Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Freedom Bound in Chains	By : TaintedSensibly Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 58477 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Harry Potter characters. I did not make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
A/N: Thank you So Much for the feedback. I was feeling a bit uncertain, but I think I have a few GREAT ideas for you guys. Hope you enjoy this one!

Forward March

Over the next few days, Liam put in extra hours body-guarding and serving the mob. The time away allowed him room to come to terms with all the strangeness. When he was with the boys, he tried to live in the moment. Meanwhile, Draco and Harry had returned to their routine of doing chores and studying during the morning and spent their afternoons playing in parks.

...

Gloves discarded, jacket unzipped over his hoodie, and scarf wrapped around his head with the long tails dangling down his back, Draco gave a loud pirate yell and attacked Jonathan with his sword. He could hear Harry's laughter as he dodged Megan's tackles and grasping hands.

“Yer treasure's mine!” Draco cackled with a grin and took another swipe at the boy's stick-sword.

Something whopped him on the back, staggering him forward. It was like a curtain tore across his mind and Draco gave a piercing cry, collapsing to his knees where the spiked rug he stood on tore into his skin.

“Get up, slave! I'm not through with you yet.”

Draco rocked back onto his heels. He almost didn't make it to his feet. His thighs burned from exertion and painful lashes. The muscles trembled beneath his skin.

“Get up!”

Draco screamed as a whip bit into his shoulders. Straining, he finally managed to push up and lock his knees. The bedroom dipped and swayed in his vision, blurred by blood, sweat, and tears. Snot was smeared across his face where he kept wiping at it. The smell of blood hovered over everything.

He stood in the foot wide center of a rug straight out of a demented torture chamber. Half-inch steel spikes were embedded in the weave surrounding that small cleared space. He'd had to walk across them to get to the center and the bottoms of his feet were torn and bloody.

The master was circling him like a shark. Two floggers and a whip lay discarded at the man's feet. He'd delivered ten strikes with each and ten with the one in his hand. He had promised he was going to go through his whole toy chest before the night was over. He was furious and Draco was paying the price. A sale had gone bad. They'd have to sit out at sea for a few weeks to avoid capture by the police.

Shivering, sobbing, Draco wrapped his arms around his chest and stomach, protecting as much as he could. Nothing held him up save his own legs. The burning pain of the whips and the vicious sting of the floggers were nothing to the pain of falling on the spikes, and each time he fell he swore to himself he wouldn't fall again, no matter what was done to him, but he wasn't strong enough. He fell again and again. His palms bore punctures, his knees and shins were shredded. His blood was everywhere. Even his chest looked like a bloodied pin cushion from when he'd been too slow to brace with his arms and belly-flopped across the spikes.

“Ah. This one's my favorite.”

Lifting his heavy head and staring through his sweat-soaked bangs, Draco took in the nine-tailed flogger. Each braided twist had a small metal shard embedded in the end. Draco felt a wave of nauseousness and barely managed not to puke. He'd taken five lashes from that monster once before and it had almost killed him. He was already battered and hardly able to keep his feet. Ten hits would be the end. He had suffered so long, endured months under the master's brutal care, waiting for the right moment, the moment he would kill this bastard, and it was all for nothing! He was going to die without taking that piece of shit with him.

Draco stared into the bastard's soulless eyes and snarled, voice barely human, twisted by pain and hatred, “Burn in hell, you piece of shit.”

Face contorted with fury, the master lashed him across the chest, all nine tails biting into Draco's skin and tearing his flesh open. He flung his head back with a howl. Back-stepping with the fierce blow, his foot came down on the spikes and he shrieked. Tearing it off the impaling metal, he centered himself, swaying, teeth bared.

“Fucking slut! I'll break you! I'll fucking break you, slave!”

The whip sliced down brutally across Draco's already torn, bruised, and welt-covered back. This time he went blind with the pain. His body spasmed and locked into a rigid arch. He toppled sideways and spikes tore through his shoulder, side, and hip, grating on bone.

Draco screamed and screamed and screamed.

Everyone froze. Draco was on his knees, his arms wrapped around his chest. His head hung, his blond hair curtaining his face. Mathew – the one who'd hit Draco from behind – stood with his mouth hanging open. Jonathan was scowling. As Draco flung his head back and howled, Jon lashed out, kicking Draco in the chest and flinging him backward.

“Shut up! The hell's wrong wiv you?”

For Harry, it was as if time stopped. He saw Draco, collapsed, screaming in pain, saw Jon standing there with a glare. He wasn't thinking. He just moved. As if in slow motion, Harry crossed the space between them. Jon's face came around so very slowly, his eyes went wide, and then Harry was there.

Kicking, scratching, biting, Harry flung himself at Jonathan, yelling his fury. They toppled to the ground. He heard the boy scream in fear and pain, but Harry couldn't stop. Not until Jon grabbed his hair and flung him off, and then Jon was running away, limping and bleeding. Mathew and Megan had already bolted.

Crying, shaking, Harry crawled to Draco's side and wrapped his arms around him. The blond was shaking, almost convulsing. His screams had fallen silent, but his eyes were completely blank, his face screwed up in animalistic agony. Harry murmured gentle words to him, stroked his hair, and held him close, waiting for Draco to come back, waiting for the nightmare to end.

Draco did eventual snap out of the horrific flashback. Slowly, in bits and pieces, he became aware of someone holding him. At first it terrified him and he thrashed, a scream building in his raw throat, but then he became aware of Harry's voice.

“... love you so much. You're always taking care of me. I'm yours and you make me better, make me good. Gonna take care of you, too. Just tell me what to do. I'll do anything for you, Draco. Gonna make you feel better, promise. Just gotta wake up. Just a dream, Draco. You're here in the park with me. Please wake up...”

Gasping for air, confused, Draco went still within the arms holding him. Slowly the blue sky registered in his brain. He could feel the grass under him. Then he blinked and realized Harry's face was close to his. Those green eyes watch him with such unconditional love that it took Draco's breath away. Bursting into loud, gut-wrenching sobs, he burrowed into Harry's chest and let the fear and remembered pain drain out of him.

It had been an hour or so after noon when they had started playing pirates in the park. When Draco's tears finally dried up and he was able to uncurl from Harry's loving embrace, he realized the sun was setting. He had no idea which had been longer – the flashback or the breakdown afterward – and he was too exhausted to care.

Harry had to help him climb to his feet, his whole body felt like rubber. Leaning on the shorter boy, Draco let Harry guide them home. He kept his face shadowed by his hair, refusing to look at anyone they passed. Harry was perfect, glaring at anyone who stared too long, green eyes surprisingly fierce, the bond singing with protectiveness determination, and Draco fell even more in love with him.

Liam was in the kitchen when the boys stumbled stiffly through the door. He thought he'd surprise the boys by cooking dinner instead of having Harry do it, but his grin disappeared as soon as he caught sight of the kids. Draco looked grey, and Harry supporting almost half of the blond's weight, his eyes more fierce than Liam had ever seen them.

Rushing over, he helped support Draco as Harry led them to the couch. The boys sat as if they were made of fractured glass, and Liam knelt to untie both of their shoes. Draco curled into Harry's chest, and Harry gently stroked his hair and hummed, eyes practically on fire. Once he had both boys' shoes off, he shifted Draco's legs up on the cushions, the blond's head falling into Harry's lap. Then he hurried off to turn off the stove and fetch a blanket. He tucked it around Harry's shoulders and draped the rest over Draco. Only then did he speak.

“What happened?” he asked quietly from his position crouched on the floor.

Harry's fierce eyes melted and he began to cry in utter silence.

Deeply disturbed, Liam ran his hand through Draco's hair, brushing the silky bangs away to see blank grey eyes staring at nothing. “Hey. It's alright. You're home now. You're safe.”

Draco sighed and let his eyes fall closed.

The trust of that gesture made Liam's chest tighten. He moved to sit next to the crying Harry and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. The dark-haired boy went into his half-embrace easily and pressed his damp face into the side of Liam's chest. His hand never stopped petting Draco.

Liam had no idea what had happened, but he felt absurdly protective. He sat there quietly, tv off, simply holding Harry and watching over Draco. The kid was so exhausted that he never moved or made a sound all night. Harry was a bit more fitful and several times Liam had to sooth him into a more restful sleep. It wasn't until dawn that Draco began to stir.

“Hey,” Liam said softly, warmly, hand on Draco's head. “You awake?”

The blond shifted out of Harry's lap and sat on his own, rubbing his eyes. “Yeah,” he answered, barely above a whisper.

“You didn't eat last night. You hungry?” he asked carefully.

Draco bit his lip, and it was so bizarre to see him anything less than confident that Liam suddenly felt murderously angry. Whatever had happened, whoever had happened, Liam wanted them dead for doing this to Draco.

“You're not gonna ask?” Draco asked, peering up at him through his long bangs.

“Only if you wanna tell me.” Liam met his eyes, hoping the blond could see how much he wanted to help him.

Draco looked away from Liam, down at his lap, where his hands twisted the blanket. “I... I don't know... It was like I was there... I couldn't... I didn't know where I was...”

Liam had no idea what to do to fix the pain in Draco's voice. He'd never looked his age, but Liam was painfully aware he was only five years old. Five. Voice hoarse with feeling, he asked, “It was like you were where?”

“The Hold... with master...” Liam could hardly hear him, Draco spoke so quietly, but then the blond looked up, his eyes silver with fury. “No, with Raymond. He's not my master. I killed him. I killed him.”

Liam met that glare unflinchingly. He was fiercely happy the monster who'd hurt Draco was dead. Liam was a thug and a bodyguard. He was no stranger to violence and death. He wasn't going to take Draco to task for defending himself, and he wasn't going to take him to task for enjoying it, either. Humans were brutal. That was just the godforsaken truth.

Draco must have seen what he needed to see in Liam's expression because he went on. Roughly pushing his hair behind his ears, his eyes returned to his lap. “I don't know what happened. I was playing with Harry in th' park and then bam. I was back there. That bastard was whipping me half-ta-death and playing another of his sick games. Swear to god it felt like I was really there.” He punched his thigh with a small fist. “When I came outta it, it was almost dark and I was wiped out. Wouldn't have been able ta make it home if it hadn't'a been for Harry.”

Liam reached over and put his hand on Draco's bowed head. “You literally fought in a war. A war for your survival. And just like any soldier come back from war, I think you'll have flashbacks until it settles down, yeah? You gotta give yourself time to really accept that you're home now. I think talking about it is good if you can stand it. I know you don't need me for much, but I'm here for you, Draco. I love you. You're my little brother now, same as Harry.”

Draco turned toward Harry and pressed against the boy's side and further under Liam's sheltering arm. “Okay. I'll... I'll try and talk... about it ...”

He was crying, but Liam tactfully didn't bring attention to that fact. Hell, as he listened to Draco's halting recounting of what that bastard Raymond had done to him, he felt like crying himself. What a fucked up psycho! Seriously. Liam took child-trafficking as a cruel fact of life, but he didn't think he'd ever be able to stomach it again. Gotti would just have to understand that or he could kiss Liam's ass because Liam would never have anything to do with the disgusting trade again.

“It wouldn't'a been so bad...” Draco rasped, ending the nightmare tale. “If he'd'a let me go away, ya know? … I can disappear in my head... makes it... not so real, ya know? … That's what I showed Harry. When they were... fuckin' him... told him to go away 'til I said to come back... But with the spikes... I couldn't. If I went away... I'd'a fallen every time... I was so scared he was gonna kill me.”

“You're the strongest person I know, Draco.” Liam held the boy close, heart thumping hard in his chest. “You survived. You got yourself out of there. Got Harry out of there. You're amazing, kiddo.”

The blond actually blushed. Liam grinned as Draco turned and tried to hide his face against Harry's shoulder. The messy-haired boy was still dead to the world and snoring softly, leaning against Liam's chest. They sat quiet like that, just holding on to each other, for nearly an hour.

Eventually, Liam slipped out from underneath both boys, laying Harry on the couch for Draco to wake up, and went to start breakfast. While he cooked pancakes, he called Gotti and told him he wouldn't be in to work today. He and the boys were gonna have a much needed quiet day at home.

...

Fortunately for the small family, the next few weeks passed uneventfully. Liam had decided he didn't care that Draco and Harry's relationship wasn't normal. The boys had been introduced to sex and pleasure too fucking soon, but he couldn't change the past. As for the punishments, he wished it wasn't necessary, but it couldn't be classified as abuse.

Draco never hurt Harry in anger or because it brought him pleasure. Harry had suffered horrific brainwashing and emotional abuse since infancy from his birth family and then was sold into sexual slavery. Draco had saved him from that and continued to save him. Liam wasn't going to begrudge Harry whatever he needed to be happy.

Not much changed aside from the new trust between Liam and Draco. The boys continued to see their tutor three times a week, and - on top of that - Draco had wrangled Liam into mini-sessions to help him understand money. How much did their apartment cost? How long did it take to earn that much? How much did they have in savings? How much did Liam make with the mob? Liam had no idea kids could ask so many damn questions.

So March came to an end and Liam's tutoring session with Jess arrived once more. Liam had assumed Draco was done going to the club and done with Brendon's women, but the blond surprised him by saying that not only was he going, but Harry was coming with.

Liam frowned as he pulled on his jacket. “But why?”

“I want Harry to meet them, even if it's only once,” Draco answered, wrapping a scarf around the smaller boy's neck. Harry smiled up at Draco in obvious adoration. “The club's a part of our lives, and I want him to know what it's about.” Finally ready, he took Harry's hand and looked up at Liam. “Don't worry. We're not going near the basement. Harry's got homework from Mrs. Robinson to do, and I wanna know more about the club's money.”

Liam sighed, giving in. “Fine. Let's go.” At least he wouldn't be the one to have to answer Draco's flood questions for once.

...

Harry entered the club, hand held firmly in Draco's, feeling curious. Liam walked in front of them. His hands were shoved in his jacket pockets and Harry knew that meant Liam wasn't happy, but Draco was relaxed. His eyes were easy and he gave Harry a small smile whenever he looked at him, so Harry wasn't worried. He glanced around with interest as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. He'd never been in the club before. It was filled with dark reds and browns, gold and black, metal and wood, glass floors and curtained booths.

Liam led them to a table near the left bar. A woman in a white halter top and black pants sat in one of the chairs. She had straight bangs over her oddly thin and slanted eyes. Long, straight hair fell down her back and her skin was very pale, but her left arm was awash in vibrant colors and shapes. Harry could see what looked like blue waves and pink flowers and lavender fish.

“Jess, this is my Harry,” he heard Draco say and he looked up from the tattoo to see the woman was staring at him. He blushed and immediately looked down, but he didn't flinch or try to hide. He focused on Draco's hand wrapped around his own and was filled with a sense of absolute safety.

“Hello, Harry,” she said, voice calm and quiet.

“What a nice surprise,” a deeper, huskier voice said from the side.

Harry looked to see a second woman step out of the shadows beside the bar. This one wore all black. Her hair was black and long, like the other lady, but it was tangled, wavy, and wild. Her eyes were large and pale. When Harry met them, he knew she was dangerous, and he slid closer to Draco's side. The blond automatically let go of his hand and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

“Drey,” Draco greeted the woman. “This is Harry.”

Looking through his messy bangs, Harry saw the woman grin – fierce the way Draco grinned. “Nice ta meet ya, Harry. Care for a drink? I make a killer Shirley Temple.”

“Two,” Draco ordered.

“Would you like me to give you a special tour?” Jess asked and Harry relaxed when he noticed she was speaking to Draco.

“Sure,” he answered with a careless shrug.

Liam followed close behind them as Jess led the way through the club. Harry perked up, losing his shyness, as they went toward the DJ table. There were switch boards filled with dials and buttons. She showed them how to turn on the lights and how to get them to flash and swivel. Harry glanced at Draco when she offered to let them try, and the blond nodded. Harry happily tried out all the dials Jess had shown them. The dance floor lit up, the spot lights sparkled and swiveled. Harry loved it.

Next, Jess let them see the booths up close and then took them behind the bar, naming some of the very many types of drinks they kept in stock. Eventually, they ended up back by the table Jess had been sitting at when they had arrived. Draco tugged Harry to the table next to it while Liam sat with Jess. The man groaned when she opened the folder she had left on the table and handed him a thick stack of paper. Harry smiled to himself as he took off his backpack and got his homework ready. Draco didn't leave his side until he was settled. He ruffled Harry's hair before moving to sit with Liam.

Drey came and sat with him, bringing his drink, and Harry ducked his head shyly. The drink was red with bubbles and had a tiny plastic sword with two red cherries stuck on it. He saw Draco nod, so he tried it. It was bubbly, sweet, and sharp. He took another, bigger sip, and the woman laughed. It wasn't a mean laugh, though, not like Aunt or Dudley, so he smiled back at her.

Draco watched the exchange between Harry and Drey carefully. He trusted Drey and Jess to some extent or he wouldn't have brought Harry, but that didn't mean he trusted them fully. Hell, he didn't even trust Liam fully, although he probably trusted Liam more than he would ever trust anyone outside of Harry.

Satisfied that Harry was calm and safe, he turned his attention to the business talk between Jess and Liam, although he never lost awareness of where Drey was at all times. He tried to absorb the numbers and new words that Jess used, but it was hard. Even though he was much better at the maths Mrs. Robinson taught them than the reading and writing, he was still new to learning.

Still, it had been clear to him after Liam had shown him the club's balance book for last month that the club barely scraped by. If it weren't for the basement, Brendon wouldn't have really had enough to live daily life, at least not comfortably, and he wanted to ask Jess why that was.

When he was finally able to ask his question, Jess answered, “It's because Brendon was making payments to buy the building. Renting would be half as expensive as the mortgage we pay now, but even though it's costly, in the long-run it is always better to buy if possible. When you buy, the building is yours and you can make a profit by selling. If you rent, that monthly fee can never be earned back. It is a loss while buying is an investment. Does that make sense?”

Draco nodded. “Yeah. I think so.” And then he fell silent and tried to follow the rest of the lesson. Careful glances at Liam showed him that the man was having an easier time understanding what was being said. That was good. Liam could always go over it again with him later.

At his own table, Harry was hunched over his homework. He was writing carefully, little pink tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth. Drey was sitting next to him. “I'm not very smart,” he told her when she pointed out another letter he had backward.

“Actually, it's normal to do that at first. If you keep doing it next year, then we can talk about stupid,” she answered firmly, tossing her hair over a pale shoulder.

Harry titled his head curiously. “Really? Yer not just sayin' that?”

Drey met his eyes and it made him quickly look away. “I wouldn't lie about that. Why would I? It's not like I know you or care about your feelings. It's the simple truth.”

Feeling a bit more confident, Harry smiled down at his paper. “Okay. I'll try harder.”

“Good,” she said. “What's the next sentence say?”

“Um.” Harry squinted down at the page, forcing the letters to become sharper. “The d...ahh...g ra..ra... ran f...aaa...st.” He looked up to see if he was correct.

Drey nodded. “Put it together now.”

“The. Dog. Ran. Fast.”

Drey's mouth slid into a grin, eyes bright. “Good boy.”

Harry immediately looked to Draco. Look at me, Draco. I did good! But he didn't need to say it. He had Draco's attention as soon as he looked over. The blond gave him a smile. Harry wiggled in his chair – joyful - before turning back to his paper and tracing the sentence on the page.

“He looks healthy and happy,” Jess remarked as Liam worked through the math she had given him. She always set him to finding the totals on his own.

Draco nodded. “I take care of him.”

She watched Harry a moment longer, her expression thoughtful. Finally, she said, “Have you been to the doctor?”

Draco frowned and eyed Harry, but nothing seemed wrong. Tilting his head, he glanced back at Jess. “Why?”

“He might need glasses. He puts his face too close to the page,” she told him.

Sure enough Harry was only a few inches from his paper. Draco noticed Liam was watching Harry, too, and asked him, “Can we go to the doctor without being taken away?”

Liam shot Jess an uneasy glance and only answered, “Yeah,” offering no details.

Draco didn't push it. He knew Liam didn't trust the women to know about their connection to the mob.

Unimpressed, Jess tapped a long, pink fingernail on Liam's spreadsheet. “Finish up.”

Liam scowled, but he went back to the math.

Draco hardly noticed. His attention was still on Harry. Harry needed glasses? What else had he missed? He grew anxious about how Liam was going to get them into a doctor. The Family had access to their own doctors, of course, but Draco adamantly didn't want Gotti to know about Harry.

“Can I talk to you in th' bathroom?” Draco suddenly spoke up, pinning Liam with a diamond-hard stare.

Jess made no objections even though the interruption meant Liam would have to start the calculations for that section over.

Draco stared her down. “We'll only be a few minutes. Don't mess with Harry.”

She gave a single nod of her head.

Looking over at a curious Harry, he told him, * If you need me, we'll be in the bathroom. Okay? *

Harry nodded, knowing better than to answer verbally – love calm trust.

As soon as the bathroom door shut behind him and Liam, Draco said, “We can't go through Gotti. Do you know another way to get us into a doctor?”

Liam frowned. “I have fake papers for both of you. Birth certificates, social security cards, and fake adoption papers. It shows Brendon adopted you and I have his notarized will, also forged, that gives me custody. That's how I'm going to get you in school this fall. We can see any doctor. We don't have to go through Gotti.”

Draco frowned back at him. “Did Gotti help get th' papers? How'd you explain away the need for two sets of papers?”

“I got your papers from Gott, but I had a friend I know in California help me with Harry's. She's not part of the mob, but she is a computer geek, a hacker.” Liam shrugged. “That means Harry's papers aren't as well done, but it's the best I could do. I don't want Gotti knowing about Harry, either, Draco.”

“Harry's not seeing a doctor without me,” Draco said firmly. “The mob pulls my records, they're gonna find out the doctor saw two boys under your guardianship, right? I think we need to ask Jess to hook us up. A doctor that will see us in secret. No records.”

“The same thing with school then,” Liam argued, angry not at Draco but at the situation. He paced the small space, fists clenched. “How're we gonna keep Harry out of the mob's eyes. He's gonna be registered as my ward there, too. And don't say he's not going to school, Draco. You both need it. Hard rule. And no magic at school, either. No poisoning kids or staff for any reason. There are other ways to handle things. And no healing unless it's life or death. Another hard rule. Last thing I need is the government or mob figuring out you have special powers and turn you two into lab rats.”

Draco ran his hands through his hair roughly. “Look. We have 'til July to figure out school, right? But we need to decide about the doctor now.” He stared into Liam's eyes. “I want to ask Jess to have someone from the basement look at us off the books. Agree?”

Liam hated it actually, but he saw that there really wasn't a choice. Plus he could appreciate that Draco was actually asking him to agree. The kid would usually just tell him what was what when it came to Harry. Like he had when he'd decided to go to the basement when Liam had been adamantly against it. Still, he wanted Draco to understand why he was against it.

“If Jess and Drey find out about my connection to the mob, they could blackmail us. The cops are breathing down the mob's necks. They'd be all over anything they told them. They could make our lives hard, Draco.”

Draco looked down for a long minute before looking up again. His face was hard, all angles and lines, little to no baby-fat from his near starvation in the Hold. “If it comes ta that, Liam, I'll kill 'em both.”

Liam let the truth of that sink in for a minute before finally nodding. “I don't have any other ideas, so let's do it.”

Draco immediately turned and went back to the table. Jess, Drey, and Harry were right where they had left them. They'd been gone less than five minutes, although it had felt longer. “Are there any doctors who come ta the basement and would be willing to see Harry and me off th' books? Liam has forged papers good enough to get me and Harry into school, but I don't wanna risk the mob getting 'hold of Harry by going to their doctor.”

He watched Jess share a glance with Drey before she looked back at him. “Yes. We know of a very skilled pediatrician who would do it.”

Draco held her gaze, his own silver with threat. If they betrayed him, he would make them disappear. Jess already had suspicions about him from the incident in the basement. She would know how serious he was. “Make the call.”

...

Dr. Max Khan's office was just a few blocks east of the Hudson river and off the Henry Hudson Pkwy in Manhattan. Central Park was only four blocks further east, and Liam promised the boys they would stop by and play after the check-up.

Draco stared out the car window and watched the river as they drove to the office. The sky was dark, the sun barely beginning to make an appearance. The water was even darker, the boats shadows. It made his stomach churn and he hoped it wasn't a sign of what was to come. A soft hand grabbed his and he looked over to see Harry watching him – concern worry. Draco gave him a tight smile and turned his eyes to the back of Liam's head, refusing to look out the window again.

The office was dark, the doors locked, when they arrived, but they didn't have to wait more than a few minutes before the shadow of a person came to the door and opened it for them. Dr. Khan was in his fifties; a dom who was in between subs at the moment. Jess offered to be there, but Draco refused in difference to Liam who wanted still wanted the women to know as little as possible.

The doctor had a head of thick black hair cut short and combed back neatly. He had on slacks, dress shoes, and a button up shirt under his white lab coat. His skin was dark, his eyes even darker. Jess had told them his parents were born in India and had moved to America before the doctor had been born.

Dr. Khan didn't say a word or smile. He merely held the door open and gestured them in. Once the door was locked behind them, he said, “I want to keep the lights off if that is acceptable. I don't want anyone to know we're here. The office is closed today.”

His voice was soft and mild, but even though it had seemed like a question, the man didn't wait for answers. He lead them past the reception desk in the near dark room and back into the back. The lights were on here, and Draco saw rows of rooms with beds and another desk area with computers and files. Further back were huge machines and other rooms with unknown things behind the doors.

Dr. Khan led them to the first exam room. Liam, Draco, and Harry went in, and Dr. Khan stepped in after them, shutting the door. He caught Draco's narrowed-eyed look and offered a wry smile.

“Habit,” he explained, but he made no move to open the door. “First boy on the bed please. Jacket and sweater off.”

Draco handed Harry off to Liam, who took the boy's hand in his own. Liam sat in one of the side chairs and pulled Harry into his lap protectively. Big green eyes watched Draco solemnly, hardly blinking, as Draco removed his outer clothes and piled them on the bed. Then he climbed up onto the end of the paper-covered bed. The doctor put the stethoscope in his ear and slipped the round piece up under his shirt. It was cold, but he didn't show it, afraid to startle Harry further.

Heart, lungs, ears, nose, throat, reflexes, blood-pressure, temperature – all of it was checked with quick efficiency. Draco climbed off the bed and Harry took his place, leaving his jacket and sweater with Liam. Draco remained by the bedside within touching distance, but he was careful to stay out of the doctor's way.

After those baselines were taken, the harder tests were given. They were both weighed and then they took x-rays of their whole bodies. They took eye tests by reading a chart on the wall. Thank god for their tutor because they could at least recognize the letters and didn't need the baby chart with shapes instead. After that came the hardest test of all. Dr. Khan asked them to strip naked for a quick physical exam.

Draco hated every second. He especially hated the way Liam sucked in a breath when he saw just how many scars covered Draco's back and legs. His face and neck were remarkably clear. His arms and chest only bore a few dozen, but he was a maze of silvery and pink lines and splotches from his shoulders to his ass. His thighs - front and back - didn't look much better. Harry, fortunately, was mostly scar free except a few here and there. The most noticeable was the jagged scar just to the left (Harry's right) on his forehead.

Once they were dressed again, Draco pulled Harry into the same chair as him and practically wrapped himself around the smaller boy protectively. Liam sat in the chair next to them. All of their eyes were on the doctor, waiting for his verdict.

Dr. Khan sat at the end of the bed and faced the small family. “Considering where you came from, you are remarkably healthy. Of course, that does not mean you actually are healthy. Both of you are significantly underweight and below the average height for your ages, Harry especially.

“In both cases, your bones have been weakened with malnutrition, but it can be fixed with a specialized diet that I will write out for you. Draco, in particular, will be susceptible to broken bones due to the multitude of poorly healed hairline fractures I found in both arms and legs.

“Both of you have cavities from poor dental hygiene. You will need dental work, but fortunately you still have your baby teeth. Once those fall out, a healthy routine of flossing and brushing should help you maintain healthy adult teeth as long as your diet is fixed. You both will need to see a dentist to prevent infection and illness with those cavities.

“Harry's eyesight has been effected by malnutrition and he will need glasses as you expected. That means he will need to see an optometrist to get the correct prescription for his eyes. I will write the referrals for both an optometrist and dentist I respect, as well as a prescription for medicated scar cream to decrease the scarring on Draco's back and thighs.

“Unless Jess knows a dentist as well as an optometrist to see you off the books like I did, you will have to figure out your paperwork. Also, you will need official medical records to get into school. You will need documentation of physicals as well as a shot records. You are both behind on those.

“In order to have you ready for school in August, we will have to begin the vaccinations now. These shots are for the prevention of common illnesses found in the world. There will be slight discomfort and illness after each dose is administered.”

After his lengthy report, Dr. Khan stood. “I will give you a few minutes to discuss my diagnoses and will return for your decisions about the referrals, prescription scar cream, targeted diet, as well as the vaccinations.” With a respectful nod of his head, he stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Liam and Draco just stared at each other for a long minute before they began to hash things out. Draco asked a dozen questions and Liam explained everything he knew about vaccines. He confirmed that they were required and described how bad a mouth infection could get. They definitely needed a paperwork solution. It kept boiling down to Liam just not able to be Harry's guardian. Not without the mob learning about it.

Draco grimaced, knowing the distress his suggestion would cause Liam, but he met the man's anxious blue eyes squarely. “I think Jess should be Harry's guardian on paper. It'll be fake, of course. Harry stays with me. Always. And we stay with you. It's just to keep the mob off Harry's trail.”

Liam immediately scowled and looked away, crossing his arms defensively and letting his black, shoulder-length hair hide his face from view.

“Liam. It's the only way. It's gonna be hard enough ta keep Harry secret long-term with him living with us and you workin' for Gotti,” Draco insisted. He reached over and put his hand on Liam's thigh. “Worse comes to worse, we grab as much cash as we can and go on the run. Away from this city. Just us.”

Sighing, Liam uncrossed his arms unhappily, but he reached out to cover Draco's hand with his own. “Fine. We'll try it your way, but I'd really rather not leave the city. I grew up here. Never been anywhere else, ya know?”

Draco gave him a reassuring smile. “I'll do everything I can ta keep us here. Promise.”

Harry put his hand on top of Liam's, so all three of them were together. He smiled his sweet smile and told them both, “Love you,” green eyes so earnest.

The honest declaration erased the last of the tension in the room. Draco laughed and hugged Harry, kissing his cheek, and Liam ruffled the messy, dark hair with a smile.

When Dr. Khan returned, they explained that they'd decided to become official patients and were moving ahead with all of his recommendations. Dr. Khan gave them their first shots and said he'd backlog all of their records once Liam got the boys' paperwork to him to make it official. He also scheduled a follow-up appointment in three weeks to continue the vaccines and to monitor their weight gain once they put the diet in effect.

Chapter End.

A/N: Harry's first meeting with Drey and Jess and the doctor's visit went much quicker than I thought it would, but it didn't want to let me add more details. It felt forced when I tried. Hope it was good!
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Freedom Bound in Chains