oOooxooOo
Prayers by Firesword
oOooxooOo
Secrets. Draco hated secrets. He hated it more when burdened with one.
It was tearing him. It was tearing his mind apart. It was tearing his soul. It was tearing his heart.
His knees shook and he collapsed just beside his bed. Teeth chattering, he drew his knees close to his body, hugged them, and fought with the tears that threatened to fall.
How could he keep a secret? Could he even keep a secret? Could he hide it from Harry, who hated secrets more than he hated Severus? And how could he hide it from Severus, who was a spy?
The secret was tearing him apart and he finally broke down and cried.
-oOooOooOo-
She had been waiting for him to come down for two hours. She muttered darkly under her breath and kicked at the couch. She did not understand why Draco had made her wait, when she, as a friend, was doing him a favor, of playing the part of a girlfriend. "Bloody prat," Pansy swore and finally stormed in the direction of Draco's bedroom.
"Draco, what in Slytherin's name are you doing?" she asked loudly before his bedroom door. There was no reply and she frowned slightly. "Bloody git - I'm coming in." She was prepared to let Draco have an earful but she suddenly forgot what she wanted to say when she saw him huddling beside the bed and sobbing.
She blinked. She did not know that Draco could cry like that. "I'll go and get them," she said absently.
She blinked again when Draco did not protest. She withdrew and closed the door properly before hurrying out of the dormitory and out of the dungeons. Whatever that was bothering Draco, it was serious.
When she arrived at the Great Hall, she found Harry Potter sitting in between his friends, looking slightly worried. Her eyes drifted to watch Professor Snape, who looked grouchy as usual. She felt somewhat frightened about going up to her teacher but asking him to come with her was easier compared to asking Potter.
She strode up to the teachers' bench and ignored Professor Lupin's inquiring look. "Sir, there is a problem down in the dungeons," she whispered anxiously. Then a brilliant idea struck her and she cast a malicious gaze at Harry's direction. "You might want to call Potter down, Sir. I believe he has something to do with the state."
Snape snarled, and Pansy paused to wonder if Potter had done a prank.
"Potter! Follow me!"
Pansy moved toward the exit, and listened to the discontented grumbles coming from the Gryffindors. She felt the presence of the two wizards behind her and they moved down into the dungeons in grave silence.
"Where's Draco?" Harry asked quietly.
"What have you done to him?" Pansy asked under her breath and glanced over her shoulder. The Gryffindor looked back at her in blank comprehension. She frowned. "He's in his bedroom."
-oOooOooOo-
Why had he not resisted? Harry was his lover and Draco loved him so much. But Harry would hate him forever.
He would hate me forever. Draco cried harder, nearly keening with grief. I'm not strong ... like Severus. Gods ... why?
He did not hear his door opening, did not hear the oaths and exclamations. He did not even feel the vibrations as his door closed with tremendous force.
Let your arms enfold us.
Then there were arms around him and hands lifting his chin. Through blurred eyes, he met emerald eyes, and sable ones. A whimper escaped from his throat, and he could not hold back.
"Harry!" he cried hoarsely and clung onto his lover.
Through the dark of night.
He held on to Harry and desperately hugged his lover. His chest was pressed so closely with Harry's and the heartbeat that reverberated against him was comforting. "Don't go," he whispered. "Stay."
"Draco," Severus called him gently and he felt his other lover sit closer to his side. "What is wrong?"
He hid his face in Harry's chest, not daring to look at Severus.
Will your angels hold us?
Till we see the light?
Severus was not going to forgive him either. Severus was not going to forgive him for being weak. Draco was going to lose his other lover as well. He knew it. He could feel it in his heart.
He would never be forgiven.
Never, never, never.
Severus would be angry with Harry too. His heart wrenched painfully at the thought that he might drive Severus away from Harry.
Tears fell from his eyes and slid down to his cheeks before they dropped to soak Harry's white shirt.
There was no way Severus would be with them once the Potions Master knew his secret. He knew he would never get out of the hell in which he had fallen.
It felt good and comforting. His back felt warm and he felt secure. "Severus," he whispered as the professor embraced them both, chest pressing gently against his back. He shivered slightly as Severus kissed his ear tenderly.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Harry asked in a hushed tone, worry and concern evident in his voice.
He did not want to let go of Harry. He did not want to be alone. He wanted to remain in their embrace.
But they'd leave anyway...
He pulled away, and at the same time pushed Severus away. Then he crawled away from his lovers and reached out for the wand on his table.
"Drac-"
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, Harry." He lifted his eyes and looked into troubled green eyes. "I'm so sorry." His lips trembled violently. "I'm so sorry, Severus. So sorry." He still could not look at his other lover. He pointed his wand at his arm.
"Draco!"
He ignored Harry's sharp yell. "Lacerare,” he whispered and ran it across his forearm. It stung as the spell cut through his sleeve and skin. The fabric fell open and the Dark Mark stood boldly out of his fair skin. He closed his eyes and leaned back. He could not hear any reaction from his lovers.
I've failed them. I disappointed Severus. Harry will never trust me.
Never.
And it hurt.
I'm a coward.
He raised his wand and pointed it at his own throat.
I love you so much.
"I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and steadied his hand. "A-"
His hand was suddenly on fire and he gasped in pain. He opened his eyes and found Harry glaring at him, emerald eyes burning with fury.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry hissed, grabbing his wand and tossing it away forcefully.
"If I die, I won't be able to betray you," he whispered in response.
Then Harry started to shake him roughly. "Don't you love us?" the emerald-eyed Gryffindor demanded. "You're going to leave us just because you have a damned mark?"
"It's not just a mark, damn it! It's the Dark Lord’s, I’m a Death Eater, and I love you- “He buried his face in his hands "I love you," he choked.
-oOooOooOo-
The moment he saw the Mark on his lover's arm, he burned with rage. However, it was only for a moment. He saw the agony in Draco's face and sick realization crept into him when Draco started to raise his wand slowly.
"Draco," Severus had whispered then, his eyes wide with horror.
Harry lunged at Draco at the same time Snape flicked his hand. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed angrily and roughly pulled the wand from Draco's hand before throwing it away.
"If I die, I won't be able to betray you."
His eyes watered suddenly. Die? You wanted to kill yourself? "Don't you love us?" You want to leave me? You want to leave Severus? He started to yell sharply, something about a mark but he said it without paying attention to it. He was too busy watching Draco, who was clearly distressed by the entire thing.
He pulled Draco up to him and hugged his lover as tightly as he could without choking the other one. He planted kisses on Draco's silver mane and rubbed his hands soothingly down Draco's back. "I love you too, Draco. I love you too," he murmured. "We'll straighten this out."
"I'm weak..."
"No, Draco."
Harry heard the soft rustles as Severus' robes brushed against his ankles. He looked up at the older man and saw the yearning look in the pair of obsidian eyes. He nodded and carefully guided Draco into Severus' arms. He moved into a kneeling position and stared down at Draco worriedly.
"You weren't at fault, Draco," Severus whispered. Draco denied it by shaking his head. Harry reached out and stroked Draco's hair, trying very much to calm his lover. "Do not worry too much about this. Not now anyway."
He knew he had made the right move by letting Severus hold Draco. He crawled up, sat near Severus, and patted the wizard's knee in silent reassurance. Severus turned to look at him, and Harry gave him a smile of affection. It felt like they had been through this before. In a way, they had. But that was before Draco entered their lives and hearts as a lover. Draco had not been there during the time that Harry had to convince Severus that a relationship between people such as them was possible.
"But..."
Hush, lay down your troubled mind.
"Draco." Severus propped the blonde into a sitting position before rolling up his sleeve.
Harry watched as Draco blinked.
"I have the mark as well. If you had taken the time to..." Severus blushed suddenly, as did Draco.
He smiled, somewhat amused by Severus' inadvertent attempt at humor.
"Don't worry about it, Draco," Harry said softly and leaned forward, to kiss Draco lightly on the lips. "Tomorrow, we'll inform Dumbledore."
The day has vanished and left us behind.
Together with Severus, they helped Draco to sit on the bed, and the young Slytherin immediately pulled Harry down. He felt somewhat surprised when Draco insistently straddled him and clung to him. He heard a snort and looked at Severus curiously. The older wizard came forward and started to tug at his shoes and socks.
Harry smiled sheepishly and took a few moments to admire Severus' face. The man looked totally different when he was concerned and worried. Distantly, a bell started to toll. Harry counted how many times the gong struck - it was already eight in the evening.
"I'm sorry," Draco whispered.
And the wind, whispering soft lullabies...
Harry squeezed his arms around Draco slightly. "Don't be, dragon. Severus had said that it's not your fault and I don't blame you," Harry whispered. He continued to croon softly, reassuring his lover with words and kisses, all the while rocking gently back and forth. "I love you," he whispered softly, almost inaudibly, his breath a tender zephyr blowing in Draco's ear.
... will soothe, so close your weary eyes.
He kissed Draco's temple and cautiously lay down on the bed, and his lover uncurled, to lie on top of him.
"Love you..." Draco's words against his chest tickled slightly. "Severus, love you too..."
Harry smiled as he watched Severus stroke Draco's silver hair lovingly. He became somewhat entranced by the soft murmur of words coming from Severus.
"I love you, Severus," he heard himself saying as he saw Draco's eyes fluttering close from the side.
"Thank you," Severus whispered and Harry closed his eyes as his lover kissed him passionately.
"What for?"
"For having faith in me."
-oOooOooOo-
Sleep, angels will watch over you.
Severus carefully lay down beside his lovers, as he did not want to wake Draco, who was already sleeping soundly on top of Harry. He placed his arm above Harry's head, and his other arm came to stroke Draco's hair. Just like the nights after they had made love, he kissed Harry gently. "You look tired," he said softly. "Sleep."
"But-"
"Do not argue, Harry. It's not a strange thing for me to stay awake." He kissed Harry again. "Anyway, I have to be awake, in case anyone tries to break in. So sleep."
And soon beautiful dreams will come true.
He smiled gently as he watched his lover's face. Sleep for Harry nowadays were a blessing, because their strange love and bond had kept him from having nightmares. And Severus would always feel rested whether he had enough sleep or not.
He sighed softly as he listened to Harry's breathing, which had become deeper and steadier. "I love you."
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, our goal will be realized.
Can you feel spirits embracing your soul?
He did not realize he had dropped off but he awakened the instant he felt ... something. Then his breath caught in his throat as he stared into gray eyes.
"Tomorrow..." Lucius whispered. The ghost turned to embrace Draco, who still slept.
"Tomorrow..." James Potter echoed and dropped a kiss on Harry's forehead.
"Tomorrow..." Sirius hugged both Harry and Draco before vanishing.
"It'll be broken..."
"Mother," Severus croaked.
So dream while secrets of darkness unfold.
"The Dark Mark will be broken." His mother embraced him, just as she did when he was young. "Sleep, my darling. Let your magic undo the secrets."
He shuddered when the ghosts disappeared.
Tomorrow. I'll be completely yours, Harry. Yours and Draco's.
Severus turned on his side and buried his face in the crook of Harry's neck.
I'll never be divided in my loyalty ever again. I'm yours.
-oOooOooOo-
The sun was rising. He stood by the window and watched the east gravely. In his hand, was a crystal sphere. He smiled and carelessly tossed it out of the window.
"Incompetent fool." Voldemort snorted and nodded to his servant. The door closed, but not before he heard the Seer cry out loudly.
"It is today! It has begun!" The triumphant shout quickly changed into a horrified gurgle.
The Dark Lord laughed, almost lewdly, as he listened to the Seer's moans.
"I love you."
His hand tightened around the railing and he frowned. What was that odd feeling deep inside his heart?
"Severus ... please..."
No... He hissed when he found himself in a place that looked familiar. It was one of the Slytherins' bedrooms. What was not familiar was the intense feeling above him, and the sensation below him.
"Draco," he heard himself whisper. "... love you so much..."
His heart was hammering in his chest.
"Yours..." someone whispered in his ear.
"Yours," Draco moaned above him.
"Always yours, Harry."
Harry.
Voldemort snapped back into his own body and whirled around. He could hear screams coming from all over the abandoned castle.
-oOooOooOo-
Harry's scream was silenced by Draco's mouth as he climaxed inside the silver-haired Slytherin and he jerked when Severus bit painfully on his shoulder and thrust hard into him.
"Love you..." he sighed and allowed Severus to pull him down. He opened his eyes tiredly and groaned. "Draco, lie down."
"Harry..." his lover whispered, sounding somewhat amazed.
"What's wrong?" Harry sat up, with Severus still inside him. His movement made the Potions Master groan, and Harry grinned roguishly.
"The Mark ... it's gone..."
He blinked. "What?" Then he scowled. "Were you playing a prank on us?"
"Bloody hell, no!"
"No?" He blinked and blindly reached for Severus' left arm. He could not breathe suddenly, as his eyes stared at a fair, unmarked arm. "It's gone..."
"That's what I was saying ... the Mark's gone!"
"But how-"
"Does it matter?" Draco beamed. "I’ll never be his puppet anymore!" Draco started to kiss Harry's face exuberantly.
"But how-"
"It does not matter, love," Severus whispered.
Harry turned around and looked at his first lover. He smiled, and nodded finally. "It doesn't, my angel."
THE END