Harry Potter and The Beloved Incubus (BP4)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,990
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,990
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Once More My Friends
Chapter Number/Total: 37/41
Chapter Title: Once More My Friends
Words: 2811 Words
After the conversation Harry and Draco had had the previous day, they both thought it very important for Valen to have appointed godparents before they went looking for the Horcrux. As much as Harry told himself over and over again that he would keep both he and Draco alive, he couldn't ignore the possibility of something happening to them, and if he was honest with himself, the possibility wasn't so small.
Harry had agreed with Draco on Bill and Fleur being made Valen's godparents, but he still wanted to talk to Ron and Hermione about it. The four of them and Valen were in one of the smaller downstairs sitting rooms. Hermione was sitting on the couch with Valen in her lap, Ron next to her. They - like everyone else - had both taken a great liking to the baby and were playing with and talking to him. It made Harry feel guilty watching them. He glanced at Draco next to him on the second sofa and gave him a slightly sad smile.
Draco shook his head and sighed. This wasn't about who they liked best. This was a matter of safety.
Harry sighed as well. "Guys?" he said, getting Ron and Hermione's attention.
"What?" said Hermione in a baby voice, still talking to Valen. She looked up, smiling sheepishly. "What?" she asked again, normally this time.
Ron snorted at her and looked up as well.
Harry cleared his throat. "Draco and I are going to appoint Valen godparents," he said. "We want to do it before we go off for the Horcrux ... just in case."
Not the way Draco would've started, but this was Harry's place to tell. He sat and waited.
Hermione cocked her head to the side and sat staring at Harry, waiting for what he wanted to say.
"I don't know why," Harry began slowly looking down at the floor slightly, "but I wanted to talk to you two before we did it."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"We've decided to ask Bill and Fleur," Harry said sort of quickly, glancing up again.
"Oh?" said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.
"Er, yeah," said Harry.
"Why them?" Ron asked curiously with a shrug, going back to staring at Valen.
Harry sighed with relief when he realised that neither of them were hurt. "They're already married, Fleur speaks French and Draco wants Valen to, and they could take him to France if things got bad here," he said.
Draco smiled, watching Valen with the other two. He was imitating the faces they made at him.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, it makes rather a lot of sense. Good idea," she said.
"Have you talked to them yet?" Ron asked, looking up again.
Harry shook his head. "No, not yet. We were going to today."
Hermione let out a little laugh, both at the face Valen made and at Harry. "Well you certainly don't need our permission," she said.
"Well, I know," Harry said, smiling at his friends. "I just didn't want you guys to think ... that I didn't consider you both, because I did."
They beamed.
"It's just that, you'll both be coming with us to get the Horcrux and then after ... with Voldemort and all and, well, he'll be safer if Bill and Fleur are his godparents," Harry finished.
Draco nodded, relaxing now that things had gone well.
Hermione laughed again. "Oh, Harry, you're so ... you," she said, shaking her head at him.
Ron snorted.
Harry raised an amused eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
"Nothing, mate," said Ron, shaking his head as well.
Draco smirked, agreeing silently with the other two.
Harry grinned and shrugged. "I guess," he said.
"When are we going?" Ron asked, turning serious.
Harry sighed. "As soon as Valen has godparents," he said.
***
"Ah, Bill? Fleur?" Harry asked, standing in the doorway of the main sitting room. Draco stood slightly behind him with Valen. After the talk with Hermione and Ron, there was nothing stopping them from asking Bill and Fleur.
Fleur looked up from her magazine and smiled.
Bill was lying on his back near where she sat. A wireless radio on next to his ear. He turned his head and propped himself up on his elbows. "Hey, Harry," he said. "And Draco," he said, tilting his head so that he could see him behind Harry.
Harry smiled and nodded, stepping into the room. He was glad that there wasn't anyone else there, not that this needed to be kept a secret, but he wanted to talk to them alone first.
Draco stepped forward and walked up with Valen to sit down in a chair near the couple. He waited for Harry to sit down as well.
Harry pulled another chair up next to Draco and took a seat.
Bill switched the radio off, cutting off a man's sentence about recent attacks near Brighton. "Something you need?" he asked.
Fleur was smiling at Valen and waving at him with one slender finger.
"Well, there's something we'd like to ask you," Harry said.
"We ask that you do us and our child the honour of being Valen's godparents," Draco said.
Bill sat all the way up, staring at Harry and Draco with a confused look.
Fleur looked up at them, her face surprised. "Us?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Draco and I have thought about it and we came to the decision that you two would be the best for the job," he said.
"We trust you and we know that you would be able to take care of him," Draco said.
Harry nodded in agreement.
Bill still looked a little confused, but there might have been a slight smile on his lips. "Us though? Not my mum and dad or even Ron and Hermione?"
Draco smiled. "In addition to our trust of you," he explained, "if something happens to us, you two have the best chance of hiding Valen. Delacours are distant relations to the Malfoys."
Fleur smiled and nodded. "Yes," she said.
"We - we wanted to get it set up as soon as possible," said Harry. "With everything that's been going on, anything could happen."
Bill and Fleur exchanged looks, seeming to have a silent conversation that Harry and Draco couldn't understand.
"We would be very 'appy to do eet," Fleur said finally, smiling at them both and Valen. "Eef, of course, you are certain?"
"Yes, I think we're pretty certain," Harry said, nodding and looking at Draco.
"Definitely," Draco said, nodding.
Bill took a quiet, deep breath, staring up at the baby with a half-grin. "Well, this works out," he said, looking over at Fleur and smiling.
Fleur smiled hugely and nodded to him.
Harry raised an eyebrow at them.
"You two are the first to know then," Bill said, taking another breath. "Even before my mum and dad - or hers."
Harry frowned, confused. "Know what?" he asked.
Draco laughed. "Congratulations," he said happily.
Bill and Fleur beamed.
Harry was still confused.
"I am pregnant, 'Arry," Fleur said happily.
"Oh," Harry said, smiling now as well. "Oh, well, that's great! Congratulations. How long have you known?"
"Only for a few days," said Bill, raising up and sitting on the sofa with Fleur.
She nodded. "We were going to tell everyone tonight," she said.
Draco looked down at his son, smiling. "Looks like you will have someone to play with around here," he said to him.
Harry simply smiled, finding the knowledge that Valen wouldn't have to grow up without anyone his own age was a bit of a relief.
"Give us the day you want to do the ceremony and we're there," said Bill, placing a hand over Fleur's stomach.
"There's a ceremony?" Harry asked, smiling at how Bill reminded him of Draco right then.
Draco snorted and shook his head. "Yes, Harry," he said rolling his eyes. "And we would like it as soon as possible. Is tomorrow too soon for you two?"
Bill raised his eyebrows in mild surprise but shook his head. "No, that's fine. Dear?"
Fleur shot him a stony look. "I told you not to call me zat," she said.
Bill snorted.
Turning back to Harry and Draco, she smiled. "Zat iz fine, " she said.
Draco smirked. "I will make arrangements," he said. "Thank you both."
"No need for zat," Fleur said, shaking her silvery hair out from behind her. She smiled at Harry and Draco. "We have our hands full, do we not?" she asked Draco in French, first looking at Bill and then at Harry. She let out a small laugh.
Draco smirked and nodded, "Merce' Madame."
***
Harry pulled on his cloak. It was warmer outside now, but still a little chilly. It was the day after the magical ceremony making Bill and Fleur Valen's godparents and Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron were all getting ready to Apparate to Hogsmeade to retrieve the possible Horcrux.
Harry was scared out of his wits. He sort of wished that Draco hadn't said anything about any limits now. He preferred to think that he could save Draco no matter what the circumstance. No, I can, he told himself. I can save him no matter what the circumstance. We're all going to be fine.
He sighed quietly and finished with the fasteners on the cloak before looking over his shoulder at his husband.
Draco was dressed and ready. He took Valen from Remus, holding him so that he could look directly into his eyes. "I love you," he said to the child. "Remember that." He kissed him on his forehead.
Harry frowned slightly and bit his lip, coming to stand next to Draco. He kissed Valen's cheek very gently. "We'll only be gone for a little while," he told him. "Be a good boy? Hmm?" He smiled gently, but his heart was pounding.
Draco smiled and handed the baby back to Remus. "Don't let him fool you," he said to the man, "he is always plotting something."
Harry let out a quiet, amused breath through his nose, watching Draco handing Valen off and resisting the urge to take him back and decide to find the Horcrux another day.
Hermione came up quietly beside Harry. "We're ready if you are," she said, and when Harry turned his head to look at her, there was a knowing gleam in her eyes.
Draco stepped beside him and looked at their friends. "Ready?"
Harry took a very deep breath. "Yes," he said quietly, nodding. He held out his hand and Summoned his Firebolt from the closet.
Hermione was already holding a borrowed broomstick and Ron had his too.
Draco had his broom as well. He looked at it strangely for a moment, remembering the last time he had tried to use it. He hadn't even tried to ride since getting his new hand.
Harry turned to Draco. "We should - we should go now," he said, still feeling like he wanted to grab Valen.
"I love you," Draco said, and Apparated to Hogsmeade.
Harry turned to Lupin quickly. "You - you already know where everything is," he told him. "Thanks for watching him." And then with a nod over his shoulder at Ron and Hermione, Harry Apparated as well.
Draco kept his hood up and scanned the street for possible danger, waiting for the others to arrive.
Hermione and Ron were there seconds later and they both looked to Harry for instruction.
"We're going to have to get to the edge of the Forbidden Forest," he said, looking off in the direction of Hogwarts. "Regulus said it was about 150 kilometres from there, although I'm not sure which point he was talking about. That's not too far a distance though - not with brooms anyway."
Draco nodded and headed toward the gates of Hogwarts. School was in session these days and he wondered how many of his old friends were still there and which ones had left to join Voldemort.
Harry stuck very close to Draco, though they weren't in any real danger - yet. He couldn't believe there was very possibly a Horcrux so close to Hogwarts that Dumbledore hadn't been aware of.
Ron and Hermione walked closely behind the couple in front and the four made their way across the Hogwarts grounds, keeping as far from the school as they could so as not to be spotted.
Draco stopped at the edge of the forest, frowning. "Should we fly from here?"
Harry looked over his shoulder back at the castle again. "I guess," he said. "Fly high so that we can see the mark Regulus was talking about, plus, it'll help us keep out of sight."
Ron and Hermione nodded.
Draco peered into the forest but didn't say anything. He mounted his broom and nodded to Harry.
"All right, up," said Harry, and he mounted his broomstick as well. When he kicked up from the ground there was a fleeting feeling of freedom that flying always provided him with, but it only lasted for a moment. He flew up very high, looking out over the vast green of the forest.
Draco loved flying. It was sad to realise he was finally flying with Harry but wouldn't be able to really enjoy it. At least he was able to hold and handle the broom this time. He followed Harry up and then flew alongside him.
Harry took a deep breath and waited for Ron and Hermione to catch up to him and Draco. When they did and Harry looked at them, he saw that Hermione's face was rather white, but she gave him a nod and he nodded back.
"A little higher," he said. "We need to be able to see a good distance ahead." He flew higher himself and then forward, eyes darting around at the many trees below. There was a huge clearing where Harry figured Hagrid had kept Grawp and many twisting shapes in the trees, but Harry kept in mind that Regulus had said they would know it when they saw it. He kept close to Draco, even in the air.
Draco loved the feel of the wind in his hair and Harry beside him. He scanned the forest below, looking not only for the area described, but for any odd magics that he might sense.
They flew forward over the trees for a small while. Harry ordered Ron and Hermione to fly slightly more to the left so that they were spread out. As more shapes and gaps in the trees flew by, Harry began to wonder if it were possible that they had passed the area accidentally, but right at that moment, he saw a large twisting clearing in the forest below. "Stop!" he called out to the others. The clearing looked a lot like it took the same shape of the snake on the Dark Mark. "Do you see it?" he asked Draco beside him, pointing.
Draco nodded. He took a deep breath and turned toward the area. Draco hated the forest and this promised to be worse than his last encounter with it.
"You think that's it, mate?" Ron asked, coming up beside Harry.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Let's get closer and see if Draco feels anything." He dipped down very quickly until he could skim the tops of the trees with his toes.
Draco stayed clear of the trees, falling back a bit as they got closer. The closer they got the more uneasy he felt.
Harry paused in the air and looked behind him. "This it?" he asked, knowing that it was and almost hoping that Draco would say it wasn't.
Draco nodded quickly, his hands clenched on the handle of his broom.
Heart beating quicker now, Harry nodded to him. "Let's land," he said, dipping lower. He landed on an edge of the snake-shaped clearing and pulled his wand almost as soon as his feet touched the ground. Ron and Hermione landed next to him, doing the same.
It took Draco two tries to get himself to land and he was sweating when he did.
Harry felt like demanding Draco to Apparate away when he saw him, but he closed his eyes for a moment and tried to get rid of that thought. "You're going to have to lead us there," he said to him in a calm voice that wasn't fooling anyone. "But please, please if you feel another trap or whatever it was last time, don't get near."
Draco didn't say the entire area felt like a trap. Like they were literally standing in the middle of a Dark Mark. The ground virtually stank of dark magic and it made him feel queasy. He nodded and tried to focus on feeling magic more subtle than that surrounding them.
Chapter Title: Once More My Friends
Words: 2811 Words
After the conversation Harry and Draco had had the previous day, they both thought it very important for Valen to have appointed godparents before they went looking for the Horcrux. As much as Harry told himself over and over again that he would keep both he and Draco alive, he couldn't ignore the possibility of something happening to them, and if he was honest with himself, the possibility wasn't so small.
Harry had agreed with Draco on Bill and Fleur being made Valen's godparents, but he still wanted to talk to Ron and Hermione about it. The four of them and Valen were in one of the smaller downstairs sitting rooms. Hermione was sitting on the couch with Valen in her lap, Ron next to her. They - like everyone else - had both taken a great liking to the baby and were playing with and talking to him. It made Harry feel guilty watching them. He glanced at Draco next to him on the second sofa and gave him a slightly sad smile.
Draco shook his head and sighed. This wasn't about who they liked best. This was a matter of safety.
Harry sighed as well. "Guys?" he said, getting Ron and Hermione's attention.
"What?" said Hermione in a baby voice, still talking to Valen. She looked up, smiling sheepishly. "What?" she asked again, normally this time.
Ron snorted at her and looked up as well.
Harry cleared his throat. "Draco and I are going to appoint Valen godparents," he said. "We want to do it before we go off for the Horcrux ... just in case."
Not the way Draco would've started, but this was Harry's place to tell. He sat and waited.
Hermione cocked her head to the side and sat staring at Harry, waiting for what he wanted to say.
"I don't know why," Harry began slowly looking down at the floor slightly, "but I wanted to talk to you two before we did it."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"We've decided to ask Bill and Fleur," Harry said sort of quickly, glancing up again.
"Oh?" said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.
"Er, yeah," said Harry.
"Why them?" Ron asked curiously with a shrug, going back to staring at Valen.
Harry sighed with relief when he realised that neither of them were hurt. "They're already married, Fleur speaks French and Draco wants Valen to, and they could take him to France if things got bad here," he said.
Draco smiled, watching Valen with the other two. He was imitating the faces they made at him.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, it makes rather a lot of sense. Good idea," she said.
"Have you talked to them yet?" Ron asked, looking up again.
Harry shook his head. "No, not yet. We were going to today."
Hermione let out a little laugh, both at the face Valen made and at Harry. "Well you certainly don't need our permission," she said.
"Well, I know," Harry said, smiling at his friends. "I just didn't want you guys to think ... that I didn't consider you both, because I did."
They beamed.
"It's just that, you'll both be coming with us to get the Horcrux and then after ... with Voldemort and all and, well, he'll be safer if Bill and Fleur are his godparents," Harry finished.
Draco nodded, relaxing now that things had gone well.
Hermione laughed again. "Oh, Harry, you're so ... you," she said, shaking her head at him.
Ron snorted.
Harry raised an amused eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
"Nothing, mate," said Ron, shaking his head as well.
Draco smirked, agreeing silently with the other two.
Harry grinned and shrugged. "I guess," he said.
"When are we going?" Ron asked, turning serious.
Harry sighed. "As soon as Valen has godparents," he said.
***
"Ah, Bill? Fleur?" Harry asked, standing in the doorway of the main sitting room. Draco stood slightly behind him with Valen. After the talk with Hermione and Ron, there was nothing stopping them from asking Bill and Fleur.
Fleur looked up from her magazine and smiled.
Bill was lying on his back near where she sat. A wireless radio on next to his ear. He turned his head and propped himself up on his elbows. "Hey, Harry," he said. "And Draco," he said, tilting his head so that he could see him behind Harry.
Harry smiled and nodded, stepping into the room. He was glad that there wasn't anyone else there, not that this needed to be kept a secret, but he wanted to talk to them alone first.
Draco stepped forward and walked up with Valen to sit down in a chair near the couple. He waited for Harry to sit down as well.
Harry pulled another chair up next to Draco and took a seat.
Bill switched the radio off, cutting off a man's sentence about recent attacks near Brighton. "Something you need?" he asked.
Fleur was smiling at Valen and waving at him with one slender finger.
"Well, there's something we'd like to ask you," Harry said.
"We ask that you do us and our child the honour of being Valen's godparents," Draco said.
Bill sat all the way up, staring at Harry and Draco with a confused look.
Fleur looked up at them, her face surprised. "Us?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Draco and I have thought about it and we came to the decision that you two would be the best for the job," he said.
"We trust you and we know that you would be able to take care of him," Draco said.
Harry nodded in agreement.
Bill still looked a little confused, but there might have been a slight smile on his lips. "Us though? Not my mum and dad or even Ron and Hermione?"
Draco smiled. "In addition to our trust of you," he explained, "if something happens to us, you two have the best chance of hiding Valen. Delacours are distant relations to the Malfoys."
Fleur smiled and nodded. "Yes," she said.
"We - we wanted to get it set up as soon as possible," said Harry. "With everything that's been going on, anything could happen."
Bill and Fleur exchanged looks, seeming to have a silent conversation that Harry and Draco couldn't understand.
"We would be very 'appy to do eet," Fleur said finally, smiling at them both and Valen. "Eef, of course, you are certain?"
"Yes, I think we're pretty certain," Harry said, nodding and looking at Draco.
"Definitely," Draco said, nodding.
Bill took a quiet, deep breath, staring up at the baby with a half-grin. "Well, this works out," he said, looking over at Fleur and smiling.
Fleur smiled hugely and nodded to him.
Harry raised an eyebrow at them.
"You two are the first to know then," Bill said, taking another breath. "Even before my mum and dad - or hers."
Harry frowned, confused. "Know what?" he asked.
Draco laughed. "Congratulations," he said happily.
Bill and Fleur beamed.
Harry was still confused.
"I am pregnant, 'Arry," Fleur said happily.
"Oh," Harry said, smiling now as well. "Oh, well, that's great! Congratulations. How long have you known?"
"Only for a few days," said Bill, raising up and sitting on the sofa with Fleur.
She nodded. "We were going to tell everyone tonight," she said.
Draco looked down at his son, smiling. "Looks like you will have someone to play with around here," he said to him.
Harry simply smiled, finding the knowledge that Valen wouldn't have to grow up without anyone his own age was a bit of a relief.
"Give us the day you want to do the ceremony and we're there," said Bill, placing a hand over Fleur's stomach.
"There's a ceremony?" Harry asked, smiling at how Bill reminded him of Draco right then.
Draco snorted and shook his head. "Yes, Harry," he said rolling his eyes. "And we would like it as soon as possible. Is tomorrow too soon for you two?"
Bill raised his eyebrows in mild surprise but shook his head. "No, that's fine. Dear?"
Fleur shot him a stony look. "I told you not to call me zat," she said.
Bill snorted.
Turning back to Harry and Draco, she smiled. "Zat iz fine, " she said.
Draco smirked. "I will make arrangements," he said. "Thank you both."
"No need for zat," Fleur said, shaking her silvery hair out from behind her. She smiled at Harry and Draco. "We have our hands full, do we not?" she asked Draco in French, first looking at Bill and then at Harry. She let out a small laugh.
Draco smirked and nodded, "Merce' Madame."
***
Harry pulled on his cloak. It was warmer outside now, but still a little chilly. It was the day after the magical ceremony making Bill and Fleur Valen's godparents and Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron were all getting ready to Apparate to Hogsmeade to retrieve the possible Horcrux.
Harry was scared out of his wits. He sort of wished that Draco hadn't said anything about any limits now. He preferred to think that he could save Draco no matter what the circumstance. No, I can, he told himself. I can save him no matter what the circumstance. We're all going to be fine.
He sighed quietly and finished with the fasteners on the cloak before looking over his shoulder at his husband.
Draco was dressed and ready. He took Valen from Remus, holding him so that he could look directly into his eyes. "I love you," he said to the child. "Remember that." He kissed him on his forehead.
Harry frowned slightly and bit his lip, coming to stand next to Draco. He kissed Valen's cheek very gently. "We'll only be gone for a little while," he told him. "Be a good boy? Hmm?" He smiled gently, but his heart was pounding.
Draco smiled and handed the baby back to Remus. "Don't let him fool you," he said to the man, "he is always plotting something."
Harry let out a quiet, amused breath through his nose, watching Draco handing Valen off and resisting the urge to take him back and decide to find the Horcrux another day.
Hermione came up quietly beside Harry. "We're ready if you are," she said, and when Harry turned his head to look at her, there was a knowing gleam in her eyes.
Draco stepped beside him and looked at their friends. "Ready?"
Harry took a very deep breath. "Yes," he said quietly, nodding. He held out his hand and Summoned his Firebolt from the closet.
Hermione was already holding a borrowed broomstick and Ron had his too.
Draco had his broom as well. He looked at it strangely for a moment, remembering the last time he had tried to use it. He hadn't even tried to ride since getting his new hand.
Harry turned to Draco. "We should - we should go now," he said, still feeling like he wanted to grab Valen.
"I love you," Draco said, and Apparated to Hogsmeade.
Harry turned to Lupin quickly. "You - you already know where everything is," he told him. "Thanks for watching him." And then with a nod over his shoulder at Ron and Hermione, Harry Apparated as well.
Draco kept his hood up and scanned the street for possible danger, waiting for the others to arrive.
Hermione and Ron were there seconds later and they both looked to Harry for instruction.
"We're going to have to get to the edge of the Forbidden Forest," he said, looking off in the direction of Hogwarts. "Regulus said it was about 150 kilometres from there, although I'm not sure which point he was talking about. That's not too far a distance though - not with brooms anyway."
Draco nodded and headed toward the gates of Hogwarts. School was in session these days and he wondered how many of his old friends were still there and which ones had left to join Voldemort.
Harry stuck very close to Draco, though they weren't in any real danger - yet. He couldn't believe there was very possibly a Horcrux so close to Hogwarts that Dumbledore hadn't been aware of.
Ron and Hermione walked closely behind the couple in front and the four made their way across the Hogwarts grounds, keeping as far from the school as they could so as not to be spotted.
Draco stopped at the edge of the forest, frowning. "Should we fly from here?"
Harry looked over his shoulder back at the castle again. "I guess," he said. "Fly high so that we can see the mark Regulus was talking about, plus, it'll help us keep out of sight."
Ron and Hermione nodded.
Draco peered into the forest but didn't say anything. He mounted his broom and nodded to Harry.
"All right, up," said Harry, and he mounted his broomstick as well. When he kicked up from the ground there was a fleeting feeling of freedom that flying always provided him with, but it only lasted for a moment. He flew up very high, looking out over the vast green of the forest.
Draco loved flying. It was sad to realise he was finally flying with Harry but wouldn't be able to really enjoy it. At least he was able to hold and handle the broom this time. He followed Harry up and then flew alongside him.
Harry took a deep breath and waited for Ron and Hermione to catch up to him and Draco. When they did and Harry looked at them, he saw that Hermione's face was rather white, but she gave him a nod and he nodded back.
"A little higher," he said. "We need to be able to see a good distance ahead." He flew higher himself and then forward, eyes darting around at the many trees below. There was a huge clearing where Harry figured Hagrid had kept Grawp and many twisting shapes in the trees, but Harry kept in mind that Regulus had said they would know it when they saw it. He kept close to Draco, even in the air.
Draco loved the feel of the wind in his hair and Harry beside him. He scanned the forest below, looking not only for the area described, but for any odd magics that he might sense.
They flew forward over the trees for a small while. Harry ordered Ron and Hermione to fly slightly more to the left so that they were spread out. As more shapes and gaps in the trees flew by, Harry began to wonder if it were possible that they had passed the area accidentally, but right at that moment, he saw a large twisting clearing in the forest below. "Stop!" he called out to the others. The clearing looked a lot like it took the same shape of the snake on the Dark Mark. "Do you see it?" he asked Draco beside him, pointing.
Draco nodded. He took a deep breath and turned toward the area. Draco hated the forest and this promised to be worse than his last encounter with it.
"You think that's it, mate?" Ron asked, coming up beside Harry.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Let's get closer and see if Draco feels anything." He dipped down very quickly until he could skim the tops of the trees with his toes.
Draco stayed clear of the trees, falling back a bit as they got closer. The closer they got the more uneasy he felt.
Harry paused in the air and looked behind him. "This it?" he asked, knowing that it was and almost hoping that Draco would say it wasn't.
Draco nodded quickly, his hands clenched on the handle of his broom.
Heart beating quicker now, Harry nodded to him. "Let's land," he said, dipping lower. He landed on an edge of the snake-shaped clearing and pulled his wand almost as soon as his feet touched the ground. Ron and Hermione landed next to him, doing the same.
It took Draco two tries to get himself to land and he was sweating when he did.
Harry felt like demanding Draco to Apparate away when he saw him, but he closed his eyes for a moment and tried to get rid of that thought. "You're going to have to lead us there," he said to him in a calm voice that wasn't fooling anyone. "But please, please if you feel another trap or whatever it was last time, don't get near."
Draco didn't say the entire area felt like a trap. Like they were literally standing in the middle of a Dark Mark. The ground virtually stank of dark magic and it made him feel queasy. He nodded and tried to focus on feeling magic more subtle than that surrounding them.