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Harry Potter and the Black King	By : Phoenixstrike Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 10586 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Harry Potter and all characters and situations are created and owned by JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Warner Bros. No money is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter List
- 7
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Chapter eight: The Second Horcrux

10^th September 1997

Dear Harry,

Ron and I are both so sorry. You have every right to feel disappointed in us. We let you down. We’ve thought about it, and you were right. Your instincts nearly always turn out to be good and we should have trusted you. We should have known that you wouldn’t just confide in Malfoy without reason.

I’ve spoken to Ron about his childish views on Slytherins. He does need to grow up sometimes. He says he’s sorry.

We’re back at Hogwarts. We arrived yesterday evening, much to Ron’s mum’s delight. It’s so strange being back. Everyone is asking where you are and what you’re up to. Ron will probably hex the next person who mentions you.

We’re not giving up. We’ll keep researching, Harry, and if we find anything, anything at all, we will be by your side. We will always stand by your side. And when you need us, we’ll be there.

We love you Harry.

Hermione.

Harry reread the note that Pigwidgeon had delivered that morning and smiled sadly, trying to push away the bubble of regret which had risen each time he had read it. He folded the letter and slipped it back into the pocket of his jeans. Draco snaked his arms around his waist from behind and kissed him on the neck. Harry twisted in his arms, threw his own around Draco’s neck and captured his mouth in his.

“You still reading that bloody letter?” Draco asked him, in between kisses. Harry nodded. “Well, I have something that might take your mind off it for a while. I’ve had an idea about a possible horcrux location.”

Harry stared, wide-eyed into his boyfriend’s face before breaking into a broad, genuine smile.

“But that’s great! You bloody genius! Where?”

“Let’s wait for Sev and Lupin and I’ll reveal all” smirked Draco, who then burst out laughing when Harry sprinted from his bedroom yelling “Severus! Remus!” excitedly before hammering on their doors.

Two minutes later and all four men were assembled in the kitchen, with a very smug Draco ready to give them information that, Harry hoped with all his heart, was going to bring them one step closer to defeating Voldemort.

“Right” said Draco, once he had everyone’s attention. “I was thinking about my father and all his connections earlier, and something came to me. I remember mother telling me that in the late 1970s Father earned quite a reputation as a prolific politician and was very influential in the British ministry. So much so that in 1980, a couple of months before I was born, the minister of the time, Minister Bagnold, sent my Father to Paris to negotiate with the French ministry on some international magical cooperation law that needed rewriting between Britain and France. During April and May 1980 my Father was in and out of the French ministry. Even now I don’t know the nature of the visits entirely but he was definitely there more than he needed to be just to negotiate an ancient law. I think he could have easily been seeking out a place to hide something of Voldemort’s, and then eventually hid it, or told Voldemort where to hide it at least. From what you’ve told me about Voldemort wanting notable and significant locations for these bastard things, I think the French ministry would make a perfect candidate, don’t you?”

Harry resisted the urge to jump on Draco and snog his face off. Barely. He settled instead for shooting him a radiant smile. “You complete and utter, brilliant… Draco, this is perfect.” He turned to Snape. “We need to go to Paris! It could be there right now!” And stood up from the table abruptly.

Snape closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “Gryffindors. Harry, whilst your… enthusiasm for undertaking this task is commendable, your lack of any sort of preparation is not. You cannot jump into this head first and expect it to be a successful mission. For one, how do you intend to travel to the French ministry? International apparition, portkey and Floo work differently to national magical transportation- it is not possible to apparate outside of the British Isles without acquiring ministry clearance first. Unless you’re the Dark Lord of course. Same with floo access and portkeys. This is to help protect national security. Therefore in order to get to France we will, most unfortunately, be reliant on Muggle transportation as for obvious reasons we cannot seek such permission”- Draco’s face fell- “and once we arrive there is the small matter of how we actually get into the ministry.”

“Bill and Fleur” said Remus loudly, an excited expression on his face. “I mean, Harry, can you owl them? Fleur’s father works for the French ministry, and Fleur is in the Order now. I’m sure he’ll be able to create some bogus reason why we need to be in the ministry. Severus, do you have any Polyjuice brewed at the moment?”

“I do. I have enough to get us into Wizarding Paris and out again, but that is it. It would be three hours’ worth each maximum” Snape replied.

“Right then” Remus continued. “So, Harry, write to Fleur, ask her to speak with her father and arrange for the four of us- under false names- to have a ‘meeting’ scheduled with him. We’ll grab some hairs from muggles on the way for the Polyjuice so we won’t be detected. I’ll find out what I can about the layout of the French ministry and Severus and I can research possible locations. Well done Draco, this information is gold dust.”

“Couldn’t we just owl my father and ask him if he hid an object or told Snakeface where to hide it, and if so, where?” Draco asked. All three answered with a loud, resounding, “NO!” causing Draco to jump.

“Sorry, didn’t meant to shout” said Harry. “It’s just, we already asked your mum about the locket. Now if we start asking about other objects it’s going to draw suspicion. We can’t let anyone- ANYONE- else know what we’re doing, or even hint at it. We’re just going to have to wing it and take a gamble on this.” Draco scowled at this but didn’t argue.

“Right. I’ll quickly write to Bill and Fleur and then go and book some flights. Draco you need to come with me, I need your card in order to pay for them. We’ll find an internet café and book them online.” Draco stared at Harry, his face completely blank.

“I have no idea what the fuck you just said” Draco replied. Harry rolled his eyes.

“To get to Paris we need to go in an aeroplane. It’s a vehicle that flies in the air- surely even you know what one of those is? The internet is… oh never mind, I’ll show you when we get there.” He quickly accioed some parchment and a quill and began writing.

“Harry” Remus called as Harry furiously wrote. “I’m coming with you, no arguments. But the Full Moon is in five days, on the 16^th. We cannot go anywhere until the 18^th at the earliest. It’s still only a week away” he added gently, in response to Harry’s slightly crestfallen face.

“And also we need documentation” Snape added. “I’m sure muggles can’t leave the county without some sort of official documents.”

“Can you please arrange for us to somehow have passports then Severus? I’ll book the flights. Come on Draco.” He handed the note to Remus. “Can you get this to Bill please? Hecate won’t take this for us.” And Harry dragged Draco to the door, threw his cloak over them both, and apparated them into Muggle London.

*****

“What names shall we use?”

“I don’t give a fuck Harry. Just book the flights.”

Draco had had to admit he was grudgingly impressed with this particular muggle technology. A small square machine that allowed you to buy things and book things and retrieve a world of information in seconds was really quite ingenious. Harry had given him a very basic guide round the internet, telling him about how he’d stolen goes on his cousin’s computer over the summers when the Dursleys were out, and made comments about how easier it would be if wizards could email each other or speak on the phone (Draco had been interested to see muggles talking into small black rectangles pressed to his ears and was pleased to know what they were for) instead of relying on birds to communicate. But being exposed in London was making him nervous. He wanted to be back behind the security of Grimmauld’s wards.

“There. Done.” Said Harry in satisfaction, after a few more minutes. “The tickets will be waiting at Gatwick for us on the 18^th. Let’s see if Snape has found out how to conjure passports. They’re the documents we’ll need to leave the country.”

*****

“And where the bloody Hell did you manage to get four genuine passports from in the hour I was out the house?”

“Let’s just say that your neighbours at number thirteen shall not be travelling abroad any time in the near future.”

Harry stood in the drawing room in awe of Snape’s magical skills. He had not managed to be a spy for the Order without Voldemort detecting him for nothing. He had entered the house next door under a Disillusionment charm and simply accioed the passports from a drawer in the living room, and left again, whilst the entire family were present in the same room, by conjuring an illusion of a terrific and violent thunder storm which was visible from their living room window only to distract them. The next part of Snape’s magic made Harry smile - even after six years back in the magical world he was still surprised by the sheer beauty of subtle magic. Snape took the names Harry had booked the airline tickets under and cast a charm on each passport. He then watched in wonder as the name, date of birth and photo changed. With tickets, documentation and even a muggle hotel all sorted, Harry just had the almost unbearable task of sitting on his hands to wait for Fleur’s reply.

*****

Dearest Harry,

It is wonderful to hear from you! I have spoken with my father and he is very happy to help you get into the ministry on the 19^th September. He has arranged your ‘meeting’ for 0900 in the morning, as this is when the building is most busy and you will be processed through security the quickest. He needs the aliases the four of you will be using in order to schedule your appointment with the security desk in the main reception. Please can you send them with Cernunnos after reading this letter.

Chaleureusement,

Fleur xx

Harry’s nerves relaxed slightly upon receiving the note; he quickly scrawled the names he, Draco, Snape and Remus were using whilst in France onto a piece of parchment and sent the Horned Owl back into the cool autumn day.

*****

Draco couldn’t help it. He thought he did quite well. Better than Harry anyway. In fact he managed not to laugh for a whole forty-five seconds when Harry couldn’t hold it in at all. Even Remus had turned his head away, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Snape scowled, and glared but it made no difference; in fact, the ‘I’m going to kill you’ glare just made the overall effect even funnier.

Snape was clad in navy blue skin tight jeans, and a black fitted long sleeve t shirt with a smiley face icon in neon yellow on the front that Harry had bought for him from Camden Market the previous afternoon. Harry had also spelled the top to refuse any alteration charms Snape would no doubt try on it.

“I will not wear this” Snape said in the quiet, icy voice he used when he was seething inside. “You did this deliberately, you vile, insolent little-“

“If you don’t wear this then you can’t come.” Harry interrupted. “There’s no way you can wear wizarding robes and there’s no time to buy anything else. The flight is in two hours and we’re leaving for the airport now.” Harry stared at Snape, the corners of his mouth still fully curled up in amusement. “Does this mean you won’t wear the baseball cap I picked out either?” And he held out a cap with ‘Magical in bed’ written on it. Snape reached out, took hold of the cap, waved his wand and uttered an incantation Harry couldn’t quite hear, and turned the cap into a bludger. He threw the Transfigured bludger straight at Harry at full force. “I’ll take that as a ‘No’ then sir?” Harry laughed, quite brightly as he ducked it easily. “Come on, we need to go. You look gorgeous Severus.”

All four apparated to Gatwick. Harry led the way into the departures area of the North Terminal, and walked up to the ticket clerk. After a few minutes he returned to the others, tickets in hand. “Let’s go and check in” he said.

No one had any luggage to check in as they were returning in two days’ time if all went well, so check-in was simple and quick. Going through security was a different manner.

“Excuse me Sir” the security guard said, addressing Draco. “Could you stand to one side please? Remove your shoes.”

Draco glared at the man and looked at Harry. Harry cursed the gods of fate that had chosen Draco of all people for a random search. He gave a subtle nod to Draco indicating he should do what the security guard said.

“I’m sorry Sir but this… stick is not allowed on the flight” the guard said, as he removed Draco’s wand from his jeans pocket. “It counts as a weapon. We’ll have to confiscate it and you can have it back on your return…”

Suddenly the man stopped talking and handed Draco back his wand. “All seems to be in order Sir, have a good flight.”

Draco was a good enough actor to not let his confusion show- he quickly picked up his shoes from the X ray machine, put them on and walked away, muttering under his breath about “fucking muggles” and “sticks”. Harry quickly followed him into the departure lounge.

“That was bloody close” said Harry, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Fortunate that I can cast a wandless, non-verbal confundus charm” said Snape, a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

They took seats in the departure lounge and waited for their flight to be called for boarding. Unfortunately this gave Draco a prime view of the take-off runway through the huge glass wall; his eyes were as wide as saucers and his face deathly white as he saw a Boeing 747 throw itself down the runway at a speed not even a firebolt could compete with and launch into the sky.

“I… I can’t go in that… giant… mental fucking thing” he said, his voice trembling. Harry put his arm round him and pulled him close. Draco leant in to the embrace, which once more drew a suspicious look from Snape who was sitting opposite them.

“Draco, this is safe. It’s the safest form of transport. Well, muggle transport anyway” he added as Draco opened his mouth to argue. “The pilots train for years, and planes hardly ever crash and… that didn’t help did it?” Draco shook his head, and Harry thought he could see tears in Draco’s eyes. “Look, do you want to go and look at the duty frees? Erm, that’s shopping.” Draco’s mood immediately picked up and he smiled at Harry as he led them, hand resting on Draco’s right forearm, to the shops.

*****

The actual flight, bar one or two minor incidents, was peaceful. Draco had gripped Harry’s hand so tightly he left nail marks and screwed his eyes shut on actual take off, and Snape appeared to be experiencing similar emotions to him sat next to Remus- although he managed to keep his composure better. Harry figured that no amount of fear would ever compel him to grab a Marauder’s hand in comfort. Both Draco and Snape point-blank refused the in-flight meal, which was a lukewarm, slightly congealed pasta dish served in a plastic container with a portion of wilted salad on the side and a stale cake for dessert, and pushed their helpings away, an identical look of revulsion on their faces. Remus, who was still recovering from the full moon, tucked in heartily to his.

Harry looked over at Draco’s face, and gave him a sympathetic smile. Draco still clearly hated every second of the flight.

“Are you okay?” he asked the blond. Draco nodded grimly.

“Is this your first time in a plane too, Harry?” he asked.

“Yes. Let’s just say my aunt and uncle weren’t overly keen to have me around and wouldn’t in a million years have taken me away with them. The couple of times they did go abroad on holiday I was left with our squib neighbour.”

“But aren’t you, you know, a bit scared?”

“Of the plane? Not really. I’m a bit apprehensive and prefer to fly on my broom, but, to be totally honest, on the list of ‘stupid, scary and crazy things Harry Potter has done,’ flying in an aeroplane doesn’t even make the top fifty”.

The flight landed on time and the four wizards passed through passport control with no problems. As no one knew what the hotel looked like in order to apparate, however, Harry hailed a muggle taxi outside the airport, and Draco spoke to the driver (in perfect, fluent French- the sound of which shot straight to Harry’s groin) and told him the name of the hotel. Only when they pulled up at the hotel’s entrance did they realise they’d completely forgotten to bring some francs with them and they had no money to pay the fare. The driver became angry and began arguing with Draco.

“Obliviate”.

“Severus!”

“What do you suggest we did then, Lupin?”

“Fine. But we’ll try and get some muggle currency from somewhere. That’s dishonest and unfair.”

Snape simply sneered at Remus and strode into the lobby, quickly followed by the other three, leaving the dazed and confused taxi driver wondering why he was outside the hotel and how he got there in the first place.

*****

“Combien des chambres monsieur?”

“Deux”

“Et les lits?”

Draco glanced quickly over at Harry and smirked. “Un avec les lits jumeaux, et un avec le grand lit”. The receptionist scanned the party of wizards and raised his eyebrows, obviously surprised that Draco had asked for a double bed in one of the rooms. Draco narrowed his eyes, raised one of his own eyebrows back and stared him down, the look clearly saying, ‘surely some men have relationships with other men in France too?’ He handed over his card to pay for the rooms and took the keys.

Snape and Draco both paused to complain loudly about the lifts, whilst Harry and Remus exchanged a look and laughed. Harry was slightly dismayed to see his and Draco’s room was adjacent to Snape and Remus’, until Draco lent forwards and whispered, “silencing charm” in his ear, his hand giving the slightest hint of a touch to his arse. Harry shuddered and he didn’t think it was the sensation of Draco’s breath on the back of his neck causing it. Instead he gave an enthusiastic and loud “goodnight!” to Snape and Remus, despite it only being eight in the evening, and virtually pushed Draco through the door to their room.

Snape and Remus stood and stared at each other.

“I believe that something more than friendship has developed between those two” said Snape, his tone even but his eyes shocked. He eventually gave up with the stupid muggle plastic card-door-opener key thing that refused to open the sodding door, and cast an unlocking charm on it instead. He walked inside leaving a stunned Remus staring at Harry and Draco’s bedroom door, before walking inside himself.

*****

The following morning the four rose early and breakfasted in the hotel dining room. They were all dressed in muggle clothing, their wizarding robes shrunken in their pockets. After breakfast they studied a map Lupin had brought with them of the French ministry, complete with apparition coordinates. Snape quickly used an incredibly well-aimed non- verbal severing charm on the hair of four muggle diners before accioing it, and discreetly adding it to four tiny vials that Harry knew contained polyjuice. They stoppered the vials, left the dining room, exited the hotel, then Snape and Remus apparated Harry and Draco via side-along to the location given in the map.

They arrived in central Paris outside a very unremarkable-looking building on the bank of the Seine.

“How do we get in then?” Draco asked. All four looked around for some sign of an entrance. After a couple of seconds, Harry spotted a coin operated toilet cubicle a little away from where they stood. Remembering the rather normal-looking phone box as the entrance to the British ministry he was sure this was the visitors’ entrance.

“There” he said, indicating with a jolt of the head.

They approached the toilet. It had a sign on it which Draco translated as ‘out of order’, which confirmed in Harry’s mind this was what they were looking for.

“This is definitely it” said Remus, his wand discreetly poking out of his sleeve. “This cubicle has known magic all right. Let’s go and, um, change first then come back.”

The four quickly disappeared down a nearby deserted side street and Snape opened a garage door. They all slipped inside, and removed their muggle clothing. Snape handed out the vials of Polyjuice. Harry, who had had experience with the taste before, pinched his nose before swallowing. He experienced the very unpleasant sensation of transforming, before quickly dressing in his wizarding robes. He looked in the mirror- Snape had chosen well for him. The man reflected back was about the same height so his robes and shoes fitted well. His hair was a deep rich brown, a couple of shades lighter than his natural black, and his eyes were a brilliant blue. The man whose identity Harry was borrowing didn’t wear glasses so Harry removed his and stowed them in his pocket. Remus and Snape were also both brown-haired, although Remus a much lighter brown than Snape. Draco, however, had been given the identity of a man in perhaps his 40s; his black hair was sprinkling with grey and he had rich, deep chocolate-brown eyes. In fact Harry would have said this man was the epitome of sophistication had he not be wearing a childish, sulky Malfoyish pout as he checked his reflection in the car wing mirror. He was also a few inches taller than Draco and the robes were not a good fit. Snape altered them with a quick spell. They quickly shrunk their muggle clothes, exited the garage, heading back to the public loo.

“Right” said the person who was really Remus. “In we go then. Alohomora.”

The toilet door swung open and they all hastily clambered inside. Once in the door closed automatically and Remus cast a Colloportus on it to make sure no one from outside could enter.

“Now what?” Said the person who was really Draco, in a slightly irritated voice. He started however, when a loud, deep, male voice boomed out, “Bienvenue visiteur au ministère de la magie. S'il vous plaît indiquer vos noms et usages.”

Draco quickly told the bodiless voice the bogus names and the details of their meeting with Monsieur Delacour. Four metallic name badges cluttered onto the floor from the hand dryer as the voice wished them an “agréable journée” Harry grabbed one of the badges at random- the names didn’t really matter- and attached it to his robes, just in time before the floor below them opened up and the four wizards fell down what resembled a giant slide.

“What a fucking undignified way to travel” Draco complained quietly when they got to the bottom, careful not to let anyone catch his English and draw any more attention to himself than their rather clumsy entrance already had as he picked himself up off the floor. Snape looked equally scandalised whilst Remus simply stood up quietly. When they all were back on their feet and brushed their robes down they stared at the building.

The welcoming hall was hexagonal in shape, and each side led off to a different floor with its own lift, rather than one lift that took visitors to all floors. The walls were incredibly high, and Harry suspected it had an enchanted ceiling like the one at Hogwarts. The tall white marble walls were frequently covered with inscriptions in gold and silver lettering which Harry obviously didn’t understand, although he could pick out certain words, like “magique” for example. There was a statue and a small pool of water, just like the Fountain of Magical Brethren, except this one featured a hippogriff attacking a centaur. Draco made a comment along the lines of “do they really think we’re scared of a hippogriff?” and Harry gave a loud cough that sounded like “Buckbeak” to Draco, who sulked in response.

Monsieur Delacour was correct; the ministry was very busy with workers arriving so they were passed through security very quickly. Harry already knew from Remus’ map that the horcrux, if it was indeed here, was likely to be in the equivalent of the British Department of Mysteries.

Draco studied the lift floor guide, which was a huge engraved golden sign in the middle of the atrium. “Département des Mystéres. That’s it” he said to the others. Harry snorted.

“Draco, even with my shitty knowledge of French I could have worked that out. Anyway, we need to take Lift Eight. It’s that one there” he said, indicating with a point.

When they exited the lift Harry shuddered as he sucked in a huge gulp of air and Remus’ arm automatically wrapped tightly around his shoulders.

“I know Harry, I know” he said soothingly.

“Know what? Said Draco, somewhat obnoxiously.

“That this place looks exactly as the Department of Mysteries in London looks, and that is the place I lost the closest thing I’ve ever known to a father” Harry replied waspishly, pausing to light his wand. The grey-haired Draco’s tanned face paled.

“I’m sorry” he said. Harry gave him a weak smile to show Draco he was forgiven.

After a few minutes’ walking Harry realised his eyesight was becoming blurry. He looked over at Remus, Snape and Draco and saw they were all beginning to return to their normal selves. He removed the glasses from his pocket and slipped them on.

“Does anyone have the slightest idea where we’re going?” he asked. “We could end up walking around here all day.”

Remus and Snape had their wands drawn, and both were looking for traces of Dark magic. Harry was reminded horribly of the cave he and Dumbledore visited when Dumbledore had searched the cave for traces of magic as he watched the two men.

After what felt like hours of walking and minute wand movements both Snape and Remus reacted at the same moment to a small portion of red brick that was embedded in the otherwise black corridor.

“This place is concealing very Dark magic” said Snape. “I do believe we have found its hiding place.”

He performed a non-verbal Vanishing spell and the small portion of brick disappeared. They climbed through the small hole and Snape ringed the hole with a large white circle before repairing the wall with his wand. As soon as the room was sealed it plunged into darkness. All four quickly lit their wands and began scanning their surroundings.

They were standing in a room that looked far bigger than it could have possibly have been from the corridor. It was about the size of the Great Hall, but circular. The walls appeared to be either black or a very dark blue; Harry couldn’t quite tell in the light. The ceiling was high and appeared to be made of glass, although no light filtered down from it. Harry could make out a coat of arms on it that he believed was the French ministry’s crest. There were no windows and the room smelled damp and mouldy, as if no one had entered for decades. In the room lay a series of objects, all of which seemed to be covered in a thick layer of dust. Wondering if one of these could be the Horcrux, Harry hurried over to them only to be called back by Remus.

“No Harry, he wouldn’t have left it as exposed as this. If the horcrux is here then it’s not one of those items.”

“What do you suggest we do then?” Harry replied, then, realising he probably sounded irritated and quite rude, added, “I mean, where should I start looking?”

“We’re going to have to scan every single area of this room” Snape said. “Every brick, every tile, every floorboard. There will be some kind of mark, a symbol, that the Dark Lord or Lucius will have left that indicate the horcrux’s location, although I do believe now it is more plausible the Dark Lord himself hid this. Something that can indicate a secret door, passageway or cellar. At this stage I am confident enough to say, Draco, that congratulations are in order. Your information has proven fruitful.”

Draco nodded his acknowledge of his compliment and began working. Harry pointed his own wand at a brick and began the painstaking task of scanning each brick carefully for a tiny symbol, most likely a snake, that would indicate the presence of a horcrux.

*****

“We’ve been searching for hours” complained Draco. “Are you sure it’s here? And I’m hungry.” Everyone ignored him and carried on searching.

“There!” said Remus finally, after about another hour had passed, holding his lit wand to the wall. Harry rushed to where Remus was indicating. On one of the bricks about eye level with Harry was a tiny engraved serpent, no bigger than a thumbnail that could easily have been overlooked, that resembled the one on the taps at the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

“Well, that confirms it then” Harry said grimly. “Voldemort hid the horcrux here, not your father, Draco. That means this is going to be more difficult than I’d have liked really. At least we know it’s definitely here now I guess.”

He took a deep breath and concentrated. /open/ he hissed. Instantly the bricks folded back to reveal a small archway that reminded Harry horribly of the veil Sirius had fallen through. His stomach was churning. He made to step through, but Snape flung an arm across his path.

“Wait, Harry,” he said, and began casting a complicated charm in Latin on the arch. When he finished his face was grim. “Unfortunately it is as I feared. The arch is warded. Only a Parselmouth can enter. If the rest of us try there could be… serious repercussions. I’m sorry, I cannot break the wards. They are amongst the strongest I’ve seen.”

“Then I’ll go alone.” Harry’s voice was determined. Before Snape could argue, or Remus try and reason with him, and without looking at Draco’s face because, fuck he couldn’t bear seeing the worry there, he stepped through the archway and into an emerald-green chamber, with silver serpent decorations all over the walls. Harry had a mad moment when he imagined this is what the Slytherin dormitories would resemble.

/Greetings speaker of our tongue/ hissed an extremely large python, as it coiled around his body and squeezed uncomfortably. It poked out its tongue at Harry. /You do not taste like him. You taste sweeter/. Harry gave a dry laugh.

“Do you know what I seek?” Harry hissed at the snake.

/We know. And you must prove yourself worthy of claiming it, human. We have a test. Fail the test and the consequences are severe/

A shudder ran through Harry’s body. What type of test? Physical fighting he could handle, but if it was something that required logic, then he was well and truly-

The test is a riddle, speaker/ (Harry swore under his breath in English and used the word Hermione had told him off for using weeks ago) /Solve the riddle, prove your intelligence, and the treasure you seek is yours. Fail to do so and you will suffer/

This must be Ravenclaw’s artefact Harry thought. A test of logic and intelligence seems fitting protection for this one. Riddle’s Riddle, he thought dryly. Harry had never wanted Hermione with him more than in this moment.

At that moment a loud hissing noise from behind him made him turn sharply and jump. Lined up in front of him, heads facing away and tails closest to him, was a row of brightly coloured snakes. They were all of equal length and Harry thought he could guess where this was going.

/Human, to claim your prize you must choose a snake to bite your arm from the seven in front of you. Their magic needs to flow in your veins to access your treasure. Only one of us holds this magic. Four of our number will cause death. Two will cause permanent paralysis and blindness. Choose wisely and the bite will be painless and heal as soon as you leave this chamber. Choose poorly and you will suffer pain worse than you have ever experienced in your life. Name only one snake./

Harry swallowed. His throat had gone very dry. Suddenly, in unison, the seven snakes began to hiss,

Neither of the ends are your friends

but only left holds death

Receive a bite from the middle snake and breathe your final breath

Darkest or lightest and you shall live

although only one shall let you by

Fail to solve our puzzle and you will surely die.

Look to the left of certain death

and you shall claim your prize

Choose poorly and the poisonous snakes will ensure your sad demise.

Fuck. It was just like being back in his first year trying to stop Voldemort getting the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry studied the line of coloured snakes once more.

Purple. Yellow. Black. Orange. White. Green. Red.

He listened to the riddle a couple more times; the snakes seemed to be content to repeat it.

“Okay” said Harry aloud in English. “Darkest or lightest shall let me live although only one shall let me by. That means either black or white is the magical snake, but the other will cause paralysis. Um, neither of the ends are my friends, but only left holds death. Right, purple is on the left end so that will kill me, and red is on the other end, so must be the other paralysis bite. Middle snake- that’s easy, orange is lethal as it’s in the middle. But which is it? Black or white?”

He listened to the riddle again, certain of the two he’d narrowed it down to, but not sure whether he needed black or white.

“Look to the left of certain death… to the left… no! Wait! The riddle tells me orange is certain death, and black and white sit either side of that one! Black is on the left! It’s black!”

Amazed at his own logic in circumstances where he had trouble remembering how to spell his own name even, he confidently hissed, /black/.

Without even a second’s pause the black snake struck forwards, sinking its fangs into Harry’s right forearm. He yelped in surprise but mercifully not in pain, and felt his entire right arm turn freezing cold. He looked at his arm; two tiny puncture wounds were dripping blood. He began to panic, thinking he had chosen wrong, when the coloured snakes once more disappeared and the python curled itself around him.

/Human speaker to snakes. You chose wisely/. At these words Harry realised the cool feeling had spread throughout his body and his vision had altered. He realised the magic allowed him to see through wards that only the snakes could see through. And there, just beyond a ward, on top of a glass column, was a tiara of some kind.

Hoping this wasn’t some kind of sinister joke or trap, Harry walked over to the tiara, and tentatively reached out and picked it up. His body flooded with relief when he saw engraved on it, Wit beyond Measure is Man’s Greatest Treasure. Ravenclaw’s motto. He’d done it. He had got another horcrux and Voldemort was another step closer to becoming killable once more.

/Thank you/ he hissed to the python, and felt giddy when he saw the exit to the chamber appear. He practically ran out of it, into Draco and Remus’ arms. Even Snape patted him on one shoulder.

“Look what I got!” he beamed triumphantly. “And I had to use my brains to get it!”

“Then it’s a miracle you managed to retrieve it at all. Congratulations Harry” Snape added, and he sounded genuine after his opening jibe. Then he reached into his robes and pulled out more vials of Polyjuice for them all. Harry noticed as he drank his that the wound on his arm had indeed healed and his body felt its normal temperature once more.

The journey back through the ministry was uneventful. Harry had the tiara stored in his robes as he didn’t dare shrink it. They quickly changed in the garage they used that morning then apparated back to their hotel. Remus assembled them all in the room he and Snape were sharing and Draco called down for room service.

“Come on then, let’s see it” said Draco impatiently as Harry filled them in with what happened with the snakes in the chamber. Harry put the tiara onto Remus’ bed. Snape gasped as he good a close up view for the first time.

“Harry, this is Rowena Ravenclaw’s lost diadem. It has not been seen since Rowena herself walked the corridors of Hogwarts. How the Dark Lord acquired it is beyond me, but I’m delighted that we have it.”

The knock on their door made them jump, and Harry hastily stowed the diadem under the duvet as the waiter brought in their dinner. They ate mainly in silence. Harry was stunned when Snape proposed a toast for Harry, for once more “being a stupid, hot-headed Gryffindor who leaps before he looks. And Merlin knows where we would be if he didn’t.”

When Harry started yawning Remus ordered him back to his room, and smirked when Draco eagerly jumped up to leave too, making a mental note to have a discussion with Harry as soon as they arrive back home. Snape locked the diadem in their hotel room safe and set up a strong anti- theft ward, as Harry and Draco wished them both good night.

*****

“I’m going to take a shower” Harry said sleepily when they arrived back in their room. “It’s been a long day.” He walked into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. He quickly brushed his teeth and stripped, then stepped under the stream. He shut his eyes as the hot water caressed his skin. So lost in it was he that he didn’t hear the door open and Draco enter. He jumped when he felt Draco’s lips at the nape of his neck.

“Couldn’t concentrate out there. Thinking about you wet and soapy and very naked in here” Draco murmured, his hands tracing Harry’s sides. Harry let out a sigh of delight and felt his body react. He turned his head sideways and allowed Draco to capture his mouth in his. He noticed Draco had removed his own clothing too before entering the bathroom.

Things rapidly became heated. Harry turned fully in Draco’s embrace so they were face to face, and deepened the kiss, tongues and teeth clashing, both his hands twisted in Draco’s hair, whilst Draco’s rested on his hipbone. He walked Draco backwards until he came up against the tiles. Draco hissed as the sudden coolness touched his hot skin.

“Need you. Want you.” Harry whispered huskily in Draco’s ear, then began to kiss and suck on his neck, eliciting a wanton groan from the blond, who was breathing hard and seemed incoherent.

Harry lowered his kisses until he was kissing Draco’s chest. The water from the shower was running over his firm torso, causing his nipples to pebble on contact. Harry licked first the left, then the right, swirling his tongue around the hard flesh and causing Draco to tremble. Then Harry sank to his knees.

He buried his tongue in Draco’s navel, and stroked both his hands up and down Draco’s back, caressing his buttocks. Then with one hand he reached round and cupped Draco, gently fondling and drawing a huge gasp of arousal from him.

“Harry” Draco breathed. “Please.”

Harry broke on the word ‘please’. Draco sounded so sexy, so desperate, so unbelievably fuckable that he looked into Draco’s face, cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling and smirked. He didn’t break eye contact once when he leant forwards and took Draco into his mouth.

It was Draco’s turn to come undone now. He let out a sound that was a cross between a cry and a moan, and his legs began to shake. His chest rose and fell heavily and his breathing sped up and became noisy. Harry became aware of hands in his hair which tightened in response to the growing pressure Harry was applying.

It was nothing like Harry had expected this to be. He always thought he would gag, or hurt Draco, or otherwise fuck it up but he found the whole experience to be wonderful. And the fact it was him getting this reaction from Draco… well, that was almost enough to push him over the edge without even being touched.

“Gods… Harry… going to…” Draco stammered and tried to pull Harry away but Harry, stubborn Gryffindor that his was, increased the pressure and pace, and took Draco in further. With a final cry Draco made a small convulsive movement and spilled himself into Harry’s mouth, and then his legs gave way. He slid into a sitting position on the shower’s floor and pulled Harry towards him, drawing him in for a kiss. Harry felt Draco’s hand snaking round to his erection but he grabbed his wrist and pulled it away. Draco stared at him, still on a high from his climax but also confused.

“Harry, what…” he began, but Harry put a finger onto his lips to silence him.

“I want you. All of you,” he panted into Draco’s ear. The look of shock that crossed Draco’s face was priceless, Harry thought, but it was instantly replaced with one of such joy that it made Harry feel giddy. Wordlessly, Draco stood, took Harry by the hand and led him out of the bathroom and into their bedroom.

Draco sat on the bed and gestured for Harry to join him. Harry blushed slightly.

“Going shy on me now, Potter?” Draco smirked, then lay down soaking wet, hair messy, on the crisp white linen. Harry gulped, both in nerves and to try and calm himself. His eyes raked over Draco’s frame appreciatively, and Harry was thrilled to see Draco was already beginning to get hard again. There were some perks to being seventeen.

Harry knelt on the bed and walked on his knees to meet Draco, before crushing his lips onto his. He stroked Draco’s skin, cold and covered in goose pimples, both from the drying water and arousal. He nibbled on Draco’s ear.

“You should know Harry, I’ve not done this before either” Draco said quietly, causing Harry to stop the nibbling abruptly.

“I thought you said you weren’t a virgin?” Harry replied, surprised.

“I’m not. But I’ve never let anyone do… this to me. I am a Malfoy you know. My standards are high and I’m not going to just let anyone in now, am I? I guess I was kind of saving it for the right person too.”

“If you’re not ready we can do something-“

“Just fuck me Harry, please!”

Harry smiled and once again kissed Draco. But as far as Harry was concerned there was no ‘fucking’ involved. He was going to make love to Draco, because that is how he felt about him. And Draco had given him enough indications for Harry to be confident he felt the same way. Draco broke the kiss to reach for his wand, then performed a lubrication charm on himself. “Please” he repeated, in the same wanton way he said it in the shower.

Harry positioned himself to the side of Draco, so he was half lying on him, and slipped his hand between Draco’s legs. He had the extreme pleasure of watching Draco’s face flood with a most beautiful pink and his eyes rolling back as Harry brushed against the prostate.

“Do… that… again…” Draco panted, so Harry did. Repeatedly, until Draco was reduced to little more than a writing, incoherent, squidgy mass of goo. Like Quidditch, this was something that came instinctively, naturally to Harry, and he built up a rhythm.

“More” gasped Draco. “Need you Harry. Now.”

Harry was more than ready, achingly so. There was no doubt in his mind that this was what he wanted, and it was a love, not lust, filled decision. He positioned himself in front of Draco and gently pushed in. Both boys let out a simultaneous gasp.

Harry had, of course, wondered how this would feel. Would it feel that different to wanking, or rubbing against each other? Harry had his answer. Oh yes, it felt incredibly different. It was tight, and wet, and hot, and oh my God. Harry had to fight with himself not to lose control on the spot.

“Are you okay?” He asked Draco breathlessly. Draco nodded, and began to thrust his hips up to Harry. Harry got the message. He pulled back as gently as he could and as far as he dared before pushing back in. He buried his head in Draco’s neck as his fingers threaded with his and built up a rhythm. Sensations were building very quickly and the noises of pure pleasure Draco was making were getting him close to the edge already but Harry didn’t care. He was dripping with sweat and becoming breathless and feeling more incredible than he ever had in his entire life. He lent forwards to kiss Draco passionately.

He brushed over Draco’s prostate and that, combined with the stimulation his belly was giving Draco’s groin brought him to orgasm for the second time that evening, and the blond moaned into Harry’s mouth as came. Harry managed one, two, three more deep thrusts before he, too was coming. He had heard the expression ‘seeing stars’ before but until that moment had believed it to be a metaphor. Now he realised it was, in fact, a literal expression. He collapsed on top of Draco, and stared into his eyes. His own emotions were reflected straight back at him in pools of warm, molten silver. He thought his heart may burst from pure joy at that moment.

*****

“Paris is a beautiful city.”

“I should take you to see the Transvestite prostitutes near Montmartre. They confused Father last time we were here.”

“Why spoil the moment?”

“Sorry.”

Harry and Draco were on the balcony of their hotel, both naked and wrapped in a duvet, doing a good job of polishing off a rather overpriced bottle of Champagne from the minibar in their room. The view was wonderful; they weren’t far from the Seine and the Eiffel Tower could easily be seen. Harry reached out for Draco’s champagne glass and set it aside on the patio table. He turned so he was face to face with the other boy.

“Draco, I meant what I said. When we got together I mean. I said you would have to be patient with me and wait until I could commit body and soul to you before we took things further. That, um, that didn’t change. Draco, I… I’ve fallen in love with you.”

He heard Draco’s breath hitch, before Draco’s hand came up to stroke Harry’s face, a lopsided smirk on his mouth.

“Oversentimental, soppy bloody Gryffindor” he replied in a falsely leering tone, but Harry could see Draco’s eyes betraying his mouth as they held his true emotion to what his words meant and simply smirked back. “One shag and he falls head over heels.”

He leant forwards and kissed Harry so hard Harry was certain his lips were going to be bruised. It was only then that Harry noticed moisture on his cheeks and it was coming from Draco. He broke the kiss and saw Draco’s eyes were shimmering.

“I love you too. Wanker.”

“Prat.”

“Scarhead.”

“Ferret Face.”

“Potty.”

“Sexy beast.”

“You win” said Draco with a chuckle, and wrapped his arms once more tightly around Harry, as they stared out once more at Paris bathed in moonlight.
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Harry Potter and the Black King