Son of the Dark
Part 4 - Lagu
By Silver :-)
Website: silver.glasscases.net
Pairing: Snape, Harry/Draco
Rating: for this PG
Series/Sequel: yes, it's a WIP.
Spoiler: not that I'm aware of.
Warnings: not yet, but they might apply as the story proceeds
Disclaimer: alas, not mine... The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. I will never be able to pay her back what she's given me. I earn nothing, I own nothing, nobody would pay me for this any-way. This is an act of love, please don't sue.
Feedback: whereas I may not *write* for feedback I most certainly post for it. So there.
Summary: Snape gets confronted with his past and temptation rises. A cunning plot unfolds that could ruin the lives of everyone.
Notes:
To get into the series fully, you might want to read my preceding stories, 'Uncontrollable Passions' and following, but it's not really required.
The cover art to 'Son of the Dark' can be found here.
Son of the Dark
Part 4 - Lagu
By Silver :-)
"Oh, just let me die..." Draco moaned as he lifted his head out of the bucket, wiping the vomit off his chin. He dropped back onto the pillows of his bed in the infirmary and closed his eyes.
Harry sat on a stool next to him and gently brushed a strand of damp hair off his boyfriend's face. "Are you feeling better now?"
"No..." was the whiny response.
With a slight frown, Harry asked, "And Madame Pomfrey really has no clue what this could be?"
Draco shook his head weakly.
"It's not the stomach flu, is it?"
"Don't think so..."
"Food poisoning?"
"No... ungh. Don't mention... food." Draco managed at the very last second to bend over and empty his stomach once more into the bucket that magically absorbed its contents every time it was filled.
"Poor baby..." Harry cooed and wiped his boyfriend's sweaty face with a wet washcloth. "See? That's love..." He paused for a moment, pushing away all the questions that were on his mind and focusing instead on making the one he loved feel better.
Draco didn't answer anyway, but continued to moan with a tortured look on his face. "I must look awful. Look at my hair!" he snivelled, touching a sticky strand with a disapproving frown.
Harry smiled lovingly. "You look fine. You look like you need help which I'm happily providing."
Not particularly convinced, Draco sank back into his pillow and pouted.
Harry couldn't help himself and teased, "And the sickness doesn't even harm your complexion. You're still impeccably white."
"Idio---" It was cut off by another gush Draco barfed into the bucket.
"See? That's the punishment for being vicious."
Draco glared, but decided to suffer in silence from now on. His performance was interrupted by Fred and George who came bursting through the door.
"So, where's the patient?" Fred yelled.
From the adjoining room, Madame Pomfrey's sharp "Sssssh!" could be heard.
Draco opened half an eye and groaned. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to see how you are."
"You know? Now that we've seen your bunny slippers we kinda..." George rubbed his knuckles together in a vague gesture, "...bonded."
Furling his brow, Draco grumbled, "Don't take me for a fool, you came to gloat at me."
The twins didn't even pretend to look contrite. "Well, yeah, but we brought candy! See?" Fred produced a box of chocolates he'd been hiding behind his back, thrusting it under Draco's nose.
The reaction was immediate. With a groan, Draco plunged head first into Harry's lap who held the bucket.
Fred and George eyed him with mischievous curiosity. "Oh wow, have you seen that bucket, Fred? How does it do that?" George looked at Draco. "Have you ever tried dumping something else..."
"I wonder where the stuff comes out..." Fred mussed.
Harry interrupted the twins with a stern look. "Don't even think about it!"
Smiling apologetically, Fred said, "Too late..."
Harry sighed. "Well, then promise me not to think about it again!"
"Aw, come on...! Harry, we---"
"Will you all just leave me alone?!?"
All heads turned to look at Draco who was all his efforts to slowly waste away and die being thwarted.
Fred grinned. "We were going to leave anyway. Not very flattering to have someone puke his guts out when you enter the room."
"Yeah, we know we can have quite an impact on people, but you're taking it a bit too far." Warbling a "cheerio-ooooh!" in unison, both twins left the room.
Harry felt a bit indecisive. "Want me to go, too...?"
Rolling onto the side, Draco mumbled a soft "Uh-huh..." and closed his eyes. "I need my rest."
Trying to be understanding and not to feel too hurt, Harry mumbled a soft "all right..." and got up from his chair, turning to leave. Suddenly, Draco's cold fingers closed around his wrist and held him back. Harry met the tired look of silver gray eyes with a questioning eyebrow.
"Harry, I..." Draco sighed, his eyelids drooping. "I'm sorry..."
"For what?"
"For... being who I am." Draco was asleep before Harry could answer.
With a loving smile, Harry stroked back Draco's damp hair and whispered, "No need to be."
By the next week, Draco had recovered from his "indisposition" and things went their usual way. Every now and then, Harry tried to broach the topic of that mysterious last night at Malfoy Manor, but he never got anything out of Draco. The array of reactions he got ranged from fierce stubbornness to displays of utter confusion. Most of the time, Draco stuck with his version of not remembering what had happened, but sometimes he also got very defensive with Harry's persistent poking.
"I don't know why you keep on bugging me, Harry!" he'd say then, his eyes sparkling in a menacing silver. "You act as if there was some huge conspiracy going on and I'm in the middle of it. Will you just cut that out?"
And Harry usually did, although the nagging feeling remained.
One afternoon, Harry was sitting leaned against a tree near the lake, staring out at its clear surface. He was deeply in thoughts. A squirrel had found its way out of the Forbidden Forest and looked at Harry, nose quivering curiously. This pulled him out of his brooding mood and he smiled, throwing a dry crust of bread he'd been holding listlessly in his hands at the small animal. The little rodent picked it up and scurried off into the direction of Hagrid's pumpkin patch.
Harry sighed softly. He was wondering if he wasn't just imagining it all. Maybe Draco was just a little confused. After all, there had been quite a few changes in his life. Maybe he was confused about being in love with Harry and maybe he was worried about his father's possible reaction. Or maybe he found it hard to give up his old lover...?
Frowning darkly, Harry sat up. This had to stop. These doubts were poisoning his own feelings and they were driving a wedge between Draco and him. It was no use trying to talk to Draco, at least not with the knowledge he had at this point. And the only chance of changing this was having a talk with the only other person who could give him the answers he wanted: Snape.
It took him all day to work up enough courage to finally walk down to the dungeons. Somehow he had hoped to run into Snape in the hallway and elicit some information from him, but the casual encounters never happened. Actually, this seemed to be the case ever since they had returned from Malfoy Manor. Where Snape had been secretive and solitary before, now he was downright committed to hermitage. Another reason for Harry's bad feelings.
Now, standing in front of Snape's classroom, Harry suddenly started to doubt. What did he expect? That Snape would smile and admit to his revived affair with Draco? Thinking about it, he probably would. Ever since Draco - allegedly - broke up with him, Snape had been trying to get back at them somehow. Nothing could be more delightful for him than rubbing salt into Harry's wounds. So, how much could Snape's words be worth?
Harry was almost ready to turn back again, when he heard voices, muffled through the door of Snape's office that also led into the hallway. Feeling a little guilty, he pressed his ear against the cool wood, trying to make out the words that were spoken. He recognized Snape's voice, but he couldn't understand anything useful. Just a few detached words that didn't really make sense.
Snape's voice suddenly stopped and Harry took a hasty step back, not wanting to be caught in the act. A moment later, the door opened and Snape appeared in the gloomy twilight of his office. "Potter, what are you doing here?" he asked disapprovingly. Then he frowned. "I thought I had heard something..."
Harry blushed furiously. All his carefully laid out phrases suddenly seemed to have vanished in a cloud of confusion and bewilderment. He noticed Snape's curious getup, the green apron and the matching rubber gloves. His black hair was sticking to his face as if it had been exposed to humidity. A strange, acrid smell emanated from the office. Not really the perfect setting for a cozy rendezvous.
Realizing that he had to say something in return, Harry cleared his throat nervously and said, "I... er, wanted to talk to you, sir." That didn't sound too suspicious, did it? Sneakily, he added, "Are you alone?"
Snape's frown deepened. "Yes." His hands tightened over the edge of the door and he glanced to the side for a moment, then looked back at Harry. "What do you want?"
"I..." Harry swallowed. Now a plan really would have come in handy. "I... er, can I just come in for a second, please?"
His eyes widening for a moment, Snape shook his head curtly. "No. I'm busy. Is it that important?" He looked at this spot behind his door again, obviously really kind of occupied.
Cursing inwardly, Harry decided to give up for now. "No... I guess I'll just come back later then." He dropped his head and turned around. He heard Snape close and lock the door behind him without another word. This kindled Harry's defiance. He knew Snape had been talking to someone! He had been telling a downright lie to him!
Taking all his courage, Harry carefully opened the door to the classroom and sneaked inside. He walked over to the adjoining door that connected the classroom to Snape's office. His heart started beating faster when he noticed the small cone of light coming from the door. It wasn't closed... He slid along the wall, not wanting to get into Snape's view by accident.
Pressed against the wall, he finally could make out the words Snape was whispering. "How pretty you are... you're perfect..."
Harry shuddered. He didn't want to know, he didn't want to see... and yet he had to. He had to know. He carefully lifted his head away from the wall and peered through the crack in the door.
Being prepared for the worst, he was somehow disappointed, seeing only Snape's back, the muscles moving under the black robe while he was busy working on something. He was still wearing that strange outfit. Harry shook his head. Maybe Draco was right and he was being paranoid after all.
Feeling ashamed about his silliness, Harry turned to leave again. He threw one last look at Snape and held his breath when he saw Snape move. He turned to the side, putting something on the table. Then he walked around the object of his attention and Harry suddenly started to feel very sick.
The naked body of a young man was revealed to Harry's eyes. All he could see was waist up, but it was enough for Harry to start to shake. The boy's white skin was shining softly in the candlelight of Snape's office and tousled white hair was just touching the shoulders. The state of the hair was the only thing that kept Harry from admitting to the obvious and so he kept staring, desperate that he was just being fooled by his rampant imagination.
With a soft smile on his lips, Snape ran his hands over the boy's sides, carefully feeling him up. The gloves gave a squeaking noise when he squeezed the shoulders tightly. "Wonderful..."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment. His heart was in pain. There was no use in denying it. This had to be Draco. But still... maybe it was all a huge misunderstanding. He opened his eyes again, almost screaming out in pain. Snape had tilted the boy's head to the side and now Draco's profile was clearly visible. He just stood there, his eyes closed, enjoying the caresses.
Harry couldn't bear the sight for a single second more and turned away, leaning against the wall in the darkness. Could there be a deeper pain than this? He stifled a sob, only managing it by tightly clasping his hand over his mouth, trying to fight back the tears. Not wanting them to be seen by them in the moment of his greatest pain, Harry stumbled out of the classroom, careful not to make a sound.
Lying on his side, Harry stared out onto the lake. Their lake. The lake where they usually met and made love when the weather allowed it. Somehow it felt ironic to return here after he just found out that their love had been a lie from the start, but this seemed to be the only place where he could find at least a little peace. Draco wouldn't be bothering him here, that's for sure.
Harry snivelled, another tear trailing down his cheek. He wiped it off impatiently. He would have thought he'd have been out of tears by now. He closed his eyes, shivering softly. How could Draco do that to him? With Snape of all people! The terrible thing was that he still loved Draco and that he still wanted him to be his. He couldn't imagine giving Draco up. How miserable was that?
A rustling in the leaves behind him made him tense. Someone was coming this way. How long had he been here?
"Oh, there you are!"
Harry closed his eyes at the sound of Draco's voice, forcing himself to show no reaction whatsoever.
"I've been searching for you all over! I thought we were going to do some Quidditch practice..." Draco sat down next to Harry, his breath slightly faster than usual. Looks like he had been running. Harry felt himself getting angry. How dare he, come here and pretend as if nothing had happened! Or rather, try to fool him that way. If Harry hadn't seen what he had, he never would have guessed.
Harry frowned bitterly. Yes, he wouldn't have guessed at all...
"Harry? You all right?" Draco asked softly, touching Harry's shoulder.
Shrinking away, Harry hissed, "Don't touch me!" He rolled over and sat up, staring at his boyfriend angrily. "Don't ever touch me again!"
Draco frowned in confusion. "Harry...?"
"Where have you been?" Harry asked flatly.
The frown deepened. "I've just been taking a walk around the lake. I had a few things to think about and ---"
Suddenly, Draco's head whipped back under the impact of a hand slapping his face. Holding his burning cheek, Draco stared at Harry in disbelief and yelled, "What the hell was that for?"
"You liar!" Harry screamed out, all the anger and pain inside of him burning for an outlet. "You cheating, stinking bastard! How could you do that do me?"
Draco's cheeks flushed in anger as he yelled back, "Do what? I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about!"
"Can't you at least be honest now, dammit?" Harry got to his knees, clenching his fists furiously.
"Honest about what?" Draco asked, exasperated.
This was too much for Harry to take and he lunged forward with raised fists. He knocked Draco over and they both fell into the grass, rolling until Harry was on top, banging his fists against Draco's chest. "I trusted you!" he cried out, tears rolling down his cheeks again. "I believed you!" He sobbed brokenly. "I hate you..."
Draco recovered from his stunned state and grabbed Harry's fists, holding them pressed against his chest. "Stop it, dammit! What's wrong with you?"
He didn't want to listen to any more lies, so Harry shook his head, trying to free his wrists from the tight clasp of Draco's hands. "No... let go of me! I hate you... I hate you..."
"No, you don't!" Draco yelled and the despair in his voice made Harry stop his struggling. Draco used this brief moment to throw Harry off his body and roll him over, pinning him down. "You don't hate me!" he said urgently, staring down at the other boy. "You don't, Harry! You don't..." He leaned down and captured Harry's lips in a raging kiss.
Harry groaned and tried to push Draco off, but his body betrayed him and refused to give up what it needed so much. He moaned softly, and the embarrassment of defeat made his tears flow even more.
Breaking the kiss, Draco whispered, "You love me, Harry. You do..." His fingers were shaking as he drew them over Harry's cheeks, wiping away the tears. His face was contorted by anguish.
"Yes..." Harry whimpered, hating himself for admitting this. "But it means nothing to you."
Draco groaned. "How can you say that? You know it's not true!"
"I do? What about Snape then?"
Draco stared at him in disbelief. "Snape?!? That's what this is all about? Harry, I've told you over and over again that I don't remember---"
"No!" Harry interrupted him angrily. "Why do you think I'm that stupid? I saw you! I saw you and Snape! Together! So, stop lying to me, for Christ's sake!"
"What? You saw us? When?"
"Just now! You were at his office!"
"But that's impossible!" Draco looked at him, full of urgency and persistence.
Harry frowned and turned his head. "Don't you know when it's time to stop..." He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to fight back his urge to cry again. Why wouldn't Draco at least give him the credit of being honest when he was obviously busted? "At least I know when it's over..."
"No, dammit!" The obvious panic made Harry look at Draco again. "I won't accept this!" He pressed Harry's shoulders. "Do you really think I'd sleep with Snape?"
"You already did!"
"Yes, but that was before I knew that you loved me! I'd never jeopardize us, Harry. Never..."
There was something in Draco's voice that made Harry's heart less hard against his words. "But..."
"There's something fishy going on here and I'm going to get to the bottom of it!" Draco got up with a look of fierce determination on his face. He grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him up. "I won't let you go without a fight."
Reluctantly, Harry got to his feet as well, not particularly convinced, but still starting to doubt. If Draco was putting on a show, he was doing quite a good job of it. He followed the white-haired boy quietly, refusing to get involved in any conversation. They were only delaying the inevitable.
Draco didn't seem like he was up for chitter-chatter anyway. He walked with grim resolve, not faltering in his step until he was standing right in front of the door of Snape's private quarters. There, he turned around to Harry and said, "We'll get this settled once and for all!" He lifted his fist and knocked at the door.
Harry watched the door anxiously. Somehow he feared the revelations ahead. It seemed to take forever before the door opened slowly.
Snape appeared at the door, looking at both boys with mild annoyance. Harry watched closely for any reaction on the potion master's face that could betray something. Snape had now changed into his casual robes that were tied around his hips, the cord dangling down at the sides. His hair was combed back, only a few strands falling into his face. Its wet shimmer in the candlelight revealed the fact that it had just been washed. A faint minty scent rose from Snape's clothes that was caused by the oil he used for his dry skin. Harry started to think that he had been imagining everything.
"What is it this time?" Snape asked testily.
Harry tensed, looking from Snape to Draco.
"We need to talk," Draco replied, just as curtly as Snape. He didn't wait to be let in, but pushed past Snape and walked into the room. Harry followed him, embarrassed and troubled by the fact that Draco was so familiar with Snape's rooms.
"What do you think you're doing?" Snape spun around and followed Draco, grabbing him by the shoulder.
Draco tore himself away and glared at Snape. "Tell Harry that there's nothing between us!"
"What?" Snape dropped his hand, lifting an eyebrow in puzzlement. He looked at Harry who was nervously fumbling with his robes. A wicked smile appeared on Snape's face. He stepped away from Draco, scanning him slowly, then walked over to his armchair and sat down, crossing his legs casually. "Why should I say such a thing?"
Clenching his fists, Draco snarled, "Because you're messing up my relationship with Harry and you're doing it on purpose!"
Snape bared his teeth in a smile. "I am? Hmm..." He hummed softly, inspecting his fingers. "I understand..." His eyes met Harry's. "Must be quite a strain on such a young love. The insecurity, the suspicion..." He laughed softly. "Right, Mr. Potter?"
Harry pressed his lips together, too tense to answer.
"Of course," Snape drawled, as if contemplating the situation, "It all makes sense now. Your little spectacle earlier on."
Draco gave Harry a questioning look which was answered by a deep blush. Draco sighed in irritation. "Will you just cut that out and tell Harry the truth?"
Snape's smile faded. "You want the truth, hm?" He gave Harry a challenging look. "Are you sure you want the truth?"
Harry swallowed and nodded. "Yes, I want it!" Anything was better than this feeling right now!
"And how do you know you can believe what I'm saying?" Not waiting for Harry's answer, Snape continued. "Very well, then..." He put his hands flat against the armrests, looking at Harry, calm and thoughtful, until Harry thought he couldn't stand the tension anymore. Finally, Snape put him out of his misery and said, "There is nothing."
"Liars!" Harry took a step back, shaking with anger. "Liars, both of you!"
Draco stared at Harry in dismay. "Harry... it's the truth!" He reached out to touch Harry's arm, but the other boy pulled away.
"You're both playing a trick on me! You probably agreed on what you'd say earlier on!" Harry just wanted to leave. He couldn't stand seeing either of them anymore. He turned to leave.
"No! You're staying here and we're going to sort this out!" Draco grabbed him and pulled him back. "I don't know what you want! You want the truth and yet you're not content when you get it!" Draco looked very angry now. His eyes were sparkling like melted silver. "Did you want to hear that it's true, so you've finally got a reason for all this? Is that it? Do you want to break up with me and are just looking for a valid excuse?"
Harry was now just as furious. "Yes, maybe I should! That would save me a lot of trouble!"
"I never said it was going to be easy!"
"You never say anything! You just take what you can get! You don't care a shit about me!"
Draco's hands clenched around Harry's shoulders, holding them in a painfully tight grip. "You know very well that this isn't true," he hissed.
"I do?" Harry laughed dryly. "I don't know anything anymore..." Both boys stared at each other angrily.
Without them noticing, Snape had gotten up, looking around between them curiously. When their argument ground to a halt, he quickly looked up to the clock at the wall and clicked his tongue. "Well, this is all very interesting," he said, "but I'd really prefer it if you sorted this out somewhere else..." He walked over to the door and opened it. "Move along, boys." He gave them a sticky-sweet smile that didn't reach his eyes as he hustled them out of the room. "If there's anything else, don't hesitate to call."
When the door closed behind then, Harry turned around, still wanting to get away from Draco. He should have known that this wouldn't help a bit. However, he didn't get far. Draco seized him and pressed him against the wall.
"No, Harry. I don't know what's gotten into you, but I won't take it! You're mi---"
"I'm what?" Harry looked up to him belligerently.
Draco sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "My lover, my friend," he said softly. He touched his forehead to Harry's, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I don't want to lose you..."
With Draco becoming vulnerable, Harry's anger crumbled to pieces. He realized that he didn't want to lose Draco either. He sighed. "How can I trust you any longer, Draco, when I know that you're lying to me?"
"But I'm not lying to you..." Draco said softly, brushing a kiss against Harry's lips. "I swear."
"I saw you... I saw you..." Harry repeated the line once more, moving his head to meet Draco's lips.
Draco kissed Harry gently. "What did you see?"
"You... and Snape. You were naked and he was touching you." Harry reached out to bury his hands in Draco's hair, already starving for the other boy's touch.
"When? And where?" Draco's breath was brushing over Harry's cheek as he ran his hands down the other boy's sides.
Harry sighed softly. "In Snape's office. A few hours ago."
Draco gently pushed Harry away and looked at him. "Then let's go there."
Before Harry could say anything, Draco grabbed him by the hand and pulled him along the dark corridor over to the Potions classroom. Of course the door was locked, so Draco took out his wand and whispered, "Alohomora." When the lock sprang open, he walked inside, trusting Harry to follow.
By the time Harry had caught up with Draco, he already had picked the lock to Snape's office and carefully pushed the door open, peering inside. Harry looked over Draco's shoulder. There was nothing suspicious about Snape's office. It looked eerie as always.
The boys stepped inside, looking around. The candles were burning at a lower level now, giving the room a ghostly light. Apart from that, everything seemed to be into place. "Lumos," Harry whispered and the candles flared up. He turned to Draco. "And what's the point of this?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't know. Get to the bottom of this." He walked into the middle of the room, turning on his heels. "So, where did you see me?"
"Right there," Harry said, pointing to the spot where Draco was standing. They both looked to the floor. Harry noticed a puddle that had built up in a hollow of the stones. He got down on his knees and sniffed. The smell immediately reminded him of the moment when he had looked into the office a few hours ago. He stuck out one finger and dipped it into the liquid. With a yelp, Harry pulled back his hand. "Ow, damn!"
"What?" Draco asked, alarmed, and got down as well, taking Harry's hand. Whatever it was Harry had put his hand in, it felt like acid, scorching his skin and causing it to turn white where it had come into contact. "What the hell is this?"
Harry sucked in his breath, wincing at the burning pain. "Don't know..." He looked down at his hand as it was held by Draco and suddenly a flashback hit him: Snape holding Lucius' hand. "Draco..." he whispered. "Your father..."
"My father?!?" Draco stared at him, utterly confused.
Not knowing where to start, Harry licked his lips. "On the first night at Malfoy Manor, I saw your father and Snape..."
"Snape...?" Draco frowned.
"They... God, I don't know what they did! But---"
A noise made them spin around. "What was that?" Draco looked around warily.
"It came from over here..." Harry got up and carefully approached the door that probably lead to some closet. "Do you think we should...?" He placed his hand over the handle, unsure about what to do.
"Go ahead! It can't be Snape!" Draco stepped next to him, placing an encouraging hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry nodded and gently pushed the door open, keeping a safe distance. The closet turned out to be another room, but it was so dark that they could hardly see anything. The light from the other room fell on a couple of shelves that held more bottles and objects for potion making. Harry looked at Draco who shrugged.
There was the noise again, a soft gurgle, like a fish moving in its tank. Harry fought the impulse to run for it and reached for one of the candles. He realized that his hands were shivering as he held the candle in front of him and finally stepped into the dark room. The acrid smell immediately was everywhere, making Harry feel sick. He took a careful look around. Another splatter made him spin to the left.
A large crystal tub that was filled with a strangely fluorescent liquid came into view. Harry squinted and moved the candle closer. The flicker of the flame crawled over the tub until it fell on a large object, white and slick, glistening in the soft light. It was the back of a human.
"What the hell..." Draco was suddenly next to him, a frown making his features look hard in the darkness. Harry just shook his head, taking a step closer. A terrible feeling of horror gripped him as he let his eyes wander over the boy cowering in the tub, hiding his face from them. The creature started stirring and there was the gurgle again.
Harry's breath caught in his throat as he watched the boy move over and slide on all fours, clumsy as a kitten. The tousled hair covered his face completely, but still goose bumps prickled all over Harry's skin.
He looked at the other boy carefully. The hair was white, completely white, without a trace or different shade of color. It even reminded a bit of glass, being somehow crystalline. The same was true for the skin. It looked like transparent paper, barely covering the veins and vessels in which the greenish shimmer of the liquid moved in the rhythm of a quickened heartbeat.
"What is this?" Draco repeated, his voice stricken with terror.
Harry couldn't speak. He moved the candle closer, almost touching the creature's hair.
Suddenly, the boy jerked his head with a groan, turning his face to the other boys. For a second, Harry stared into the creature's eyes, but they were the empty, colorless eyes of his boyfriend, a lost expression on his face, before Draco screamed out and tore back Harry's hand, causing him to drop the candle.
The candle fell on the tiles with a hollow echo, immediately wrapping them up in darkness. Harry spun around, the splatter of the creature moving behind him, Draco's hasty breath multiplying in the silence of his own shock.
"What's going on here?" The door to the office was yanked open and Snape's silhouette appeared against the light of the other room. He stepped inside and yelled, "Get out of here! At once!"
Harry had covered his face when the door flew open and banged against the wall, but now he dropped his hands and glared at the Potion Master's face, obscured by darkness. "Not until you've told us what this is!"
"This is none of your business! Leave!"
"The hell I will!" Harry waved his hand angrily and shouted, "Lumos!" Everyone in the room covered his eyes for a moment when the candles lit up brightly. Harry turned around, looking at the creature in the tub that hadn't moved at all. Now, in full light it looked even more like Draco.
"Good Lord..." Draco breathed out, staring at his copy.
"Go away!" Snape's face was distorted by anger.
The creature shrieked and got on its knees, leaning over the edge of the tub, the empty eyes aimlessly moving around in the room. Both Harry and Draco took a step forward at the same time, reaching out for the boy.
"Don't touch it!" Snape yelled, but both their hands had already made contact with the transparent skin.
A bright light broke out of the boy, blinding them for moment. The spot where their hands touched the skin first turned warm and then hot, the diluted lye prickling under their palms. They yanked their hands back with a cry.
It took them several moments before the effects of the brightness faded away and they managed to see clearly again. Harry heard Snape and Draco take in their breaths as he rubbed his eyes. Slowly, he lifted his head.
In front of him sat a boy on the floor. Somehow he looked nothing like the creature they had seen before. The crystalline hair had changed its color to a pitch-black that swallowed every reflection. The eyes, still spookily reminding him of Draco's, had turned dark as well, showing no depth or sparkle. The only thing that was still light on this boy's body was the skin that had lost its unnatural looks to a waxy, unhealthy paleness.
But despite all of this, one thing remained clear: this boy was the exact copy of Draco.
"Good Lord..." Draco repeated, staring at his image in horror. He whipped around, complete bewilderment on his face. "What on earth have you done?" he yelled at Snape.
Snape looked just as shaken as them. "I... Oh my God..."
"What is this?" Draco was shivering with anger.
Snape buried his face in his hands. "Mistake. A... mistake. It's..."
"Blind."
Both Snape and Draco turned their heads to stare at Harry.
Harry's eyes were fixed on the boy cowering on the floor, It moving his head around helplessly, his hands groping for something to hold on to. "He's blind," he repeated flatly.