The Strongest Force - Part 2/2 (H/D, 14+)

[sesheta66]

Title: The Strongest Force - Part 2/2
Author: sesheta_66
Beta: softly_sweetly
Pairing: Harry Potter / Draco Malfoy
Rating: 14+
Wordcount: ~12,200 words
Prompt: As requested by shadowclub for slashfest: Harry/Draco - As a last ditch attempt to hurt Harry Voldemort arranged some sort of time bomb that slowly turns Harry into some sort of creature (can be Dark or light!). Bonus points if you can include Healer!Draco.
Summary: At a time when Harry's life had finally settled, his career well established, the constant publicity he'd known since age eleven finally waning, and love in his life, things never looked better. It was only a matter of time before tragedy struck. Now it's a race against time to prevent the tragedy from becoming permanent. Can Draco and the team of Healers at St. Mungo's save Harry, or has his fate yet again been determined by forces beyond their control?
Disclaimer: Characters and setting all belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No infringement is intended, and no money is being earned.



The Strongest Force - Part 2

"Okay, boss," Sarah said on the sixth morning after Harry's second transformation. Draco had spent much of his days in the lab, since Harry was sleeping most of the time. He looked, if possible, worse than after the first time.

"What do you have for me?" Draco asked.

"I've managed to isolate a component of Harry's blood that is practically non-existent during his transformed phase, but is in large supply beforehand."

"Do you think you can replicate it?"

"Already on it. As soon as I have enough -- give me a couple more days -- I'm going to add it to the blood taken while he was a manticore."

"Be careful with that blood. We weren't able to get much after he transformed, and it's all we have. We can't wait for next month."

"I know. I'm conserving it as best I can. I'm hoping the Stasis Charm holds, and the blood maintains its composition."

"Thanks for taking over this end, Sarah. I know this isn't the job you signed up for."

"Don't mention it. I love lab work; you know that. Besides, you know I'll do a better job that those guys down in the other lab."

Draco smiled. "Yeah, I've got the best of the best on my team."

With Sarah isolating and testing the blood, it was up to Draco to develop the potion. He was using his knowledge of the Wolfsbane Potion to start with. It minimized the effects of the monthly change, and without a cure, their next best bet was to develop something to treat the effects. It was, to quote Muggles, a band-aid solution at best, but he lived in hope that it would prevent a permanent change in Harry.

He had tried to create a vaccine of sorts, but with the manticore's blood in Harry's veins already, it did nothing. It wasn't as though a foreign organism infiltrated his body each month. It was lying in wait all the time, so that when it flared, his body didn't react, at least not until it was too late. Perhaps if Draco could slow down the onslaught, Harry's body could fight it off itself.

Perhaps ... maybe ... might ... it was all driving Draco to distraction. He needed absolutes. He needed a cure. Harry's time was running out ... less than three weeks left before the final change.

~*~*~

Draco nearly fell off his chair as he heard his name called through the Floo in his office. "Draco!" He must have nodded off at his desk. "Draco!"

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Draco, may I come through?" She sounded ... could it be?

"Did you find something?" he asked as she brushed the soot off her robes.

"Yes!" Draco picked her up and spun her around. She laughed as he plunked her back down, then took out a shrunken book from her pocket and returned it to its normal size. "Here!" she said, pointing to a page.

Controlling Spells

This group of spells control the action of other spells and potions. Specifically, they can defer, repeat, increase or decrease the intensity, or end other spells or potions. Further, the effects may be temporary, repetitive, prolonged, or permanent, as the wizard wishes.

These spells have no value on their own, and are dependent on other spells or potions to be effective. They can be cast verbally or non-verbally.

Prodico Donec (Delay or Defer)

This spell is perfect for the element of surprise. Your target will never know it was you performing the curse, because it washes over them in a soft wave and lies dormant. It is up to the caster to determine for how long. A trigger needs to be worked into the casting of the spell. It can be something as simple as the target reaching a date, a season, a place, or multiple conditions can be invoked (e.g. the spell will activate when the target is feeling a particular emotion, and enters a particular place at a particular time when the moon is in a particular phase during a given season).

The spell will initiate when the criteria are met. Can be used in conjunction with other Controlling Spells to provide more conditions. Because the actual spell cast does not initiate immediately, the feeling of being hit by that spell is also delayed, and is masked by this spell.

Invalesco (Increase Intensity)

This spell will enhance the effects of the spell cast. Can be used in conjunction with other Controlling Spells to provide more conditions, and can be used multiple times to increase again once other conditions are met.

Proprius (Make Permanent)

This spell is handy for curses that are effectively temporary in nature, or have counter-curses or weaknesses. Once a permanent spell is invoked, it can only be undone within one hour, after which time it cannot be reversed.

"This has to be the way Voldemort initiated the curse on Harry," Hermione said excitedly. "There's more about the conditions, but you get the idea."

"Sure sounds like this is what he did," Draco agreed. "Does it give a counter-curse, or counter-curses?"

"Um ...." Hermione's face fell. "Unfortunately, the counter-curse has to be administered within twenty-four hours of the curse itself activating."

"Fuck!" Draco fumed and threw the book across the room in frustration. "What did you bother telling me about it for, then?" he asked.

Hermione Accioed the book back. "Because you need to know what we're dealing with."

"If we can't reverse it, then what's the point ?"

"Remember that this curse only activates something else. We need to reverse or stop that spell in order to help Harry."

"So we're back where we started!"

"No, we're not. We know what we're dealing with."

"Where did you get that book anyway? I don't recognize it."

"I bought it at Borgin and Burke's."

"Resourceful."

"Thanks. Anyway, there's another spell in here that you should look at. It's a long-lasting Transfiguration spell."

"Well, that's got to be it, right?"

"Maybe." She turned the pages and pushed the book towards Draco.

Mutatio (Transfiguration Spell)

Transfiguration is a complex form of magic, but the spell itself is temporary, easily undone by another wizard. This spell (cast verbally or non-verbally) moves beyond the barriers of regular transfiguration by coupling it with a potion, to allow a wizard to cast the spell on another that is similar to standard transfiguration spells, but has much more of a hold on the target. Coupled with a Controlling Spell, the transfiguration can be of a temporary or permanent nature. To undo the process, the exact manner in which the spell was enacted must be reversed, and it must be undertaken within one hour of the permanent transformation.

This spell is blood magic at its finest, and poses extreme risk to the caster. Even one who is most skilled is still at risk, and must perform with great caution. A potion, prepared using the blood of both the target and the intended creature (this spell does not work to transform someone into another human; if attempted, death is the likely outcome), must be taken by the caster, who then channels the spell through their wand using their inherent magic.

There must be a close connection between the caster and target for the channelling magic to work. The caster has twenty-four hours in which to transfer the magical properties of the potion outwards before the magic transforms the caster instead. Due to the blood of the target being involved, the transformation generally results in a mutated cross of target, caster and creature, generally resulting in death, although often not for several weeks, leaving the caster in excruciating and lingering pain. There is no counter-spell or antidote for the caster, should this occur.

"That's seriously nasty business," Draco said.

"Yes, but Voldemort would have thought himself more than capable."

"And he certainly had a strong connection with Harry."

"Yeah."

"Well, there goes any doubt about who cast the spell."

"And the counter-spell is in here too?"

"Yes, but it uses the same principles and carries the same risks. More, in fact, since you need to know the exact formulation Voldemort used in the potion, or you risk not only the target's life, but the caster's life as well."

"Somehow, the alternative seems worse from where I'm standing."

"So, which one of us --"

"Don't even finish that thought, Hermione. It was Harry's and my love for each other that triggered this spell; I think it's obvious that it has to be me."

"Not necessarily."

"I'm not arguing about this."

"Harry won't agree."

"Then we won't tell him until he's better."

Hermione looked wary, but nodded her agreement. "Has Hagrid managed --"

"I don't know. Last I heard, they had located the manticore and were tracking it. He's been, rather obviously, out of touch."

"We have less than two weeks, Draco."

"Don't remind me."

"It says here that it takes three days to brew the potion before the blood can be added, and that the potion will remain stable without the blood for a fortnight, but only for twenty-four hours once the blood has been added."

"Very well, then. I'll start brewing."

"Do you need help?"

"No, thanks. I have Sarah to help me out. I need you and Ron to track down Hagrid and get me that blood."

"Right. We'll do our best."

"Oh, and Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember. No telling Harry."

"Right."

"In fact, I'd rather if you didn't tell Ron all the details either."

She looked as though she was weighing the issue. "That's probably best."

"Be careful. Ron too."

"I'll notify you using the coins as soon as we've made contact. And I'll be sure to tell you if he's been successful."

"There are no ifs, Hermione. Hagrid has to be successful."

~*~*~

Three days later, Draco had completed the potion, but he still hadn't heard back from Hermione, except when she had acknowledged making contact.

Sarah had come up with the approximate ratio of manticore blood vs. Harry's blood, although there was no way to know if Draco had drawn it at the exact moment the transformation had peaked. This was what Voldemort had meant when he said we'd never figure it out. There was no way for sure to determine what the exact ratio was that he'd put into his original potion, but this was all they had to go on. They were out of options, and had little choice.

The trickier prospect was if Hagrid and his team failed to get manticore blood. If that was the case, Draco was prepared to try with the remaining blood drawn from Harry last month. The margin of error with that scenario was higher still because it was already diluted by Harry's blood, but they had a formula for that too.

No longer concerned with the potential side-effects, Harry and Draco had managed to make love several times over the past week. The words weren't spoken aloud, but they both knew that each time might be their last. They were bittersweet moments, but ones Draco would cherish forever.

Two days later, the long-awaited heating of the coin told Draco what he needed to know. They had managed to get the blood.

Having waited on tenterhooks for what seemed like forever, Draco found that once they arrived back with the blood, it was rather anticlimactic. Draco and Harry had already agreed not to say goodbye, but rather just get on with the process. They reasoned that they'd have plenty of time afterwards for intimacy. Denial was a cruel friend, but one they both clung to.

As Draco lifted the potion to his lips, both Sarah and Ron yelled, "What are you doing?" Hermione couldn't face Ron.

"I'm taking this potion," Draco replied, trying to remain calm. Thankfully he was in his lab, and not in Harry's room.

"B-but," Ron stammered, "I thought the potion was for Harry."

"So did I," Sarah agreed.

"I don't know where you got that idea from," Draco feigned ignorance. "But that's not how this spell works. The caster has to take the potion, then draw upon his own magic to cast the spell outwards."

"That sounds dangerous," Ron said.

"Very dangerous," Sarah agreed. Draco raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"And why aren't you saying anything, 'Mione?"

"Because she knows what needs to be done, and we have no other choice. She's accepted my decision; now I expect you both to do the same." Without further adieu, he downed the potion.

It, like so many other potions he'd had the misfortune of taking over the years, tasted atrocious. He figured that was a good sign, since the really bad tasting ones tended to be the most complex and strong in medicinal properties. It otherwise had no effect so far.

"Well?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"Besides tasting awful, and somewhat coppery - I presume that's from the blood - I don't feel any change."

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he began to feel warm. His stomach felt weighed down, but he wasn't nauseous as such. Somewhat like he had eaten too large a meal. Within minutes, the heat became uncomfortable, and he broke out in a sweat.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"You don't look so good there, mate," Ron added. Draco could hear the concern in his voice.

"The sooner you cast this spell and channel the potion's properties out of you, the better," reasoned Sarah.

"No," Hermione and Draco answered as one.

Draco sat down and took calming breaths, leaving Hermione to explain. "The potion has to be in Draco's system for at least an hour for the spell to work properly. No longer than twenty-four hours, but a minimum of one. It has to mingle with his magic before the potion is actually complete.

"What if it kills him?" Sarah asked.

"It won't," Hermione replied. "Not that fast, anyway."

"Oh, that's comforting!" she snapped. "It won't kill him now, but within the day it might?"

"Sarah, please," Draco begged. "I had to do this. It's the only way to save Harry. It's the only chance he has. Tell me you wouldn't do the same for someone you loved."

She stormed out, calling over her shoulder, "Well, I'm not sticking around to watch this!"

~*~*~

Half an hour later, Sarah returned with sandwiches and drinks for everyone from Draco's favourite deli. When he looked at her, she just shrugged.

"What? You look like you could use the nutrition." He could see the concern on her face, and the redness in her eyes gave her away.

"Thanks," he said.

"You owe me," she told him. "I'd best be getting a raise out of the deal, after all the hours I've put in."

He grinned at her. "Count on it."

"Well. Good." She pointed at his sandwich. "Eat up. You need your strength."

"Actually, I'm not feeling all that great, so I'll just nibble if you don't mind."

"Anything else I can get you? Anti-nausea potion?"

"Can't take anything else. It might interfere."

"Right. Well," she added, "might I suggest you prepare to cast this spell as quickly as possible, and get that poison out of your system?"

"I'm all for that," Draco said. "Not a moment longer than necessary."

They sat in companionable silence as the minutes ticked away. Slowly. As Draco watched the clock, dread set in. What if this was it? What if it didn't work? What if they both transformed? Well, it could be worse, he thought. At least we'd already be mated. He shuddered at the picture his mind conjured at that thought.

"Are you cold?" Hermione asked.

He nearly choked on his water, deciding it was probably best not to mention where his thoughts had wandered. He shook his head. "No, I'm fine."

"It's time, mate," Ron pointed out. Hermione and Sarah fussed over him, trying to make him look less peaky before he went into Harry's room. They gave it up for a bad job.

"Hey, you!" he said as cheerfully as he could as he approached Harry's bed.

"What's wrong with you, Draco?" Harry turned to look at the others in turn. "What's happened to him?"

"He took a potion," Ron answered before anyone could stop him. "It's how the spell works."

"What?!" Harry said. "Is it dangerous?"

"Look at him, mate. What do you think?"

"What were you thinking?" Harry admonished Draco.

Sarah stepped in. "Yes, well, we asked the same thing, but he's taken it now, and there's no turning back."

"Oh yes there is," Harry said. "Just give him the antidote and let the curse run its course. I don't want him risking --"

"It's too late," Hermione cut in. "There is no antidote to the potion, and if he doesn't cast the spell, he'll die. It's the only way to channel the ... poison out of his system."

"You knew this?" he yelled at Hermione.

"Harry," Draco choked out, "if you don't mind, I'd like to get this over with sooner rather than later. You can give Hermione and me shit later, okay?"

"Fucking right I will," Harry replied.

"Later," Hermione grinned. Draco thought he knew what she was thinking, because he imagined they were thinking the same thing. To hear Harry give them shit later on would be a wonderful thing indeed.

"We need to leave the room while Draco casts the spell," Hermione told the others. "There's no telling how the magic will react, and we don't need five manticores roaming around."

Ron's face looked panicked and Draco laughed. There was no way the spell could affect any of them like that, and Hermione knew it. But he thanked her with a nod for giving them the time alone.

"I can't believe you --" Harry began.

"Hey!" Draco stopped him. "Kiss me now. Give me shit later." Even though they'd promised not to say goodbye, Draco couldn't help himself. He drank in the taste, the smell and the feel of Harry as he poured his soul into that kiss. "Love you."

Harry smiled. "Love you too."

"Solvo Mutatio" Draco closed his eyes, and pictured his magic wrapping itself around the potion coursing through his body, not unlike a snake coiling itself around its victim. It empowered him, as he imagined his magic crushing the poison and pushing it out of his body. His arm shook, his hand shook, and the wand shook as the magic erupted out of his wand, hitting Harry in the chest.

Harry's eyes widened in shock, as the magic spread outwards across his body. Draco experienced a moment of fear as he watched the bands of light wrap themselves around Harry's torso, but then they faded, as though absorbed through his skin.

Draco collapsed on the bed next to Harry, and the last thing he recalled before everything faded into darkness was Harry's pale face and a whispered, "I love you."

~*~*~

Several hours later, both men awoke feeling battered and bruised.

"Now what?" Harry asked.

"Now we wait."

And they did. Several days passed with no apparent change, but then disappointment struck when Harry's temperature rose, and pain surged through his body. He smiled up at Draco sadly and said, "I don't think it worked," before screaming out in pain.

Draco watched, horror-struck, as Harry's body began to transform yet again into the manticore. Fuck! What had they done wrong? He knew he hadn't done anything wrong. But Voldemort had set things in motion that they just couldn't stop. Despite their best efforts, after everything, he was going to win.

Draco remained with Harry, holding his hand, until, for his own safety, he couldn't any longer. "I won't give up on you," he promised. "We'll keep trying."

"Help me," Harry begged one more time, just like the first, a lone tear falling down his face, before he was lost to them.

~*~*~

Draco spent the next forty-eight hours in his office, going over his notes, trying to figure out what had gone wrong.

"You had no way of knowing the formulation of the potion," Sarah told him. He knew she was right, but he still blamed himself. After all, if Harry hadn't fallen in love with him, none of this would have happened. He ignored the voice in his head that told him Harry would have just fallen in love with someone else. That thought was more than he could bear.

"Healer Malfoy," one of the orderlies called to him.

"Yes, Michael?"

"Healer Branson asked to see you upstairs."

"Thank you."

Draco made his way up to Harry's room and immediately noticed a commotion. He ran in asking, "What is it?"

Healer Branson greeted him with a smile. "I think you might want to see this."

There, on the bed, was Harry. Not a manticore, but Harry. The spell had worked. Well, it had stopped the progression anyway. It wasn't permanent.

"Hey, you," he said tentatively.

"Hey," Harry replied. Draco heard the faint sound of everyone being shuffled out of the room. But he couldn't look away from Harry.

"Merlin, it's good to see you."

"C'mere," Harry said. Draco didn't need asking twice. He pulled Harry into his arms and kissed him for all it was worth. When they came up for air, Harry said, "Now, I believe I said I would give you shit."

"Kiss me now," Draco said. "Give me shit later." And Harry did.

~*~*~

Nineteen Years Later

Harry prepares himself as the new moon approaches. He has a standard four days off work each month, one day preceding, two days following, and the day of the new moon. They had discovered that first month that his transformation began the morning of the new moon, and the entire process lasted forty-eight hours. At first, he'd required nearly a full week of recovery time, but with the potions Draco had developed since, he now only needs one full day to recover afterwards. He remains on desk duty for the week following, just to be sure his reaction time is back to normal, but he can successfully work in the field the rest of the month. He hadn't liked it, but knew the decision was for the best, and reluctantly accepted the resolution.

Aside from the occasional jibe that Draco is an animal in bed, which Harry doesn't seem to mind at all, there had been no sign of any lasting effect of the potion on Draco. He had managed to perform the spell as intended, with no residual harm to himself. That hadn't stopped Harry and Ron - and Sarah, of course - from raking him and Hermione over the coals for having kept the true nature of the spell from them. Considering the outcome, they had felt it was a fair price to pay.

It has been nearly half his lifetime that Harry has lived with his affliction, as the press refers to it. Thanks to Draco and his relentless efforts over the years, Harry no longer transforms completely. He still experiences some form of transformation, but never truly loses touch with his human self. He also retains his own voice, and no longer sounds trumpet-like when communicating in his transformed state. It's something small, but important to Harry, to help him feel more like himself.

For the last ten years, his transformation has been mainly in composition, but no longer in size. While it still hurts, he doesn't experience the excruciating pain of becoming a creature five times his normal size. He also doesn't produce poisonous spines any more, which has eliminated the need for him to stay completely away from Draco. Not being able to feel the calming effect of being in Draco's arms was probably the hardest part of the transformations after he'd retained his human emotions. They'd kept an antidote handy, also one of Draco's creations, just in case. Thankfully, they'd only needed it once.

Draco continues to work on his potions, with the help of Neville who grows the ingredients. It has become Draco's life's work. Together, they have gradually improved the formula, but neither is under the delusion that they can cure Harry any more. But they live in hope that they can continue to make adjustments so that Harry is as comfortable as possible.

Though love had been the trigger that set the spell in motion, it was also love that saved Harry from it. He would, in all likelihood, never be completely cured, but thanks to the love of his friends and family, they had figured out what was going on in time to prevent his complete transformation. And thanks to the love and determination of Draco, he can live out the rest of his life with as little pain as possible, and without losing the all-important sense of self.

Love is indeed the strongest force of all.

~ FIN ~

---

The story of the manticore was obtained from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticore.

Spells (Latin):
Prodico Donec - prodico - to put off; donec - until
Invalesco - become stronger
Proprius - permanent
Mutatio - transformation, alteration
Solvo - release, free from.

Comments

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

How do you DO that?! I can never read the end of something first. Heh. Trust me ... if someone dies, I'll warn for it. If it's a tragic ending with no hope, I'll warn for angst.

I hope you enjoy it once you do read it. *shakes head* I still can't believe you read the end. *g*

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad I read the ending first! I would DIE otherwise! See, I had to do it!

The fact that Harry wasn't cured saddens me but also makes me wanna applaud you. I just find that brave, I ... I couldn't do something like that! :D And wow, the plot! You really thought this through! *is impressed* My poor Harry!

And also, for some reason, I love that you jumped to present tense in the epilogue! It just worked so well!

Also, also

"What do you have for me?" Draco asked.

Draco sounds so PROFESSIONAL and COOL! :D ♥

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*pets you*

It saddens me too, but I just felt it was more 'real' that way. It also shows the love and dedication of not only Draco, but all of Harry's friends and his co-workers/employers for having enough faith in him through the years. And it really is a partnership with Draco, because he dedicates his life to making things better for Harry, even if he can't cure him.

Um ... the plot ... yeah, I had planned on this 2,000-ish word fic, but ... um ... the plot smacked me upside the head and just kept going and going. But I had fun with it. *hugs Harry*

I'm so glad the present tense worked for you. I (for some reason) really wanted it that way.

Cool Draco - it's the only way he can stay focussed and not fall apart. *hugs him*

Thanks for the comments, hon. ♥