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[fics_by_maple]

Previous Chapter 6

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Cold waves pounded against the island’s shore. Less than an hour before what should be sunset, daylight was waning. The island prison was always dark and dismal no matter what time of day it was. The sun never shined here.

In the outer-most courtyard of Azkaban prison, two cloaked wizards with hoods pulled low waited in the shadows along the inner wall. Waiting patiently, not talking, not moving.

Hate and revenge are strong motivators against tedium.

The sky had turned a deeper shade grey when the door in the center of the prison wall opened, silhouetting the thin man in the doorway.

He wrapped a cloak around his shoulders as he began the long walk across the seemingly empty compound. He had a more confidant swagger than most who came out of that doorway.

He didn’t appear to see the cloaked wizards look at one another before setting out at a swift pace behind him.

“Malfoy,” one of the men called out.

Draco Malfoy spun around and faced the approaching men.

“Who’s there?” Malfoy demanded, squinting to see their faces.

“Nott? Douglas? What are you skulking about for? I’m ready to go home.”

The two men halted their approach several meters before him.

“No Malfoy. We’re not here to take you home,” one said.

“Who are you? I know your voice, show yourselves!” Malfoy demanded, with more apprehension than authority. The oppression of the building behind them had a greater affect on him than he wanted to let on.

Both wizards looked at each before slowly lowering their hoods. The striking difference in hair color between the two was visible in the waning dusk.

Malfoy reacted with surprise at recognition of them and swore under his breath. “Potter and Weasley,” he said in an accusatory tone.

Ron grinned, looking satisfied at the alarm that Malfoy tried to conceal.

“At least he knows enough to be scared of us now.”

“Not nearly as scared as he ought to be,” Harry agreed.

“I’m not scared of you!” Malfoy said, even as he began to sidestep backward, away from them.

Ron and Harry parted automatically, flanking Malfoy, slowly circling around him like lions cornering their prey.

“All right then, gentleman,” Malfoy began in an appeasing tone, trying to get an upper hand in this unexpected situation, “still smarting over old school wounds then?”

Ron’s pulse quickened at the sarcastic droll that Malfoy dared to speak with. The sound of his voice produced lightning quick memories; Hermione’s hands pushing against him, Hermione crying underneath him, Hermione flinching with pain inflicted by his own hand.

“This has nothing to do with your Ferret days,” Ron countered. “You know damn well what this is about.”

Malfoy’s lips twitched with a smirk before regaining his countenance. He jutted his jaw upward in determined superiority. The passing years had only increased his likeness to his father.

“You know that I’ve been cleared of all charges. I don’t believe that I have anything to discuss with either of you.” Malfoy spoke with arrogance, turning to Ron as he continued, “if you had any grievance with me you could have made your statement to the Wizengamot. I saw you there. You could have made an official record of your complaint.”

Harry could see Ron wouldn’t be able to restrain himself if Malfoy continued to taunt him.

“And for some inexplicable reason, none of my traveling companions remembered why they were arrested, they had nothing to report about anything.” There was an evil glint in Malfoy’s eyes.

Harry had indeed been successful in Obliviating the group arrested at Malfoy Manor. It had been easy for ‘Harry Potter’ to besot the cell guards with his celebrity and gain access to them. Except for Malfoy. Harry and Ron wanted him to remember his crime when they mete out his punishment.

“Let’s just do this.” Ron said, more to Harry than to Malfoy.

“You know lads, it’s hardly sporting, two of you against just one. I would certainly honor a proper duel, if only I were armed…. And I do have an escort coming for me any moment now.”

“No one is coming for you Malfoy, we’ve already seen to that” Harry told him, which seemed to unnerve Malfoy further.

“And you really are thick if you think you could last in a duel with Harry Potter, wand or no wand,” Ron scoffed. “You will get fair match though,” he said as he removed his cloak and tossed it to the ground, pushing up his sleeves.

“But not with wands,” said Harry.

Malfoy’s eyes widened at the sight of the Ron Weasley before for him, no longer the tall and gangly teen when he had last seen him.

“Oh now, surely you’re joking Weasley. You’ve been compensated for your lack of brains and talent with sheer ape-size. A primitive brawl with me would hardly be equal.”

“Don’t worry your demented head about me beating you, Malfoy,” Ron countered.

Harry produced his wand, and Malfoy’s eyes darted back and forth between them.

“You said no wands,” Malfoy said, his shaky voice betraying his concern.

“I won’t use my wand,” Harry agreed, as he handed it to Ron, who put it in his back pocket with his own.

“Ron won’t be beating you tonight, Malfoy, Harry said as he unclasped his robe and tossed it on the ground near Ron’s. “I will.”

Malfoy let out a small gasp of relief at understanding that Ron apparently didn’t intend to hit him. “All right, I see. Well if we must go through with this garish display...”

“Shut up, Malfoy” Harry said, cutting him off. “I’m tired of your voice.” Harry advanced slowly on Malfoy, cracking his knuckles and rolling his head from side to side, closing the distance between them. Malfoy removed his own cloak, folded it, and carefully set it on the ground.

Ron’s keen observation caught Malfoy’s next action before Harry did.

“Oi!” was all the vocal warning he could shout to Harry before Malfoy threw a handful of dirt into Harry’s face, immediately lunging towards him. Harry flung his left arm over his face, cursing.

“Harry, turn!” Ron ordered. Harry didn’t even need a second to trust Ron’s instruction. He spun and turned his back on Malfoy just in time to avoid his advancing blow, which struck him in the back of the head.

“Elbow!” Ron called out, fighting all temptation to fling himself at Malfoy. Harry blindly followed Ron’s instruction and brought his right elbow down hard, planting it firmly in Malfoy’s stomach.

“Turn and uppercut!” were Ron’s next words. While Harry still shielded his blinded eyes with his left arm, he used his right to sightlessly follow Ron’s orders.

Harry spun and his fist connected hard under Malfoy’s chin. The blow struck with considerable force and Malfoy stumbled back onto his arse.

Harry backed away to put a safer distance between himself and Malfoy.

“You’ve got a few minutes,” Ron said, knowing that Harry was ready for another unseen assault.

“Come toward my voice. Malfoy’s going to try not to black out for the next few minutes. Decent uppercut, especially as you couldn’t see him.”

“Fucking dirty Slytherin git,” Harry snarled, wiping his face off. Ron produced his wand and held in front of Harry’s face.

“Tilt your head back,” Ron told him. A stream of water came out of the end of his wand and he washed the dirt and tiny rocks out of Harry’s eyes.

“Remember who you’re dealing with Harry. Remember getting your nose broken while you were petrified? He always fights dirty.”

“Yeah, I know, Ron!” Harry said, more annoyed with himself than at Ron, “I know, stupid mistake...” Harry blinked hard and rubbed the water off his face and through his hair.

“Don’t try to fight noble Harry, he doesn’t. Don’t look at his eyes to anticipate magic, you have to look at his shoulders and how he shifts his weight.”

Malfoy groaned and cursed and then rolled onto his side. Harry turned back towards him.

“Get on your feet, Malfoy,” Harry said, approaching him, “were not done here.”

Malfoy started to laugh quietly as he pushed himself to a stand, rubbing his jaw.

“Potter, you could have done your damage while I was down,” Malfoy said in a snide tone, rather unlike a man who had just been splayed on his back. “Honestly, all this trouble because of a little entertainment? I’ve never had any complaints before.”

Harry turned to look at Ron to see if he had heard the same thing. By the shade of maroon he had turned, Harry knew he had.

“So that’s your kick is it? You put a couple under the Imperius curse just to perform for you? You really are a sick fuck.”

Malfoy smiled and dared to look right at Ron, “best pornography there is.”

Ron nearly lost it and attacked but Harry was closer and struck first.

For a minute, each traded blows. Harry’s punches make contact more effectively than Malfoy’s, who already had a trail of blood coming from his nose and a cut on his cheek.

Ron mimicked Harry’s actions from where he stood, relishing in the vicarious movement.

Harry had to concentrate on not putting up wandless magical blocks and remember to duck instead. Though he couldn’t be sure he wasn’t using a hint of Legilimency, anticipating most of Malfoy’s punches.

Harry struck once again and there was the sickening stifled sound of a ‘crack.’ Harry grunted in pain, curling his wrist close to his side. Harry muttered a string of foul words, trying hard not to let any of his words come out as actual curses.

After staggering briefly from Harry’s last punch, Malfoy rubbed his jaw, shaking his head but continued to look amused, though both were out of breath.

“Oh come on boys, it was all in good fun. Nothing was done to anyone that hadn’t been done before, right?” Malfoy launched himself at Harry. He wrapped his arms around Harry’s chest in a boxer’s hug, preventing more punches.

“Why the cat and mouse routine, Potter?” Malfoy hissed in Harry’s ear. “Won’t you let Weasley fight his own battles?” Harry struggled to free himself of Malfoy’s hold, while he continued to taunt. “Or maybe you didn’t like being left out? Have you been putting it to the mudblood as well? You share everything with Weasl—.”

But Malfoy’s last word was cut short as Harry’s brought his knee up with force into his groin. Malfoy yelled out, coughed, and whimpered as he fell to his knees, holding his privates.

Harry walked around Malfoy and kicked him sharply on the right side of his lower back with the toe of his boot, sending him tumbling to the ground. He moaned again while curled on his side.

After Harry backed off, Ron moved in, leaning over Malfoy slightly.

“That was your kidney, Malfoy. Hurts, that does. You’ll be pissing blood for two days.” Ron paused to watch Malfoy squirm and wince in pain. “But you won’t be feeling anything soon.”

Harry had a bruised cheek and red eyes, but Malfoy fared much worse.

Looking up at Ron from his prone position on the ground, he finally showed his fear of the men standing over him.

“Pull him up, “Ron said. Harry walked behind Malfoy and grabbed a handful of hair and pulled him roughly to his knees. His head strained oddly from the tension of Harry’s grip.

Malfoy’s eyes widened as he saw Ron withdraw his wand and walk closer.

“I –I thought you said no magic,” Malfoy stammered, through his gritted teeth.

Harry yanked hard on his handful of hair and snarled menacingly into Malfoy’s ear, “we said I wouldn’t use magic on you”

Harry released his hair but held Malfoy in chokehold with one arm and tugged his other his wrist back between his shoulder blades with the other.

Ron crouched in front of Malfoy, holding his wand in front of Malfoy’s face.

“You are going to remember me, Malfoy. Everyday for as long as you live you’ll regret what you did to us, what you did to her….”

“You know what this is?” Malfoy said, thrusting his forearm out, indicating what they all knew was under his sleeve, “I earned this when I was only sixteen. There’s nothing left you can do to me.”

“Yeah? I’ll guarantee you never have your way with anyone else again, fucking pervert.”

Ron stepped back and pointed his wand at Malfoy’s face. He winced waiting for a painful curse to hit him, but it didn’t come.

Ron slowly lowered the aim of his wand down Malfoy’s body, pointing at the zip of his trousers. Malfoy’s eyes reflected sudden panic and he flailed against Harry’s restraint.

“What are you doing? No! You can’t!”

“Don’t miss your aim, mate,” Harry said. Ron raised his eyebrow in response. In this, he was perfectly confident.

Malfoy tried to struggle free, yelling at them and didn’t hear the curse when Ron spoke it, ‘Deposco Castro.’

Malfoy suddenly went quiet. His body froze and he went pale.

“Right, doesn’t hurt at all anymore does it?” Ron said, sounding quite pleased. “It should actually feel quite cool for few minutes. After that, you won’t be feeling a thing, or getting it up…”

“You didn’t?” Malfoy whispered, horrified.

“Oh yeah, I did. You’ll be numb and soft as pudding for a very, long, time.” A strangled cry escaped Malfoy.

Ron then muttered a cleansing spell over Malfoy, cleaning but not healing his wounds. “Now, we want you to look sharp for where you’re going. You’ll be a favorite, even without a functioning prick.”

“What? Where?”

Ron withdrew from his pocket a small item wrapped in a handkerchief. Unwrapping a small chess pawn with a severed head, he muttered “Portus”

“What’s going on? You can’t do this to me!” Malfoy’s voice was high and frantic.

Ron jerked his head at Harry, who released Malfoy and stepped back.

Ron seized his wrist with one hand, “Don’t forget about me, Malfoy… and try to, have a little fun.” With that, Ron shoved the tiny Portkey into Malfoy’s hand.

Harry and Ron watched Malfoy disappear and both took several minutes to catch their breath as the adrenaline rush lowered.

“Changi?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, figured that would be the worst Wizard Prison in the world. His skinny white arse will be popular there.”

They were quiet again, but resolved. Neither felt guilt nor sorry for Malfoy. He deserved what he got.

“Alright, let’s see that hand,” Ron said. Harry hesitantly stuck out the wrist he was holding against his side.

Ron felt the bones in Harry’s forearm then wrist, and then fingers.

“Fuck! Damn it, Ron, that hurts.”

“Well yeah, you Git, it’s broken. I’ve told you before, you have to keep your knuckles aligned with your wrist when you punch.”

“Right, well thanks for not rubbing that in, you’re a real Mate.”

“Oi,” Ron said, grabbing hold of Harry’s fingers, “This’ll hurt. Don’t be a pouf”

“Yeah, go on then,” said Harry dryly, and with that Ron pulled hard Harry’s fingers, re-aligning the broken bone. Harry’s yelled out in pain.

“Bugger! Fuck, Son of a –!”

“Budge up,” Ron said, handing Harry his wand, “Now you can heal it.” Harry took his wand and healed the broken bone, sighing with relief.

Both men picked up their robes and wrapped them around their shoulders as a light rain began to fall.

They walked in silence towards the far exit of the prison courtyard, beyond the Apparition wards. Without words they held their wands in hand and Apparated into the shadows of the street outside their flat.

They both looked up at the tiny windows glowing in the darkness, thinking of the women that were waiting for them inside the lamp lit room above.

“So, is that it then? Are we done with this?” Harry inquired, cautious not to push Ron with the subject.

Ron contemplated in silence for moment and then nodded, showing his bright smile.

“Yeah, definitely. I want to go upstairs and eat, shag and sleep, in that order. You?”

Harry chuckled. “You won’t mind if my answer is the same?”

“Nah – I figure I know what you do to my sister at the end of the hall by now.” Ron grinned.

Harry blushed under the hood of his cloak, and he followed Ron upstairs.


The End
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A/N - The spell, Deposco Castro, I made up but is latin. deposco=to demand or request and castro=castrate. heh - I also just liked the way it sounded, so give me a break ok :)

Changi is the name of a real prison in Singapore.

There it is, all done. What a relief! This story has been excruciating for me to write but it has been such a great learning experience. My sweet, sweet beta mrspadf00t1 deserves loads of credit for taking me gently by the hand and making me stay focused.
I have to thank my dear husband and his dodgy experience for helping me with the violence in this chapter.

The reviews and encouragement I've recieved on this story have been incredibly touching. I'm very greatful for the support. Please take the time to leave one last review! Thank you!