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Chapter Text

“Twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven.” Draco took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He stopped mid-pushup and rolled to his stomach, staring at the ceiling of the bedroom. It had been his prison cell for the past two weeks after Harry had sent him off.

He was drenched in sweat with sore muscles from his constant workout, but it still wasn’t enough. Being stuck in one space for long periods of time could make anyone feel restless and just a bit unhinged. The other day, he attempted a conversation with the house-elf…he needed to find a way out of here.

Without a clock in the room, he had no clue what time it was and only the rise and fall of the sun let him know that days were passing. The prick still didn’t bother giving him back his wand, even though he could have commanded him from using it.

Wanker.

There was a knock on the door. He didn’t bother to look, It was the same face everyday.

The house elf with those annoying shiny eyes, looked him over and took out a small bag from her apron pocket. It was a black satin pouch that seemed like the type to carry jewelry. Like there was any possibility of Harry sending him a necklace.

“What is this?” he asked, ignoring the outstretched hands.

“Lord Potter said to take them, Mr. Malfoy.”

“Yeah, that didn’t answer my question,” Draco turned away from the elf, and resumed his new circuit of pushups.

He ignored the slight flare on his chest, already getting used to the little hints of annoyance he felt from the raven. He had assumed the connection was one sided, but that wasn’t right. Some days he could feel random spikes of emotions from the Alpha, and other times out of boredom if he closed his eyes and searched, he sensed him. The Alpha was numb ninety percent of the time. It was…disturbing to say the least.

And here he thought he was the one in need of therapy.

The little tap on his shoulder made him pause. He glared at the elf who couldn’t seem to take a hint as she tried to hand him the pouch once again. “Go away.”

“Lord Potter said you must take these for your meeting later today.”

Draco rolled to his stomach, sitting up. “Meeting?”

“Yes.”

The burn of a good workout always cleared his mind and allowed him to get a hold of his emotions. Maybe that was why he could take a calm breath in the face of Potter’s audacity. “Hm, could you send dear Lord Potter a message back for me?”

The elf tilted her head, giving a hesitant nod. “Of course, Mr. Malfoy.”

Draco showed her a pearly white smile. “Great! Tell him to go fuck himself on his bloody stick.”

Her eyes widened, hands trembling as though he ordered a hit rather than send a slightly disrespectful message. “I.I.”

That’s right. Bloody house elf. They would rather kill themselves than show any type of disobedience to their lord. He held up a palm. No need to delegate his window as her suicide weapon.

“Never mind I can do it myself.”

Do you hear me you prick?

Silence stretched. Would Potter ignore him? It didn’t take long, but yet felt like eternity before that smug voice was in his head.

Hello there Draco, sweet of you to tell me good morning.

He glared at the wall, fingers twitching.

What the hell’s in it.

…….what are you referring to?

Fuck off, Potter.

Temper temper, Come eat and I’ll answer your question

There was an insult at the tip of his tongue, but he thought better of it. After the equivalent of being sent to his room, he’d been ignored for the better part of two weeks. Whether out of spite or as punishment didn’t matter. If Potter wanted the outcome to be the decline of his sanity, well…

It worked.

He couldn’t bear to stare at these same white walls any longer. Would coming down without too many complaints really make a difference?

He stood up and snatched the pouch from the house-elf’s hands.

Tell your house-elf to take me there, prick.

Within seconds she disappeared in front of him.

Where’s your manners Draco, her name is Susie.

Stop calling me by my first name.

Would you prefer Dragon? Omega? Blondie?Pretty?

Fuck you.

You would if I said, please.

Draco choked right in time for Susie to make her reappearance. She blinked at his flushed face, motioning for him to follow her out the door.

He knew the raven was just being an ass, why the hell would he want to…

“Are you alright? Mr. Malfoy?”

He shook his head, forcing the images out immediately. “Why the hell do you knock if you could just appear inside?”

“Those are the Lord’s instructions, Mr. Malfoy.”

Draco frowned as he followed Susie into the hall. Privacy wasn’t something to complain about and he would rather the elf not just appear inside the jail cell, but it was still unnerving. One moment he was treated like a prisoner, the next he was being provided privacy. He couldn’t make heads or tails of Potter’s intentions which means he had no idea how to act in most situations.

He let go of that train of thought. Throughout the years he realized the harder you try to find an answer, the easiest it is to miss. Relying on instinct and observation will keep him alive here.

The walk through the halls made him see the mansion a bit differently than before. Everything had been a blur when he tried to escape, but now?

He had to admit the manor had a creepy beauty to it.

It had a carefully crafted Victorian style with dark furniture pieces. The decor somehow managed to be gloomy and also elegant. Like an aristocrat resided there rather than a madman. All the paintings on the wall—and there were plenty— were of people whose faces he couldn’t recognize. They were oddly still like muggle paintings rather than the normal ones. He might’ve considered buying this land in the past, if he had known it existed. They reached the dining room faster than he anticipated, considering how enormous the place was.

Harry was seated on a chair that looked more like a throne with a perfectly tailored, red suit and his hair slicked back.. The newspaper he held covered half his face, but his eyes were laser focused on whatever drabble the daily prophet churned out.

The dining table, while a bit small—at the most six could fit— for the grandness of the room, was beautiful. Draco had never seen a black matte table made of marble. If Harry was the one who styled it—he very much doubted that—then he really should change careers to one of interior design.

“It’s rude to stare,” Harry said, placing the newspaper down.

Draco snapped back into reality, mask perfectly in place as he looked back at Harry.

That’s right.

He had almost forgotten where he was. This wasn’t some beautiful mansion he was taking a vacation in. This was his cage, a place he was being held in, unwillingly.

“Well If you’re just going to stand there…you’ll miss out on your breakfast. ” Harry tapped on a clear cup that seemed to be filled with something red. Did the raven think he would agree to drinking wine with the enemy? It was an absurd thought.

“Alright, Susie, you can take it away. Only good children get to drink.”

“I’m not a child,” Draco snarled, deciding to end his silence towards the pompous Gryffindor as the house-elf went around him and headed for the table.

Harry’s eyes meet his with a small twitch of his lips. “Who said I was talking to you?”

“Wait!” A high pitched voice rang out, startling him.

Draco’s body was pushed to the side as a little girl with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes ran past him. She wore a simple red shirt and black tights, halfway covered by long black boots. He has heard this joke before. An emo girl walked into the crazy Alpha’s lair and proceeded to get eaten. His mind tried to process the image as she yanked the bottle from Susie’s hand and held it tight against her chest.

“Apologize, Helsley.”

“I don’t want to.” She took a step back, clutching the bottle even tighter.

Harry’s eyes flashed red.

“I’m sorry, Susie!” Helsley squeaked, her bottom lip trembling.

“It’s okay.” She replied, looking at Harry.

“And?” Harry turned to him, waiting. The scene left him speechless. Why the hell was there some random kid with Harry Potter? Everyone would know if he birthed an heir so either she wasn’t his or he was very good at hiding it. He wasn’t expecting this, that’s for sure. It left him feeling…he wasn’t even sure what the hell the feeling was, but it wasn’t comfortable.

Helsley turned him as well, her glare was like a sharp knife going right for the vitals. “ Do I have to?”

“Yes,” Harry replied.

“Fine. I’m sorry for bumping into you.” She pulled the chair out sitting on it with a huff.

His eyes twitched. Was he also expected to also say ‘ it’s okay?’ like a lowly servant having to put up with a bratty princess to make ends meet.

“Come sit down, please, Draco.”

He jerked forward at the command, glaring as he took a seat besides the child.

“Why does some stranger have to eat with us?” If looks could kill he would already be having breakfast, lunch, and dinner with death.

You will not speak of our arrangement in any form around Helsley, please Draco.

Draco gritted his teeth as the magic coursed through him. So the child didn’t know that her….father was a deranged lunatic? How wonderful.

“He’s not a stranger, he’s my new assistant, Mr. Malfoy, so be nice.

She pouted, taking a sip of her bottle. She was obviously not happy to have someone intrude on their breakfast.

If you’re afraid of me telling your…child that you’re the big, bad monster under her bed, then why bring me down here?

I didn’t command you to come down here, Draco.

Draco had to work hard not to roll his eyes. Of course that’s what he got from that sentence.

“Is he a mute or something?” She looked him over as though assessing the competition.

“I can speak whenever I want to, brat,” Draco replied, his nose high in the air.

“Hey! He called me a brat!”

“Drink your blood, Helsley.”

Draco’s eyes snapped to the bottle in her hand. “Blood,” he repeated, as though checking his own ears.

Helsley grinned, her fangs popping out as she took another sip of her drink. Draco clutched the edge of the table, his fingers turning white as he watched the blood disappear in the bottle.

“You have a vampire child…”

His nose wrinkled as she wiped the blood from her lips.

“He can’t be my dad, stupid. He isn’t a vampire.”

“Helsley.” Harry warned.

Draco wanted to say that was even worse. Having some rogue, vampire child sitting right next to them on the table like it was perfectly normal was insanity at its finest.

“All will be explained in due time, but first we eat.” Right on cue, Susie appeared with two trays that had his stomach grumbling. She first placed an egg omelet with sausage and leafy greens on Harry’s side before giving him the same plate, but with toast instead of a sausage.

“How’d you know I don’t eat meat?” Draco couldn’t help but ask. Sure it was a subtle difference, but he had grown used to explaining his particular dislike for the texture. He would have remembered eating with Potter and there had never been any headlines talking about his food habits, not that he was aware of anyways.

“You’ll find in due time that I know everything.”

And there is nothing that you in particular could ever hide from me, Draco.

He stabbed a fork into the egg, feeling the Alpha’s eyes on him.

Helsley looked between them. “Well it’s nothing special. I don’t eat meat either but I mean I could always just take a bite—”

“No.” Harry cut a piece of his sausage and put it in his mouth ignoring the high pitch whine from the child. Draco never had much patience for children, especially the annoying ones like Helsey. She reminded him to stay far away from any Alpha attempting to breed.

Omega instincts be damned.

Harry chuckled.

Damn he’d heard that. And he didn’t seem offended either, Draco noticed. Just amused. Seriously, who was crazy enough to leave a child with him? They should be reported to, well whoever vampires reported to.

“I just want a bite! This blood is disgusting!” Helsley said, crossing her arms.

“You know human food makes you sick, and you enjoyed lamb blood last week so stop being a spoiled brat.”

She pushed the bottle away. “Well it’s not tasty anymore.”

“Fine.Susie will bring you something else in your room.”

“What? I don’t want to go.”

Draco almost laughed at Harry’s face. Seems he was more of a dad lord. If Harry had brought him down here as some power play then he had sadly underestimated the brilliance of a hindering child.

“Me and Mr.Malfoy, need to have a conversation alone, and you’re being insufferable.” His voice held no emotion as he continued to eat.

The silence made him flinch. Well wasn’t that a blunt statement to tell a child. He glanced over to Helsey who was now sitting still, her hands squeezing the bottle so tight little cracks was starting to form.

Well that couldn’t be good.

The room grew chilly and much to Draco’s surprise, Helsley’s eyes went red just like Harry’s tended to do. She jumped out of her seat pointing an accusatory finger at Harry.

“You’ve been gone for a week!” She hissed. “You promised I could eat breakfast with you today!” Her voice wobbled as she glanced over to Draco who was frozen stiff.

“Helsely, don’t you dare.”

“It’s his fault,” she said, her tone low.

She couldn’t mean him. Was she blind? How could any of this be his fault? He didn’t want to be kidnapped and stuck here with either of them. He wanted to deny the ridiculous allegation, but found that he couldn’t. His body was frozen as he stared into her eyes.

Vampire fear.

It was said to be a power that most vampires held over humans. If one looked into their eyes, it caused the body to be paralyzed. Awesome, so two lunatics could control him now. One a literal monster and the other…well no difference there.

“Helsley! Let. Him. Go.”

“He’s that omega you keep talking about to those stupid guards! He’s the reason you’re never here anymore! I hate him!”

Was he about to be done in by some bratty vampire? It wouldn’t be that much of a surprise considering his life so far. And of course this was going to be all Potter’s fault. Leave it to a Gryffindor to think about putting him before some needy monster child, who hasn’t even finished her first meal, yet. He would hunt the raven for centuries in the millennium.

“Helsley, I’m going to give you one last—”

She turned her head to the side and he went flying. His back slammed against the wall. As the pain seared through him all air rushed from his lungs. He’ll have to add that to his ‘painful shit that can happen to you list’ because Merlin did that bloody well hurt!

He was dimly aware of a hint of rage going through him. But it wasn’t his. No it was Potter’s. He looked up, vision seeing double as a loud scream pierced his ears on the other side of the table.

Harry was out of his seat, hands covering the child’s eyes as she continued screaming trying to wriggle out of his grip.

How in the world was Harry even holding her back? As a vampire she should technically have more strength then him and be faster. Yet, it seems she couldn’t get out of his grasp even if she wanted to.

“I thought you would be mature enough to sit with me as I dealt with business, seems I was wrong.” Harry growled, towards the crying child.

Maybe now would be a good time to attempt his second escape. Potter was distracted enough. But when he tried to get up his spine gave him a gentle reminder that it had just been pummeled.

Great so he was stuck here at the moment.

The scream was getting louder, sounding more like nails on a chalkboard than a child.

“I hate you! I hate you!” She was trying her hardest to bite him anywhere she could find.

“Oh, honestly.” Harry sighed, leaning forward and whispering something into her ears.

Helsley stilled, removing Harry’s hands from her eyes. Her tantrum seemed to be cut short, as they began conversing to each other in a low tone that Draco couldn’t discern no matter how much he tried. He was disappointed that he would have to pause his escape attempt, but that turned into unease when they both turned to look at him.

“Really? Him? But why.” She asked, pursing her lips.

He wasn’t an idiot. They were talking about him and whatever it was he was sure to be highly offended.

Harry went in front of her, his body covering Draco’s line of sight as he whispered something else in her ears.

“Okay that’s it,” Draco slammed his hand against the wall, gritting his teeth as he stood up. The sound paused their conversation, both dissecting him like some kind of science experiment.

“Hm, fine. I’ll accept it for now.” Helsley murmured.

“You will still be punished for using your powers. To your room.” He said, tone firm as he handed her the bottle.

“Whatever.” She took it from his hand, some of the blood dripping on the floor as she passed by Draco, smirking at the large dent she left on the wall.

Draco couldn’t help but look at it as well. The size explained his broken ribs and the sore spot behind his head. He’d never heard of a vampire using telekinesis. Hogwarts never had it in any of their lessons, which meant it wasn’t a well known fact to any wizard.

Harry’s jaw clenched as he watched her leave. When her body vanished from the hallway he yelled out for the elf who appeared immediately.

“Helsley is not allowed to play with Eric for the week. Take away all her books and bring the blood of her preference for dinner.”

“Yes sir.” She bowed and then vanished.

There was silence in the room as Harry adjusted his tie and sat back down.

“Finish your food, Draco. We have much to discuss.”

“Finish my food?” Draco spluttered, still rooted next to the wall.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “Well, it won’t finish itself.”

You—” Draco shook his head, in disbelief as Harry went back to eating. “I almost died by some vampire’s spawn and you want me to finish my meal?”

“The therapist says pre-teen years are the hardest.”

Draco took a wobbly step forward, his blood boiling the more he looked at the raven. “You think my life is some kinda bloody joke? Since when do wizards and vampires have breakfast together? As the minister, are you even allowed to have relations with a different species without the council’s approval?”

Sit down and finish your breakfast, please, Draco.”

He yelped as his body slammed down on to the chair Helsley had been occupying. The spell of course didn’t care for whatever bones he had broken during his flight in the air.

Harry’s eyes narrowed, assessing the blond over. “Tell me where it hurts.”

“Fucking everywhere, you wanker.” He winced as he began shoving food down his throat.

“Still your body, but you can speak, please Draco.”

He went still as the raven stood up and approached him. hands wrapped around his waist and lifted him off the chair with ease.

“Hey! what are you doing!” he yelped.

“Don’t be dense. I’m taking you to the infirmary.”

“I can bloody walk there myself!” He did not appreciate being held like some omega in distress, especially not by the likes of Potter, who got him in this fucked up situation in the first place. “Let me go!”

Harry ignored him as they went out into the hall. There were two guards he hadn’t seen before stationed next to the entrance of the dining room. They looked straight ahead, giving a bow as they walked past. Draco prayed to every deity in the universe that they would be the only one to see him like this. This would be the second time the stupid Alpha held him like some bride.

Harry took steady steps forward towards a wall that was lit only by a dim torchlight on the side. Draco looked forward in confusion as they approached. Was it just his imagination or did the shadow seem to flick and grow bigger the closer then got.

“What are you doing?”

“Shut up. Close your eyes.”

“Don’t tell me to–” He gasped as they walked through the wall. There was just darkness for a split second before they appeared inside a private clinic. He winced, shutting his eyes tight. His eyeballs were burning, the itching sensation crawling around his pupils with no way to be relieved since he was still frozen.

“I told you to close your eyes.”

“Fuck that feels so wrong,” Draco groaned as he blinked like a madman. What kinda spell allowed someone to pass through walls. He could see that it had something to do with shadows, but the blonde already knew that even if he asked, no answer would be given.

Through somewhat blurry eyes he could see that the clinic adorned the same decor as everywhere else in the mansion. With a few white hospital beds placed inches from each other. Harry dumped him on the one closest like a sack of potatoes before disappearing around a corner.

Draco’s eyes widened. “Hey wait! Unfreeze me!” But he wasn’t gone long, coming back with a vial in his hand.

His eyes fluttered in annoyance as Potter approached him with the green liquid.

“Healing potion, drink.” He pried Draco’s mouth open and slowly poured the liquid down, almost choking him in the process. The blond couldn’t help but think of dead toads and lavender as the unpleasant taste went down his throat.

Green eyes pierced him, perhaps more effective to keep him still then the bond itself. He was surrounded by the scent of trees and the feel of a silk suit teasing his arm, as his chin was held steady.

Only when the last drop disappeared did Harry lean back and command his body to move.

Draco sat up with a heavy cough. He clutched his stomach as the potion became active, the burn running through him like acid. “I’m not into pain, potter. I would have taken the bloody healing potion myself.”

He flinched when Harry’s hand shot out towards his neck, it made the raven hesitate a moment, before he pulled them back, eyes assessing Draco instead.

“All other injuries should be healed now so no excuses not to do your job.”

He glared at the statement, annoyed at his show of even a little fear. As he touched the skin around his neck, his body couldn’t help but remember the painful chokehold from weeks prior. He had woken the next morning with that area raw and pink. It had been purple this last week, but the same pain continued to linger. The most dreadful part was he was sure the Alpha hadn’t used his full strength. How had he noticed the injury through the black turtleneck? Was it the bond? Or his crazy observation skills.

Harry snapped his fingers, a book appearing on the bed beside him. It was red with gold designs that moved all over the cover and a big pair of white fangs dead center in the middle. The title read ‘New Bloodlings and Their Needs.’

Dread filled him as his lips parted to ask a plethora of questions, but Harry was already ahead of him.

“One year,” he said, holding up a finger.

“For what exactly?” Draco continued looking at the book, but he refused to even touch it.

He pulled out a crumbled letter from the cuffs of his sleeves. The blond knew what it was immediately. Everyone who ever attended Hogwarts would recognize the red inked stamp.

“One year for Helsely to go to Hogwarts.”

The blond laughed or perhaps it was more of a choked cackle. “The council wouldn’t allow a vampire to attend.”

“They’re not. Helsley is also a wizard.”

“She’s a hybrid? I thought that wasn’t possible.”

“Wizards love to pick and choose what they deem possible.”

Draco hated agreeing with the man, but he wasn’t wrong on that count. His quest for knowledge had proven time and time again that the top never gave everything away to the public. Instead, the truths and secrets were held behind restricted books and the fear of dark magic.

“She needs to learn to control herself, and her..urges. You’ll help her with that and configure a potion to help with the bloodlust."

“That’s it,” He shoved the book onto the floor, right beside Harry’s feet and hopped off the bed. “Just because you’ve decided to lose all sense of reality doesn’t mean I have, Potter.” He looked around for his escape route as Harry picked up the book, his face still as empty and cold.

“Sapphire.”

Draco paused. “ What?”

“Sapphire is a pretty name. How did you choose it?”

His eyes tracked the raven as he leaned against the wall and swung the book back and forth. That name shouldn’t be known to anyone, and yet here Potter stood as it left his lips, so nonchalant compared to the blonde’s now chaotic mind.

There was no point in asking how he knew, but still, the blond couldn’t help it, “Who?”

Harry pushed off the wall and placed a hand on his shoulders. His breath was warm against his ears. “The only way secrets stay hidden is if all the other parties are dead, Dragon.”

He slapped the hand away as the impulse to punch the Gryffindor grew much too strong. “Who told you?”

Harry wriggled his fingers in front of him as though daring for it to be bitten off. “You’re asking the wrong questions here.”

“Oh due tell, Potter. What in the bloody hell should I be asking then?” He snapped.

“Well first, what do I want in order to conceal this…sensitive information.”

“So you’re blackmailing me? Why the stupid bond if you knew?” He asked, through gritted teeth. He couldn’t understand the Alpha’s end game here. None of his actions made sense other than the fact he seemed determined to make him stuck here.

He was going to be sick and the reason wasn’t because of the potion this time.

“It’s simple, really Dragon.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“The bond is to keep you chained physically,” He poked his chest, making Draco take a step back, “and your little underground organization? Well that will bond you mentally.” He said, tapping his temple.

He couldn’t hold it in anymore. His fist went flying towards the Alpha’s jaw.

It seems he had expected that reaction, because his hands were caught in a tight grip and shoved back against his chest.

“Tell me, Dragon. What would happen to all those magical creatures, if your secret potions stopped being delivered in the black markets? Would they die? Hm, most likely right?” He shook his head. ”Ah but that’s not what really matters is it? No no no, it’s your name. Would the Malfoys survive two generations of heirs tarnishing it. ”

He could feel the blood rushing through him like a blazing fire as Harry continued holding his hands. He couldn’t say anything at all. The raven was right, he couldn’t let his secret be discovered without risking his reputation. They wouldn’t survive it, not when it took so long for Draco to fix it.

“Severus was right, you really do take after your father.”

Harry leaned in, grinning wide. “And you take after yours as well. See how we have so many similarities? Both sons inherited traits from their daddy’s beyond the grave. It’s kinda romantic if you think about it.”

Draco snarled as the book was held out to him again.

“Now let’s try this again,” He said, forcefully taking the blond’s hand and placing the book on it. “You have one year to make Helsley school ready and make a potion that can counter her blood lust.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then those three years you spent on becoming a potion master and helping thousands of magical creatures live better lives go to waste. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what happens when they break the law, and your poor mother will have to figure it out while you’re stuck here.”

You’re a sick bastard, Potter.”

“No need to compliment me so soon, and besides I’m only allowing you to do what you love because I know you’re good at it. The council should have never denied your application as a Potions Professor.” He leaned away from the blond, smiling in satisfaction when he looked like he would stop resisting.

“I seem to remember you being a part of the vote to deny my application, asshole.”

“Ah, well I had my reasons. Plus it allowed you to grow unrestricted. Seems like I did you a favor.”

He moved away from the Alpha, refusing to look at him any longer. “ You’ve made your point. I would like to leave now.”

Harry took a deep breath. “Now there it is. You’re starting to learn obedience well, Dragon, I’m proud. You have two days and then the lessons start. The guards will escort you.”

He could feel the magic brimming in the air as the door opened in front of him, the sound of footsteps approaching the clinic.

“Oh, I almost forgot! Susie will send the pills up to your room. It’s your suppressant among other things, so be sure to take them.”

Draco stared straight ahead as the fire continued to grow stronger inside of him. He had always thought he hated Voldemort for forcing blood on his hands. He thought he hated his father for giving him up to the dark lord, the wizarding world for making a child see their own father become an empty shell and pass away in a hellhole, but as the rage continued swirling inside of him, he realized he could hate someone even more. Being stuck in this cage so thoroughly made his skin inch. Made him feel like a rabid animal just waiting to strike.

Potter may have won this battle, but no way in hell was he winning the war.