Chapter 20

Lucius forced himself on Harry only a few seconds after entering the room wordlessly. Harry laid motionless at first, tearless. He'd cried himself dry, and now all he felt was hopelessness and anger. He was beyond angry for numerous reasons: first, for his predicament. He was angry at himself for not telling anyone sooner. Had he told a trusted professor at the least, everything could have ended differently. His second reason for anger shouldn't have happened.

Harry was starting to like being submissive. He didn't feel uncomfortable when Lucius's hands explored his body. And when Lucius's hands settled for the young boy's waist, his hands tightening, Harry struggled to stay quiet. Then, their bodies connected. As soon as they did, Harry couldn't stay silent, and he pressed himself against the man he was supposed to hate.

Harry wasn't raped exactly that night.

Draco was laying in his bed. No one else was in the room, they were all in the Great Hall. He wasn't hungry, nor was he in the mood to even bathe. He was supposed to meet Granger and Weasley up in the Astronomy Tower and remind his mother to meet them there as well. But he felt tired, emotionally and physically. He didn't feel like moving or breathing. It was as though a cinderblock pressed down against his chest, threatening to crush and kill him.

But he could only dream.

He loathed his father even more, now. His father simultaneously managed to hurt not only Harry, but everyone ever associated with him. Starting that war in the field, injuring and killing dozens of students, it was chaotic. Everyone avoided Draco, everyone except Ron and Hermione.

The whole school knew about them now. He couldn't hide anymore, couldn't deny any allegations regarding his sexuality. He felt suffocated. He just wanted Harry back, he wanted to cry in his arms, hold him close, promising never to let go again.

Draco rolled over, realizing he was no longer alone. Professor Snape stood at the doorway, though his features were darkened and unreadable.

"You should be in the Great Hall," his sullen voice echoed throughout the room.

Draco didn't reply.

"Get up and join your house," Professor Snape ordered, unmoving.

"No."

Professor Snape stormed into the room, his cape flying behind him like wings. He stopped in front of the young Malfoy, looking down at him with pitiful eyes.

"What good are you immobile?" Snape asked, his voice uncharacteristically softer. "Get. Up."

Draco stood up, walking past the professor, then stopped to face him.

"He's going to die," Draco spat through his teeth.

Snape sauntered slowly towards him, stopping only a few inches away.

"No." Snape muttered before walking off, Draco following moments after.

"Where is he?" Hermione tapped her foot impatiently.

"I dunno," Ron shrugged, stuffing his face with cake he took from dinner.

Hermione watched him with disgust. "He better show up soon otherwise we might have to go through with the plan ourselves."

Ron looked up at her, wide-eyed and surprised. "We can't do it alone!"

"Maybe you can't, considering that your belief. But I can," Hermione stared at the large door, waiting for Draco to come in at any moment.

"You can't be serious," Ron frowned, cake crumbs falling from his mouth.

"Who else would save him?" Hermione queried, almost to herself.

Ron walked over to the balcony, staring off into the field. There was still so much garbage laying around; shredded robes, shoes, numerous little knick-knacks. Usually the mess would have been cleaned up within an hour, but the staff of students of Hogwarts were preoccupied.

"Thank Merlin you made it!" Hermione gleamed in relief.

Followed behind Draco was his mother...and Professor Snape. Hermione stared for a few moments, bewildered.

Draco noticed her stare. "I don't know how he found out."

They entered the room without another word. Narcissa looked solemn, face emotionless. She wore all black, and her hair was down. She looked completely animated. Hermione kept staring.

"Staring is rude, Miss Granger," Professor Snape uttered.

Hermione looked at him before shaking her head.

"Right, sorry," she looked down, eyes darting.

"So, what's the plan?" Draco sighed, running his fingers tiredly through his hair.

"It isn't full-proof," Hermione warned. Professor Snape looked displeased. "But it's our best bet."

They slept side-by-side, Harry and Lucius. Harry knew it should have felt wrong. He didn't belong with this Malfoy, he didn't love this Malfoy. But something was happening, whether he liked it or not, he was starting to grow attached. It terrified as it also comforted him. Lucius was the closest thing he had to Draco. That thought alone was the only reason why he wasn't going insane.

It's why he decided to give up and give in.

Fighting against Lucius - there was just no point. Lucius would get angry, and against him, Harry was powerless. Though he managed to defeat the most evil being he knew of, he didn't do it alone. Right then and there, in that dark room with Lucius, he was alone. No one was there to help rescue him from his horrors. He needed to fend for himself.

His plan: pretend to fall in love and demand to see Hogwarts, to tell everyone to stop trying to rescue him, because they were meant to be.

He ignored the thought of Draco's face as he announced to the school to stop. His face alone might make him cave.

Harry rolled over, his back facing Lucius. Crying was forbidden in that house.

But it was the only thing that stopped the numbness.