Harry was fifth in line to speak to Draco, once he was woken up.
Narcissa, Astoria, a Healer, and the Dark Lord all had their turns before him.
However, when he got in, Draco's eyes had been replaced.
It made quite a ridiculous sight, actually. Draco sitting there with his two electric blue eyes, as they spun around and around.
"So. Mad-Eye-Malfoy, huh?" He said softly, as he entered.
Draco barked out an utterly humorless laugh. "I guess so"
Harry sat down next to the bed. "How you doing?"
"Fucking weird, to be honest. I wake up, got fake eyes. Can't even keep them in one place properly. Can't keep from looking through stuff. Can't feel my legs. Find out you guys killed Dumbledore, and that Shriner is actually Grindelwald. Oh, and they tell me that father died. Quite a lot to take in, you know?"
Harry nodded.
"And I-I can't believe it. Not really. Like, I understand it, but it doesn't mean anything. Doesn't feel like he's dead. Just feels like he's on a business trip or something, and that he'll walk through the door. But he won't. And I just-fuck it, I don't even know what I'm thinking"
"I never know what I'm thinking" Harry muttered. For a moment, Draco's eyes stopped their spinning, focusing on him.
Then they were back at it again, whirling around in his sockets.
"Fucking things" he mumbled. "They say I'll learn to control them in the next few days. But till then, I'm just gonna be all dizzy"
"Sucks"
"Tell me about it. And-and I missed the funeral. Not that there was much to bury. Fuck. It's been a really weird time, mate"
"You have no idea," Harry said, shaking his head. "I got a letter from Dumbledore. He knew about me, Draco. He fucking knew"
Draco's mouth fell open, and again, both of his eyes stopped their spinning, focusing on Harry. "He-he knew?" He whispered.
"Yeah"
"Wha-what did he say? In the letter?"
' He doesn't care about you'
"A whole lot of bullshit. Trying to get me to turn on the Dark Lord"
' You're a tool to him. And nothing more. If your death serves him better than your life-'
' Then why's he teaching me to make Horcruxes? Answer me that, you old fucker!'
"You-you wouldn't?" Draco asked, horrified.
"I might as well kill myself first if I even wanted to. Which I don't, by the way"
' The person who caused all of your suffering-'
Draco sighed. "Good. Not that I thought you would, just-"
"I know. I know, Draco"
"I just-I can't believe Father's gone. It feels wrong. To celebrate"
' And what the fuck am I meant to say to that?'
Harry stayed silent, letting Draco continue.
"He-He said we're gonna leave it another day. In honor of those who died. He'll only Mark us tomorrow. But it-it feels like there should be more. More than just a day"
' Once they're dead, he doesn't think about them anymore'
"We can't stay in the past forever, Draco. We have to move forward. Otherwise-otherwise we'll just get stuck in all the pain"
Draco nodded absently, his eyes whirring around his skull again.
' That's fucking annoying. How the hell does he stand it?'
"Do you ever wish?" he asked hesitantly, his face aimed upward toward Harry. "That you were still just a kid? A first or second year? When everything was just so fucking simple? When we didn't have to worry about-about all this death and violence?"
"It was never simple for me. Even in first and second year"
"No" Draco sighed again, settling back into his bed. "It wasn't, was it?"
"Get better quickly, Draco. It's not the same without you"
"Of course it isn't. There's no-one around to remind you to act with class"
"Hey! I'm perfectly classy!"
"Are you? What are you gonna do today?"
Harry shrugged. "I'm meeting with the Dark Lord at some point. And Daphne and I, we were thinking of going to-to visit Pansy"
His heartbeat quickened, as he remembered how Daphne had talked about it. How she had spoken about her plans, her voice dripping with seduction.
Draco quirked an eyebrow.
"You're taking your girlfriend to visit your ex? What a romantic idea"
"It was Daphne's idea, actually" he admitted. "Pansy hasn't joined. She doesn't want to, apparently. So she's free game"
Something crossed Draco's face for a second. Some expression Harry couldn't make out. Distaste, maybe.
"Oh"
"Yeah. Should be fun"
"I'm sure it will be"
' Don't fucking judge me! It's her fault she didn't join!'
' Its no-one's fault other than your own'
He stood up, muttered his goodbye, and left Draco to his convalescence.
"His words bother you. They eat at your mind, do they not?"
Harry looked down. He nodded. "They do, my lord"
"Dumbledore was no fool. He chose his words carefully, each one calculated to hurt you as much as possible. To inspire as much doubt as possible. And what makes them all the stronger, is the seed of truth within them. You know his words to be true when it comes to my regular followers"
Harry nodded, still not meeting his lord's eyes.
"But you aren't regular, are you Harry?"
"No" he muttered, "I'm your Horcrux"
"That you are. And so, so much more. In your service, you have accomplished more than many others, more than those who have served me for decades. You have done wonders"
"You have done wonders" He continued, "and you are no regular follower of mine. You are my protege. If you were merely a follower, would I, as I have promised to do, teach you, aid you in accomplishing your own immortality?"
"Perhaps I would. After all, our souls are so intricately joined that each Horcrux you make will ensure my immortality. But if that is the only reason, then why, Harry, why would I teach Daphne?"
Harry looked up finally, catching his Lord's burning gaze.
"Why would I do it, Harry? I have promised to teach her as well, and I shall, in a paltry few weeks. Why would I give anyone the information that could be so dangerously used against me? The only reason is that you asked. You wish her to live by your side, and I will respect your wishes. Would I do that if you were no more than a tool? If you were merely the insurance of my survival?"
Harry shook his head slowly, his heart lifting.
' You knew nothing, you fucking old fool'
"She will live forever with you, and only because I care for your desires. Even before I knew that you were my Horcrux, I knew that you were special. I knew that I wanted you in my service. Not merely as a follower, but as a leader to my followers. Second only to me. Is that how anyone treats a tool?"
"No" Harry whispered.
"No, indeed. Lay Dumbledore's words to rest, Harry. You are alive, and he is dead"
"I-I will. Thank you, my lord. Thank you"
Voldemort lazily waved a hand.
"You will be Marked tomorrow. Afterward, there are certain rituals that must be done before you can make a Horcrux. I will explain closer to the time. For now, enjoy yourself. You said you had plans for today?"
"Y-yes. Daphne and I, we wanted to go visit Pansy Parkinson, she-"
"She must be distraught," Voldemort said, stroking his chin, "she has shown no desire to join us?"
"No, my lord. We thought that we could-"
"Enjoy her. Go nowhere other than to Parkinson Manor. The ministry still stands. For now"
"I-we will, my lord. We'll be careful"
Voldemort watched him go, a terrible smile splitting his lips.
They arrived with a crack. Harry reached out and rapped sharply on the door with his knuckles.
Almost instantly, a house-elf opened it.
"Hello. Is Pansy here?"
The elf wrung its hands, as its ears drooped. "Mistress is home, but mistress doesn't want to be disturbed, and-"
"Can we come in?"
"No! Mistress said no visitors are to be allowed, and-"
He sighed. Beside him, Daphne shifted her weight. The house elf continued its ramblings, and his wand flashed.
"Avada Kedavra"
The stupid thing fell dead.
"You know," Daphne said, as they stepped over its body into the house, "that's starting to get a bit boring. You really should branch out more"
"I don't know. I mean, it does the trick. It's quick, easy, and it still feels good-"
"C'mon. It's boring"
"It might be boring, but it's-"
"Tully? Was that someone at the door?"
Harry and Daphne's heads shot up, toward the source of Pansy's voice. They could hear her footsteps getting closer, to the top of the stairs now. "Tully?"
Heart beating in anticipation, Harry raised his wand, dimly noting Daphne mirroring his motion beside him.
Pansy's face appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Stupefy!"
She fell forward, bonelessly sliding down the stairs until she came to a halt in a crumpled heap on the floor at their feet.
One of the portraits shouted something. Daphne silenced it with a flick of her wand.
"Well," Harry said, "that was easy. Now what?"
"Let's take her to her parents' room?" Daphne suggested. "I'm sure she'll like waking up there"
Pansy's parents' room was pretty damn big. There was an enormous double bed there, and based on the mussed covers and the wet spot on it, Pansy had been lying there crying.
Harry dropped her onto the bed, canceling the levitation charm.
' And here we go'
He giggled, as Daphne pointed her wand and firmly said "ennervate"
Pansy woke up.
She blinked in confusion and shook her head a bit, her long hair flying around.
Harry remembered pulling that hair in his fist.
He giggled again, as she focused on them. Her eyes widened and a perfectly fearful expression covered her face.
"Wh-what are y-you doing here? Wh-wh-why aren't you at school?"
"School? Fuck, Pansy, you're out of things aren't you?"
She just looked at them in mute terror.
"We're out of school," Daphne said quietly. "Dumbledore's dead. Harry killed him. And we're here because, well, we're bored"
"You're-what-you're b-bored?"
"Yup. Nothing to do today" Harry said sagely, nodding his head. "So we thought we'd pay you a visit. See how you're doing, you know?"
"I-I-wh-"
Daphne poked Pansy with her wand, eyes alight. "Crucio"
She fell backward onto the bed, shaking and screaming.
Harry laughed, his face twitching.
Daphne ended the spell.
"Pl-please, I-I'll do whatever you want"
"Scream" Harry smiled widely as he raised his own wand. "Scream for us. Crucio"
And she did. As ecstasy flooded him, her screams sang in his ears.
Daphne's hand caressed his, and he ended the spell.
Pansy didn't get up. Just lay there, a worthless lump, twitching and crying.
He laughed again, not stopping it as it turned into a cackle. After a few seconds, Daphne joined in.
"Please! Wh-wh-why?"
Daphne shrugged. "Told you. We're bored"
"B-b-but wh-wh-why m-me?"
Pansy could barely talk, the tears and after-effects of the Cruciatus were shaking her so badly.
"Because you annoy me. Because you wouldn't shut your fucking slag mouth. Because you're nothing! Because Harry is mine!"
As Pansy began to sob, Daphne slashed her wand sharply through the air.
Pansy raised her arm in horror, staring at the stump where her hand had been without saying anything. She didn't even scream for a few seconds, just stared at it, watching as blood spurted out from it, drenching the bed and splattering Harry and Daphne.
His tongue darted out, lapping it off of his upper lip.
Daphne raised her wand again. "Shut the fuck up, bitch. Incendio!"
A thin beam of incredibly hot flame shot from her wand, cauterizing Pansy's wrist.
Pansy continued to scream, clutching her ruined hand in front of her face.
"Fucking hell. She just doesn't shut up"
"Try the eyeball one" Harry suggested.
' You told her you loved her once. Did you?'
As if hearing his thought, Pansy turned to him, before Daphne could do it, holding her arms out beseechingly.
Smoke wafted off of her wrist. He caught a sniff of it and burst into a fresh peal of laughter.
' Smells like pork'
"Pl-pl-please, h-Harry. You-you said you l-l-l-loved me. If-if you did, th-then stop this. Please!"
"You said I only loved you for your body" he leaned closer. "You were right"
He leaned back and waved his wand in her direction, concentrating hard. "Capiopellis!"
The skin around her burnt wrist began to peel back, tearing itself off of her arm in thick chunks.
Her screams filtered through his mind like an orchestra, and dimly, he realized he was panting. Panting, as his erection throbbed in his robes.
He ended the spell when her arm was flayed to her shoulder, not bothering with the counter-curse. The torn, peeled-off layer of skin fell on the bed below her, and her blood oozed off.
He turned to Daphne, pulling her tight to him as he seized her lips with his own. He kissed her desperately.
"Let's fuck. Right now, on this cunt's bed"
She gently pushed him away. Eyes bright.
"Soon. Let's play with her a bit more, shall we?"
"PLEASE! LEAVE-"
"We'll leave you alone once you're dead. Won't that be nice?"
Pansy sobbed, trying to curl into a ball, clearly in too much pain to move her arm.
"Pl-please. J-j-just k-kill me already"
Daphne ignored Pansy's weak pleas. "Shhh. Soon it'll all be over. Oculus Ruptio!"
Pansy's left eyeball exploded, spraying a yellowish green goop out along with some blood. She screamed, scratching at her face, putting her hand near the empty socket and withdrawing it in horror.
Harry raised his wand again, swirling it in a concentric circle as he intoned "Lingua Tabeo!"
Her screams changed, became a lower pitch as her tongue melted in her mouth.
Daphne kissed him, the blood on their faces making a squelching sound as their heads pressed against each other.
"Let's do it. Now. Crucio her, leave it going while we fuck" he said, breathlessly.
Her only answer was to rip his robe off of him.
He hit Pansy with a Banishing hex, knocking her off the bed and to the far side of the room.
As Daphne finished tearing off his pants, he pushed her onto the bed, tearing open her dress.
They both pointed their wands at Pansy's broken form.
They cast it together.
"Crucio!"
And as the torturous pleasure claimed them, Harry thrust into her, her dripping lips gripping him as he entered.
Pansy's hooted screams went unnoticed to them, as they rutted frantically on the blood-soaked bed. They didn't hear her cries. Time itself seemed not to exist for the pair, as their spells broke their classmate's mind.
It was only after they finished, Harry falling onto the gory bed beside his lover with a muted growl, that they realized the pleasure from the Cruciatus had ended.
"Um. I think we broke her" Harry said sheepishly.
"Yeah. How long were we at it for?"
"I have no fucking clue. Could have been hours. Could have been a few seconds"
"Bullshit. You haven't only lasted a few seconds since the first time"
"Yeah, But this was different. Besides, you finished as well, so-"
"So it was definitely more than a few minutes"
He shrugged. He looked at her, admiring her beauty. Loving the way the blood clung to her like paint, accentuating her body.
"What you thinking?"
He shook his head.
"Just how much I love you. And how fucking lucky I am to have you"
"You'd best remember that, mister"
"Oh, I'll never forget it"
He stretched out his arm around her, pulling her close.
"I spoke to the Dark Lord today. He says-he says there are some rituals we need to do. Before we can-before we can make Horcruxes. But he says he'll help us through them"
She nodded, smiling. She hadn't said much about the Horcruxes, other than instantly agreeing when he told her about his plans for them to make some. It was clear to Harry that she understood that there was a lot more to the whole Horcrux thing than how he had presented it. It was also clear that she understood enough not to ask further.
"Have you thought about what you'd want to use for yours?"
She shook her head. "Not really. I thought of-of an idea for another one. But not for the first. Not really, at least"
"Oh?" He asked, intrigued. "What was the idea?"
"Well. I thought if we both made more than one. We could make matching jewels, like an emerald or a ruby into them. And turn them into necklaces. And I'd wear yours, and you'd wear mine"
"That's pretty romantic"
"I thought so. But not for the first. The first has to be something that's hidden away, that'll always be safe, right?"
He nodded.
"I don't know. Was thinking about using my grandmother's ring. She gave it to me when I was born. What about you?"
He sighed. "I was thinking about the invisibility cloak. But I want to be able to still use it. I don't know. There's a book Lucius gave me. He lent me his copy, in first year. He bought me my own one the next year. A philosophy book. And-and I think it's fitting, to use that book. He'd appreciate it"
Daphne fell silent, lightly running her nails down Harry's chest.
"The one you tried to get me to read? About how it's really morally correct to do whatever the fuck you want?"
"Yeah. That one"
"It is fitting. Do it. And I'll use the ring"
He rubbed the gore off of his watch and looked at it.
"Wanna get going?"
"Yeah. Let's just get dressed and cleaned up"
"Fuck it," He said. "Let's just get dressed. It'll turn peoples heads, coming in like this"
She laughed.
"Let's do it. Should we kill her, before we go?"
He shrugged. "I'm easy. But if we just leave her like this, she'll probably starve"
Daphne bit her lip, considering it.
"Let's leave her," she said. "It's not like we'll get arrested for this"
Harry kissed her. "No. If we're getting arrested, the shit at Hogwarts is gonna be way higher on the list"
They laughed, their innocent-sounding joy filling the house where not long before, screams of agony had reigned.
"You guys ready? It's finally happening!"
Harry bounced lightly from foot to foot, all full of nervous energy. Just another few minutes and the doors to the Ballroom would open. They would be called in, and the Markings would begin.
"I don't know," Theo said, a bit doubtfully. "I mean, I've heard it hurts like a bitch. And there are still those detectors around. But it is exciting. And my father's so proud, I've never seen-"
He cut off abruptly, shooting a nervous, embarrassed glance at Draco.
Draco was sitting on a floating chair. He rolled his eyes, although Harry wasn't sure if it was intentional or not.
"Yes, yes," he said, sounding bored and unaffected. "My father's dead. I'm aware. On the other hand, my mother is most proud of me"
Theo blushed a bit.
"Well, both my parents are dead, and I'm sure they wouldn't be too proud of me," Harry said, causing the group to chuckle. "What about you, Blaise?"
"I'm ready," he said with a shrug. "It'll be nice, not having to worry about stupid comments if I want to give my lover a kiss. Just raise my sleeve and bam, you're fucked, wise guy!"
Theo blushed a lot more at that.
"You think you guys would adopt?" Draco asked, a bit stiffly.
' He still doesn't like the idea of them-being a thing'
"Maybe," Theo said, roughly. "Why?"
"Just wondering"
"I personally think it's a bit early for any of us to be thinking about kids," Daphne said, smiling as she snaked her arm around Harry's waist. "We're barely more than kids ourselves"
And right then, the ballroom doors opened.
Bellatrix walked out, absolutely beaming.
"Come on in! Come on, chop-chop"
As he walked past her, she grabbed his arm gently. "You still haven't come to play with me and my new daughter. You and Daphne should come. It's so much fun"
' That's what she calls her? I almost feel bad for Tonks now'
He shoved the image of Tonks changing her hair and face out of his mind, and just smiled at the lunatic. "We will, Bella. One of these days, we will. I promise"
Bella smiled even wider. "Excellent. Now go on in, they're all waiting. He's waiting"
They walked in, Harry taking the lead. Daphne walked right behind him, with Draco floating along on his chair behind her.
Every available Death Eater in England was there, and more besides. Daphne's parents were there, smiling away with Astoria by their side. Narcissa stood regally, supremely composed.
Blaise's mother was there, beautiful as ever. Harry had wondered, when he'd first heard about her, how she managed to keep finding new husbands after they all died. Looking at her delicate beauty, like a perfectly crafted porcelain doll, it was no surprise that she never stayed single for long.
The assembly stood in two columns, parallel to one another.
Harry and the rest of them walked through the middle, heading straight to the tall figure waiting on His throne near the top of the room.
They reached the throne and got down to one knee.
"My loyal followers. Today is a joyous day. Today, a new generation, one which already has proven its dedication a thousand times over, will receive their Marks. Already, they have shown their abilities and accomplished great feats. Today, they will be eternally bound into a fellowship that can never be torn apart. From today, their very flesh will declare their dedication to our cause. Not only are they members, but they are among my Marked elite. Today, we welcome them in totality"
The Dark Lord beckoned, and Harry rose, presenting his left arm.
"Harry Potter. My protege. Once, you were called my downfall. Now, you are the greatest among my followers. Killer of Dumbledore, you are second only to me. I am proud to Mark you as mine"
Harry's mouth felt dry. He swallowed, moistening it.
"And-and I am proud to accept it, my lord"
The Dark Lord smiled, and his wand pressed into Harry's arm.
A thousand Cruciatus' were compressed into a small few inches, as his Lord's Mark burnt into his arm.
Before he could scream, though, it was over.
And the Dark Mark stood out against his skin.
He stared at it, smiling with a twitch in his cheek.
He had done it. He was in, accepted. One of the group. And no matter what, nothing could take that away.
"Th-thank you, my lord"
Voldemort smiled warmly at him, and he stepped to the side, as Daphne came forward.
The Dark Lord went through the line, talking about each of them for a few seconds before Marking them.
And then it was done, and they all stood in a line near His throne.
"Let us celebrate!" The Dark Lord said, rising from his throne and clapping his hands together. "Our ranks have swelled, our greatest enemy is dead, and soon, the ministry will fall. Soon, Britain will be ours, and with it, all of Europe. And after that, the world! Let us celebrate!"
House-elves began circling through the crowd, carrying trays of drinks. A row of glasses shot forward, each one coming to rest in the hand of one of the newly-Marked.
"To victory," Harry said, raising the glass high.
"Victory" they all repeated, echoing his words back.
He smiled, looking into Daphne's eyes as they drank deeply.
' To eternal victory. To immortality, and all that we can take'