𝔖𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔡 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 (18+ ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔢)

Remove the Past

     I couldn't wait to taste Harry again—my blood quickened at the thought. Letting out a long shaky breath, I pushed open the large arched door and stepped into the Room of Requirement.

     Burning logs crackled musically in the fireplace, lighting the stone room with a warm glow. Harry stood in front of the flames. The flickering light outlined his small frame in bursts of radiance, portraying his inner power perfectly.

     Walking closer, I trailed my finger over a mahogany table holding firewhisky in a crystal skull decanter along with a bowl of green apples.

     "Draco?"

     My pace slowed as hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Hi, Harry."

     His gaze remained on the burning logs. Firelight splashed across the side of his face in a wild dance, making it impossible to read his expression. But I felt like there was an invisible wall between us that I'd somehow missed until then.

     "Um, you aren't mad about being left floating in the room like that the other day, right? And I was just playing around with the wand." I swallowed hard.

     He shook his head before turning to face me. The sad look on his face stung like a slap across mine.

     "What happened?" I stepped forward.

     He held up his hand—stopping me. "Parkinson."

     With his one word, all of my excitement about tonight's potential activities were extinguished—not the nervous jitter in all my limbs, though. Grabbing the crystal skull, I poured two fingers worth into a glass and downed it. With another refill, I sat in one of the empty seats near Harry. "What did she do now?"

     He sighed heavily and moved to the other empty chair. "She's wearing a huge diamond and saying it's an engagement ring."

     My heart jumped in my throat. "I told—"

     "I know it's not true, but it..." His eyes flashed to mine, squeezing my soul with his hurt.

     "I'm sorry that she's such a conniving bitch."

     He stared at me for a long time, filling the room with heaviness at his next question. "What am I to you? Really?"

     "What do you mean?" I knew exactly what he meant, but I needed a second to think of how to say what I felt, and I couldn't say those words—yet.

     He took a sip of his drink. "Am I going to be another notch in your bedpost, and then you go collect more?"

     "No." I shook my head. "Of course not. We don't even have to have sex, just..." What in Merlin's grey beard was I saying?

     His gaze ran down my arm, clenching his jaw as the green gems landed on the location of my Dark Mark. As if the tattoo were alive, it burned under his scrutiny.

     "You don't believe me, do you?" I could hear the panic in my voice.

     "I want to." He clenched his fist. "So much, but..."

     "How can I prove it?"

     His clenched hand went limp.

     Fear had me empty my cup for strength and set it on the side-table. Standing, I removed my shirt and dropped onto my knees at his feet.

     Harry leaned back in the chair, studying me.

     Lifting my left arm in offering, I said, "Cut it off to get rid of the reminder that we...that you, hated me."

     "Don't be stupid." His eyes stayed locked on the skull. The growing storm in them had me trembling, sure he was going to do as I suggested.

     "I've changed, and if removing this helps prove it, even a little, do it."

     "I know you've changed. I wouldn't have opened up to you if I didn't think so."

     "Then take it so you know that I'll never betray your trust."

     He studied me for a long time—filling me with dread.

     My stomach clenched, and I whispered, "I will give anything to remain at your side."

     "Anything?" His voice was distant—otherworldly.

     Electricity gathered in the air, sizzling along my skin. "Y-yes."

     Harry twitched his fingers. They burst into blue flames with wisps of smoke rising from them.

     I sucked in a sharp breath. With my heart racing, I laid my arm across his legs, fully submitting to his will. "Do it, Harry."

     The glowing digits touched me. I shivered at the icy sensation penetrating into my skin as he traced a border around my Dark Mark several times. The cold stung, but his touch was loving and gentle.

     Harry hissed in Parseltongue—sending bolts of fear and desire to my extremities. He hissed again, this time his teeth extended into glistening white fangs.

     The ink under my skin burned and clawed as it awakened from its slumber. I clenched my fist at its displeasure.

     His eyes snapped to me.

     I was enthralled. Every curve of Harry's face and misplaced hair begged to be worshiped. But most of all, the dangerous dark look storming in his eyes had me ready to give him everything he could ever dream of—even if I had to kill for it.

     Pulling my arm to his mouth, his teeth sank into my chilled flesh, making a sickening juicy pop under the pressure. As he sucked, the ink tore at my flesh, like a wild animal, scratching and clawing, trying to stay at its home on my arm.

     I wiggled and squirmed before grabbing the chair's side with my right hand as pain shot up my arm and throughout my body. My muscles grew weak as if he was draining me like a vampire would. Then it happened, the monster in my arm lost its hold and started coming out. "Yes, Harry."

     He sucked harder, and I commanded myself to relax—refusing to fight the pain. The hooks under my skin made a last attempt to stay in place—sending bile up my throat. The room blurred as I slowly drifted to the floor.

     Harry jerked away, jumping from his chair. Strings of black goo clung to my arm and his face. He grabbed at the whipping tendrils in a struggle to contain the furious glob.

     The last bit broke free, the quiet hisses the tattoo made in my mind vanished.

     He shoved the black mass into his mouth. Spinning around and stepping back, Harry chewed, keeping his hands near his face. Then, in one fluid motion, he opened his mouth and spit the monstrous ink high into the air. His fingers burst into flames as the glob flew over them, turning it into a rainbow of fire. Slowly the flames extinguished, turning to ash and drifted to the ground like black snow.

     His chest rose and fell in a quick-paced rhythm as he regained his breath. Staring at me, I couldn't tell if he was angry, pleased, or a combination of both. Clenching his jaw, he pulled his wand out.

     Fear jolted through me, but I didn't move as he stormed over with it lifted for a duel.

     He dropped to the ground at my side. "Vulnera Sanentur," he whispered as he gently pulled my arm into his lap.

     Tears stung my eyes. Tingling coated my arm as the skin mended.

     His fingers ran over my arm before he lifted and kissed it. He closed his eyes. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

     "Yes."

     His eyes snapped open. "I'm sorry, I—"

     "I liked it."

     His mouth stayed open as his eyes trailed over to my body. When reaching visual evidence of how much I liked it, a sexy smile pulled across his face. "I see."