Fragile Blossoms

Title: Fragile Blossoms
Author: shenanifan
Rating: NC-17 (for later chapters)
Genre: Romance, Angst, Smut
Pairing: Draco/Harry
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy et al are fictional characters created by J.K. Rowling as part of the Harry Potter series. I don't make any money from it.
Warnings: Language, M/M, warnings will change for later chapters, WIP

A/N: This is my last update before the new book is released. I´m sorry but I just can´t concentrate on two different timelines, as sad as it is...
I hope you accept my apologies as I´m giving you a longer chapter than the last ones as compensation. *puppyeyes*

Thank you again for your lovely encouraging reviews!

ZooArmy; kittycat30: I hope the happier moments will come soon but I have to get a few things set first!

MyLittleFerret: I agree. Harry may seem daft, but I think sometimes it´s just easier to ignore unpleasant truths than to accept the obvious. But you are ahead of my story, you may like the ending of this chapter! *lol*


So enough of that, on with the story. Enjoy!


Chapter V

Harry was in a very bad mood the next day at breakfast.
“Harry, what’s up mate? When you go on frowning that badly your brows`ll get stuck!” Ron asked across the table in the Great Hall.
“Nothing.”
“Harry,” Hermione chimed in “you’ve been so happy those last weeks, what happened? You know you can talk to us about anything! Does your scar hurt again?”
“No! It’s not my scar. Honestly it’s no big deal. I just had a bad dream I guess. I’ll be fine, don’t worry. See you at class.” With that he stormed out of the Great Hall eager to avoid any more questions, leaving his two confused and worried friends behind.

Outside the Hall he came to an abrupt stop as he slammed into another person who seemed just about to enter the Hall. When he straightened his glasses and looked at the other person he saw Draco Malfoy looking at him with a haunted expression, thinner than ever and his usually pale complexion looking quite grey. Happy to at last have someone he could turn his rage and frustration onto he violently shove Malfoy out of his way. “Sod off, Malfoy!”
He wanted an insult just a tiny reaction from his nemesis so he could happily punch him in the face, but when he heard Malfoy’s answer he was struck dumb and stood mouth agape as if his world just stopped turning.
“Sorry, Potter.”
Draco Malfoy the Slytherin Prince apologized to Him, Harry James Potter for being run over by the same! That just wasn’t right; he must have finally gone mental.
“What was that?”
“I am sorry, Potter. And now I would like to get some breakfast. If you would excuse me.”

Harry stood there, outside the doors, not able to move a limb and his jaw hanging open until Ron and Hermione exited the Hall and joined him.
“Harry? You look like you’ve just seen a naked Trelawney dancing in front of you, mate. What happened?”
“Malfoy just apologized to me.” Harry said still in a daze. “Draco Malfoy just said ´I’m sorry`. To me.”
“You’re kidding, aren’t you? You must have heard something wrong. That just can’t be, mate!”
“Believe me, he did. No kidding. I’m sure he has something planned. He must be up to something really bad, maybe he wants to cover it up with being nice.”
“But Harry. It’s Malfoy! He might be a git, but he isn’t stupid. He knows you would never believe such an obvious cover up.” Hermione argued.
“I don’t care if he is smart as hell, I won’t let him out of my sight again in the next days, he is up to something I’m sure about it. You’ll see I will find it out and then he will pay!”
Ron and Hermione just sighed and followed Harry to the classroom. They had already experienced his obsession with Malfoy; they knew it was useless to argue with him about this subject. He had made up his mind and there was no stopping him then.

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Draco Malfoy felt lost. He felt even worse than he looked like. And that was something. His usual immaculate appearance now could only be described as clean. His beautiful blond hair looked lifeless, his cheeks were sunken in. His ivory teint lately more resembled a sickly grey and his piercing silver-grey eyes held no sign of the burning fire they usually showed.
He was summoned last summer from the Dark Lord. Shortly after his father went to Azkaban. Voldemort`s anger was great but he wanted to grant his loyal follower some kind of redeem. So he honoured Draco with the task to kill Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and by fulfilling this task he would get a Death Eater of the inner circle just like his father had been.
The problem was, Draco Malfoy never wanted to be a Death Eater. He never wanted to follow his fathers’ path. He saw Voldemort as an evil madman whose arguments never stood a chance against any rational thinking. He was raised as a pureblood wizard, honouring tradition and Voldemort was an insane half-blood without honour and dignity. There was no way he could approve of any of his ideas.
But unfortunately the Dark Lord seemed to be not completely oblivious to Draco’s hesitance in following his orders, so he took Draco’s mother in his care until the task would be fulfilled.
So there weren’t too many options for Draco. Either he killed Albus Dumbledore, a manipulative old man in his opinion, but nevertheless the head of the army standing against this so called Dark Lord, or he got himself and his mother killed. Voldemort didn’t take disobedience lightly.
Beside that he lost almost all his friends when his father was sent to Azkaban. Sure most his friends were children of other loyal Death Eaters but for appearance they had to abandon Draco’s side to not make their families look suspicious.
And last but not least he finally established a certain friendship with one called Harry Potter and royally fucked up.
He wanted to befriend Harry ever since the day he first laid eyes on him at Madam Malkin`s. At that time he didn’t understand that Harry was raised by Muggles and knew nothing about the Wizarding World. He didn’t mean to insult his only friend Hagrid at that time, he just didn’t know. And when Harry finally became best friends with Ron Weasley and rejected his hand of friendship he couldn’t think of any other way to not show his disappointment than to establish his role as Harry Potter’s nemesis. At least this way he could be certain to not being ignored, which would be worse than any insult Harry could ever throw his way.
And then he met Harry on the Astronomy Tower. In his hours of desperation about his faith Harry Potter accepted his friendship and gave him peace an joy when he thought he would never know those feelings again.
He couldn’t let him know that it was him, Draco he was talking to, telling secrets he probably only shared with Weasley and Granger, if at all.
But when he told him he would be there for him whatever may come and kissed him back with passion Draco let his secret slip and now his green-eyed love hated him not only as Draco Malfoy but also as his secret persona.
If those were no reasons for a downright depression, he knew not what else there could be.

But should he take Harry’s advice? Could he really tell someone about his task? Would anyone be able to help him?
He couldn’t go to Dumbledore, of that he was certain.
That would be quite a nice chat! “Hello headmaster, I’m supposed to kill you by the end of this term and at the moment I try to find a way to let Death Eaters into the school to expand the area of terror for the Dark Lord.”
Yes that would probably go quite prettily. Not.

But Harry also mentioned Snape. Severus Snape was his godfather, he knew him his entire life. Of course he was a loyal Death Eater but he was also a loyal friend to his family. At least he could ask him to speak for his mother to Voldemort. If Draco would die at the end of this term at least he could try to free his mother from the Dark Lords wrath.
Yes, he could do that. Severus could have some advice for him. He tried since last summer to get Draco to tell him what his task was. Only in his fear and desperation he accused him of trying to steal his fame from him. When he thought about it now, Severus probably tried all the time to help him.
He would go see him this evening after dinner.

After reaching this decision he let his mind wander back to the kiss he shared with Harry last night. And what a kiss that was!
Draco was no innocent he had his fair share of kisses despite his young age, but he never felt the way he did last night. Harry was perfect. He was shy and insecure at first, but nevertheless soft and tender; and when Draco took over he felt Harry completely relax into him. He wished then that it would be real. That Harry would really kiss him, Draco Malfoy, willingly. But it had not been real. Harry didn’t know who he was kissing. And Draco knew he must never find out or Harry would hex him into next week. But oh how he wished he could kiss him again! To let his hands sink into that unruly, soft, black hair. To touch and kiss and lick every patch of skin he could reach. To make Harry moan and scream in need of release beneath him…
Oh, what a dream!

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Severus Snape sat in his study on his black leather couch, a glass of firewhiskey in his left hand reading the latest issue of “Potions Weekly”. It was one of those rare nights when he had no parchments to grade and no lessons to prepare and he enjoyed this time of simple leisure immensely. Though he taught DADA this year, Potions were and always would be his greatest passion.
He just finished a very interesting article about some newly discovered effects of lemongrass in healing potions, when he heard a knock at his door. Sighing he straightened himself and called: “Enter!”
In walked his godson, Draco Malfoy.
“Draco, what is it? I just enjoyed some private time, do you need something important? If not, I’d rather you come back tomorrow.”
Draco hesitated for a moment but then he fully entered Snape`s study and closed the door behind him.
“Severus, I really need to talk to you, please.”
Severus recognized the sad expression in his godson’s eyes and gestured him to take a seat on the couch next to him.
It took Draco some minutes to collect his thoughts, but Severus waited patiently for his godson to start talking.

“You know that the Dark Lord has honoured me with a task this year. To make amends for my fathers´ failure.” Draco looked at Severus cautiously but he just nodded and waited for him to continue.
“I don’t know how much you know about this task and what would be safe for me to tell you, but I fear that I will not succeed. I am not frightened for myself, but for my mother. The Dark Lord will cause her harm or even kill her when he hears about my failure. I know you are loyal to him and gained his trust, and for the sake of my family I ask you to help my mother.”
Severus looked at Draco for along time, considering the boy’s words.
“Do you wish me to help you to finish your task?” he asked in a cautious tone.
“I wish that my godfather could help me in a difficult time, but I don’t wish a Death Eater to listen in to this conversation. Do you think that possible?”
“You play with fire Draco. As Lucius son you should know, that loyalty to the Dark Lord comes first. But this time I will grant you your wish. You can talk to me and I promise not to tell HIM any of it.”

Draco sighed in relief. He was worried that Severus wouldn’t be able to promise him such a thing. But he knew his godfather to be one of the best Occlumens in existence. If he promised not to tell Voldemort, Draco could be sure the Dark Lord had no way to get it out of him.
So he took a deep breath and told his godfather about his efforts during the last months.

“As you know the Dark Lord summoned me afore him at the end of last summer; angry about my fathers failure at the ministry. He told me to kill Dumbledore this year and to find a way to let Death Eaters invade the school. If I won’t succeed he threatened to kill my mother before my eyes and to kill me afterwards.”
“As I said I’m not afraid to die if it means that other people might live instead, but I cannot let him kill my mother because of my weakness. She suffered enough already with my father being in Azkaban.”
“But, Severus… I am not a killer. I cannot kill the headmaster. I may not like him but I cannot do this. I thought I can for the sake of my mother, but when I saw what happened to the Bell girl I finally realised, that I would fail.” He took a deep breath.
“I tried to fix the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirements to connect it with the one which is at Borgin and Burkes, but I tried for months now and I don’t seem to make any progress. The damn thing won’t work, no matter what I try! I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Draco was close to tears now. His eyes fixed on the floor. He tried not to show anymore weakness than he already did in telling of his defeat. He kept his gaze fixed downwards and waited for his godfather to say anything.

Severus was deep in thought. He knew of the plan to kill Dumbledore of course. He made an Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa Malfoy, that when her son would not succeed he would kill Dumbledore in his stead. But he was relieved that Draco confided in him at last. It would make certain things a bit easier. But he didn’t know about the plan of a Hogwarts invasion. He needed time to think. Alone.

“Draco. I’m glad you confided in me and I will try my best to be of any help. But right now I need to think of what you told me, to come up with something that might help you. I will keep my promise that nothing you’ve told me tonight will ever be revealed to the Dark Lord. Go back to your dorm. I will let you know, when we can talk again. Meanwhile I need you to continue your work on the Cabinet. That was a very good idea indeed, but don’t do anything about Dumbledore. If you get anyone hurt again, people will get suspicious.”
“Trust me. I will find a way to help. But you have to wait.”
“Good night Draco.”

Draco rose with his eyes on his godfather. He didn’t know what Severus had planned but he felt a tiny glimmer of hope, and he wasn’t all alone anymore. So he accepted Snape`s wish to be alone and headed back to his bedroom.

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Harry was surrounded by darkness. Not the tiniest glimmer of light reached his eyes. He knew neither where he was, nor how he had come here. He was dressed only in his pyjama bottoms and felt a gentle breeze softly caressing his skin. But soon it wasn’t wind anymore but gentle hands which caressed his chest and upper arms in slow circles.
He leaned in to the caress letting his head fall back. At once his bare neck was attacked by soft lips, which licked and sucked and nibbled their way up across his chin to his ear and back. Harry raised his hands to the person before him, desperate to get some kind of skin contact himself and shivered when he finally closed his hands around the other person’s shoulders. He pulled the body closer, moaning when his bare chest came in touch with the other one’s. He felt the lips withdraw from his neck and was about to protest, when he was silenced by the next maddening attack to his mouth. Harry opened his lips in welcome and let himself be plundered by the other man. He surrendered completely to his need and lust and thought he never felt better than at this exact moment. A soft whisper reached his ears: “I’m sorry Potter.”

Harry woke up with a gasp, breathing hard his sheets soaked with perspiration and feeling very uncomfortable with his pyjama bottoms painfully tight around his straining erection.