First Place - Action/Adventure

Gradually, Harry surfaced to consciousness and his first wish was that he could sink back down - because he hurt. Everywhere.

Harry groaned as he remembered grabbing the Portkey and Lucius Malfoy taking him away from Hogsmeade instead of Draco. He didn't remember anything after landing, though. Harry wondered what Lucius had done to him while he was unconscious. His body felt like it had been run over by the Hogwarts Express - at full steam. He supposed he should be thankful he wasn't actually dead yet.

Slowly Harry opened his eyes and found even that simple movement difficult to do; it seemed his eyes were swollen and crusted over. Through slitted eyes, Harry attempted to take stock of his surroundings.

It didn't take him long to realize that he was probably in one of the dungeon cells in Malfoy Manor. Rather than making him more fearful, as it probably should, Harry found rage building in him. This was where Lucius had been torturing his own son.

Despite his circumstances, Harry was thankful that he was actually the one here instead of Draco. He'd promised Draco that he'd do anything he could to keep his father from ever hurting him again and didn't regret grabbing the Portkey to protect the little boy.

Harry tried to move and all he accomplished was sending more pain wrenching through his body and rattling the chains. He was bound by both wrists and ankles to the damp, cold, stone wall. If simply trying to move his hands or feet sent pain coursing through him, he didn't have a chance of being able to work his way free. Who knew where his wand was, or even if it was in one piece anymore.

The chill setting into his very bones, Harry waited. He wondered why Lucius had beat him so severely without the pleasure of having him conscious. Harry sneered, thinking about the fact that Lucius should have enjoyed hearing him scream as the injuries were inflicted. He could feel the blood trickling down his back and there was no doubt in his mind that he'd been whipped viciously. Yet Harry remembered none of it.

Harry kept his eyes closed and tried not to focus on the pain. Rather, he tried to focus on the puzzle of Lucius Malfoy. Suddenly the obvious hit him. Lucius was afraid. He didn't take the risk of Harry being able to do anything to get away. Lucius wanted him injured and weakened.

Uncomfortably, Harry realized that Lucius' plan was pretty effective. Here he was chained in a dungeon cell, horribly injured and feeling quite weakened. He'd been unable to fight back in any way.

He didn't have his wand, but he tried to focus his magic like Snape had been teaching him. All he wanted was some basic unlocking spells to get the manacles off his wrists and ankles. His magic had a tendency to help him in emergencies and the situation he currently found himself in definitely qualified as an emergency.

Harry pictured the manacles and pictured the locks and sent his magic outwards along his limbs. He had more appreciation for why Snape always pushed him so hard. Taking control of his magic wandlessly like this wasn't nearly so easy when he was under pressure.

Suddenly he was released and he dropped to the stone floor. Harry screamed as the pain flared up unbearably. He held his body as still as he could, attempting to even his breathing. He quickly figured out the hard way that taking deep breaths wasn't exactly a smart idea.

He lay there, unable to gather the strength to do anything else. He had absolutely no idea how he was going to get out of here. Once again, he was thankful Draco was safe.

"Potter!"

Harry cracked open his eyes to see Lucius Malfoy slamming furiously into the room.

"Who got you down?" Lucius demanded coldly.

Harry smirked up at him. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he croaked out, his voice hoarse and sounding damaged.

Lucius' eyes flared dangerously. "This isn't the time to fuck with me, Potter. In case you haven't noticed, you are seriously at the disadvantage here. You are in my territory now."

Harry's own eyes flared with anger and defiance. "At least it's not your son that you've got here this time," he said furiously.

Lucius smiled down at him coldly. "No, you left my son to be picked up by someone else and they've taken him straight to the Dark Lord - which is where I'm taking you now."

Harry stared at him blankly. "No," he said in denial. "Draco's safe."

Lucius didn't give Harry a chance to comprehend before pulling a Portkey from his pocket and grabbing hold of Harry's battered form in disgust. Another whirl and Harry was transported to Voldemort's lair. He landed with a scream ripping his throat to shreds.

Harry felt his scar flare and knew Voldemort was close. Automatically, Harry threw up his Occlumency shields and once again was thankful for Snape's harsh training over the last few months. Harry was frantically trying to reclaim control over his body with all its injuries.

"Harry! Oh, Harry!" Harry barely registered the cries before Draco was there at his side and touching his face hysterically.

"Draco?" Harry cracked his eyes open to see Draco's young face just inches from his own, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Harry!" Draco cried out again, seemingly unable to say anything else in his fear and worry.

"Are you all right?" Harry demanded. "Have they hurt you?"

Draco shook his head vehemently.

"What a touching reunion," Lucius sneered.

Harry found new reserves of strength and pushed himself up to a sitting position, looking around him for the first time. His eyes widened as much as they could as he realized he and Draco were completely surrounded. He unconsciously forced his eyes open wider as he further realized that he was in the same graveyard where Voldemort had been resurrected.

"Ah, I see you remember this place," came the high, cold voice of Voldemort himself.

Harry swallowed down the nausea that was threatening to overwhelm him and glared up defiantly at Voldemort. "Have you missed me, Tom?" he sneered.

Voldemort's red eyes flashed. "I also see you've yet to learn any manners."

"I only show respect to those who deserve it," Harry retorted.

"You will learn to show respect!" Voldemort declared.

"Imperio!"

Harry barely felt the dream-like state wash over him before he pushed it away and once again glared at Voldemort. "It didn't work last time. What made you think it would work this time?" he snapped angrily.

Voldemort addressed his followers. "See how defiant he is, even when he has nothing at all going in his favor. You are here tonight to witness his final defeat."

Harry let Voldemort's words wash over him, just like he'd let the curse flow over him without affecting him. He hugged the sobbing Draco to him tightly, ignoring his own pain, and tried to figure out how the fuck he was supposed to get them both out of there.

There was no Portkey lying around this time. He was in the open and technically he could Apparate but he wasn't good enough to be able to Apparate Draco with him. Besides that, his strength was seriously depleted.

Harry automatically rubbed Draco's back soothingly as he looked frantically around the area searching for some solution. For the first time, Harry regretted that Snape had quit his Death Eater duties. There was no one there who would help them.

He could feel Draco's heart beating as frantically as his own. Harry was barely feeling his wounds now, though, adrenaline coursing through his body and overriding the pain. Fight or flight. Harry could see no means of fleeing which meant he'd have to fight.

"Get the child away from him!" Voldemort ordered coldly.

"No! Leave him alone!" Harry shouted as loudly as he could, holding onto Draco tightly.

Harry had been watching Lucius and was caught by surprise when someone came up from behind him and snatched Draco while someone else grabbed his arms and forcibly yanked them behind his body. Harry was shoved to the ground and he was once again trying to regain his breath.

"You need to learn not to question me, Potter," Voldemort declared. "Crucio!"

Harry had been so, so wrong. He hadn't been hurting before. Now he was hurting as it felt like his bones were set on fire and his entire body, inside and out, was wracked with pain. Long before the curse was let up, Harry's voice had lost its ability to scream.

When he was finally released from the curse, he was left collapsed on the frozen ground, panting heavily, each breath recreating the fire in his chest.

Vaguely, Harry could hear Draco sobbing and hysterically calling his name.

"Lucius," Voldemort commanded. "Punish your son and quiet him immediately."

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius said smoothly.

Harry felt the adrenaline flow through his body even stronger than it had earlier. Or maybe it was his magic he felt flowing. All he knew was that suddenly he had the ability to push himself up and was frantically searching out Draco and Lucius.

"The damned brat won't shut up!"

Harry realized the voice belonged to Bellatrix the second before she forcefully threw Draco onto the ground.

Harry saw Lucius raising his wand and mind and magic remembered his promise to Draco. Without thought, Harry raised his hand and cast a powerful Shield charm around Draco then cast one on himself before he struggled to his feet. "Close your eyes and keep them closed, Draco," Harry shouted as loud as his tortured throat would allow.

"Accio wand," Harry yelled, still trying to ignore the pain in his throat, let alone the rest of his battered body. His wand came flying from the pocket of Lucius' robes before the man could stop it.

The Death Eaters were shouting and several threw curses at both him and Draco but the shields Harry had put up were causing the curses to bounce off before hitting them.

Harry turned his rage on Lucius. "I promised your son that I'd never let you torture him again. I also promised myself and his godfather that if I ever had the chance that I'd kill you, you fucking bastard."

"You don't have the nerve or the ability to kill me, Potter," Lucius sneered at him.

"That's what you think," Harry said coldly. "Avada Kedavra!" The green light shot out from the end of Harry's wand and hit the disbelieving Lucius Malfoy square in the chest.

But Harry wasn't done and with barely a thought he flicked his wand at Bellatrix. "You're next, bitch. I promised my own godfather I'd kill you." Harry paid no attention to whatever the spell was that she cast at him. "Avada Kedavra!"

Most of the rest of the Death Eaters were starting to back away fearfully and Harry whirled on Voldemort. "I'm bloody tired of all this. How about you, Tom?" Harry asked, his voice cold as steel.

Slowly but surely Harry started pulling his magic in to hold in readiness for him to let loose. He was ready to end this here and now. He had no idea how he'd been able to pull off the shields, but didn't care. All he knew was that he'd made a promise to Draco and was doing his best to fulfill it.

"You are going to die, Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed angrily.

Harry registered the fact that Voldemort was finally looking afraid, even as he said that he was going to kill Harry.

"You won't be able to kill me, Tom Riddle," Harry declared. "See, I've got love on my side which gives me a whole new power you have never understood." And suddenly, Harry knew it to be true. He felt it to be true.

"Love is not a power," Voldemort sneered.

Harry kept talking as he let his magic build up. "Oh, but you're wrong. It's an amazing power. Love for that child, love for the young man he will be once again - it's extremely powerful. People have always accused me of wearing my heart on my sleeve. Of letting my emotions rule me. I used to argue with that. But see, now I'm pretty certain that it's love that's created these shields around Draco and I. You have no love to shield yourself with."

"I don't need love to shield me, foolish boy," Voldemort shouted.

Harry let his magic go, firing it through his wand, straight at Voldemort. He didn't say an incantation of any kind, letting his magic do for itself whatever it needed to do. And it did. His magic crashed into Voldemort with a heavy force, ripping into his body even as it threw him backwards twenty feet through the air, slamming into a headstone.

Harry watched wide-eyed as Voldemort writhed in agony, screaming out his pain, frustration, fear and anger. His body glowed with the same green glow associated with the Avada Kedavra curse, and that glow surrounded him until finally it was all over. Harry didn't know how he knew it, but he was certain that green glow was his magic making sure that Voldemort's core couldn't escape once again.

Harry blinked. It was done. Voldemort was really and truly dead.

Harry suddenly registered Draco's sobbing and turned on his heel, breathing heavily, wand at the ready. But everyone else was gone. They'd seen their master's downfall and were gone now.

Harry hurried over to Draco as swiftly as he was able and gathered the little boy in his arms, steadfastly ignoring the pain he was in. "Shhh, it's all over now, angel. Shhh, it'll be all right." Harry kept murmuring any soothing sounds he could think of.

"Are your eyes still shut?" Harry asked. "Did you keep them shut like I told you to?"

"Y-yes," Draco sobbed.

"Good boy, angel. Just keep them closed for me a little longer, please," Harry said, his voice a little shaky but, overall, calm.

Gods, they were stuck here with the little boy's dead father - whom Harry had killed - and they had no way back to Hogwarts still.

Harry's injuries were wanting to take over his body again, but he still had some adrenaline flowing as he attempted to think of a way out of there.

Harry let his gaze fall on the dead body of Lucius Malfoy. The sight was enough to make him feel sick all over again, but the man had deserved it. He'd deserved to die for torturing his own son for so many years, let alone for all the things he'd done in the name of his master.

Harry looked at the man again. Lucius had had Harry's wand in his pocket. Would he have the other things Harry had stuffed in his pockets before leaving for Hogsmeade? Would he have the Portkey Snape had given him?

"Angel?" Harry asked, trying to get Draco's attention. "Draco?"

"Y-yes, H-Harry?" came the small, shaky voice answering.

"I need you to stay here while I do something real quick," Harry said. "I promise you're safe and I'll only be a minute. I just need to get our Portkey so we can go back to Hogwarts." He hoped.

Harry felt Draco nod his head and carefully lifted the boy off his lap where the boy promptly curled up into a ball again on the frozen ground. Harry kept talking to Draco in soothing tones as he crawled achingly over to Lucius' body. He crammed down his disgust and nausea at searching the man's pockets, but gave a cry of triumph when he pulled out the Portkey.

Crawling back over to Draco, Harry gathered the boy back into his arms. "Hold on, angel. We're going back to safety." Harry activated the Portkey and held onto Draco tightly as they whirled, the nausea rising threateningly once again. They landed in a heap at the Hogwarts gates.

Harry groaned loudly as he threatened to black out, pain overwhelming him. He clung desperately to the thought that he still had to get Draco to safety.

Draco seemed to have regained some of his equilibrium, being in familiar territory.

"Harry? Harry!" Draco cried. "Are you okay? We're almost there, Harry!"

"Hold on a minute," Harry gasped, the last several hours trying to claim their hold on him.

"Please be all right, Harry," Draco sobbed.

Harry managed to keep the blackness at bay and slowly forced himself into a sitting position. He carefully looked Draco over as he tried to catch his breath. "Are you really all right, Draco? Did they hurt you at all?"

"I'm all right," Draco said quietly. "They only hurt me a little." At the furious look crossing Harry's features, Draco was quick to explain. "No, I mean they just held me too tight and threw me down, but I'm really all right."

Harry relaxed a little and sighed in relief. He glanced up at the castle which seemed so incredibly far away. He struggled to get on his feet again. "Can you walk, angel?"

Draco nodded bravely and took Harry's hand. Very slowly they started walking to the castle. Harry didn't have the foggiest clue as to what time it was. It was plenty dark out and certainly no one was around. He did know that he was more exhausted than he'd ever been in his life.

Harry made it to the bottom of the steps and decided there was absolutely no way he was going to make it up them. He collapsed, more than sat, on the bottom step, with Draco watching him anxiously.

"Draco? Do you think you could run in and find Severus for me? Or anybody for that matter," Harry muttered.

Draco looked at him worriedly, but then his face scrunched up into a determined expression. "I'll bring someone right back to help you," he promised.

Harry nodded wearily and leaned up against the stone wall at the side of the steps. Draco took off as fast as his little legs would carry him up the steps and into the castle.

Harry started to drift into unconsciousness now that they were pretty much safe. He couldn't have been there long when the castle doors flew open. Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Blaise was holding Draco, Pansy, Ron, Hermione and Crabbe and Goyle all came tumbling out of the castle, although Harry was barely registering any of them.

"Harry!"

Harry blinked blearily into obsidian eyes directly in front of him. Severus was there. He was safe.

"Potter. Harry. What happened?" Severus was asking even as he was carefully lifting him.

"Been at the graveyard. Voldemort's really gone this time," Harry said wearily, laying his head on Severus' shoulder. "I killed Lucius and Bellatrix, too."

Harry didn't hear the gasps or exclamations of astonishment and didn't see the look of amazement Severus sent him.

"Had to keep my promise to Draco that I'd keep him safe and not let his father hurt him anymore," Harry's voice was barely audible, but Severus heard him.

"Foolish boy," Severus said, although his tone was full of affection and worry rather than any malice.

"I hurt everywhere," Harry said wearily.

"I know," Severus said. "Poppy will take care of you."

"I hate the hospital wing," Harry said petulantly, though his voice was sounding weaker and weaker with every word uttered.

"I know," Severus said again, and even as he said the words, he felt the shift of Harry's body as he finally slipped into unconsciousness.

Malfoy's Child - Chapter 19

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