Harry nodded in agreement. 
"Well... the purpose of our meeting today is to talk about his condition and if you want to help him."
"I came, didn't I? I had no idea what happened to him. Didn't even know he was released when you wrote. I would have come sooner if I'd known. Draco was the head of our class. I mean, of us Slytherins, and I would have followed him anywhere. But why did you ask me to come? Why didn't he? You're not going to surprise him with me or anything, are you?"
Joel held up his hands. "Draco knows. He asked me to write you."
Harry turned to see the confusion on Zabini's face, before he looked back to the fire. Draco had said they could talk about what happened. His time to talk was coming, closer. In fact, he needed to get used to talking to people.
"We just wanted to discuss... the situation beforehand. You have read the news the last few months, correct?" Joel asked.
Blaise nodded and then tightened up, instantly alert. "Yeah...."
"Draco was in Azkaban... for six years."
Shock and horror lined his face. "Holy fucking Salazar! Is he... okay?"
Joel nodded, somberly. "He's healing well, but he's still in need of constant physical therapy, which is why he's in Harry's ward."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Blaise, not to sound... blunt... but we need to ask that you keep this... between us."
Zabini glared. "You think I'd ever betray Draco?"
"There's a Slytherin here, who knows Draco and has been giving him a hard time," Joel stated.
"Who?" he breathed dangerously.
"Higgs," Harry whispered, and refused to look at Blaise's eyes.
"Terence Higgs? You need him... handled?" Zabini growled and Harry tightened at the promise of pain in the Slytherin's voice.
Joel seemed to sense the threat, too, and said, "I think we got him under control for now. Draco has given us permission to talk about his condition... and I want to make sure that you won't... hurt him, intentionally or not. Would you mind humoring me?"
"Very well. I promise I will not tell anyone about him and will not... intentionally hurt him. Do you want a blood contract or an Unbreakable Vow, too?"
Joel shook his head. "Draco was sure that you were... trustworthy. But let's sit down and talk."
Harry nodded that Joel had handled that well. Harry might have sicced the Slytherin after Higgs. They sat down in chairs in front of Harry's desk. He was behind it and still didn't want to engage in the conversation. He could feel Joel's eyes on him, but he turned to Blaise.
"Draco is doing well with what he went through, but he needs more... interaction. He needs a friend. His parents are gone and he has no family left. But when he leaves the hospital, he's going to need some support," Joel explained.
"So, he needs a home?"
"He's got a home, but I don't think going there alone would be good for him, mentally or physically. We could request the services of a house elf, but he needs that the human connection."
"I see. What's happened to him?"
Joel seemed hesitant on where to start, so Harry took a deep breath and said, "They tortured him every day he was in Azkaban, Blaise. They tried to break him, but they didn't get his mind. What they did do, is break every bone in his body so much and so often... that it's a miracle he's alive."