emmagrant01 | FIC: Surrender the Grey (21/30)

NOTE: This is the first draft of this story. The final version can be read HERE.

Title: Surrender the Grey
Author: Emma Grant
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Draco Malfoy returns to London after five years of self-imposed exile to start a new life with Harry. But will the secrets of the past destroy everything they've worked for?
Sequel to: Left My Heart. This will make much more sense if you have read that first!
Disclaimer: Not my characters, no copyright violation intended.
Length: 150,000 words
Status: COMPLETED November 2, 2005 (Posted March 2 - November 2, 2005)
Notes:
1. Please don't archive this story yet! This is the first draft, and in the next few months, it will be revised and edited. I'll post the final version on my website and a few other select archives, but in the meantime, feel free to link to this post.
2. There aren't enough words to say THANK YOU to

jedirita,

hazelhawthorne, and

(21)

"Do you have any idea why Manny and Hermione are fighting?" Draco asked as they lay in the darkness.

"It was about you, actually." Harry turned onto his side and yawned. "Hermione thought Manny was being unreasonable and overly judgmental, and he finally had enough of her nagging him about it, and… well, they had a spectacular row on Friday afternoon."

Draco stared up at where the ceiling would be if he could see it. "Did they split up?"

"No," Harry replied with a small laugh. "They're in too deep for that. He's here tonight, isn't he?"

Draco pulled the quilt up under his chin. The thought of Hermione defending him to Manny made him feel uneasy. Why did everyone have so much faith in him? He'd done nothing to earn it, after all. Deep down, he thought Manny's response to his deceit was entirely understandable.

"I can't believe Manny knew about that spell all along," Harry whispered, almost to himself. "And I wonder how you knew about it?"

"I don't know," Draco replied, closing his eyes. "It's just another thing I don't remember."

Harry was quiet for several seconds. "Why didn't you tell me about that when you first came here?"

"I didn't realize our lapses in memory were connected," Draco replied, even though he knew it sounded lame. "I knew there were things I couldn't remember, but… I didn't know it had anything to do with what happened here."

He felt Harry nod into his hair.

"I'm sorry if I…" Draco paused, not certain what he was trying to say.

"You've done nothing worse than what I've done," Harry whispered. "There are many things I haven't told you about, you know. You don't owe me an explanation for things you did in America. It had nothing to do with me."

"But I think I owe Manny one," Draco replied.

Harry sighed. "Why do you care so much about what he thinks?"

"He's my friend."

"Yes, but…" Harry paused. "Hermione asked him if he was still in love with you, if that was why he was so angry."

Draco's eyes flew open at that. "What did he say?"

"He said he wasn't, that she was just jealous. And she said something about not being able to help it, because she couldn't compete with you, not being properly equipped."

Draco turned to look at Harry. "Were you listening at the keyhole or something?"

"They were in my office," Harry snorted. "Wasn't much I could do about it."

Draco bit his lip. "I understand how she feels, though."

"You're jealous?" Harry stared back at him, eyes narrowing. "Is this about that woman you polyjuiced into?"

Draco considered saying no for a moment, but he was too tired to lie, even if it would prevent an argument. "It just… it bothers me that I can't give you what a woman could, and I never will. With me, there's no marriage, no family, no grandchildren, no normal life." Draco held Harry's gaze, even though he knew Harry wanted to look away.

"That's not completely true," Harry said at last. "Besides, who's to say what's normal? Things are changing."

Draco wasn't certain about that, but now wasn't the time to discuss politics. "All I can give you is me. And I'm…" He broke off and looked at the ceiling again.

"What I want," Harry said, and kissed his shoulder.

Draco closed his eyes. Why was he doing this to himself? Why was he opening up so much when tomorrow it might all come crashing down?

Draco turned onto his side, away from Harry. Harry yawned again and spooned behind him, sliding an arm around his chest. Draco closed his eyes as the sound of Harry's breathing became even and shallow.

+++++

Monday, March 15, 2004

Daylight was streaming through the windows when Draco woke up. Harry was still curled around him, the heat of his body comforting in the chill of morning. Draco stretched and stuck one foot out from under the blankets to test just how chilly the room was.

His movement caused Harry to stir. The arm draped around Draco shifted and then pulled him closer, close enough for Draco to feel an erection against his arse. He thought for a moment about pressing back against it, but his embarrassment from the night before was still fresh in his mind. He focused instead on the sound of Harry's breathing, the feeling of it against his skin. Just as Draco was starting to drift back to sleep, Harry rolled onto his back and yawned audibly, pulling the quilt off of them both. Draco started to grumble about the loss of warmth, but stopped when he caught sight of the small tent Harry's dick was making in the sheet.

"Morning," Harry managed, blinking at him. He followed Draco's gaze down his body and grinned. "Should I tell you what you were doing to me in that dream I just had?"

Draco smiled. "Depends on whether or not you want it to come true."

Harry's grin broadened at that. On a whim, Draco ducked under the sheet and pushed Harry's thighs apart, settling on his belly between them. He had just wrapped his lips around the head of Harry's prick when there was a knock at the door.

"Morning!" Hermione called.

Harry groaned -- whether it was from pleasure or frustration, Draco couldn't tell. "Erm," he replied. Draco grinned around his mouthful and sucked Harry's cock in as far as he could manage.

"Are you awake?" Hermione asked through the door.

"More or less," Harry replied. His voice was completely normal, which Draco took as a sign he wasn't working hard enough. He shifted onto his elbows under the sheet and let his tongue swirl against Harry's shaft as he moved, massaging the foreskin.

"Manny's mum arrived about an hour ago, and I'm fixing breakfast. Would you like eggs?"

"I… sure," Harry replied, voice a bit strained now. His thighs fell apart even more, giving Draco better access. Draco let his teeth graze the underside of the head in that way he knew Harry liked.

"Scrambled, fried, what?"

"Ohhh… I don't care, really." Harry was breathing harder now.

Draco wet one finger and trailed it down beneath Harry's balls, smiling at the intake of breath he could hear above him. He teased Harry's arsehole for a moment before pressing that finger into him as slowly as he could bear. Harry's hips arched off the bed.

"All right," Hermione said. "Coffee or tea?"

"Erm… sorry?" One of Harry's hands grasped the back of Draco's head through the sheet, pushing him down further. Draco was surprised, but did his best to swallow Harry's cock. He hooked his finger up and stroked, inwardly grinning when Harry shuddered beneath him. He'd never fingered him like this without asking permission first, but Harry didn't seem to care at the moment.

"Coffee or tea?" Hermione repeated, a bit louder.

"I… I don't… both?" Harry managed, panting.

"Both," Hermione replied, sounding a little perplexed. "Would you like toast? Manny's thinking of fixing pancakes as well, if you like that sort of thing."

"Uh," Harry replied.

Draco sucked hard, his fist pumping in opposition to the movements of his mouth, his other finger twisting inside Harry's arse.

"And bacon and sausage, of course."

"Yes, I--" Harry said, and rubbed at Draco's head in what he could only assume was a warning. A moment later, Harry came without a sound, arse clenching around Draco's finger.

When Draco emerged from beneath the sheet, Harry's hands were over his face. "Sounds great, Hermione. Thanks."

"Draco?" Hermione asked through the door.

Draco grinned at Harry, whose blush was spreading down his throat. Harry peeked through his fingers and grinned back.

"I don't suppose I could have an omelet?" Draco asked, giving Harry a wink. "With cheese would be lovely."

+++++

After a few cleansing spells and some creative transfiguration of sheets into reasonable clothing, they were presentable enough to emerge from the room.

Harry's arms encircled Draco's waist the moment his hand touched the doorknob. "Can't I just--?"

"No," Draco replied. "They're waiting for us."

Harry kissed his neck in a way that would normally have melted Draco on the spot, but he was -- truthfully -- relieved to have an excuse to tell Harry no. He hadn't even got hard while sucking Harry off, and he wasn't yet ready to think about what that meant.

The small living room looked busier than Draco had ever seen it. The twins, still in their pyjamas, were on the floor surrounded by magical Legos, which they were directing to assemble and disassemble repeatedly into various animal shapes. Manny was sitting on the sofa watching them with an expression that bordered on paternal. He looked up at Harry and Draco and nodded in greeting.

Hermione's voice could be heard from the kitchen around the corner. "Oh, don't trouble yourself, please--"

"It's no trouble, honey," a woman's voice replied. "You clearly do far too much on your own as it is."

Hermione appeared from around the corner, followed by a woman in a colorful set of robes. Her dark hair was streaked with grey and pulled into a loose bun at the back of her head. The woman gestured towards the kitchen, and a teapot and half a dozen cups floated into view.

Her dark eyes fell upon Draco and she smiled. "Oh yes," she said, her voice rich and familiar. "Draco -- I remember."

Draco felt oddly naked under her gaze. "You… you do?"

The teapot and cups settled onto the sofa table behind her. Manny looked up from the Legos to listen.

"We met when I spoke at NYU several years ago," she said, stepping closer. "You came to the party Manny had for me at his apartment."

"Oh," Draco replied as the memory was sparked. "Right." He glanced at Manny.

"We didn't really know each other then," Manny said, a hint of recognition on his face as well. "I'd just moved to New York and didn't know anybody, so I invited everyone in the office."

Manny's mother beamed at Draco, and he blushed -- he couldn't even remember her name.

After an awkward moment, Harry stepped forward. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter." Draco winced -- where were his manners?

"Guadalupe Gomez-Padilla," she replied, extending her hand. The gold and copper bracelets on her wrists jangled, reminding Draco for a moment of Professor Trelawney, whom he hadn't seen since his days at Hogwarts. "And your name is familiar to me as well, of course."

Harry nodded, looking uncomfortable.

Guadalupe turned back to Draco and contemplated him for a moment. "And you, young man -- you have done something very interesting, I understand."

"And illegal," Manny said, raising an eyebrow.

"Mi'jo, I think Hermione could use your help in the kitchen," she replied without looking at him. Manny rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed, but he left the room without a word. Guadalupe ignored his departure, her dark eyes sparkling as she smiled at Draco. "I've been studying historical magic my entire life, and I've never had an opportunity to view the effects of such a spell cast outside of a laboratory setting. You'll have to forgive my enthusiasm."

"Well, I suppose we're your guinea pigs, then," Draco said.

"Oh, you're much more than that," Guadalupe laughed. "I expect to get a few publications out of this, of course, but this is an opportunity I never thought I'd have." She gestured toward the kitchen table. "Now come and sit. You must tell me everything."

And so they did. Over eggs, toast, sausage, tea, and coffee, Draco and Harry told Guadalupe everything they'd learned about the situation under which the perfidio spell had been cast. Manny and Hermione listened intently, so much so that Draco wondered how much of this Harry had told them. Even the children were quiet.

"And you both awoke with no recollection of what had happened in the previous three weeks?" Guadalupe asked, adding sugar to her coffee.

"None," Harry replied. "We remember nothing of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Voldemort and our involvement in it."

"Terrible wizard, that one," Guadalupe said, shaking her head. "The American government was hoping your people would sort that out before his followers got a foothold in our country."

"They were having a little trouble with the Mafia," Draco quipped, glancing at Manny.

Manny nodded and swallowed a bite of toast. "Draco's something of an expert on that." There was no malice in his tone, but Draco felt a twinge in his stomach anyway.

"If you don't mind," Harry said, nudging Draco under the table with his knee, "what we'd really like to know is how to break the spell."

Guadalupe nodded and placed her cup on the table before her. "Of course. The first thing you should know is that it's never been done in such a situation."

Draco thought Harry must have felt the same sinking sensation that he did.

"I have a theory, however," Guadalupe continued, gesturing with one bangled wrist, "one I've been working on for many years. I never expected to have an opportunity to test it, of course." She looked up and her eyes met Draco's. "My first concern is that you may have altered the potion used in the spell. There are some ingredients involved that I can't imagine you could have procured with a few weeks' notice."

Draco nodded, wishing he had asked Ebby more questions about the potion he'd made.

"You see, there are no recorded cases of memory loss associated with the cursification of perfidio. Madness, yes -- homicidal tendencies, extreme depression…"

Harry swallowed audibly. "Depression?"

Guadalupe paused to give him an appraising look before continuing. "The fact that the people involved were all highly trained and powerful wizards may be a factor. But my suspicion is that you altered the spell in some significant way. And that is very interesting indeed." She picked up her coffee again, nearly looking excited by the prospect.

Harry made a small sound of frustration. "But you can help us break it? Preferably as soon as possible?"

"Perhaps," she replied, nodding at him. "My counter spell has worked repeatedly under laboratory conditions -- of course, we've only removed a controlled perfidio and not a cursified one, so there's no guarantee it would work in this context."

"Cursified?" Harry asked.

Guadalupe's eyebrows rose. "You don't use that term for a spell that's broken down and become a curse?"

"We don't have a word for that," Hermione said, with a meaningful glance at Harry.

"But we can at least try to break it," Draco interjected. "Can't we?"

Guadalupe took a measured breath before replying. "There is another factor that concerns me. The potion is the medium through which the magic enters the body, of course. But in those days, New World witches and wizards didn't use wands to focus their magic. In order to bind the people involved, a metal object of great value to each person was dropped into the potion, along with a thimble full of blood from each." She glanced at Hermione before continuing. "We can break the spell by inverting the potion in the usual way, but we'll need the objects and the blood to complete the process."

"Blood?" Harry asked, face becoming pale. He looked at Hermione, who was staring into her teacup. "That's impossible, unfortunately. Ron is…"

"I'm afraid we can't proceed without it," Guadalupe sighed. "Blood magic is very powerful. Modern magical science has yet to find a way around it."

They were all silent as a sense of hopelessness settled over them.

"There must be another way," Harry said at last. "This isn't just about us regaining our memories. We're on the verge of war. We need to find out what happened to Voldemort, once and for all."

"I understand," Guadalupe sighed, "but--"

Hermione sucked in a breath across the room and everyone turned to look at her. She was staring at her children, a strange expression on her face.

"What is it?" Manny asked, turning to examine them.

"Harley," Hermione whispered. Her face was very pale.

"Harley?" Harry asked, rising in his chair.

Draco stared at the child, trying to see what was wrong.

"We could…" Hermione closed her eyes and seemed to be steadying herself. "He looks so much like Ron. Molly even says their baby photos are identical. What if we used… his blood?" She looked away, as if ashamed of herself for even suggesting it.

Everyone turned to stare at Harley, who was engrossed in stuffing a Cheerio up his nose.

Guadalupe nodded, her forehead wrinkling. "That is a brilliant idea, Hermione. Blood magic binds to DNA, you know, but only to certain genes. A complete match may not be necessary, if we're lucky."

"Yes," Hermione said, nodding. "That's just what I was thinking." Harry gave her a look of surprise and her cheeks flushed. "I do know something about the science of blood magic, you know," she said, holding her head a bit higher. "I haven't had a chance to study it formally, but the London Library of Magic has subscriptions to many of the top international journals of magical science and--"

"Do you spend your lunch breaks there, or something?" Harry asked.

"Sometimes," Hermione replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She looked back at Harley, who was now eating his bogey-glazed Cheerio.

"Then you also know that the child must give the blood willingly," Guadalupe said, her voice gentle. "Otherwise the magic won't bind correctly."

Hermione nodded, looking concerned again. "He's old enough to understand some of it. I'll ask him." Manny reached across the table to take Hermione's hand. She squeezed it in response.

Draco looked at Harry, who was still staring at Harley with a tense expression on his face. "This is crazy," Draco said. "We don't even know if it will work."

"It's our only chance, though," Harry sighed. "If Harley agrees, I think we should try it."

They all looked at Harley, who was smiling at the mention of his name. "Can I have more juice?" he asked.

+++++

Draco stepped out of the floo into Harry's flat, wand at the ready.

"It's all right," Harry said from a few feet away, brushing ashes off of his sleeve. "They're not here any more."

"They certainly left a calling card," Draco snorted. The flat had been torn apart: furniture overturned, dishes broken, papers strewn everywhere.

They began to cast cleaning charms in silence, moving from room to room. Draco searched for magical residue as he worked, but it seemed that much of this had been done by hand. The damage was indiscriminate, as if it had been done in haste.

"Any idea who it was?" Draco asked when they'd nearly put everything back in order.

Harry shook his head. "It depends on whether they were after one of us, or something else."

"What do you think they would be after?" Draco sat on the sofa, a bit dizzy.

"The key, maybe?" Harry shrugged. "We really don't know who else knew about the spell. Maybe someone doesn't want us to break it."

Cho Chang immediately came to Draco's mind, but he didn't say it aloud. He had a feeling Harry would object. "Have you thought any more about what your key could be?"

Harry sat next to him, looking tired. "I have no idea. Manny's mum said it would have been a metal object of great sentimental value, and I have nothing like that."

Draco studied him for a moment. "Could it be your glasses? I mean, they aren't completely metal, but… it could explain why you refuse to learn the vision correction spell."

Harry snorted. "If it is, we're in trouble. This pair is only a year old. I donate the old ones."

"Ah," Draco replied. "No elaborate belt buckles or anything? No lucky coins?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"You wouldn't happen to have Godric Gryffindor's famous sword stashed in a cupboard?"

Harry finally smiled at this. "Oh, sure. Let me go and fetch it."

They both yawned at the same time, then grinned at each other.

"God, I'm tired," Draco said, rubbing at his eyes. "Where are we staying tonight?"

"Hermione wants us to stay there. She's probably working on strengthening the wards even as we speak." Harry frowned. "Of course, we'd probably be fine here. Why would whoever did this expect us to come back, after all?"

Draco stifled a sarcastic retort. He would feel much better when they had flooed back to Hermione's house. "I wonder how Manny's mum and Snape are getting along?"

"Probably famously," Harry replied, propping his feet on the sofa table. "From what Hermione said about his return owl, it seemed he knew who she was."

"That would be an interesting meeting to sit in on," Draco said, stifling another yawn. Harry raised an eyebrow in response, and Draco changed the subject once again. "Manny and Hermione seem to have made up, haven't they?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, frowning. "Does he… Do you think he's really serious about her?"

Draco nodded. "I do. He thinks he's in love with her. At least, he did two weeks ago."

Harry looked thoughtful. "That was a bit quick, wasn't it? I mean, he hardly knew her."

Draco decided to refrain from pointing out that he and Harry had basically done the same thing.

They gathered up enough clothing to last the two of them a few days, then took turns showering while the other kept watch.

Draco found it hard to believe it had been only 24 hours since he'd awakened in this very flat after two days of unconsciousness. It felt like several days had passed since he'd stood under this same spray, helping himself to Harry's shampoo.

He had a brief coughing fit while drying himself off, one that made his recently healed ribs tingle. Harry peeked around the door at him.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Draco grimaced, rubbing at his chest. "I think it's just withdrawal -- I can't remember the last time I had a cigarette." The thought of smoking made his head buzz in anticipation.

"Good," Harry smiled, leaning against the door frame.

"Not really," Draco grumbled. "I'd smoke one right now if I could."

"Too bad you can't," Harry replied. He grinned and disappeared from view again.

"How long have you lived here?" Draco asked a few minutes later as he pulled one of Harry's jumpers over his head.

"Three and a half years," Harry replied, glancing around the room fondly. "I finally managed to sell my godfather's place in 2000, and I bought this."

"You could have got something bigger," Draco remarked. He'd never been to the Black house on Grimmauld Place, but he imagined Harry had sold it for much more than this flat could have cost him.

"I didn't need anything bigger," Harry said. "And it was mine, the first real thing I owned, that I chose for myself."

Draco made a face. "Well… couldn't you afford a decorator, at least?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Ready to go?"

Draco nodded. Harry picked up the bag they'd put their supply of clothing in, and they headed back to the living room to floo out.

"You first," Harry said. "I need to seal the wards after us." He looked around the room, reluctant to go.

Draco smiled at him. "You'll be back soon."

"I know," Harry replied with a sigh. He twirled his wand absently in his fingers. "You know, when I bought it, I didn't think I'd be living here alone."

"And you didn't," Draco said. "Cho lived here as well."

"Yes," Harry said. "But those aren't the best memories. And I still ended up alone in the end."

Draco took a deep breath. "Well… if things don't go all pear-shaped after this... does your offer still stand?"

"My offer?" Harry blinked at him, and then flushed. "Oh, to move in. Yes, of course."

Draco opened his mouth, but could think of nothing more to say. They stared at each other.

At last, Harry smiled and brushed Draco's cheek with the back of his hand. "I don't want to push you. We have time, you know."

Draco smiled back, though he privately felt that time was the one thing they didn't have. He dipped his fingers into the dish of floo powder and stepped into the green flames.

+++++

Go to the next part

Note: I didn't have a chance to respond to all comments last week for a variety of reasons, but please know that I appreciated every single one of them!

Page 1 of 3 << [1] [2] [3] >>

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

faeryshaman.livejournal.com

yay!
*reads*

From:

elrienne.livejournal.com

Whooohooo! I'm the first one!!!

*runs back to read now*

From:

malicemadden.livejournal.com

FINALLY! i've been refreshing my friends page for ten minutes!
*runs off to read*

From: (Anonymous)

totally totally love this story miss grant!! i just got to finish 20 and waited on ur site till 21 would pop up! lol. im from xanga and was refered by a friend to read LMH and now here i am. i can't wait to read, and i think that 25 seems like a good enough amount of parts...sigh...if only there were more........one thing though that i thought about lucius, i was under the impression that originally he hated muggles with a passion. why would he keep them as lovers???
yay third!!!!!!!!!
o yea my site is www.xanga.com/kinkboi or www.myspace.com/vikeetor

From:

Yes, I'm here for the porn.

FIC: Surrender the Grey (21/30)

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags