Death is Softer

This is a challenge fic made by Incessant_Darkness and is # 8 of the 36 dramatic situations. Err.. hope no one else has it too.
There are not any DH spoilers in here thought there are several phrases from the book used. Can you figure them out??

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The cloaked figure knocked on the door twice, waited a moment and then knocked once more. A small peephole slid open and an eye gazed out.

“Who are you? What’s the pass code?” a hoarse voice whispered.

“It’s Silver Otter and my code is you can’t apparate in Hogwarts.”

The locks on the door clicked and it slowly opened. The cloaked figure moved in to the warm room and sighed in relief.

“Hermione, did you find what you were looking for?” Remus Lupin asked the cloaked figure. Hermione pulled her cloak off and sank into the nearest chair.

“Yes I did. The Minister will be making an appearance outside of Gringott’s in two days. He will be accompanied by only three of his guard because the others were sent off on missions… the decoy missions that we set up. He will appear at exactly ten o’clock. His speech will last 15 minutes and then he will apparate away, leaving the First Assistant to answer any questions.” She reported tiredly.

Remus nodded and although he was very happy, you wouldn’t have been able to tell by looking at him. He had aged in the last four years, since the Takeover, as it was now being called. He rarely ever smiled and when he did, it was full of bitterness. So many losses, he thought and wondered if it was even worth fighting for anymore.

Unerringly, Hermione knew what he was thinking. “Remus, freedom is always worth fighting for.” She told him. He turned his gaze to her and nodded slightly before considering his plans for the Minister in two days.

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“Draco, is something bothering you?”

Draco Malfoy turned to Harry, his longtime lover and smiled. “Of course not, Harry. Just thinking. Speech writing isn’t easy you know.” He said, somewhat playfully.

Harry moved across the room of Draco’s office with a smile and a predatory look in his eyes. Draco, recognizing the look for what it was quickly moved the speech he had been working on to the side so that he would not have to redo it. He stood to meet Harry’s embrace.

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and kissed him deeply, their tongues fighting for dominance. After a moment Harry broke the kiss and pushed Draco down onto his knees. Draco, quite used to Harry’s insistent and sometimes impatient ways, quickly loosened Harry’s robes and pulled his thick cock out. He kissed the head, swirling his tongue over it slowly and when he heard Harry’s swift intake of breath, he pulled it deep into his mouth and throat. It only took a few moments of Draco’s skill before Harry was coming and Draco, ever obedient, swallowed.

Harry pulled him up and kissed him gently on the lips. He held him close and looked into Draco’s eyes.

“You know I love you, right?” he asked softly and Draco nodded.

“I love you too Harry. Are you alright?” he asked. Harry gave him a twisted smile and shrugged.

“Just dandy, Draco. Now get back to work. I want the speech on my desk in an hour so I can go over it. Have you seen Hermione?” His voice was cold and he pushed Draco away from his slightly.

“Just this morning. She and Blaise are going to Greece again, she said. She kept complaining about the cold here in London. She wanted to wait until your meeting ended but Blaise was impatient to get away. Did you need her for something? Do you want me to floo her?” Draco said solicitously, his heart racing.

Harry frowned for a moment and then shook his head. “No, she should enjoy the warmth while she can. I have heard rumors of a revolt and I want to make sure she is safely here with me if they are true. Don’t forget to bring my speech, Draco, in an hour.” He said and then turned to leave Draco’s office.

“Yes, Minister.” Draco said and Harry nodded, disappearing through the doorway.

Draco turned back to the speech, somewhat thankful that Harry had not taken it into his head to throw him across the desk like many times before. Many of the parchments he worked with were spell proof to prevent forgeries. In the past, Draco had to rewrite each one. He began to write on the speech again.

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Harry sat alone in his office, contemplating what had just happened. Draco had confirmed something for him and he hadn’t even realized it. Harry had long known of the rebellion growing against him. He didn’t understand why they did it. After all, he was not persecuting Muggleborns and Muggles like Voldemort had done. He wasn’t trying to take over the world.

He wanted to make it safe for everyone and that is what he was doing, even if some of his actions were a little extreme. He was only doing it for the greater good. He thought back to when he had become Minister. The Wizarding world had practically begged him to take the position and he had. Then he had begun to notice the corruption. Officials taking bribes, people looking the other way when someone was being robbed, the criminals that were getting away because they were related to some official or another. He had started to crack down on that and had started his own group of Aurors that were called the Enforcers.

The Enforcers had forced people to obey the law, to help those in need, to become better people. Of course some people profited. Harry couldn’t help that but he did appreciate their support. One of those had been Lucius Malfoy. That was when he had become reacquainted with Draco, a different Draco than the one Harry had known.

This Draco was courteous and funny, making Harry laugh. It had been a long time since Harry had had a male friend, since the death of Ron at the hands of rogue Death Eaters years before. Hermione was a great friend but she wasn’t Ron and she didn’t understand Harry. She argued with Harry about his reforms and didn’t understand that it was all for the greater good. Wasn’t he helping her? Weren’t her House Elves free now?

Draco had become more than a friend after a while. He became the lover that Harry needed, everything that Harry could ask for. He helped him at the Ministry and made sure things were taken care of at home. Harry loved Draco with all of his heart. Which is why it was devastating for him to find out that Draco had betrayed him.

Harry had known of Hermione’s betrayal for a while. Remus had been one of the first to protest Harry’s actions and despite loving him almost like a father, Harry had declared him outlaw. He knew Remus had his own little band of rebels and Harry was aware of their movement so he was aware that Hermione was one of them. He had also been aware that there was a spy in the Ministry, a high level spy. Hermione’s innocent visit to Draco had proved Harry’s suspicions.

Harry thought about what he should do. He loved Draco more than anyone but wasn’t the lives of the Wizarding world worth more than just the love of one man no matter how wonderful that man could be. What had went wrong in his life that his best friend and lover could turn against him? Was what he was doing so wrong?

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Draco tidied up his desk waiting for Harry to arrive. At the end of every day, Harry showed up at Draco’s door to escort him home, or where ever they were going that evening but this afternoon, Harry did not arrive. Draco waited for almost a half hour before leaving his office and walking to Harry’s. Earlier he had taken the speech to Harry but Harry had not been there. Draco hoped nothing was wrong.

Mary Thomas was sitting in her desk outside Harry’s office, filing her nails. Although it was time to go, she was not allowed to leave before the Minister. He may have need of her before he left and it could cost her job to not be available. She gave Draco an annoyed look.

“He is still in there with Headmaster Snape.” She told him and Draco felt a shiver of fear go down his spine. Harry and Snape had reconciled all their years of hatred after the defeat of Voldemort and had actually become confidants. Snape flourished in Harry’s new Wizarding world and was not inclined to see it go. If Harry had called him, there was something going on. He had to try and get a message to Hermione.

He turned to walk back to his office, to send the message and to give Harry the impression he had been waiting for him when Harry’s door opened and Snape stepped out. He didn’t seem surprised to see Draco at the door. He just sneered and walked away. Harry stepped out after him.

“Ah, Mary, you may go. I’m sorry if you have been waiting long, Draco. We can go now.” Harry gave him a brilliant smile and Draco felt his fear fade. Harry was an awful actor and if he was smiling as if things were fine, then they were.

The next two days passed swiftly for Draco and those that led the revolt. Hermione and Remus were busy planning and giving orders and Draco was busy making Harry happy. All was well.

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The day of the speech dawned bright and sunny and several people who knew what was coming thought it should have been cloudy. This would be a sad day for many. Draco didn’t know the details of the rebel plan, he just knew his part and that was to stay back out of the way. Harry knew a Slytherin’s first instinct was to save himself so if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t be suspected and the rebellion would live on.

At ten o’clock that morning Harry apparated to the planned apparation point at Gringott’s. He stood before the crowd of people and gave his speech and as he walked back to apparation point, the rebels attacked. To their immense surprise, Harry was prepared. Several of his Enforcers had been hidden in the crowd and jumped to his defense. Harry himself joined the fray, only hexing and binding people. After all, it wouldn’t be good for the people to see their Minister killing.

After most of the people had been apprehended, including Hermione, Remus and several other key members, Harry walked to where Draco was and pulled him into an embrace. He held him tight while he whispered into his ear.

“You will watch these people die, knowing it is your fault. And they will know it is too. From now on, you will not leave your suite at the Manor… for anything.”

Draco stiffened, knowing that Harry had known all along and was obviously a wonderful actor. He knew that he would never again leave his rooms at the Manor and he would be punished severely for his actions. He wondered if Death would be easier than what Harry had planned for him.


Ministry Captured Dangerous Rebels

The Ministry has captured several dangerous rebels
Including the werewolf, Remus Lupin and the Minister’s
own best friend, Hermione Zabini. They attempted an
attack on the Minister’s life this morning as he gave a
speech on a new law being passed. Our beloved
Minister, Harry Potter also known as the Savior of the
Wizarding World has stated that he could not have
Done this with out the help of his lover, Draco Malfoy.
Mr. Malfoy has not been seen since the attack and has been
unavailable for comment. The Minister has stated that
Mr. Malfoy is distraught over the betrayal of long time
friends and is recovering.

The rebels have been sentenced to life in Azkaban. The
families of the rebels have been unavailable for
questions. For More on werewolves, see page 19 and
for more on Hermione Granger, see page 12

Finite!


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Title comes from the quote by Daniel Defoe
“Death is softer by far than tyranny”