Withering to Death

Chapter 10

Harry coughed and gazed wearily at his lovers and brother. It had hurt. Like hell in a hand basket. For once in his life he was eternally grateful to have someone there to see him through his pain. He moaned quietly and rubbed at his throat, not noticing the happy looks Severus, Draco, and Tom all shared.

"It worked!" Draco exclaimed and roughly brought Harry into a tight hug.

Severus, although just as thrilled, merely rolled his eyes and ruffled Harry's hair. Tom smiled fondly at his brother.

"Come on, otouto, say a little bit more so that I know it works and then you can spend time with your mates."

Harry blushed and snuggled closer to Draco.

"Shut up T-Tom. Fuck this hurts. Is it supposed to hurt?" he rasped, his voice wavering and weak.

Harry was happy he could speak at all, though, so wasn't going to complain that he'd probably never speak again normally. Tom noted with much amusement how both mates shivered in reaction to hearing Harry's voice for the first time in months. The feared Dark Lord ran a diagnostic spell on his brother and grinned in satisfaction. Everything had worked perfectly. Harry could now speak. Of course there would be times he'd have to be silent...but...

"It will be sore for a few days. But otherwise it was a success. Harry. You can now speak with only the occasional need for silence."

Harry's grin was worth all the agonizing moments of listening to the younger wizard's hissed screams of pain.

"Thanks, Aniki." he grimaced and Tom reached for his wand.

He summoned a vial of Soothing Potion and handed it to Harry. Gratefully the werewolf guzzled down the potion then wiped at his face. Tom vanished the vial.

"Better?"

"Much."

"Good. Now although I'm more than certain you are tired still, I would like to discuss with you the meeting Severus and Draco just endured."

Harry nodded and looked from one mate to the other. Draco's eyes narrowed and the potions master's face became stoic.

"What happened? You two weren't hurt were you?"

Both mates were quick to assure their little wolf and gently nuzzled either side of his face.

"We are fine brat. He never touched us."

"But we wanted to kill him even more."

Harry felt the anger rolling off of his lovers and outwardly cowered. Even though he was certain that his mates wouldn't hurt him, this kind of anger scared him. It reminded him too often of the times he spent trying to evade his uncle's wrath. Tom tisked and motioned for Harry to come over to him, which he did quickly. It was only then that the two other Slytherians noticed the effect they were having on their lover.

"Shite." Draco swore and quickly reigned in his temper. He hadn't meant to lose control like that.

Severus looked away from Harry's huddled form, feeling exceedingly guilty. He knew what it was like to fear ones relatives. To fear their anger and to never trust someone else's. Even if it wasn't directed at you.

"We're sorry, Harry. We weren't angry with you. It was just what the headmaster said pissed us off so bad. He wanted to do experiments on you, Ry. He wanted to take your abilities as a Brood and use them to make your first child kill you and anyone who went against him, including your brother." Draco's eyes appeared two parts angry and sad. It was almost as if he were trying to coax Harry back over to them.