Revelations of Love - Moment by Moment Book #3 (Harry Potter, Drarry)

Murderers!

Draco opened his eyes and frowned; Harry watched him carefully, his instincts were confused on this one, as it appeared were Draco's as he watched the mist of manifestation form. The young wizard glanced at their viewers at the window, concerned that manifestation might not have been the most sensible of choices for a demonstration, it being probably the most powerful technique they had been practising. However, the Auror had had to accept the fact that Draco was right when he pointed out that it was also their most successful, and that Albus Dumbledore would expect no less. The ancient wizard himself, was showing, on the surface, no more than an observer's interest, but Harry wondered if he was holding his wand below the level of the window given how intrigued he seemed. Amelia and Minerva were wearing very similar, professional, detached faces, but his second mentor was not as good at hiding her concern behind the mask as Madame Bones, and her eyes were giving her away. Harry didn't have time to assess the others, a mixture of Resistance and Order members, because Draco's visitor appeared, and the blond man stood up rapidly.

"What is it?" the Auror asked his charge, swapping between the anxious face of his lover and the new arrival.

Beautiful women were not unusual participants to Draco's manifestations, but his reaction put Harry on his guard as he took in a tall, slender figure who was surveying them with a haughty disdain. It wasn't difficult to conclude the woman's species, her skin shone a gentle green under the lights, and the long dress, which covered her from breast to ankle, was made of oak leaves. This was a tree nymph, an Oak Dryad, and she did not seem pleased to be standing before her creator. Draco, himself, was also not happy, but his face showed disquiet and confusion.

"What is it, Draco?"

"I barely remember," came breathily from the blond man, "something bad."

"Then send her away," Harry urged, raising his wand just in case; Draco was now much better at controlling his creations if need be, but the apprehension in his lover made Harry err on the side of prudence.

"No," Draco surprised him with the definite response; the young Malfoy did not calm completely, but he explained more fully, "she wants to tell me something."

The frown on the sharp features deepened for a moment, but the expression which followed was worse. Pain crossed Draco's face, and he moaned, "Oh god."

Harry knew there was nothing he could do, the anguish was remembered, so he bit his tongue and just waited for whatever was coming. "Last Winter Solstice, there were a hundred of them at least, Death Eaters. I was summoned for a ceremony, but not to the Great Hall. They were waiting for me in the court yard, it was freezing, a clear moon and frost. I was, Lucius called it, ritually bound, but those ropes were damn tight just for show."

Harry ground his teeth at the self-loathing he could hear in his lover's voice, but could only watch, as in time with his memory, Draco put his arms out in front, his wrists together. The Dryad was still stood like a statue in front of her creator, only her breathing suggesting that she was any more than a frozen illusion, and her stare was defensive.

"They took me into the Forbidden Forest, four abreast, watching for those centaurs. No one told me what was happening, I didn't ask, it was better not to know. We went straight to her tree, it had been selected earlier, I think. They called to her, threatened to set fire to the tree if she didn't come out, so she came forward."

The sylph figure took one step towards her creator, her expression hostile and angry. She was looking around at non-existent crowds, and Harry admired the strength in her gaze.

"Lucius ordered her to give me the growing magic for the tree for next year. She refused."

Draco dropped his gaze, and the dryad gasped in pain as a large red gash appeared across her torso. Harry took a step back as his own legs went weak at the thought of the curse of which he knew the effects only too well.