Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 42

Harry sat silently staring at his reflection in the mirror, as he dabbed the wet corner of the face washer on his nose trying to remove the splatters of blood without causing himself more pain. His nose was definitely broken and had swollen so much that it hurt even to breath. Harry wasn’t sure how long Draco and Snape had been gone but when he heard the click of the door opening and closing he prepared himself for the worst. Having sat and thought about what he’d done Harry became acutely aware that he hadn’t been very sympathetic towards Draco’s season. The blonde had gone out of his way to help Harry through his own, the boy’s patience hardly wavering. Yet Harry had been no help at all to Draco and it made him feel so unbelievably guilty.

Harry listened to the soft footfalls on the floor outside in the bedroom. There was a muttering of voices and then the soft rustle of sheets as someone was put to bed. Harry heard the curtains being drawn about the four-poster and silently lowered his head to his chest as he heard someone approach the bathroom door and stop on the threshold of the entrance. Harry knew it was Snape, the man’s scent despite being slightly masked beneath the aftershave he’d used before the party still engulfed Harry’s senses sending the pleasant shudder rippling through his spine.

“Is he alright?” Harry whispered as he finally dared to glance up into the mirror to look at Snape’s reflection still standing in the doorway.

“As well as someone might be having been practically raped.” Snape replied coldly his eyes never leaving Harry’s in the reflection of the mirror. Harry swallowed nervously having not quite realized that what had taken place up the hall had been essentially rape. Sure Snape was a violent lover and he was forceful but Draco and Harry had always been willing, at least to the extent where their instincts wanted it. “You’ve broken your nose.” Snape muttered changing the subject without offering any explanation to his previous comment regarding Draco. Harry nodded silently and held his breath as Snape stepped up behind him and firmly took his face between his palms to inspect the damage. Harry closed his eyes automatically as Snape ran his thumb down the bridge of his broken nose causing Harry to wince in pain. With Harry’s face still cupped in his right hand Snape removed his wand from the sleeve of his robe and with a whispered incantation mended the broken bones. Harry breathed out heavily thankful he could breath now without pain. Snape didn’t move away from Harry and instead let the boy rest his head against his stomach as he gently brushed his fingers through the boy’s unruly mop of hair. “You’re not well.” Snape breathed out calmly his own irritations of the last few weeks finally beginning to make sense as he channeled his Inferei’s ill health.

“I’m just…” Harry trailed off not really knowing how to describe how he felt. He was hungry all the time, but what he was being offered wasn’t what he wanted. He was uncomfortable in any position he slept in or sat, more often than not he was too hot, and to make matters worse he felt fat, sick to the stomach and most surprisingly he felt neglected.

“I know, I feel it too but there is little I can do about it at present. Until such time as we can establish our own place I must dedicated most of my time to ensuring our safety. Voldemort has once again become interested in our kind and we must stay vigilant to avoid detection. Draco’s season coming at this point is also inconvenient, but it is just something we must conquer. Another week and he should be ready then we may get back to some normality.” Harry nodded quietly as Snape reached down and placed a soft hand on the slight bulge of his little stomach. As if in sympathy Harry’s stomach rumbled in emptiness and Snape sighed heavily. “Tomorrow I will hunt, you will not feel well unless you feed regularly. I will also have Lucius’ house elves begin making you some larger winter robes.”

“Thank-you Severus.” Harry whispered submissively as Snape sighed and pushed him away.

“Now go to bed and we will forget your punishment for this evening. I have had a trying day.” Harry couldn’t help but be disappointed as Snape dismissed him coldly. With a nod Harry reluctantly left Snape in the bathroom and having stripped naked climbed through the curtains drawn around the bed and up under the covers. It was going cold in the room with no fire and so Harry scooted up closer to Draco who automatically snuggled back against him. Harry smiled to himself weakly as he nuzzled Draco’s neck. Perhaps their friendship wasn’t irreconcilable and Harry was determined to be more sensitive to Draco for the next few weeks.

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The darkened figure watched silently as the group stalked past him hiding in the shadows. There were five altogether a small number but well armed. He’d tracked them from their apparition point to here their sweet scent of warmth and fear picked up on the wind. As of yet they hadn’t detected his presence giving him the upper hand. It had been such a long time since he’d allowed himself the thrill of doing this but he’d easily fallen back into a routine. The group paused by an abandoned shop front to take a break, dropping the guard a little to check a map one of them carried. He’d chosen his target wisely, a young Auror among the group he was thin, muscled and healthy. Despite the training the young Auror was new and unprepared for his outing into hell and would make easy pickings for the shadowed hunter. It was simply a case of drawing him apart from the group and then striking quickly before the others could be alerted. Taking his wand from beneath the cover of his cloak the shadow flicked it easily at a tree that lined the shopping street. Instantly the tree erupted into flame and the four elder Auror’s jumped to attention and ran over to where the tree was burning. His target predictably wasn’t as quick as his elder counterparts and was slow off the mark. Before he could get up and run too the shadow had swooped down on him, cutting off the scream that would have spilled from the youngsters mouth. The knife from his boot sliced easily through the soft skin of the youth’s neck his death quick and painless. With the knife wedged between his teeth to leave his hands free, he quickly tore open the boy’s chest the heart muscle still pumping the crimson liquid through the already lifeless body. It was easy enough to cut an artery and let the contracting muscles fill nine of the empty vials he’d stowed in his cloak. The sound of the dead Auror’s colleagues drew his attention. They were returning for him and it was time to leave. With his hands bloodied he slipped the precious vials of fluid into his cloak and having replaced the knife into his boot disappeared back into the shadows with a swirl of his robes and a satisfied smile.

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“Sip it Potter it’s not pumpkin juice.” Snape snapped irritably as he cut into his own rare steak. Unlike the other three sitting around the large dining table Harry had no specific meal and instead sat with a large crystal wine glass its crimson liquid chilled to just the right temperature to drink. Draco looked at Harry enviously as the boy sipped obediently from his wine glass enjoying the tangy metallic tartness that filled his stomach with pleasant warmth.

“Do you have to feed them at the table Severus.” Lucius muttered as he watched Harry lick his blood stained lips eager not to waste a drop of the fluid. Snape smiled darkly up at Lucius the elder Malfoy pushing his meal away in disgust hardly touched.

“No but it’s polite to share at least one meal a day with your host.” Snape returned sharply as Lucius stood up and left the table to get himself a glass of wine. Since they’d first arrived at the manor Lucius had ignored his son’s very existence but Snape wasn’t about to let his guard down. Given an opportunity Lucius would have his son’s head on a stake. Draco knew this too the boy consciously sitting further away from his father and going out of his way to avoid meeting him in the corridors of the manor.

“You will be attending the summons this eve Severus?” Lucius threw casually over his shoulder as he moved into the study leaving Snape to follow having finished his own meal.

“I see no reason not to Lucius. Why? Are you afraid I will take some of your spotlight now I have returned?” Rising from the dinning table Severus picked up his own unfinished glass of wine and moved through into the study, clipping Harry hard on the back of the head where the boy was licking up what remained of his meal in the goblet. Draco snorted in amusement as Harry poked his tongue out at Snape’s back it was the first meal he’d had when he’d felt full and he was going to be damned if he left a drop of it in the bottom of the cup.

“Don’t speak such nonsense Severus you know as well as I his favorites change from week to week depending on his mood. We neither of us are safe for long.” Lucius replied as he eyed Draco dangerously as the boy presumptuously sat himself down next to Snape on the lounge. Snape glared at Draco but the blonde ignored him and casually picked up a book that he’d been reading earlier. Draco was pushing his luck with his season; using his power over Snape to it’s full potential. It had only been a week since Snape had forced him into the witches rooms but since then the elder potions master has forced him to do very little else. Snape wasn’t still sleeping in the bathtub but he was sticking to his own side of the bed leaving Draco well alone. Harry had tried to be patient with Draco all week even biting his tongue when the blonde insulted him on more than one occasion. Despite his tolerance however Harry desperately wished for it to be over and soon. Harry was the last to wander into the study feeling pleasantly full and content. Lucius glanced at Harry in almost disgust before turning back to Snape sitting on the couch. “Can you send them elsewhere Severus, there are things we need to discuss about tonight’s meeting.” Harry glared at Lucius the wizard hating to be in the same as the two younger Elith-furatu. Snape stared pointedly at Lucius but cordially nodded.

“Draco take Harry and show him the manor. Lucius and I shall be leaving soon so do not go outside.” Draco grumped his disapproval and threw his book down on the side table in disgust as he glared at his father.

“You’re a prick you know that don’t you.” Draco spat irritably at his father before turning his nose up at Snape. Harry was a little shocked that Draco dared be so defiant but before either of them could face the wrath of Snape, Draco had grabbed Harry’s arm and was dragging him from the room. Draco had already shown Harry the most interesting parts of his family home but Harry was sure there was more to look at. Harry didn’t really get a chance to see where he was being dragged to but was surprised when Draco led him out through a courtyard and into a large dome shaped auditorium. Harry was stunned as Draco flicked his wand at the glass walls, a ring of torches igniting instantly to reveal a beautiful glistening lap pool sunken into the tiled floor. “Well don’t just stand there let’s swim. Those two will be gone for hours if it’s a big meeting.” Draco snapped still clearly irritated as he stripped off naked and dived beneath the surface of the water. Eagerly Harry followed hopping and jumping about as he ditched the last of his clothing and jumped in knowing that a swim was better than any massage or relaxation charm.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Just a quicky until I get my day off tomorrow then I promise lots of pretty HP sex and perhaps a little pain....

Cheers and thanks for all the reviews, they\'re really appreciated.

RIFFRAFF