Author: Lady B
Pairing(s): Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape/Remus Lupin, other pairings to follow
Genre: AU Fantasy
Rating for this chapter: PG13
Warnings: M/M relationship, character death, OOC, descriptive sexual acts between persons of the same sex
Challenge: 50harlequins prompt #45: Running from an arranged marriage and falling for a stranger who turns out to be the groom.
Summary: Space...the final frontier...In the year 4437 A.E. (After Earth) Prince Draco Abraxas Lucien Malfoy of the planet kingdom Slytherin is being forced to marry the enigmatic Prince of the neighboring planet kingdom Gryffindor. He hates the fact that he has to marry someone he's never met and runs away. His father, King Lucius, sends one of the best Retrievers in the galaxy after his wayward son, to be delivered to the Prince of Gryffindor personally.

Harry Potter was the best star pilot to ever come out of Hogwarts Academy. Known to his friends and crew as Captain Evans, he was also one of His Majesty's Retrievers, a band of men and women who searched the galaxies for the lost or stolen, whether they be people or objects. The Queen sends him on a mission requested by King Malfoy of Slytherin: find and retrieve his son to be delivered to the Prince of Gryffindor for a marriage ceremony.

Once he crosses paths with the Ice Prince of Slytherin, he does all he can to melt his heart of ice, and to make Draco his very own at personal cost to himself and the kingdom he serves.

Of course, things don't always go according to plan (-cue Darth Vader's Imperial March-)...

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and plots from the Harry Potterverse belong to JK Rowling and various publishing companies and movie studios. I am not making any money from this. I am simply doing this for the fun of it. Any plot devices and original characters belong to me alone and are simply a figment of my imagination.
Author's Note for this chapter: A daring rescue and our heroes finally share a moment.

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Chapter 10


Harry remained unconscious for most of the day. When he finally came awake again, the sun was slowly settling over the horizon. Harry moaned softly, feeling hot and cold at the same time. Draco was at his side in an instant.

"Harry?"

"Don't shout. Makes my head hurt." Harry mumbled.

"What's wrong?" Draco lowered his voice.

"Don't feel good. Hot."

A cool hand touched his forehead and Draco swore in six different languages. The combination of dungeon air, lack of food and water had caused Harry to get sick and feverish.

"Dammit! What else can go wrong today?" Draco groaned as Harry began a coughing fit that lasted two minutes. It was after Harry fell asleep once again, did Draco hear the distant sound of voices.

"Shit!" he hissed. He hooked his arms under Harry's arms and dragged him deeper into their hiding spot until they were nothing but mere shadows. Praying to every deity he knew that Harry would remain asleep until the patrol had passed them by, Draco settled down to wait, a blaster in one hand and his laser sword in the other.

Four different patrols went by their hiding spot as the evening wore on, and Harry's fever continued to spiked. He was beginning to hallucinate, having conversations with people only he could see. Several times he called out for his parents, Severus, Remus, some chit named Cho and even Draco himself, the last of which made him smile. He brushed the damp hair back from Harry's fevered head, a soft smile on his face.

"Even ill, you've got me all tied up in knots, Captain Evans." Draco sighed. Harry began to tremble, but Draco didn't dare try to light a fire. Instead, he removed his cloak and placed it on Harry's shivering frame. Draco couldn't wait any longer, Harry needed serious medical attention and his only hope lay in trying to get to the shuttle to send a distress signal. But did he chance leaving Harry alone?

Draco touched Harry lightly. Harry opened his eyes for a moment, his eyes glazed with fever and pain.

"Harry, I have to try and get to the shuttle. You need more help than I can provide."

"I-I k-know." Harry stammered. "D-Don't w-worry a-about me. J-Just g-go!"

On some impulse he would examine later, Draco leaned over Harry and gently pressed his lips against his (Harry's). Harry returned the kiss with a small sigh.

"I'll be back as quick as I can." Draco whispered, kissing him again. He glanced out into the darkness and listened intently. The only sound he heard was the water in the river. He cautiously picked his way through the foliage without making a sound, easily finding the shuttle where he left it. He kicked it into gear and made a beeline for his ship, worry for Harry causing him to hurry.

- - -

Hedwig was drifting somewhere in the Outer Rim, her substitute captain deciding at the last moment to remain there. It was a gut feeling he had, and his feelings never steered him wrong.

It was way past time that he should be sleeping but Blaise was sitting in the Captain's chair, monitoring the various screens and signals. An arm slid over his shoulders, startling him for a moment before a familiar scent washed over his senses. He lightly touched the hand resting on his chest.

"You should be sleeping, Colin."

"It's lonely without you." Colin replied, kissing his cheek.

"I'm sorry, love. I couldn't sleep."

"Still thinking about Harry and the Prince?"

"Yeah. It's a feeling I have. Something is wrong. Something bad."

"Harry would have sent a signal if something was wrong."

"No he wouldn't, Colin. You know that."

Colin sighed and moved around to face his lover.

"Ron is still pissed at you."

"He's upset because I told him we weren't going home just yet."

"He's that desperate to marry Hermione, eh?"

"Mmm." Blaise nodded, suddenly distracted by a rapidly blinking yellow light at the communications console."

"Blaise?"

"Hm?"

"You've got that look on your face. The one that says you're coming to a conclusion about something."

"I could be. Is Hermione awake?"

"I think so."

"Hedwig?" Blaise called.

Hermione is on her way, sir.

"What's going on?" Colin asked as Blaise got to his feet. Hermione rushed onto the bridge.

"What's going on?" she asked, unknowingly repeating Colin's question.

"Hermione, what's that light indicate?" Blaise asked, pointing to the comm. Hermione looked at the light, her eyes wide.

"It's a distress signal! But it's none I've ever seen." she replied, immediately taking a seat. Blaise let her work in silence as she figured out the code.

"It's an older code, but it seems valid. A code 1678 sounds important." There was a gasp behind them and the three turned to see Severus standing there.

"Did you say code 1678?" he demanded.

"Yes. It means something, doesn't it?"

"A code 1678 is only used by someone of royal birth in cases of extreme emergencies."

"It's the Prince!" Hermione gaped, understanding.

"Open the comm!" Blaise demanded. Hermione ran through a series of switches and after a brief moment of static, they could hear the sound of slightly panicked breathing.

"Your Highness, is that you?" Blaise asked.

"Captain Zabini?"

"Yes!"

"Thank the stars!" Draco exclaimed. "I didn't think I'd reach you. You have to come quick!"

"Calm down, your Highness and tell us where you are?"

"We're on Merope! Harry was captured by Voldemort a week ago and I came to rescue him. But he's in a bad way and I can't move him from where I've hidden him. I need to get back to him before we're both discovered. Please send help, Harry needs medical attention."

There was a sudden silence that indicated Draco had cut off communications. Blaise looked at Hermione, Colin and Severus.

"Hedwig, get everyone to the bridge immediately and set a course for Merope." Blaise commanded.

As you command, Captain!

"We're going after them? Are you insane?" Severus exclaimed.

"For a vampire, you sure do act like a chicken." Colin couldn't help but say. Severus's glare sent him scurrying from the room.

Ron was the first to arrive, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and hitching up his pants. The others soon followed, looking more awake than he was.

"S'going on?" he yawned.

"Got a distress signal a moment ago, from the Prince. Seems Harry was captured by Voldemort a week or so ago and the Prince set out to rescue him. My guess is Harry's been hurt in some way and Draco can't move him so they're in hiding. Hermione's pinpointed their location through Harry's beacon* so we will be able to find them quickly. Any questions?"

No one said a word, understanding the gravity of the situation. Ron was more awake then Blaise had ever seen him.

"Good. To your stations, then. We have some friends to rescue."

The room became a hive of activity as Blaise's orders were carried out. He paused in front of a portal and looked out at the stars.

"Hang on guys, we're coming." Blaise stated to himself.


TBC...

*Ever child upon birth is implanted with a locator beacon in case they are lost or kidnapped. It made it easier for parents and law enforcement officials to locate them when the need arose.