Blood Ties.

By the time the weekend came around, Harry knew he'd made the right decision in not trying out for Slytherin Seeker. The thrice-weekly Occlumency practices with Snape, constantly having to keep up his charade and his usual inability to get a good night's rest were draining enough out of him already. If he tried playing Quidditch, he'd likely fall off his broom in the middle of a game.

He made his way down to the pitch, eager to watch the try-outs, enjoying the fresh air and crisp autumn day, managing to set aside all of his worries and guilt. He choose a seat high in the stands, glad when none of the other Slytherins took notice of him and tried to join him, wanting to be able to just relax for a few hours.

Watching the other students as they zoomed around the pitch, artfully dodging Bludgers and scoring goals, set off an intense longing within him. He missed the rush of wind in his hair and the way everything seemed so much more focused during a game, not to mention the high of feeling your fingers close around the twitching, golden ball.

When a Bludger slammed into the chest of a slim 5th year girl with a long, black braid hanging down her back, he leapt to his feet and shouted angrily at the massive Beater who'd struck it.

"Do that again and I'll see you're kicked off the bloody team!"

He'd reacted without thinking and inwardly groaned as every eye in the stadium turned toward him, brows arching and smirks curling lips. He refused to look shame-faced, however, and instead cast a slow glance over the lot of them with a scowl.

"I wasn't aware you'd been named Captain, Potter."

Blaise called from the broom he was perched on, hovering before the central ring, amusement on his face. Of course, he was the Slytherin team Captain, and Harry had no grounds with which to make such threats.

"If I had, I can assure you I wouldn't allow my team mates to try killing one another before the first match was even played, Zabini."

Harry was shocked at how easily his retort came to him, wondering if he was becoming too comfortable in his 'guise.

"Perhaps I should make you Captain, and then you could give the orders while I focus on guarding the goals."

Blaise actually sounded thoughtful and he studied Harry curiously before nodding with a lazy smile.

"I'll discuss it with Professor Snape, see what he thinks of the idea. It has merit, I'm sure you agree?"

Harry blinked in surprise, actually finding quite a bit of merit in the idea, and he nodded once firmly, knowing Snape would jump at the chance to give his team an advantage over the others.

~~:~~

"He actually called Albus Dumbledore a doddering old man?"

Harry was once more in the large room, watching the slender figure he knew to be Draco as he made his report to Voldemort, gazing down on him with a sense of dread. The sly voice that slipped through his lips turned his stomach, as did the knowledge of the creature's pleasure over the information.

"Yes, My Lord. Apparently he feels betrayed by him, and has decided that he will make his own decisions from now on. So far these decisions seem to be leading him into concurrence with our own views."

The low hiss of delight that whispered from Voldemort's throat set Harry's teeth on edge, and he longed to free himself from the vision before the inevitable conclusion. He was trapped, however, and could only watch helplessly as the cruel fingers curled, beckoning to Draco.

"Very good, Draco. You have earned your reward."

Revolted, Harry watched Draco stride forth and kneel at Voldemort's feet, bowing his head and pushing back his hood so the long, white fingers could caress his pale blonde hair.

"Do you want your Master's favor, Draco?"

The insidious whisper seemed to hang in the air like a noxious gas, and he stared down at the kneeling boy, feeling as if he would go mad if he had to watch any more.

"Yes, Master. Please, fuck me."

Harry bit his bottom lip hard to silence a scream as he was finally released from the vision, tasting blood and shuddering. He stumbled from his bed and through the dorm to the bathroom, shutting the door and managing to cast a Silencing spell before he collapsed in front of the toilet and heaved up the contents of his stomach.

When his stomach finally stopped trying to leap out of his body by way of his throat, he flushed and fell over, sobbing harshly into the cold stone floor. He was glad he hadn't had to endure the actual rape, but felt that he had little right to be so glad, as Draco was enduring far worse at that very moment.

That thought brought him back around and he shoved all revulsion and guilt down as he rose to his feet, padding over to wash his face with cold water, knowing he had to be ready when Draco returned. It probably wasn't prudent to try and help at this point, but he couldn't allow Draco to struggle with this all on his own.

~~:~~

He was back in bed and waiting when Draco returned, and without even being asked, the blond walked over and climbed up onto the bed with him. He closed the curtains and cast the spell, then merely stared silently at Draco as he tried to think of what to say.

"Are you injured?"

Draco drew his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them, hugging his legs as he stared down at his toes, shaking his head.

"He always heals me afterward. I guess he doesn't want to risk killing me, not when I'm bringing him such good news."

Harry sighed at the bitterness in Draco's voice, not even thinking before he reached to gently guide him over into his lap, hugging him and stroking his hair.

"I wish there was something I could do to help you, Draco."

After a brief resistance, Draco leaned into him, closing his eyes and seeming to take comfort from the gentleness.

"You could go back to the way you were."

Harry shook his head, knowing Snape was probably going to kill him for this, and pressed a kiss to the top of Draco's head, whispering.

"No, I can't. If I do that, we both know he'll kill you and your parents, start torturing and killing my friends to get to me, and probably kill me, then the whole world will be under his control."

Draco shivered and pressed closer, releasing his legs to hug Harry, head tilting back to stare up at him in surprise.

"You...You're still you? All of this has just been an act to make him think you're coming over to his side, so you can get close enough to kill him and keep everyone else safe?"

He stared down into those hope-filled, silver eyes and lifted a hand to stroke Draco's cheek, wondering why he felt so protective of the blond boy, why he wanted so badly for him to know that he wasn't the cold, unfeeling bastard he was pretending to be.

"Exactly. Draco, you can't let him realize this. If he catches any hint of my deception, he'll kill everyone and then everything will be...hell."

Draco tilted his head into Harry's touch, eyes flittering closed with a quiet sigh, a little tremble flickering through his body. His arms tightened around the brunette and he let loose a single, wrenching sob.

"Thank you, Harry. Oh, God...Thank you!"