Third Place - Angst


Chapter Ten




Harry refused to get out of bed in the morning. He wasn't a coward, he just did not want to face the day. Hermione and Ron had left with promises to return with food and information. They had also worked out a plan to let everyone in Gryffindor know what was going on and an elaborate warning system whenever anyone saw Malfoy coming.


Harry didn't see the point. He had thought about everything all night and now in the clear light of day and after a few hours of sleep Harry realized that he was doomed. He had been born under an unlucky star, had been a horrible person in his past life, was the play thing of Murphy's Law, take your pick, he was doomed. He just could not catch a lucky break. Harry had had an epiphany somewhere between three and four in the morning: he would always be chased by the monsters. He had thought he had won. When Voldemort went down in a blaze of black fire, when the Dementors had evaporated in the breaking sun, Harry had finally felt safe. But no, his stupid ancestors had to have a fetish for non-humans and this is where it had left him. Being chased by another monster.


Harry rolled over onto his back and stared up at the canopy above him and sighed. It wasn't that he was afraid of Malfoy. Ok, maybe a tiny bit. But only because of Malfoy's stupid invisible stench. Otherwise, it was just dumb, blonde, poncy, ferret faced Malfoy. But either way, Harry took some comfort from his realization of doom. No matter what happened the monsters would be waiting to get him. So, if you can't beat them, join them, right? He knew Hermione and Ron and all of Gryffindor and probably most of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would risk breaking the law to help him stay away from Malfoy. But, what would happen in a few months when school ended? Where would he go? Where could he hide? He would have to abandon his friends so they wouldn't incriminate themselves. He would have to look over his shoulder every where he went. He wouldn't put it past Malfoy to not stop tracking him into the muggle world. And Harry had no doubts that Malfoy would track him down. Draco had been dogging his every step and going out of his way just to see Harry fail for years. Now that there was an actual prize in it for him, Harry knew there would be no respite from the pursuit. Even if Harry took the potion that Snape made, that wouldn't stop Draco from following him, hounding him, attacking him. And in the case of that attack, Harry would be drugged and therefore not on his game. That's why Malfoy was only now showing his true strength. The potion slowed one's reactions down. Not to a life threatening level or Snape would have never made it as a spy, but enough to inhibit Harry's reflexes and magical ability. And he didn't want to spend his life in a semi-haze.


So, Harry had come to the decision to just cut out the chase and go to Malfoy. He worried about the humiliation that Draco would put him through but he was counting on the pheromone thing to kick in. When he was high on that stuff he would be happy to do what ever Malfoy wanted. He wouldn't feel embarrassment or destroyed pride. He also gave a momentary thought to what the history books would say about the bloody Savior of the Wizarding World being a former Death Eater son's bitch. But, Harry reasoned, if he really was all that important or special you would think the Ministry would have stepped in and helped him, not ordered him to bend over.


Harry winced at where his mind had just gone. After Draco's little pronouncement last night, Harry did start to wonder what this Lustrum thing really entailed. Harry wasn't stupid and he had found time to experiment with a few other students as far as physical love was concerned. But it had always been with girls. Not that he was opposed to boys, in fact he had been a bit afraid when he found himself checking out Rosco Peters, one of the Ravenclaw boys, as he was swimming in the lake. Uncle Vernon had been a staunch hater of anything remotely of the non-heterosexual variety and according to him, so was the rest of the world. Harry had no idea what the sexual mores of the wizarding world were, but judging by everyone's reaction last night and the bits he had gleaned previously, it was apparently acceptable to love whom ever you wanted.


Not that Harry or Draco would ever come close to love. The most he hoped for was perhaps the respect a keeper has for his favorite pet. Harry knew he was beyond despondent when that little thought failed to spark any emotion. Harry fell asleep wondering if Malfoy would make him wear a collar.



~*~


"Harry?"


"Yes?"


"Why are you out in the hallway?"


"I'm waiting for Malfoy."


"Why on Earth are you doing that?"


"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do, Hermione? Or is there some sort of weird bird call or dance that I have to do. You would know more than me."


"Ok, well, looks like he has finally lost it."


Strong hands grabbed him, picked him up from the step he had been sitting on and started hauling Harry back through the Gryffindor entrance. Ron didn't let him go until he pushed him down into the chair near the fireplace. Hermione and Ron set their bookbags down and sat across from him on the small settee.


"Harry, how could you think to just give yourself over to that cretin?" Hermione eyed him with a worried frown puckering her brow.


"Because I might as well get the inevitable over with," Harry replied simply.


"I can't believe you're just going to give up like that! We've got a system, a good one, so that if anyone sees Malfoy coming we can get you out of there." Ron took a breath to go into an explanation as to how their system worked but Harry cut him off.


"So, for the rest of the school year I have to be ready to duck and run? And what about during the classes we share? All he has to do is get close enough and not one of the teachers can stop it if he takes me out of the class because of that law. And what about after school? And when I get a job? What then?"


"Harry," Hermione said quietly. "We've dealt with worse, we can certainly deal with Malfoy."


"That's just it Hermione." Harry started to become restless. "We have dealt with worse. All the time we deal with worse. When is it going to end? I mean come on! Not only was I orphaned but then I some how got the gig to save the whole world. I come up against all the bad guys they could pull out from under the rocks and they kill off almost everyone I love. I'm still amazed that you guys made it through. Now I'm a freaky throwback to another species?" Harry had worked himself up and was now wildly gesturing with his hands. "Seriously, what more can happen to me? You know what? I'm done fighting. I am officially throwing in the towel. I refuse to go on as the Fates tragic joke. If Malfoy wants me, he can come and get me and cheers to him!" Harry flopped back down with his arms crossed over his chest. His two friends exchanged shocked and worried faces. Hermione was the first to try to reason with him.


"Harry, I've read a bit more about the Indago. At least hear more before you commit."


"This isn't a bloody career decision, Hermione. It's not as if I was ever given a choice."


"I know, I know, but just listen alright?" Harry pulled a face but nodded. Hermione sat up straighter and pulled the two books out, placing them on her lap. She didn't have to open them but they were a comfort to her and were there if she needed them.


"Ok, first, and most seriously. Malfoy is going to be violent." Harry snorted. "I know, he's always been particularly blood thirsty but the reason may have to do with what he is. The dominants can be quite brutal and can inflict a lot of damage."


"Well, I can take a lot of damage."


"Yes, I think we know why now. A Sub's body is meant to take a lot of abuse to accommodate the Supero's rough treatment. But that still means that not only does Malfoy want to see you suffer but he is also instinctually going to be violent."


"Fine. What else should I know?" Hermione's eyebrows rose and she gave Ron a helpless look. Ron shrugged and said, "Tell him about the babies."


"Right," Hermione cleared her throat. "As a submissive member of the species you have the ability to become pregnant." Hermione paused for a reaction. Getting none she tightened her lips and pressed forward. "Which means that you will have to give birth. And it is not easy or pretty."


"Okay. I always did want a family."


"Harry! Did you hear what she said? Malfoy is going to try to get you up the duff!" Ron was beside himself. "Then you'll get all fat and then� then� you'll have to� you know�" He looked at Hermione pathetically.


"Give birth," Harry said nonchalantly. "Yeah, I got it."


Hermione and Ron were seriously disturbed by their friends complete apathy. Finally Hermione decided to bring out the big wands.


"Well, you should also be aware that Indago are not monogamous," Hermione crisply stated. When Harry just kept looking at her blankly she threw up her hands in exasperation. "Which means that Malfoy will have no problem sharing you with Snape!"


"What?" Ron yelped. "You never told me that part! Harry, come on, you can't go to, to Snape!" Ron looked desperately at Harry who still sat calmly. Harry stood up and looked down at his friends.


"In for a knut, in for galleon." And he walked around the chair and out of the common room, leaving two horrified Gryffindors behind.

Indago - Chapter 11

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