𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 2008

Equal Vows

Title: Equal Vows
Team: Team Epilogue
Author: chiralove
Prompt: The Hermit
Wordcount: 21k
Rating: hard R
Warnings: infidelity, forced bonding (of a sort)
Summary: Harry learns to act without Dumbledore's guidance. Draco is lost without Snape, and will do anything to get his mentor back.

No one had ever told Harry about this. The sun was hot on his shoulders and Draco Malfoy was sprawled in the dirt at his feet, and he'd never been prepared for this situation. Hogwarts, a year on the run, the war — none of it helped him here.

"You what?"

Jagged locks of Malfoy's hair fell around his face — it hung short and uneven, almost as though it had been hacked off with a knife. He pushed it away from his face and looked straight at Harry, offering him a sock. "Take it."

"What?"

"I swear fealty to you, and you must take my token. Honestly, Potter, could you be any more dense?"

"It's a dirty sock, Malfoy. I don't know what filth you've contaminated it with, and I'm not touching it." Harry took a step back, and put up a shield charm when Malfoy lunged at him.

The charm wavered, held for the space of two breaths, and then broke. Malfoy stumbled into Harry, his head hitting Harry's shoulder and his arms flailing for balance. The sock touched Harry's forearm, and a flash of light burst around them.

Harry blinked away the dazzling green after-images, and Malfoy sagged against him. Harry's arms went around him, supporting him — as though his body moved without his will, he did it without thinking about it and without wanting to do it.

He held the sock, catching it before it fell to the ground. The fabric was soft and worn, not as dirty as he had imagined, and still warm from Malfoy's touch. Harry took a deep breath and shoved Malfoy away.

"What the fuck is happening here?"

Malfoy had landed in the dirt, but he gave Harry a beatific smile and made no move to rise to his feet. "It's the fealty oath superceding the life debt I owe you," he said.

He paused for a moment before saying, "Master," with his nose tilted in the air. Even with his robes rumpled and smeared with dirt, even with his jagged, uneven haircut, Malfoy managed to look elegant when he gave Harry a mocking half-bow.

Harry's arm itched where the sock had touched his skin, but he did not move to scratch it. He dropped the sock and gripped his wand and stared at Malfoy, watching him warily.

Malfoy rose to his knees at last, grabbing the hem of Harry's robe and pressing it to his lips. He grimaced and held the fabric at arm's length. "Disgusting," he said. "I could recommend a better tailor, but cleanliness would be appreciated in the future. You wouldn't have bothered to learn anything about ancient wizarding traditions, would you? The Chosen One is above rules and traditions and strictures ... Well, you can ask Granger to explain it to you, but there are no loopholes. I've sworn fealty to you, and that's all there is to it."

"Malfoy, are you mad?"

"Not in the slightest." He gave Harry another mocking bow and turned to leave. Over his shoulder, he said, "With your permission, Master."

———-

Nothing marred the stillness of Grimmauld Place until Malfoy broke through the wards. Harry fumbled for his wand, almost dropping it when he felt the wards chime like change bells, letting Malfoy pass.