One's True Nature

One’s True Nature


Chapter 6

Harry watched Draco getting dressed as he was also gathering his clothes up. He was not even realizing that he was entranced until he missed his pack with a pair of shirts. Harry was amazed at Draco's form, he was tall, but almost female in build, his pale flesh glowed in the early morning light. Harry suddenly realized he wasn't breathing, then Draco bent down to grab his boxers and exposed his well formed backside to Harry, who then had to look away. He was flushed, he only hoped Draco didn't notice his transgression. Harry was disappointed when Draco was dressed, then, he was confused by his awkward sexual thoughts and with the fact that they involved Malfoy.

Draco walked by Harry once he was dressed and whispered in the man's ear on his way to the bathroom. "You really shouldn't stare, it's very rude." Harry gawked in surprise. "Don't leave your mouth open like that, a dementor could kiss you." Draco said then made his way into the bathroom, leaving Harry deeply confused by him.

Harry composed himself quickly and began the short process of recall of Tyyran's memories so he could know which area they needed to head to. He still had a soft headache from having invaded the man's mind, he would have felt guilty, but he didn't have time for such sentiment. He grabbed a map from his own pack on his bed and began to plot their journey, if this was indeed a plot to draw him out into the open, he wanted to know the area as well as he could. Draco came back into the room and Harry noticed that his walk was more pronounced and determined, that was a good sign he hoped.

"Are we ready to go?" Harry asked as he picked up his pack and pulled out his broom.

"I am ready." Draco said, his back was to Harry.

Harry checked them out of the inn where they'd been waiting for news for almost four days. Draco was just standing with his arms crossed, looking pissed. Harry smiled recalling something from school. He left his information with the clerk, he knew that he should be careful, but this way, at least Ginny would get a message about where he was last. He had promised to let her know how things were last night, but he hadn't contacted Ron thanks to Draco's unfortunate outburst. He turned and nodded that his task was complete to Draco, who promptly began to walk out of the office and take out his broom.

"Stay close Draco, we don't want-" Harry started to lecture the way he might over explain to Ron when they were on a mission together. He was promptly cut off by Draco's eyes. Fury burned in them.

"I'm not stupid! I don't need you to hold my hand Potter! And for fuck's sake, would you stop with those pitiful eyes, I don't need your pity, I have enough problems!" Draco's voice was harsh and powerful. Every punctuated Potter made Harry shiver. It always had made him shiver, since they were in school, he didn't know why. Normally, he would have retorted at Draco's words, but he didn't much feel like arguing. A boy was being held captive because of him.

Draco watched as Harry took off, unable to stop the venom that had erupted from him. It seemed that Potter had caused him to have some kind of pride reflex, he'd never said anything so venomous in 20 years. He was angry, but Potter had agreed to help, he should be grateful. He took off after the most famous man, unintimidated.

They must have flown for about 3 hours, they were both tired and numbed from the winter cold. Harry directed them to set down before they got frostbite. They found a nice cliff overseeing a clearing. Harry liked having the high ground on his enemies, if they were to be spotted, they could easily take off as well. He was also glad that they had managed to make such good time. They were almost two thirds of the way to where Tyyran had escaped from.

The cliff had snow on it of course, but Draco made quick work of melting it with a fire spell and making a nice dry area for Harry and him to sit, not too close together. Draco's thoughts were only on his son, he didn't think about his terrible dreams the night before about his son. He had to get to him. He started a fire using wood from a tree just behind them. He warmed himself, trying to keep his fury driving him to his goal.

"Malfoy," Harry spoke after a few minutes of silence. "I need to tell you something about the information I got last night." Draco turned and raised an irritated gaze at his green eyes.

"What?" Draco almost hissed, then cursed himself when he saw Harry flinch.

"They kidnapped your son to get to me." Harry said so indifferently that he almost choked himself for his stupidity.

"What?!" Draco was in shock now.

"The Death Eaters aren't looking for tools or artifacts Malfoy, they wanted me out in the open, they took the kid to get to-" And Harry couldn't finish, because Draco had closed the distance between them and punched the man squarely in the side of the jaw. He kept punching him.

"MY SON IS GONE BECAUSE OF-" And Draco kept unloading until Harry collapsed onto his knees. "My wife is dead and my son is gone, all because someone wants you?!" Harry cringed at the fury and ice in Draco's voice.

"I'm sorry." Harry hated how that sounded, it was so inadequate for the situation.

Draco's breathing increased, he was beyond furious. Or maybe, he just was glad he could finally vent. "You're sorry Potter?! Sorry?! Sorry is when you-punch-break something you fucking-punch-twit!" Once Draco had finished his words Harry rose as if unhurt by the physical barrage unleashed by the blonde.

Harry seized Draco by both wrists. "Stop it." He stared into the furious gray eyes. "I didn't ask them to do it Malfoy." And Draco turned away from his gaze, he saw the look of guilt in Harry's eyes. "I am sorry, I don't even understand why they'd think to use you to do it." Harry said honestly. It had been the most confusing thing about the events. Why would Draco be able to draw him out? He had run circles in his mind to think of every angle. He let go of Draco's wrists.

"I do." Draco sighed. "They knew I was vulnerable, they couldn't just capture a good friend of yours, you'd have the whole wizarding world behind you." And Harry connected the dots.

"They knew you'd have to come to me, they knew I'd help. Fuck, I am so sorry Malfoy." That's what Tyyran had meant when he said Draco had no allies. The old guard and a lot of people still thought Draco had some guilty debts to pay and would have dearly loved to see him suffer. He had realized that part when he agreed to help originally, but he hadn't realized that others might use Draco against him this way. Hell, he might have let Draco suffer, if he hadn't seen how much the man had suffered when he touched his emotions, it would have served him right.

"Potter I-" Draco began.

"Shhh, do you hear that?" Harry whispered

Draco listened hard, there was nothing, he was just about to look at Harry, when the faint pop of someone Apparating below them could be heard. Draco wanted to move again, but Harry had again seized his wrists, not hurting, but more in a calming way.

"Shhhh." Harry said softly, not looking in the blonde's eyes. He was focused in on the sounds of Apparating, he heard eight or so, then men began to speak.

"Where is he?" That was Goyle and Draco's eyes lit up in triumph. Harry noticed that his hands had become hot. He looked at Draco who had his eyes closed.

"You know 'im Goyle, he's always with his woman." Another man said. Harry heard Draco mutter an inaudible name.

"Well, he should be here, we need to get to the hideout." Goyle's voice seemed fearful. "I don't see why I can't have been secret keeper for the place this time."

"Because you're an idiot Goyle!" Harry froze, that was Seamus Finnegan.

"No, he's not with his woman anyway, he's with the boy, prolly teachin' im the art of sucking 'is cock." The group as a whole laughed and Harry had no time to react as Draco escaped from his grasp and jumped off the cliff. Harry was so shocked that he froze for several moments, they were at least one hundred feet up.

Draco was all fury as he descended onto them. He stopped his momentum with a spell off the tip of his wand and bent his knees to soften his landing. His hood and rest of his cloak slapped against the rush of air. As he stopped, he noticed the eight men huddled together and looked at each of them, before dropping his hood and unleashing the fury of his gaze onto Goyle.

Goyle looked taken aback to see Draco standing there, but then, abruptly smiled and clapped his hands in a show of excitement. Draco wanted to murder him right there, with no mercy. Goyle spoke.

"What a shame Draco, I expected Potter to be with you." Goyle sneered evilly and Draco's fury increased.

"I don't need his help." Draco said coolly. Then he put up his wand, he knew it was dangerous, but he couldn't not do anything after what they had said. "This isn't a kids' game anymore Goyle." Draco words were loud and commanding. "The Death Eaters are dangerous, you never were smart enough to do yourself any good." Some of the others laughed at that. Goyle wanted to draw his wand, but he was held in place by Draco's eyes. "How could you do something like this now, glory, hope, rise to power?" Draco's eye's turned deadly. "I'd like to know your reason before I kill you." Draco took a step forward and Goyle stepped back.

Harry watched the scene hunched over the side of the cliff, cursing silently. He didn't understand, Draco was a smart man, he knew this was stupid and was putting his son at risk. Harry would watch his back, but he'd be sure and give him a piece of his mind later. He listened to Draco's words, impressed by their confidence and amazed at how he seemed to hold them all at bay.

"My reason was simple Draco, I want a chance to do great things." Goyle seemed unsure of his words and Draco seemed genuinely humored by them, he laughed. Goyle was close to breaking and Draco knew it, it would be time to end this game soon. He made sure to keep his eyes open for anyone else's movement.

"Goyle, Crabbe has more of a chance of doing great things that you do." Draco's words were even and soft.

"CRABBE IS DEAD!" Goyle spat. "Thanks to you." And then, he froze as Draco closed half their distance.

"That was my point." Draco raised his wand and pointed it at Goyle's face, which now seemed unable to decide how to react. "Die!" Draco hissed and a whip of fire wrapped around Goyle's neck and Draco pulled his wand which glowed ferociously from the spell, the fire roped tightened and Draco heard his neck break.

Harry had been distracted by Draco's attack on Goyle and didn't see another wizard who had moved to attack the blonde until he was almost at Draco's back.

"Draco! LOOK OUT!" Harry shouted and then, he too leapt from the cliff. He squinted as yells and shouts came around him and he saw flashes of magic and Draco slump to the ground. He swore loudly and landed gently, arresting his momentum as Draco had done so impressively.

"SHIT! IT'S POTTER! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" Harry heard someone shout as he knelt beside Draco's crumpled form and started to check it for any sign of what had happened. He breathed a deep sigh when the man groaned bitterly and tried to move.

"That was really stupid Malfoy." Harry said, but his voice was soft and coaxing more than angry. "Can you move?" Harry asked as he hovered over the man.

"I think so." Draco groaned in pain as he stood up. Then he almost fell again and Harry caught him against his shoulder. "Oh shit." Draco groaned. "What have I done?"

Harry didn't have time to debate, they were out in the open, he might be skilled enough to take on five wizards himself, but he doubted he could do so and protect Draco. "Come on," He said softly. "We've gotta get moving before they come back." And he began to scan the area for anything that might help, Draco clutched against his side.