s channel.



“Didn’t
you
want to talk? Oh …” Harry tossed his head back.
Seemed like Draco found his
sensitive spot.



Draco
grinned, noting the red spots on Harrys cheeks with satisfaction.
“Talked enough.”



***



Harry
had lit
the fire in the living room, what he seldom did. A cauldron with a
potion Draco
didn’t know hung over it. He wondered but didn’t
ask. He played his part as
subservient slave and knelt next to Harry’s chair while they
waited.



Punctually
at eleven o’clock three figures appeared before them, the one
in the middle
instantly being pushed to their knees. Harry stood and Draco followed.



The
night
before Draco had been enthusiastic about the idea of his godfather soon
being
with them. The view that greeted him now diminished his joy a little.
The man
currently kneeling before them didn’t have much in common
with the proud
Potions Master Draco remembered. He was dirty and emaciated. What once
had been
a robe now hung in rags on his body. His long black hair raggedly fell
in his
face. Severus’d lowered his eyes and was apparently too weak
to
stand, let alone to
fight.



“We’re
bringing your acquisition, Mister Potter,“ one of the two
Aurors said. “Did you
prepare the cauldron?”



“I
did.”
Potter said. “Did you bring the potion?”



“Here
it
is.” The Auror handed Harry a blood red vial.



While
the
two spoke Severus had slowly lifted his head. Now his black eyes
focused on
Harry. For a short moment disbelief showed in them. Then his look
changed into
one of absolute hate. Even Draco was surprised.



Harry
poured the content of the vial into the cauldron. A hissing sound could
be
heard and a sharp smell spread through the room. Draco instantly
recognised the
smell and suddenly knew what was about to happen. Horror struck him. He
had to
get a grip on himself to not bolt from the room.



“Undress
him.” Harry ordered.



The
Aurors
nodded. “Completely?” the Auror, who’d
talked at first, asked.



Harry
nodded. “It’s easier that way.”



The
Aurors
pulled Severus on his feet and stripped him. Draco’s
godfather didn’t resist.
Beneath the rags, he was only skin and bones. It was a horrible sight.



Harry
threw
something at the Aurors. Handcuffs. “Cuff his hands behind
his
back. I don’t want
him making more trouble than necessary.”



The
Auror
confirmed by nodding his head and did as he was told. Severus now
looked
confused and a little fearful.



„Slave,
help Auror Hudson and Auror Boot to keep him down.“



Draco
stared at Harry but finally nodded.



“Sir,
are
you sure that is wise?” the second Auror asked. “Do
you believe your boy can
handle it?”



Harry grinned fleetingly. “Don’t worry, he
will.”



They
managed to get Severus down on his back. He still didn’t
resist but Draco saw
the growing fear in his eyes. He knelt on Severus’ right and
clutched the upper
arm before him. One of the Aurors did the same on the other side while
the
second held down the legs.



Draco
noticed that the fear slowly turned into panic. He bent down and
stroked
Severus’ hair back. “Calm down. Don’t
worry, it’s over soon.”



Severus blinked and turned his head to him. “Dr…
Draco?” he croaked.



It
pained
Draco to hear the weakness in his voice. “Yes, Severus. It is
over soon.”



Severus
frowned while the Aurors eyed them both with confusion and distrust.



Harry
pulled something that Draco had originally taken for a stirring spoon,
out
of the
cauldron. In truth, it was a branding iron. He grabbed
Severus’ arm with both
hands.



When
Harry
came over to them carrying the branding iron Severus’ eyes
widened and he
started to fight them. Draco intensified his grip. He hated what he had
to do
to his godfather, but there was no other way. Severus’ eyes
met Draco’s and the
desperation there changed into resignation. He slumped down in their
grip.
Harry stood beside them and pressed the branding iron on
Severus’ chest. There
was a hissing sound and Draco smelled burned flesh. It made him
nauseous.
Severus let out a hoarse yell that quickly changed into a groan. Draco
admired
him. He himself had screamed blue murder. He remembered
the agony still
vividly.



Harry
pulled the branding iron away and dropped it down into the cauldron. A
wave of
his wand let the fire extinguish.



“Draco.”
he
said.



Hastily
Draco rose. He almost stumbled and felt his legs tremble.
“Yes, Sir?”



Harry
handed
him a small key. “Take him upstairs to the bathroom
– the one on the hallway,
not ours – and clean him. The key is for the cuffs. You will
unlock them only
so he can dress. Afterwards you’ll instantly cuff him again.
Can you do that?”



Draco
bowed
and put the key away. “Yes, Sir.”



Severus’
eyes never left him during their conversation. It took a little effort
for
Draco to get him on his feet. When Severus finally was upright, he
swayed and
Draco held him with his arm around his hip to help him leave the room.



“Do
the two
of them know each other?” one of the Aurors asked.



Harry
laughed. “Godfather and Godson. Didn’t you notice
his reaction when Draco held
him down? He didn’t want to risk hurting him. Astonishing,
isn’t it?”



“Yes,
really.” the Auror answered. “You trust your boy
with the Death Eater?”



“Oh
yes,
Draco is well trained. May I offer you some coffee?”



***



The
voices
faded while Draco helped Severus to climb the stairs. A few times
Severus
groaned in pain but didn’t utter a sound otherwise. Finally
they entered the
bathroom. Draco helped Severus to get into the shower and then started
to
undress.



“What
are
you doing?” Severus asked with a hoarse voice.



Draco
avoided his gaze. “Our master wants me to help you wash. I
can’t do that without
getting wet.”



Severus
closed his eyes in humiliation. “Please, can't you just take
off the cuffs? I
swear I wont do anything else than wash myself. Please,
Draco.”



Draco
joined him in the shower and started the water.
“I’m sorry, Severus, I can’t.”
He took the bathing sponge and applied some shower gel.



“Please
…”
Severus whispered.



“Our
master
forbade it. I’m sorry.”



“He’s
not
my master.” Severus said angrily. “Nor will he ever
be.”



Draco
started to soap him. “Don’t say that. You will be
punished.”



Furious
black eyes stared at him. “After you told Potter, I
assume.”



“Don’t
be a
fool.” Draco shot back impatiently. “The whole
house is under surveillance of
the Ministry. Our master comes to know everything that happens in his
absence.”
He froze and paled. “I shouldn’t have told you
that.” Fuck, another punishment.
When his latest wounds had healed just recently.



“Your
back.” Severus whispered. Draco had bend down to wash his
legs.



“Whip.”
he replied shortly.



“I’m
sorry.”



Draco
glanced up to him. “There’s nothing for you to be
sorry about.”



He
washed
Severus’ hair. It was so badly matted it was difficult to
untangle, but Draco
finally managed. At last, he turned to Severus’ chest. The
branding mark was a
deep red contrast to the older scars.



“I
have to
…”



“Just
do
it.” Severus cut him off, teeth clenching.



Draco
cleaned the wounds and the area around it as carefully as he could.
Still,
Severus was breathing heavily when he was finished.



“I
wish I
could give you a healing potion but our master didn’t say
anything about it.”
Draco told him regretfully.



Severus
just nodded. Draco saw that Dobby had laid out two fresh sets of
clothes for
them. He dried first himself then Severus.



Draco knew instantly
which was
his pile of clothes because Severus’
were distinctly
different. He dressed and took the key he’d put away earlier.



“I
will
unlock you so you can dress. Please do just that.”



“What
else
should I do? Draw my hidden wand and kill you?”



Draco
grinned wryly. “If that’s your intention
you’ll have to revert to common
violence. You can’t perform magic anymore. The mark is
preventing it.”



Severus swayed slightly. “I see.”
He looked sick.



Draco
unlocked the left cuff and helped Severus put on the robe. It was a
simple grey
robe that reached his ankles and bared his lower arms. When he was
dressed,
Severus re-locked the handcuff himself. Draco checked if it was really
locked
and was slightly surprised when he found it was.



“Do
you
know what Potter wants with me?” Severus asked.



Draco
darted a concerned glance at him. “Do you want to be
punished? You shouldn’t
defy him. It is better, trust me. As far as I know, he wants you to
brew
potions. Wolfsbane for Mister Lupin, for instance.”



“So
the
Werewolf’s still alive?” Severus uttered unmoved.
“Surprising.”



“You
shouldn’t call him that.” Draco whispered.
“Our master doesn’t like that.” He
wondered why he didn’t expect Severus to act that way. He
himself had done the
same at the beginning, but it seemed so long ago. Draco realised why
Harry was
so concerned. He feared that reaction. Severus was a Death Eater, the
Ministry
would expect more than some simple whippings. In the condition Severus
currently was in even that might be too much. “Please,
Severus…” he begged.
“There are worse things than to submit to our master.
You’re only playing into
the hands of the Ministry.”



Severus
looked at him pensively. “I’ll think about
it,” he said finally.



Draco
exhaled slowly. Better than nothing.



They
left
the bathroom and went downstairs. The two Aurors had already left.
Harry was
waiting in the living room.



“Well,
well.” he said. “Looks like someone has trouble
keeping his mouth shut.”



Draco
lowered his head. “I apologize, Sir.”



Harry
just
gave him a fleeting glance. “We’ll deal with your
punishment later. First,
let’s take care of my new slave.”



He
stepped
up to Severus and grabbed his chin. “Do you have trouble to
address me
properly, slave?”



Severus
opened his mouth but no sound came out.



“You’ll
quickly learn that I don’t tolerate disobedience.”
Harry stood back and pointed
his wand at Severus. “Crucio.”



For
the
first few seconds Severus managed to just sink to his knees and not to
scream.
Then he lapsed into convulsions.



Harry
held
the spell for what seemed like an eternity to Draco. Finally, he lifted
the
curse, and the screams stopped. To Draco’s bewilderment,
Severus managed to get
back on his knees despite his condition. “Forgive me, my
Lo… Sir.”



“Interesting
slip of tongue.” Harry said with amusement that he
didn’t feel as was betrayed
by his eyes. “I’ll accept it though, this
time.”



“Thank
you, Sir. You are most generous.”



Harry
winced almost imperceptible. “Draco, please take Severus down
to the basement.
I’ve prepared a lab for him there. He’ll find a
list with potions he’ll be
brewing from tomorrow on. His sleeping place is enclosed.”



“Yes, Sir.”



“Today
he
can rest. Dobby will bring him something to eat since he’s
obviously still
weak. From tomorrow on he’ll eat together with us.”



“Yes, Sir.”



Harry
bent
over Severus and released his handcuff with a wink of his wand. Then he
pulled
Severus’ head back by his hair. “Defy me and you
will suffer. Do you
understand?”



“Yes, Sir.”
Severus grated out.



“Good.”
Harry glanced at the clock. “I have to go to work. For every
problems that
might occur during my absence I’ll make you both equally
responsible” He
disapparated.



Severus
managed to stand, much to Draco’s astonishment. There was an
empty look in his
eyes that hadn’t been there before.



“Please
show me the lab our master mentioned, Draco.”



Draco
felt
like crying but nodded. “Come with me.”



***



The
cellar
was cold. It consisted of three rooms, one of them used as a laundry
room and
the second for storage. The third Draco never had been in before but
assumed it
to be some kind of storage room, too. This one Harry had apparently
remodelled
into a potions lab. At one side, a door led to another room. Draco
opened it
with a sense of trepidation. The room on the other side seemed to have
been
partitioned from the main room. It was about three feet and thirty
inches in
width and six and a half feet long. Just enough space to place a
mattress and a
small chest of drawers. With uneasiness, Draco regarded the iron ring
on the
wall and the chain leading from it. He bent down to find the end of the
chain.
It lead to a metal collar, complete with Harry’s crest
embossed in it. For a
moment, Draco closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then he rose.



Severus
was
still in the lab. He had opened the cupboard with the ingredients to
take a
look at its contents. Now his eyes skimmed over the shelves containing
potion
books. In his hand he held a piece of parchment, Harry’s list
of potions. “He
wants a lot of healing potions,” he said without turning to
face Draco.



“Are
they
difficult to brew?” Draco said, avoiding the unuttered
question.



Severus
finally turned and examined him with a piercing look. “Some
are, some are not.
I’m sure some of them you could brew yourself.
You’ve always been good at
Potions.”



“I
was only
average,” he disagreed. “You just favoured me
because of father.”



Severus
snorted. “Not since your seventh year, at the
latest.” He frowned thoughtfully.
“What happened to Lucius? I didn’t see him in
Azkaban, but that’s not saying a
lot.”



“You
don’t
know?” Draco swallowed. “He’s dead. He
killed first Mother then himself.”



Severus
paled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t
know.”



Draco
shook
his head. “She wanted it. She said that she
couldn’t live in a world where
purity of blood does not count anymore. When Voldemort died, she lost
the
meaning of her life. Father … Father would have done more or
less anything to
avoid Azkaban. That place changed him forever.”



“Yes,
Azkaban does that to a person,” Severus said absentmindedly.
Then he blinked
and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Draco, but
I’m really exhausted. I’d love to talk
to you some more, but my body wont cooperate, I’m
afraid.”



Draco
smiled understandingly. It was disturbing to hear Severus so openly
talk
about
his weakness. It was completely out of character. He either was more
exhausted
than he admitted or Azkaban had changed him much.



“Do you
want
to take one of the books?”



Severus
shook his head. “I just want to sleep. I can always fetch one
when I wake up
later.”



Draco turned his gaze away uneasily. “No, you wont.
You’ll understand when you see
your sleeping place.”



Severus
stared at him with an unreadable expression.
“Well,” he said at last. He took
one of the books from the shelf and put the list into it.
“Where do I sleep?”



Draco
motioned at the adjoining room and stepped away. Severus eyed the room
unmovingly.
“I see,” he said. He put the book on the chest of
drawers and took the collar.
“Do you have to put it on me?”



Draco
avoided his look. “No, you can do it yourself.”



Severus
nodded and did so. Draco saw that the collar locked itself magically.
At the
back was a loop similar to Draco’s collar, where the
chain was
fastened. “I’m going to go to sleep.”
Severus said. “Will you come back
tonight? We could talk a little more.”



Draco shook his head regretfully. “Our master will be
back in the
evening. I have
duties.”



“Surely
you
can come when he’s going to sleep.”



Draco
looked at Severus in surprise. Had he really not figured out what he
was?
Apparently, he hadn’t. Severus met his eyes and realization
dawned on his face.



“I’m
sorry.
I should have seen it earlier.” Severus’ eyes
narrowed angrily. “I suppose one
can not expect a Gryffindor to keep a promise.”



“He
kept
it.” Draco said.



Severus
frowned and looked over him.



Draco
smiled at him. “Sleep well, Severus. Our master will come and
get you in the
morning. If you need something call for Dobby. That’s our
house elf. He will
help you as far as permitted. Shall I leave the light on?”



The
room
where Severus slept didn’t have any light fixtures.
“Yes, please,” he answered
softly. With stiff movements, he crawled beneath the blanket.



Draco
assumed it was the same blanket he’d used at first and he
knew it was softer
and warmer than it looked.



As
soon as
Severus’ head hit the pillow, he sighed and was instantly
asleep.



Draco
didn’t close the door and left the light on when he left.



***



The
next
morning Draco saw Severus again. His black hair was wet; apparently he
had had
time to shower. When Harry pointed at the second pillow next to his
chair
Severus knelt without hesitation. Harry had added a pillow to the low
table
after Draco had complained that his knees got sore on the hard floor.
Now there
was a pillow and a low table on each side of Harry’s chair.



On
Severus
table were two vials with potions, which he swallowed without comment.
He
declined everything Harry offered him, though, and only ate the dry
toast on
his plate. Draco remembered how starved he had been when he arrived
here
and he
admired Severus for his self-control. Nowadays Draco didn’t
see anything
humiliating in letting Harry feed him, but one could not expect the
same
from
Severus.



“Today
you’ll start brewing the potions on the list.”
Harry told Severus when they’d
finished breakfast. “Draco will assist you.”



Draco
looked up in surprise. Harry hadn’t told him beforehand. Not
that he minded
spending time with his godfather. Harry met Draco’s gaze and
smiled coldly.
“You’ll make sure he doesn’t brew
anything he isn’t supposed to.”



Draco
lowered his head. “I’ll do my very best,
Sir.”



“Of
course
you will,” Harry replied indifferently. He stood.
“I wont be back before
tonight. Be good slaves and don’t disappoint me.”



“Yes, Sir,”
they murmured together.



Harry
regarded them thoughtfully, then he stepped up to Severus and grasped
his hair.
He twined it around his hand and thus pulled Severus’ head
back until he could
hardly breath. Severus’ eyes widened slightly but there was
no other reaction.
Harry smiled sadistically. “Your hair … it is much
to long. It’ll only get in
the way when you are brewing.” He motioned with his wand.
Severus’ head jerked
forward when the pull that had held him back vanished. Harry had made
his hair
disappear. Severus’ jaw tightened but he just closed his eyes
in humiliation
and bowed his now bald head.



“Much
better.” Harry grinned. “And so much more fitting
for a slave. Don’t you agree,
Severus?”



Severus
trembled barely noticeable. He’d pressed his palms against
his thighs and Draco
could see how his fingers curved in futile attempts to ball his hands
into
fists. “Yes, Sir,” he choked out.



Harry
smiled triumphantly and waved his wand to disapparate.



***



When
Harry
was gone, they stood. Draco noticed that Severus still moved stiffly
even if it
wasn’t quite as bad anymore. He just hoped his godfather was
able to brew the
whole day.



They
went
down to the lab. This time Severus wore a pair of sandals like Draco
did. Draco
was glad that Harry had permitted it; the floor in the basement was
painfully
cold. He lit a fire while Severus picked out the ingredients.



“We’ll
start a nutrient solution and brew a simple healing potion,“
his godfather said
while measuring ingredients. “It’s for me. Our
master thinks I need it. Please
start cutting the agrimony-root.”



Draco
just
nodded and went to the worktable while Severus put on the potions. They
worked
in silence for a while. In-between the cauldrons Severus looked again
like the
man Draco remembered. It lifted his hope that his godfather would heal
in time.



After
some
time they hesitantly started to talk. Draco told Severus about the law
and his
life with Harry – as far as possible with the Ministry
listening to every word.
Severus didn’t know the slightest thing about the changes
that had taken place
in the Wizarding World. After Voldemort’s defeat,
he’d instantly been brought
to Azkaban. The guards only mocked him about how his friends had
abandoned him.
He didn’t even know about the law regarding the Dark Mark.
Draco watched how
sad realization and slight relief showed on Severus face when he told
him about
it. Relief perhaps, because the order didn’t betray him as he
had feared. Draco
wished he had a way to tell him the whole truth.



“Our
master
is a good man,“ he said instead. “He is strict,
yes. But there are worse. Pansy
Parkinson, for instance, died two months after she was enslaved. And
Gregory
Goyle is in St. Mungos, he lost his mind.” The story of his
former schoolmates
saddened Draco. He knew Pansy had been a true supporter of Voldemort,
but
still, she hadn’t deserved her fate. Gregory had always been
too stupid to do
anything else than what his father told him.



Severus
stopped what he was doing for a moment. His eyes glinted in rage and he
looked
as if he was going to bite out one of his infamous sarcastic remarks.
Instead,
Draco saw how he pulled himself together with an effort and lowered his
head.
“I see.” His voice sounded apathetic.
“I’m sorry for your friends.”



“We
parted
ways a long time ago.” Draco replied awkwardly.



Severus
watched him expressionless and finally nodded. “Grind the
scarab wings. We’ll
need them in a few minutes.”



Not
long
after that, Dobby appeared with lunch. Severus again downed two vials
with
potion. He looked tired but still started the next potions immediately.
This
time it was blood replenishing draught and two high-grade healing
potions.



As
the
hours went by Draco noticed how exhausted Severus became. His remarks
became
increasingly monosyllabic and it seemed to take much energy for him to
concentrate on the potions.



When
he was
going to start another cauldron Draco stopped him. “You
don’t feel well,
Severus. We should finish for today.”



“No!”
Severus almost knocked one of the vials over. “You know our
masters orders.”



“You
look
like the walking death, Severus!” he argued. “I
know you’ve brewed for days on
end before, but you are exhausted.”



“Yes,
I
have.” Severus snapped. One of his hands held the table top
in a death grip so
he wouldn’t sway. “Even being in a worse condition
than now. You said it
yourself, we will only be punished if we defy him.”



Draco
looked at him incredulously. “I can’t imagine how
you would have done that.”



Severus
closed his eyes for a moment. “I used potions to stay awake.
Enough of this
useless discussion. We have to start now if we want to be finished
before our
master is back.”



Draco
took
a deep breath and made a decision. “Dobby!”



The
house
elf appeared in front of him. “Yes, slave of Harry
Potter?”



Draco
winced. He still winced even though the bloody elf always called him
that.
“Could you bring a coffee for Severus? Strong,
please.”



Dobby
regarded Severus thoughtfully. Then he nodded and vanished.



Severus
shook his head. “Our master didn’t allow it. I
can’t.”



“You
will
drink the coffee.” Draco said coldly. He was fed up with
Severus’ unexpected
subservience to Harry. “If not, I’ll tell him you
didn’t put enough effort in
fulfilling your duties.”



Severus
looked at him in shock and then slumped. “Very
well.”



Dobby
turned up again and handed Severus a steaming mug. “Here, Pro
… Sna … Severus.
With lemon, the way you like it.”



When
Severus took the mug the eyes of the house elf widened. “Bad
Dobby,” he
whispered. “Harry Potter will be unhappy, very unhappy with
Dobby.” He vanished
with a crack.



Draco
hissed scornfully. So, the elf had problems talking to Severus
disrespectfully
but enjoyed calling him slave? Logic of house
elves, go figure.



Severus
frowned.
“What is our master doing with one of Hogwarts house elves?
No, never mind. I’d
rather not know.” He sipped his coffee. After a while, his
tiredness faded
slightly.



Meanwhile
Draco had started the last of the potions. Now Severus only had to
continue.



“Thank
you,
Draco,” he said when he rose. “I hope you wont get
into trouble about it.”



Draco
pressed his lips into a thin line. “I’ll
survive.”



“You
shouldn’t have done it.” Severus said softly.



“Why
are
you suddenly so afraid of him?” Draco asked angrily.
“Yesterday you weren’t. Is
it because of the punishment?”



“You
don’t
understand.” Severus snapped. “I don’t
want to talk about it.”



“Help
me to
understand.” he demanded, stirring the potion angrily.
“We’re in the same boat.
Let me help you!”



For
a
while, Severus continued brewing in silence.



“It’s
the
Cruciatus,“ he whispered at last.



“What?”
Draco asked dumbfounded. “Why? I mean, you experienced it
before and you still
kept on spying, even though Voldemort …”



Severus
winced. “Yes.” he hissed. “And every time
I lost a piece of myself. You don’t
understand, you can’t … this spell isn’t
one of the Unforgivables for nothing.
Even if you survive it, there’ll always be something missing
afterwards,
always… I’m not the man I used to be.
I’m standing on the verge of abyss. It
won’t take much to topple me over. Maybe I’ll share
a room with Gregory in St.
Mungos.” He laughed cynically.



Draco
stared at him, horrified. “You have to tell our master,
Severus. He will
understand, trust me. Even if he doesn’t care about your
well-being, he’ll be
reasonable. You wont be of use to him if you lose your mind.”



Severus’
hand clenched around the stirring spoon. “Oh, and I assume he
will be generous
and refrain from punishing me.”



“No.”
Draco
snapped back. “But he’ll find another way to do
it.”



Severus
shoulders sagged and he sighed. “Yes, of course.
Let’s just finish these
potions, Draco.”



Dinner
went
by uneventfully. Harry didn’t mention their work, neither in
a
positive nor in a negative
way.



“Go
back
down to the basement, Severus. You can read if you want but be sure to
rest so
you can keep on working tomorrow.”



Severus
bowed his head. “Yes, Sir.” He stood to leave the
room.



Harry
bent
down to Draco and took his chin in his hand. “Draco, Draco,
Draco … I’m very
unhappy with you today.”



Draco
froze
and saw how Severus stood still in the doorway.
“I’m sorry, Sir.” he whispered.



Harry’s
fingers buried painfully into his hair. “Yes, I’m
sure you are. You’ll be much
more sorry before the day is over. Go upstairs and wait for me.
Don’t forget to
wash yourself.”



“Yes, Sir.”
he answered. He rose, eyes cast downward, and went to the bedroom.



***



“You
realize that I have to punish you, don’t you?”
Harry said as he joined him
later. “It is bad that you ordered the coffee for Severus,
but worse, you
forced him to drink it. And if that wasn’t enough you had to
threaten him with
lying to me so I would punish him.”



“Yes.”
Draco said quietly.



Harry
wrapped his arms around him and kissed his shoulder. “I hate
to do this. I hate
it but I have no choice.”



Draco
leaned his head back and enjoyed the warmth of the body behind him.
“I know,
Harry. I’m sorry, I didn’t want you to punish him.
He’s already in a bad way.”



Harry
sighed. “Yes, I know. I caught what he said. I wont use the
Cruciatus again.”



“Thank
you.”



“You
don’t
have to thank me. Not here.”



Draco
smiled dejectedly and leaned against him. “Well, what will be
my punishment?”



Harry
turned him around. “We could use this. Think about what would
happen if I were
really furious. Furious enough to seriously hurt you.”



Draco’s
heartbeat sped up in a mixture of fear and excitement. “I
guess I would need
healing potions. You’d have to call Severus up here so he can
administer them.”



“Yes.”



Draco
closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Do it.”



Harry
gently caressed him. “The healing potions will cure the
wounds. I wont do more
than necessary.”



Draco
nodded trembling. “Kiss me. It’ll make it
easier.”



***



Severus’
POV



Severus
had
gone to sleep immediately. The coffee had helped him staying awake for
some
time but now he was completely overwrought. He wasn’t asleep
for long when he
felt the chain loosening from his collar. Someone shook him.



“Wake
up!”
a squeaking voice cried in ear-splitting volume. “Severus
must wake! Harry Potter
says he needs potions. Harry Potter needs potions immediately, this
instant!”



Severus
took a moment to get his bearings. Then he sat up groaning and stared
at the
dithering house elf. “Which potions does he need?”



Probably
just one of Potter’s ways to torture him. He staggered into
the lab.



“Skele-Grow,
Blood Replenishing, Heal-All …” the house elf
fired off.



His
sleep-muddled brain took a moment to register what kind of potions they
were,
all the while taking them from the shelves. “What does he
need them for?” he asked worriedly.



“Harry Potter
didn’t
say,“ the elf cried. “Severus must hurry, quick,
quick!”



“Yes,
I’m
coming.” He hastened behind the elf, anxious of what he might
find.



The
sight
upon entering the bedroom confirmed his worst expectations.
“Draco!” he cried
out and hurried up to the unconscious body of his godson. He was naked
and his
back, like the sheets beneath him, was coloured red from blood.



“There
you
are, finally.” Potter snapped and slammed the door shut.



“Draco.”
Severus repeated.



His
godson
lifted his head and smiled weakly. “It’s not as bad
as it looks. Harry,
could you please …”



Without
comment, Potter waved his wand and the blood disappeared.



Some
welts
were left on Draco’s back and lower arms. “I could
use some Heal-All, Severus,“
he said.



Perplexed
Severus handed him the vial. Draco took a few sips and the welts healed
leaving
white scars. He smiled again. “Thank you.”



Potter
sat
with him. He wore just a short bathrobe. “Are you feeling
better, Dragon?”



Draco
turned to him and kissed him. “Yes, don’t
worry.”



Severus
watched the two of them incredulous. “What …
what’s going on?”



Potter
fluttered a smile. “As Draco told you already, the house is
under surveillance
of the Ministry. This room and the adjoining bathroom, though, are
shielded.
Only as long as the door is open are they able to see what’s
going on here.”



“Harry
bought you because I asked him to find a way to get you out of
Azkaban.” Draco
explained while reaching for a second bathrobe to dress himself. As
soon as he
finished tying the sash Potter pulled him close and wrapped his arms
around his
waist.



“Harry?”
Severus gasped. He could hardly believe his ears.



Draco
grinned. “Since we’re sleeping with each other I
didn’t feel it was fitting to
keep calling him Potter. Don’t you agree?”



He
opened
his mouth and closed it.



Potter
took
pity on him. He waved his wand to conjure up a chair. “Sit
down...” He
hesitated for a moment. “…Severus. We’ll
explain it to you.”



***



When
the
two of them had finished, Severus regarded them for a while in silence.
They
obviously got along – almost like equals, not master and
servant. Draco had
changed, but that was to be expected after all that had happened.



Severus
wasn’t happy with the situation, quite the contrary, but he
wasn’t a fool
either. Potter had done what he could to help the both of them. Maybe
he could
have done more at one point or another. But who could say if he would
have
achieved as much as he had that way? He walked a fine line –
if the Ministry
found out that he betrayed them, it would end badly for all of them.
Percy
Weasley was much more dangerous than Fudge ever could have been,
because he was
intelligent. He might be more than a little insane – the
facts clearly pointed
that way – but the Dark Lord had been, too. It
didn’t make him less dangerous,
quite the opposite. Perhaps Potter had chosen the only possible way
– he gave
them what they wanted, courted them and achieved what he wanted at the
same
time. In his years as spy, Severus had done the same. It
wasn’t a pleasant
strategy, for none of the participants, but it was successful.



The
question was, did he want to play the game? The past few days had been
a good
indication what that would mean. Severus didn’t harbour any
illusions that it
would get better. Potter would do what was expected of him from the
Ministry.
It meant pain and humiliation for him. Still, it wasn’t
Azkaban. Severus hadn’t
lied to Draco, he was at the end of his endurance. The dementors might
be gone
from Azkaban. That still didn’t make the place pleasant. The
guards took every
chance they got to torture the prisoners. They were Death Eaters, after
all,
and didn’t deserve any different, did they? The food was
inedible and even the
sleeping place Potter had created seemed luxurious compared to the
cells there.



Severus
had
never anticipated becoming a celebrated hero but he had trusted
Dumbledore
enough that he didn’t expect to end up in Azkaban. The
thought Dumbledore
could die simply never crossed his mind. Looking back, he regretted his
easy
acceptance of the almighty appearance of the old man and where it had
led him.
But what had happened couldn’t be changed. There was no point
in crying over
spilled milk. If being a slave was his fate then he would have to live
with it.
He’d never been someone to give up easily. If Draco, the
arrogant and spoilt
Malfoy could live with it, he certainly could, too. After all, there
was still
a slight chance that some day the law would be changed and he would be
pardoned. Severus didn’t keep high hopes at that but it would
be stupid to
completely write it off.



Severus
had
never liked Potter, but during the preparations for the last battle,
he’d
developed some kind of respect for him. He’d seen how
determined the boy had
become after the fall of the Weasleys. That had led him to the
realization that
Potter wasn’t like his father. When they took him to Azkaban
Severus had felt
betrayed by him. They had told him of Dumbeldore’s death so
he knew that Potter
had to be responsible for the inactivity of the Order. It was easy to
slip back
into his old hatred. Though, as he now saw the man together with Draco
he
couldn’t find that feeling anymore. He still didn’t
like him. But in a way he
could accept, that, like him, Potter didn’t have a choice in
many things. So,
could he accept him as his master?



Severus
didn’t delude himself into believing his slavery would just
be a part for him
to play. There would be times when he could talk to Draco freely,
without
having to fear punishment. But that about was it. Potter might perceive
it
differently but they were slaves. From Draco’s behaviour, he
could tell that
his godson knew that too.



Potter
buried his face in Draco’s hair in a childish attempt to
avoid Severus’ gaze.
His godson met his look expressionless while stroking
Potter’s head with one
hand. His sleeve had slipped up so Severus could see the scars on his
arm
clearly. The pattern indicated that he had held his arms above
his head
while Potter whipped him. It must have been a magical whip, otherwise
the
Heal-All wouldn’t have left scars. Dark magic was needed to
conjure up that
kind of whip. And it was painful, Severus knew from experience.
But
maybe Potter had just hexed the wounds to make it appear that way. He
really
hoped so.



Potter
was
cruel. Not in the childish and thoughtless way Severus had accused him
of when
he was still his student. No, truly cruel. He had enough imagination to
lead
the Ministry into believing doubtlessly that he enjoyed hurting and
humiliating
his slaves. How much of that was only an act? Severus believed Draco
when he
told him Potter felt guilty for hurting him. But he was familiar with
the kind
of guilt that would arise only when the deed was done. Potters guilt
wouldn’t
keep him from doing it again. There was only so much sadism one could
fake. How
much of what Potter did was for the sake of the Ministry? How much was
for his
own? Did Severus really want to surrender himself to that kind of
person?
Potter would beat him senseless and apologize 
profusely afterwards.
Maybe he
was better off if he could hate his torturers without reservation.



Severus
rubbed his forehead tiredly. In truth, he’d already decided.
He wouldn’t leave
Draco alone. He could live this way, he knew that. True, he’d
been a proud man.
But the greatest part of that pride he’d left behind when he
surrendered to
Dumbledore. His malicious behaviour towards Dumbledore’s
cronies, who detested
him, was just a fight for the shards of something he knew deep inside
he’d lost
long ago. He’d never gained the respect and deference
he’d always wished for.
Once he’d thought serving the Dark Lord would give him what
he longed for. But
that had been the hope of a fool. He’d been a scorned child
that became a
scorned man. He had existed to serve a purpose for it’s own
sake, knowing there
wasn’t anything in it for himself. Dumbledore’d
always tried to convince him
that it could be different. But Dumbledore had been deluded in many
ways. He
had believed in the inherent goodness in every human. Severus knew it
didn’t exist.
His father, his schoolmates, his colleagues, the whole Wizarding World,
they
all taught him that. He’d been hating his life for a long
time. In the end, it
really didn’t make a difference.



“So,
what
do you expect from me, Master Potter?” he finally asked.



Potter
winced slightly. “You don’t have to call me that,
Severus.”



“How
would
you want me to call you?” he asked, oddly amused.



Pottered
stared at him with his impossible green eyes. “How about
Harry?”



Severus
laughed. Surprising how exhilarating it suddenly was, after making his
decision. The two boys – they might be adults, but for him
they still were boys
– stared at him, incredulous. He suspected they’d
never before seen him laugh.
He took a deep breath. It was relieving. “Only if you order
me to.”



Potter
eyed
him, puzzled. “I don’t understand
…”



Severus
shook his head. “Oh, come on. It’s not that
difficult. Even a simple mind like
yours should be able to figure it out.”



It
was fun
to insult Potter like he used to. He knew Potter wouldn’t
retaliate, at least
not right now.



Potter
cocked his head. “As you wish.” He settled against
the headboard pulling Draco
up with him so he leaned against him. “I’ll tell
you the same I told Draco. You
know what we can do and what not. I will consider your opinion
regarding our
situation so we can make your life bearable. Do you agree with your
clothes,
the food, your sleeping place? Is there something I can give you to
make it
easier for you? I know about your conversation concerning the
Cruciatus. Of course
I wont use it anymore.”



“It
would
be good if I could have some potions for myself. Dreamless Sleep,
something
against headache or Pepper-Up for instance.”



Potter
nodded and grinned wryly. “No-one should say I’m
more heartless than
Voldemort.”



Severus
laughed without humour. “About food …
I’ll never eat from your hand. Maybe you
could give me something a little less dull? Leftovers from the day
before,
perhaps?”



Potter
nodded again. “Not just yet, but in time, sure.”



“About
the
sleeping place … I take it there is a purpose for the lack
of light in my
chamber?”



“Yes,
it is
to remind you of Azkaban.”



Draco
winced and threw an accusing glare at Potter.



“I
assumed
as much.” Severus said calmly. It was pretty obvious.
“Isn’t it
counterproductive to allow me the open door with the light on in the
lab?”



“It
helps
you sleep.” Potter replied unmoved. Severus surmised he would
answer exactly
the same to a Ministry Officer asking this question. “Look at
it as a luxury
you’ll lose if you annoy me.”



Severus
nodded curtly. Supposedly together with some other so-called
privileges, he
added silently.



“Have
you
decided how you will punish me in the future?”



“You
have a
suggestion?”



Severus
thought about it. Not the whip. The Ministry expected him to be treated
worse
than Draco. He had distaste for spells. Most of them had some nasty
side
effects. The same applied to other magical forms of punishment. If not
magical
than it had to be humiliating. Painful, too. He knew himself. He would
provoke
his punishment if he didn’t fear it at least to some extent.
That would only
lead to Potter being cruel by himself. Better to avoid it from the
beginning.



“Caning.”
he answered. “Take a hard cane that can break bones if
administered hard
enough. Not that you really should break my bones, but it should be
possible.
Order me to pull my robe up to my shoulders and to crawl on all fours
before
you beat me. That should be humiliating enough.”



Potter
lifted his eyebrows slightly surprised. Draco looked down but
didn’t show any
reaction. “Agreed.” Potter gently pushed Draco away
and rose. “I’ll take a bath
so you two can talk a little.”



***



They
regarded each other after the door had closed after Potter. There were
so many
things Severus wanted to ask Draco but he didn’t know where
to begin.



“Are
you
happy?” he asked finally. “At least a
little?”



Draco
stared at him then he laughed abrasive. “No.” he
said, taking a deep breath.
“No, I’m not. Please, don’t tell Harry,
he’s trying so hard … as far as he
understands.”



Severus
looked at him sadly. It wasn’t a surprising answer even if he
had hoped for a
different one. Merlin knew, he wished Draco to be happy. “Do
you care for him?”
he asked hesitantly.



Draco
thoughtfully laid his head back. “Yes.” he finally
answered. “Who knows, it might
just be a psychological thing …I’ve read about it,
I think, in one of those
muggle books Harry’s always dragging here. I don’t
want it to be something like
that. I wish that what I feel for him is real.” For a moment,
there was a very
lost look in Draco’s eyes. “He says he loves me. I
don’t believe I love him.
I’m his slave … how could I?” Obviously
unconsciously, he pulled on his collar.
When he realized what he was doing, he smiled unhappily and lowered his
hand.
“I’m unable to love him,” he repeated
softly.



“For
now.”
Severus nodded understandingly. He couldn’t tell if
Draco’s feelings were serious
or just the result of the situation. It was absolutely possible that
he’d just
talked himself into believing that he felt something for Potter. In the
end, it
didn’t really matter if it made his life easier. They were in
a hopeless
situation and in Draco’s case, it could be beneficial to have
feelings for his
master.



Draco’s
gaze went far away. “Maybe forever. I still can wish to make
him happy, and I
do. How fitting for a slave, don’t you think?” He
sounded bitter. “On the other
hand, Father always said Malfoys are never anything but
perfect.”



Severus
slightly shook his head at Draco’s cynicism. “There
are worse things than being
a slave.”



Draco
came
back from his thoughts and smiled, a real smile this time. “I
know, Severus. I
just wish the Ministry wouldn’t observe us.”



“That’s
something we can’t change.”



“Maybe
Harry could change it. I would obey him, you know, even without
punishment.”



Severus’
brow rose. “Without the surveillance?”



Draco
shrugged. “Surveillance or not, it doesn’t change
what I am.” He rubbed his
chest where the Potter crest was branded. “But Harry
wouldn’t want it anyway,
so it’s a waste point to think about it.”



***



After
the
first few days, they quickly developed a routine. Severus spent his day
with
brewing potions, sometimes assisted by Draco. The house had a garden
that was
surrounded by high hedges and had a small greenhouse. It was part of
his
responsibilities to grow and harvest the plants there that he needed
for his
potions. Luckily, he’d always been good in herbology.



Draco
worked in the house most of the time and took care of Harry’s
needs whenever he
was home.



Severus
was
banned to the basement whenever they had guests. He didn’t
care, just the
opposite. He was glad that he didn’t have to serve strangers.



Potter
seldom found reason to punish him. Severus hated when it happened but
he could
live with it. He put the weight back on that he’d lost in
Azkaban. He felt healthy
and content to some extent. He got used to his duties like he got used
to the
collar around his neck. A part of him loathed it but the greater part
resigned
himself to it.