Where Lies Will Not Blossom

Author: Akumu Suta-Raito

Fandom: Harry Potter

Rating: R (Adult)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst, H/C

Pairing: Harry/Draco

Warnings: Language, Anal, Explicit Torture, Disturbing imagery.

Summary: HD Dark Epic. 'A single tear found its way down his cheek, hidden by his death-mask.' In the summer before sixth year, Draco Malfoy attended a Dark Revel. It wasn't what he expected.
Author’s Note: This chapter is intended to make up for the rather short chapter last time. Hopefully this one is to your enjoyment; the story has been moving at a snails pace, but now it starts to pick up. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback – you guys are the reason I write! Tell me what you think about this chapter.

Chapter Four: According to Plan

Severus focused on his task, not allowing the myriad of expressions directed towards him sway his goal: getting Draco to safety. Or as safe as one could be in the presence of so many bumbling, idiotic fools – Gryffindors. Of course, the same idiocy (or heroism, as one could point out) that he criticized would allow him to convince most of the Order that conducting this rescue mission was the only option. Only the most obstinate Order members were likely to protest rescuing someone who nearly became a Death Eater.

Looking at Mad-Eye Moody’s suspicious expression and swiveling eye, Severus immediately put him in the ‘obstinate’ group.

Standing in the far corner of the room was Lupin, fitting right into his plans. While he was aware that Black was too sick to attend meetings (thank the gods) and Potter was still considered a child by most of the Order, he had access to them both through Lupin. It was quite fortunate that he was dealing with the most reasonable of the three.

This didn’t mean Severus actually liked the wolf; however, he was tolerated.

“Severus, dear,” Severus grimace, unable to understand why Molly Weasley insisted on applying that affectionate term to him; he was most certainly not her dear, “is something the matter? Has something happened on the Death Eater front?”

Of course something had happened, did she think he called the meeting to twiddle his thumbs and offer them some tea?

As Severus opened his mouth to reply, the Floo flared loudly and he at once felt the presence of powerful magic he was dreadfully and unfortunately familiar with.

Finally, Albus is here. Hopefully he can keep his insane grandfather act to the bare minimum; I am not in the disposition to deal with his ridiculousness.

Albus walked, swept more like, into the cramped dining space. He was wearing what might have been a respectable royal blue robe – if little twinkling stars on the hems of it weren’t randomly bursting in song. Despite this, all eyes roved to him for guidance, understanding, and approval.

Severus lifted his eyes to the ceiling and prayed that he would have the patience.

Before Albus would have a chance to get into full twinkling-eyes stride, Severus decided to get down to business, so to speak.

“A number of days ago my presence was required by the Dark Lord,” Severus sneered as a few people tried to conceal their shudders, “at a Dark Revel.”

Even more shudders accompanied this statement; everyone knew what went on at such a meeting – the torture of some poor victim, a muggle usually. Those who did not flinch glared at him accusingly, implying he had in some way gained enjoyment from said torture.

The fools.

Severus stared them down unflinchingly, using the expression usually reserved for students who dared to ask stupid questions during a lecture. Needless to say, no one commented on the statement.

“This Revel, however, was an initiation ceremony – I wasn’t informed beforehand. This prospective Death Eater would have been admitted into the Inner Circle, close to my own position.” Sneers accompanied this statement; everyone was waiting for the name of the newest high ranking Death Eater. No one had noticed the fact that he said ‘would have.’

Noticing the ever present twinkling in Albus’ eyes, he amended that to almost everyone.

Julius Smith, who happened to be even more obnoxious than his son, began to say something that would have no doubt been a sad attempt at sarcasm.

“Only the Inner Circle was present for this revel, a muggle girl was capture for ‘entertainment.’ The recruit was reluctant to join in the torture – I tried to cover him, but the Dark Lord noticed it almost immediately. There is little that escapes His notice. He demanded that the recruit kill the muggle girl –”

“Are you getting to a point, Snape, because I don’t see how any of this is relevant to us? The wannabe Death Eater killed the girl, the end.” Smith now had a rather accomplished look on his face, not seeing the disapproving looks garnered his way by his fellow Order members.

“Save your condemnations until after I give my report, Smith. Perhaps if you could hold your tongue for more than a moment, you would discover that the girl did not, in fact, die by the recruit’s hand,” Severus hissed, unable to keep up the rather cordial air he had been putting on previously.

The comment effectively shut up Smith (although a silencing charm in his general direction would not have been remiss) and Severus saw it fit to continue.

“The recruit used the Killing Curse on a nearby Death Eater and Apparated with the muggle girl, attempting to get her to safety. Bellatrix Lestrange is deceased –” The caused an uproar, the Weasley twins even seeing fit to high five one another. Lestrange’s death was quite the accomplishment; she was often revered as the Dark Lord’s most dangerous follower due to her insanity and manic loyalty to the tyrant Lord. Mentally Severus smirked; things were going as he had expected them to – now it was time to drop the bombshell.

“So they were able to escape?” Lupin stated this nearly inaudibly, but the question quieted everyone.

“No. The muggle girl was under a caster dependant curse that allowed the Dark Lord to stop her heart regardless of her distance from Him. The recruit… he was found hovering over her body, still trying to revive her. He currently resides in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor, undergoing endless torture for the death of Lestrange, and defiance of the Dark Lord.”

“You mean the poor thing is still there? Alive?” Molly Weasley looked properly horrified at the prospect, and Severus answered with a solemn nod.

“The poor dear,” she breathed quietly, looking close to tears. “We can’t just leave him there to suffer for doing the right thing. But, Malfoy Manor – how in the world could we even attempt to infiltrate such a place? Death Eaters must be all about it!”

Many people were nodding in agreement to Molly’s statement – things were nearly assured, now if only…

“We will come up with an effective plan, I am sure.”

Severus let out a barely concealed ‘whoosh’ of breath. Albus was consenting to a rescue attempt; thank the Gods.

“Sure ye should be doin’ that, Albus? The recruit is probably near dead already – we shouldn’t be wastin’ our man power with lost causes,” Moody growled out, his magical eye shifting across the room as if daring anyone to disagree with him.

“Forgive an old man for believing that no cause is lost, Mad-Eye,” Albus remarked softly. In another circumstance, Severus would have said a scathing reply to such a Gryffindor remark, but now it was this type of thinking that could save his godson’s life. Severus was far away from attempting to shatter Albus’ naïve delusions, this time.

“The courage to act against inhumanity at personal risk is a rare, precious trait. This recruit had to opportunity to make the worst mistake of his life. Instead, he chose to turn it into a moral triumph by refusing to murder an innocent, knowing that he was openly defying the most powerful Dark Lord in centuries. Such a sacrifice should not be ignored. As members of the Order of the Phoenix we have a duty to honor this sacrifice and remove the recruit from Malfoy Manor if possible.”

After this rather long-winded and ‘inspirational’ rebuttal to Moody’s skepticism, many seemed to agree with their leader. Lupin in particular seemed eager to be part of the rescue effort in his own quiet, inconspicuous manner.

Severus knew this was likely to be an uphill battle – there was still plenty to be done before they would be prepared to infiltrate one of Voldemort’s strongholds. But he couldn’t help but reassured that his godson’s actions against the Dark Lord were acknowledge and respected as they should be. Older men would have been unable to pull such daring heroics off – even if Draco perished before they could get to him, he would be honored.

It was the least he deserved.

“I wish I knew what was going on,” Sirius grumbled. Harry rolled his eyes, waiting for another round of the ‘I’m-perfectly-fine’ game. As much as he loved his godfather, Sirius could get quite exasperating after being confined to the same space for a large amount of time.

This would be the third day in a roll that Sirius whined about being stuck in bed, but there was nothing that could be done for it; it’s not as if there was another way for Sirius to get well. He just had to tolerate it until he was able to at least stand without aid.

More often than not, however, Harry wondered if Sirius merely felt uncomfortable with staying the same room for days at a time. Considering he was incarcerated for nearly twelve years, it was highly likely though Sirius wouldn’t probably admit it.

Harry disliked the idea of his godfather being reminded of Azkaban and resolved to try and be as patient with Sirius as possible, despite how much he acted like a brat.
“Don’t worry about it so much, Siri. It’s not like Remus is going to withhold Order information from you. He’ll probably come up and tell you as soon as the meet’s over.”

“If he decides to come up at all. He didn’t exactly leave on good terms, you know.”

“I’m sure Remus has forgiven you for being a bit short with you. He always was the mature one.”

Sirius nodded thoughtfully and stroked his chin although he no longer sported a beard. “Hm. I guess you’re right; Remi was never one to hold grudges any- hey! Are you saying I’m not mature? I’ll have you know I’m plenty mature!”

Harry raised an eyebrow, looking remarkably Slytherin for a moment. “Oh, really?”

Sirius huffed. “Yes, really!”

“So it wasn’t you who was making noises with his arm pits not 15 minutes ago?”

“Well…”

“And you didn’t giggle like a third year when Hermione was describing veela mating practices just two days ago?”

“… Whatever.”

“Or who tried to change the walls to bright blue and instead turned himself into a chicken when we told you not to use magic because yours was still a bit wonky from sickness?”

At this last statement Sirius replied with stoic silence, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting like a five year old. He was no doubt remembering how they had to fire-call Professor McGonagall because no one else had been able to sort Sirius’ self-transfiguration.

Harry snickered, laughing full blown when Sirius stuck out his tongue. “You just proved my point.”

In response Sirius blew a raspberry.

Harry was about to respond with a raspberry of his own when the door opened, and Ron came in.

“Hey Ron, what’s going on down there?”

“You’re guess is as good as mine mate, considering Mum still won’t let me join. Mind you Bill, Charlie and even the bloody twins have been sworn in! But no, not her little Ronni-kins,” Ron complained, imitating his mother’s tone nearly perfectly as he walked to the only other free armchair in the room, slouching as he sat down.

Ron, who had been over six foot tall at the end of fifth year, had grown even more. Harry couldn’t help but feel jealous even though his own growth spurt had left him just shy of six foot. Ron towered over everyone in Grimmauld Place, except for when Hagrid was visiting.

Despite his mother’s abhorrence for long hair, Ron had grown his hair in much of the same way that his brother Bill had down. Considering Molly had her sons on such short leashes (with the exception of Fred and George, because Harry couldn’t think anyone who could truly control the two pranksters) the small rebellion was quite the accomplishment. Harry mentally grinned as he recalled all of the times in just this week that Molly had mentioned cutting Ron’s hair.

After spending much of his time outside with Harry as they attempted to make sense of the overgrown forest of a backyard at Grimmauld place, Ron eventually acquired a tan instead of freckling. All in all, Ron was going into a handsome young man.

Harry shook himself out of his thoughts, wondering when he’d begin to notice his best friend’s physical attributes.

Harry flushed as Ron looked at him rather pointedly. Obviously he’d missed something and Ron was waiting for him to respond.

“Erm, sorry. What did you say?”

Ron signed in obvious exasperation. “I said that whatever’s going on, it’s got everyone up in arms from what I can tell. I asked if your scar had been hurting lately.”

Harry frowned thoughtfully. “Well, my scar hasn’t ached in a while, not since the whole Department of Ministry debacle to be honest,” he murmured glancing as his godfather, who had a rather pensive look on his face. No doubt, he was vainly trying to recall where he had been for all those months.

“We’ll just have to wait until Remus comes back up.”

At this Sirius piped in. “He might not say anything in front of you guys, considering you’re not Order members.”

“But that’s not fair! We’ve already battled the Death Eaters and it’s not like we’ll go around blabbing Order secrets – ”

Sirius held up a hand, stopping Ron’s rant. “Don’t I know it! I think you both, along with Hermione, should be allowed to join, and so does Remus. He knows you’re all mature enough to handle it, but he probably won’t say anything to respect your mum’s wishes. You known how Remus is about things like that,” Sirius remarked, a fond smile on his face.

Ron nodded gloomily. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Well, think of it this way… once we’re seventeen we can join and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

Ron snorted. “Speak for yourself. If I’m still living at the Burrow by that time she’ll make sure that I stay out of Order business.”

Harry winced. “That’s rough mate.”

At that moment, Hermione nearly ran into the room, her long braid waving behind her. “You’ll never believe what they’re discussing right now,” Hermione panted, eyes flashing excitedly.

Ron nodded back at her, a little dazed. Harry knew it had little to do with what she had to say, and more to do with her blue tank top. He rolled his eyes, wondering if he was cursed to constantly be surrounded by people who were plagued with chronic denial.

Then he furrowed his brows. “How do you know what they’re talking about? You’re not allowed down there during a meeting any more than we are.”

Hermione sighed, raised her right hand and Harry realized she was holding one of the twins’ Extendable Ears. “Professor Snape just came back from that Dark Revel we’re not supposed to know about,” at this she rolled her eyes, “and he was in such a hurry to call the meeting that no one warded the door. It was relatively easy to find out what they were saying. I can’t believe you guys didn’t even try!”

“Yeah, well it’s not like it matters since you did it for us.”

For a moment Harry thought Hermione was having an apoplectic fit. Grimacing, he wondered how Ron always knew exactly what to say to piss Hermione off. “You can’t simply expect I’ll be around to do everything for you, Ronald! I can’t believe how lazy you are.”

“Just because I don’t find it exciting to memorize the Goblin Confederation Code of Conduct doesn’t make me lazy – I’m normal. That’s more than I can say about you.” Ron then turned and looked at Harry. “Do you think it’s normal to get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning in the summer? Unnatural is what it is!”

“Just because I don’t waste my days away, waking up at noon, eating everything in sight –”

“Oy, I’m a growing boy!”

“Idiot, more like –”

“Hey, hey, guys cut it out,” Sirius exclaimed after watching them go at it for a while. As interesting as it would be to see Hermione transfigure Ron into a tea cozy, he doubted many others would be as amused.

For a moment, Ron and Hermione stared challengingly at one another, and Harry feared that another fight was about to break out. But slowly, they glanced away from each other and Hermione said, “Yes, well, as I was saying…”

TBC

P.S: Notice the way Snape didn’t give a name for the “recruit”? What a slippery fellow he is, huh? Lol!

Marea – Well, Draco will be experiencing the lasting affects of the torture for a while, but I won’t let him go completely insane. I promised that poor Draco will get rescued within the next few chapters. Thanks for the review; I’m glad you like it!

qwerty – Thanks for the complements, I’m really honored you like my writing. I really tried to put myself in Draco’s place and imagine the desperation and horror; I’m glad it came off realistic. I hope liked this chapter as well!

Camelia – I absolutely love the pairing. It’s practically canon anyway, but I didn’t want to have them in an established relationship after all that’s happened – I wanted to show them going through everything together and getting to a point where they can truly trust each other. Thanks for the review, and I hope you liked this chapter.

paigeey07 – Thanks for the review, I hope you continue to read the story!

thrnbrooke – Thanks for the review and I hope you liked the chapter!

Vittani – I’m really glad you liked the chapter; it was my shortest one yet, but I wanted to get it out there. Heh, I was so smug when I finished reading the last book. Most of my friends didn’t even want to bring it up in front of them; I was the only one of them that believed Snape was good. Most people fail to realize that being a bastard doesn’t mean that you’re an evil murdering bastard. Lol.

This chapter was difficult to write because it shows the actualization of Snape’s plan to get Draco rescued, but I think that it worked out in the end. It’s hard to write Snape, being as cunning as he is, because he’s way smarter than me! Yes, I thought Draco’s insanity was a nice way to end the chapter – but I don’t want him to get to far gone.

Yes, you’re right about Remus’ role in the books; it really irked me that he wasn’t given much importance. Then as soon as he seems to finally be happy, he dies in the war! Rowling is sadistic. Seriously.

Lol, I love your ramblings. It lets me know that my story has you interested and that’s a huge complement – don’t ever stop writing them! Thanks so much for the reviews!