Pet

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FOUR
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Walking several subservient steps behind him, Harry followed Lucius through a maze of hallways deep within Malfoy Manor. The white blond wizard had mentioned it was time for his weekly skin regimen so the younger wizard was not surprised that their destination was a spa and exercise area.

Intending to curl up into an out of the way corner, Harry was uneasy when Lucius shooed him toward the smaller of the two stout witches standing beside a table of towels, lotions and odd little devices Harry recognized as massage aids.

The slight wizard blushed deep crimson from the roots of his hair to the tops of his toes when she yanked off his dressing gown and examined him, her hands folded behind her broad hips.

“Well, isn’t he a tender little morsel?” she clucked. “What are your wishes, Lord Malfoy?”

Lucius, still in his dressing gown, gently stroked the hair on Harry’s forearm, tweaked at a sparse chest hair and caressed a lightly furred thigh. His knuckle ran down the slight stubble of Harry’s jaw.

“Remove it,” he said in a bored tone, a deliberate arch of an eyebrow halting the shocked sound of protest Harry was about to make.

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Harry stared sadly at his nearly hairless body reflected in the wall mirror, grateful that the witch had at least left him with some neatly trimmed pubic hair. Always small and somewhat delicately built, he had been so pleased to finally mature enough to have facial hair to shave, but with a charmed razor and an incantation to make it permanent, it was all gone. Even as a prepubescent twelve year old, he had looked more masculine than this.

The witch nodded toward a padded table, indicating he should lie down. With a towel draped over his backside, she spread a warm, fragrant oil into his newly shorn skin. Her strong hands massaged and kneaded his flesh until he was totally relaxed.

The second witch was busy with the older wizard, treating his skin with different concoctions before he too received a massage. Harry noticed wryly that Lucius still had his body hair.

Harry laid face down on the table, nearly asleep; he barely heard Lucius dismiss the witches. A cold hand ran the length of his now smooth calf.

“Roll over, Pet.” Lucius hissed and Harry obeyed without hesitation, pausing only to keep the towel covering his mid section. Almost affectionately, he brushed back the wild hair from the young wizard’s face and chastely kissed his forehead. His fingers toyed with a black cowlick.

“”Lost cause,” Harry whispered.

“We’ll see,” Lucius replied. “Put your hands over your head.”

Harry obeyed and jerked back in shock as his wrists were secured in thickly padded restraints. Lucius pulled Harry’s hips toward the foot of the table until his knees dangled off the edge. Stretched out flat, Lucius clasped another set of padded restraints around his ankles, fastening them to the table legs. A strap was fastened firmly across his chest and a companion strap just above his knees. Harry’s eyes shone in fear.

Lucius summoned Sally.

“Tell our esteemed guests that he’s been prepared for the ritual.”

The little house elf’s huge eyes flickered toward Harry.

“Yes, Master Malfoy.” She bowed and disappeared.

~*~*~*
Pain shot through Harry’s curse scar and he knew that Lord Voldemort had entered the spa. Hearing the footsteps of more than one person, Harry craned his neck, trying to tilt his head enough to see the room entrance. Pinned to the table, the only thing he could move was his head. Lucius had said he was prepared for ritual; what ritual, Harry wondered, trying desperately to control his mounting terror.

Severus moved into his line of vision. He set a small satchel on the table and began to extract several items. Harry could hear muffled conversation from at least three wizards and one witch. The witch’s voice he recognized as that of Narcissa Malfoy. Loudly, she voiced her disapproval and Harry heard her high heels clatter angrily down the hallway. Voldemort laughed.

Harry felt a quick squeeze of comfort on his shoulder as Severus mixed the contents of several vials together and carefully shook the vial to blend the layers. Severus’ potion stained fingers gently ran down Harry’s jaw and chest. With an amused smirk, he pulled up the sleeve of his own robe, revealing a hairless forearm; Harry returned the smile nervously. Severus’ eyes flickered to a spot beyond Harry’s range of vision and he dropped smoothly to his knees.

Harry fought to keep his eyes open in the face of the sharp pain Lord Voldemort’s touch sent through out his body. Voldemort’s spider like fingers ghosted down the slender form.

“So beautiful,” he murmured. “So like your mother.”

Voldemort reached over and caressed Severus’ sleek hair. “Jealous, Pet? Don’t be…Proceed with your preparations.”

Severus lifted the edge of the towel covering Harry and folded back a corner, exposing one bare hip only. He poured a bit of cool liquid onto the hip, massaging it from waist to knee. After a moment, he reapplied a second layer. Harry felt the skin grow slightly numb and the odor of antiseptic hung in the air. Harry’s eyes locked on Severus’ black orbs and saw compassion.

“Lucius, you wish to begin the ritual?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Severus held out a leather pouch containing several vials and odd drawing instruments. Voldemort selected a pen and marked a shape low on Harry’s hip; the quill nib almost tickled. The dark wizard uttered an incantation in a language that was not English or Parseltongue and one of the drawing instruments began to glow an eerie blue. When the point of the stylus touched the bare flesh, pain cut through the small wizard. He had never thought to feel anything more painful that the Cruciatus Curse, but this was tenfold worse.

Harry’s bound body began to convulse and he screamed.

~*~*~*
Lucius stroked Harry’s sweat slicked forehead in an effort to calm him. Breaths coming in ragged gasps, Harry whimpered when Severus began to sponge the blood and pigment from the new tattoo carved into the flesh of Harry’s hip and onto the pelvic bone as well. He covered it in gauze and taped it securely.

“I am sorry, Harry, but it has to heal the Muggle way. That’s part of the ritual. The bond must be made in pain. Try to keep it clean and dry and don’t remove the scabs that will form.”

Severus slipped a vial into Lucius’ hands. He glanced once more at Harry and then crossed the room and curled up beside Voldemort’s feet. The second wizard, who Harry saw for the first time, was dressed in official Ministry robes. Lucius was presented with a parchment which he read and affixed his family seal beside his signature. The ministry wizard presented Lord Voldemort with the parchment and left the room.

“Lucius,” the Dark Lord indicated the parchment. “It is time to complete the ritual. My pet and I will remain to witness it’s completion.”

“Severus, my lord?” Lucius questioned. “As much as I am honored to have my childhood friend as a witness, is his signature still acceptable?”

Voldemort petted Severus’ hair. “As my bound pet, perhaps not, but he is still a Potion Master and he shall sign in that capacity…. Proceed with the ritual, Lucius. You don’t want to keep your little beauty waiting…do try not to make him bleed too much.”

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