Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: The Price of Freedom

TW: Language, Blood/Wound RevealDemian woke up several hours later in Dracos dorm determined to figure out anything he could about the removal of the dark mark. He scanned his mind for anyone who might have the answers, someone he trusted, but the list grew smaller by the day. He contemplated telling his friends, but what would they know about something so nasty, so evil? Likely nothing. He sighed audibly and got up from the bed which woke Draco up. He reached up weakly and groaned, "Where are you going?" "I'm just...thinking." He responded. "Can't we think tomorrow?" He pleaded. "You can, go back to sleep." He replied, "I'll be back later tonight." This caused Draco to sit up immediately. "You can't leave, who would you possibly be going to see?" "Professor Valor." He said quietly. Draco scoffed, his jealousy made him roll his eyes but Demian took no offense to it. "You would go there alone, this late, and expect me not to think something is going on?""Draco...if you're that concerned come with me." "You're fucking joking, you want me to come with you after you just got done sleeping with him?" His words stung and Demian just shook his head, "This is no time for petty jealousy Draco, the truth is he's the only person I can think to ask who might know how to fix your problem. Our problem."Draco scoffed, "Why the fuck would he help me, what makes you think he cares about anything other than sleeping with you." Demian shot him a concerned look, "Draco, please. Just trust me." "You're insane." He got up and dressed quickly, snatching the raven necklace off the dresser and putting it on. "This had best not be a waste of my time." He hissed. They left together to walk to Professor Valors room. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*Demian could feel his heart thumping, the truth was he didn't know how Christian would react when he showed up again, especially with Draco. He worried he would panic or be angry with him that he'd suddenly chose to get back with Draco. He tried to shake those thoughts from his head and they rounded the staircase of the charms tower towards his door. Just as they made their ascent Pansy came floating down the stairs, an unsettling hum filled the hallway. Demian stopped in his tracks, he considered turning around but Draco forced him forward. "Don't let her intimidate you." He said, confidently. They continued up the stairs and she paused when she saw them rounding the corner. "My, my. What could both of you be doing here?" She said inquisitively, "Well, we aren't here to blackmail him." Demian spat and Pansy rolled her eyes. "Fuck you half-blood." She hissed. "Just fucking go Pansy, were here to ask him something." "Ask him if he's fucked Demian? The answer is yes, so just turn around." She gave Demian a coy smile and he rolled his eyes, folding his arms awkwardly.Draco sighed audibly, "Leave this fucking hallway before we have a repeat of the prefect bathroom." She licked her lips, "I bet you still think of it every night, Draco." She said, laughing quietly under her breath as she walked down the stairs. Demian looked at him curiously, but Draco just continued up the stairs, avoiding any questions. When they reached Christians door Malfoy stood there, "Well?" He said, "I'm certainly not going to be the one to knock." Demians hand wavered and hovered over his door again before he finally found his courage. "I thought I told you to leave?" Christian said through the door before cracking it open slightly, "Oh, Demian..." He said, a worried look on his face, "I wasn't sure I would see you again so soon." Draco cleared his throat, "You aren't seeing him again." He responded, angrily. Christian opened his door fully, he saw Malfoy standing there, "Oh I see, so what's this about then?" Draco scoffed; his arms folded. "Professor I..." Demian stammered, struggling to find the right words, "Can we please come in?" Christian sighed, he stepped away from the doorframe and let them both in."So which one of you is going to tell me what this is really about?" Professor Valor began, "You know I'm not polyamorous, right?" He joked. "Fuck you." Draco said instinctively and Demian shot him an angry look. "Relax, I was only kidding." Christian said, leaning against his desk. "Now what's going on?""Wait, first there's something I have to say." Draco began, and the Professor looked at him curiously. "This should be good." Christian replied. "Whatever you and Demian had is over." Christian scoffed, "What Demian and I "had" is truly none of your business Malfoy, all I've done is given him the ability to see what true connection looks like. If he's chosen to be with you that's fine, I harbor no resentment towards either of you, but he should tell me himself."Demian swallowed nervously and shot Draco a worried look. "I-I..." He stammered, "I love Draco, Christian. I'm sorry." "And I knew that, I forgive you. The only thing I've ever wanted was for you to know your true worth. And for you-" He pointed at Draco, "To know that owning someone is not love." Draco scoffed again, "Thanks for the advice, father." Christian laughed, "Is that all you came here for?" "Not exactly..." Demian replied. "We came here because of this." Christian looked over curiously, Draco had his arm extended, the white bandages covering his fresh wound and hiding the infernal mark. "You know I'm not a nurse, right?" He said. Demian sighed and began to unravel the bandages, slowly the mark was uncovered. It was littered with scars and had a fresh cut surrounding it, Draco grit his teeth as the bandages were peeled off him" "It can't be." Christian said, moving closer to Draco, he held his wrist in his hand and studied the mark. "You've been chosen by Voldemort?" He said. "Tch, chosen. More like cursed." He responded. "Regardless this is...unprecedented. Why haven't you told the headmaster?" He said, concerned. Demian shot him a worried look, "Please, don't tell anyone Christian." Hearing his name leave Demians lips made Draco grit his teeth. Professor Valor sighed, dropping Dracos wrist. "What makes you think I would have any answers for this?""You're the only one I trusted enough to tell." Demian admitted. "Hmm..." He said, walking over to his desk and shuffling through the papers. He pulled out several books from his desk and thumbed through them in silence for a few moments. Demian and Draco stood there, anxiously awaiting some sort of news. Christian looked up after a few moments, closing one of his books. "I've only heard rumors, about the mark. How removing it is next to impossible, and if you somehow managed to cut it from your skin it would only reappear. You may have to consider more drastic measures.""Like fucking what?" Draco spat. "Like, removing the forearm in its entirety." Christian said quietly. Demian shot Draco a worried look, he shook his head and hastily started wrapping his arm back up. "You're mad. You want me to mutilate myself on a whim?" He said, genuine worry could be heard in his voice. "What are you willing to pay for the price of freedom?" He questioned, "Because the choices are looking pretty slim."Draco just turned to walk away attempting to hide his trembling hands. He left without a word and Demian went to follow him. He stopped in his tracks, "Thank you, Professor...." He said, sadly. "For everything." "Take care of yourself, Valentino." He said, "You can't possibly comprehend just how dangerous this is, this goes beyond young love." "I know..." He responded, "But the dangers have never scared me, I know we can figure this out, together." "I admire your optimism..." Christian said sadly, "But you still need to protect yourself." "And are you protecting yourself?" Demian asked, "I saw Pansy leaving here..." Christian sighed, "Don't worry about that.""What did she say?" Demian asked, curiously. "She tried to seduce me. Told me she knew I was sleeping with students." He said quietly, "I'm not going to allow myself to be black mailed. But she did threaten to tell the headmaster." Demian felt his stomach drop, "So what are you going to do?" "Nothing, if she tells someone so be it. I will deny any allegations...but will you?" He looked at him, worried. "Of course I will." Demian said without hesitation. "And Draco?" "Draco will forgive you. He won't say anything." Demian said, an unsure tone in his voice. "I hope you're right about that." Christian said, "And remember your worth." "I-I will..." He felt the tears welling up in his eyes as he left.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*Demian walked back to Dracos dorm silently, he entered and saw him sitting on the edge of his bed, his hands buried deep in his hands. "Draco?" He said softly, stepping closer to him. "I can't do it." He stammered, "I couldn't even cut it from my skin I would never be able to cut off my fucking arm." Demians stomach dropped again and a familiar wave of nausea overcame him. He sat down next to him. "What if it's our only choice?" He said softly. "It CANT be." He said, anger and frustration tainting his words. Demian could feel the tears forming in the corner of his eyes again, he leaned his head against Malfoys shoulder and spoke quietly, "Then we will ask someone else..." "WHO!?" Draco yelled, "I have no one else to ask, it was bad enough I had to go to your fucking lovers room and ask him just now." The words pierced through him and the tears started to flow freely, "I thought you were going to try to be nicer, to understand things on a more mature level now?" Demian said through his sniffles, "You said you would do anything to be with me forever, didn't you?" Draco sighed and lifted his head from his hands, his eyes were stained red but he refused to actively cry in front of him again. "The price is higher than I expected to pay." He admitted. Demian felt a sadness overcome him and he went to stand up, Draco grabbed his wrist and that familiar possessiveness overcame him. "Stop." He said, "I didn't say that meant I wasn't going to try." Demian looked over at him and wiped his tears with the back of his hand. "Just give me some time, please. Let me ask if anyone knows any other methods. I'll go to my father if I have to." Demian sat down again. "I am trying to be better..." He admitted, "Please don't fault me for stumbling, I'm still learning." Demian nodded his head and continued wiping his face dry. "Hey..." Draco turned his head towards him, "I love you. You said we would figure this out, together. So let me do my part before I go risking a limb." Demian tried to smile and leaned his head into his touch, "I love you too..." "Good, now come back to bed, I'm still rightfully exhausted." He nodded and climbed back into bed, resting his head on Dracos chest. They each laid there for what seemed like hours, consumed by their own thoughts before falling asleep again. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*The next day marked the beginning of the second week of the O.W.L.s. Demian got up and dressed early, Malfoy dragged behind him still looking tired from the night before. "Are you sure you'll be okay, coming to class?" Demian said, worried. "I haven't got a choice, these fucking exams just need to be over already." Malfoy said, smoothing his hair in the mirror. "Lets just get this over with." As Demian went to exit the dorm the Headmaster was standing outside, he blushed coming face to face with him leaving another boys room. "H-Headmaster..." He said. "Valentino." He replied, "I'm actually here to speak to Mr. Malfoy." "Me?" Draco said, he worriedly pulled down the sleeve of his robes to cover the bandages. "What's this about?" "Just please, come with me." "But the exams?" He protested. "You'll be excused from the first exam, I'll allow you to retake it at a later date. Now come." Draco looked over at Demian with an unfamiliar fear in his eyes, he nodded his head and followed the Headmaster, his heart thumping louder every step of the way.