But Draco wouldn't fail him... like he wouldn't fail Draco. He believed in Draco, but he was amazed that his mates hadn't come yet. Or was it something else? He wanted Ron to come, because Ron was an Auror. They knew how each other worked. Ron would break any rule to help him, and Hermione wanted the high ground with moral superiority. They balanced each other out well, and Harry was sure Draco would pass his direct request on. Ron would make the hard decisions, sometimes without Hermione's approval, sometimes with it.
He took deep breaths like Joel had taught him and looked around the room, hoping that Ron had understood what he wanted. He rolled his back on the thin pillow and stared at the ceiling. Waiting was painful, but he had to dig down and get through this. A few tears rolled down his face. He hated being helpless. It reminded him so much about... him. He had gone back into his memories so often that night, that Harry was surprised he could come out of it when Draco came.
Fuck... Draco's voice lured him right out of his spiral. It was so full of pain and sadness. Merlin, it was unbearable. Harry wanted to comfort Draco so much, hold him, and tell him that he was safe, now and no one would ever hurt him, again. Harry had a name, now, too. Conners. Harry needed to make sure that he would never leave Azkaban. Harry was sure that he was one of the guards sentenced to life, but he had to know... for Draco's sake.
Harry looked at the door when he heard loud footsteps in the hallway. Please... don't be Higgs, he pleaded mentally. The handle turned and, unfortunately, the bastard himself entered and closed the door behind him. Harry was retreating inward, but he couldn't escape mentally or physically.
Higgs was smirking, enjoying the moment, again. "How was your night, Potter? Pleasant?" he sneered.
Harry glared but looked away when Higgs took a step forward, deliberately. He wished that Ron had dealt with Higgs by now.
"I heard you were screaming all night. That sounds... wonderful," Higgs said, as he took another step.
Harry started shaking and tugging at his bonds to no effect. Though he currently had his wits, he knew it wouldn't be long before Higgs made him crazy, again.
"I love seeing you squirm. Are you ready for another dose?" Higgs asked, as he pulled out the jar.
Harry full-out pulled against his restraints, hurting himself more in the process, trying to get away from him. That stuff was pure torture. Trapped in his head, unable to calm down or breathe normally. His fear just took over, and there was nothing Harry could do to stop it. He couldn't free himself. As his eyes watered, he silently pleaded for Ron, Harper or anybody really to show up and save him.
Higgs just laughed harder at his helplessness. "Oh, Potter... you're just like the other crazy patients when I pull out the jar. They know they're in for a ride when this comes out. Now, ready for another big dose, Potter?"
Higgs unscrewed the top and made to scoop out some. Harry groaned loudly, hoping someone would hear him. He leaned away from him as much as he could as Higgs held up a gob of the shit in his hand.
Suddenly, there was movement in his peripheral vision as red robes appeared out of nowhere, with a swish of a silvery cloak. Ron growled, "Auror, freeze!"
Higgs jerked back into the wall. "What? How?"
Harry had never felt so much relief in his life. Ron was there! And he saw everything wearing the Invisibility Cloak!
"Terence Higgs, you're under arrest. Now, put that stuff back in the jar and set it down."
Higgs was shaking. "Weasley! You can't be here! This is a private treatment room!"