"Harry?" Hermione whispered, but he held up his hand.
                              
He crouched beside Draco's bed, his head near his arm. He still had a firm grip on his hand. "Draco... you said that you would tell me what happened... can you tell me about... him? And if you can't, it's okay... we don't have to do this." Then Harry started massaging Draco's hand, and he groaned. He must have been clenching it a lot today, no doubt in anticipation of the meeting.
                              
"You keep doing that and I'll tell you anything you want," Draco muttered.
                              
"Well, I'm susceptible to bribery," Harry said, bringing his other hand up to help knead out the tension. "Draco... what happened... when you were released?"
                              
Draco sighed. "It's hard...."
                              
"I know, I'm sorry," Harry said, quickly.
                              
"No... I meant... I was in my head. I wasn't really there. The pain was intense. I remember them unlocking the cuffs... they had to tear them from my skin. They tried to heal me. They were scared... about anyone seeing me in that condition. They argued about killing me, but there were too many deaths already. One... he said it'd better if I kill myself outside of the prison. I don't think they really thought I was there... mentally. Then they put me in the chair... and he was there...."
                              
Harry squeezed his hand. "You're doing great... I'm right here."
                              
"He took me to the apparation point. He said that I deserved everything. I didn't answer him. I never did. He took me home, and the house elf was already there. He knew I couldn't do anything. The elf cleaned and fed me. McGrath came every day and set a bottle of belladonna extract on my desk. Told me to take it and then realized that I was incapable of moving... he suggested I tell the house elf to give it to me.
                              
"But I wouldn't talk... not for anything. He got frustrated. Threatened to send me back... or worse... but I just went deeper inside. He yelled a lot. I remember staring up at my mum's portrait. I couldn't talk to her either... she told the house elf to bring me to her," Draco said and trailed off. The shaking started, and some tears welled in his eyes, and Harry wanted to stop this before it got too deep.
                              
"Draco, you don't...."
                              
"No."
                              
Harry raised his eyebrow. "Draco?"
                              
"Ask it, Harry. Ask what you've been avoiding since I came here."
                              
Harry looked at Hermione, who nodded for him to continue. Her interrogation became his. Maybe it was better this way.
                              
"Draco... what happened... the day you fell?"
                              
Draco frowned. "The house elf was dismissed the moment he arrived. He told the elf that his services were no longer required. He didn't want to leave me, but he obeyed. McGrath kept screaming and grabbing me, trying to elicit a response, but I was past responding in any way. He put the vial to my lips, but changed his mind. There would be an investigation, and nothing could explain my injuries.
                              
"He smiled as he looked at the steps. He magicked me up to the top floor. He didn't use magic, though, to pry me out of my chair and throw me through the open window. I wish I could say I passed out from the pain, but no, I felt everything. I remember him standing over me, gloating. He left me to die... but I didn't. I wasn't dead come morning... nor the next night, nor the next morning, nor the next day.
                              
"Just my luck. I was past pain and consciousness when he came that last day. Took his picture and gloated. I was out of it when the EMMTs came, until they touched me. The pain woke me. They healed me and took me to the hospital, but I still couldn't respond. McGrath came and stopped the pain potions and threatened me to keep my mouth shut. The end."