Harry rubbed his back. "I'd like it if you tell me what you wanted, instead of me guessing. I mean... we can talk about things beforehand. Surely, spontaneity is nice, but if you need comfort and connection... I'd like to know. I... I'm hesitant with you because I don't know what is safe to do or not."
"I can handle anything," he mumbled.
"Do you want me to say that?" Harry asked, after a minute.
"What?" Draco said, not following.
"Do you want me to say that I can handle anything? Sure, I can handle it, but some things I don't like... or talk about. Do you want me to just handle it if something does happen?"
Draco felt nervous and took some deep breaths. "N-No."
Harry squeezed him harder. "I know you're strong, Draco. I know you like to pretend like nothing can hurt you, since you've been through so much. But I know there are things that you don't like... things that make you uncomfortable. And you control your reaction to them, sure, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't affect you."
Draco was silent for a long time. "I... I know Occulmency, Harry. I know how to control my fear."
"Better than me, is your implication?" Harry responded.
He swallowed and stammered, "I d-didn't mean to imply that..."
"I'm weak?"
"You're not weak, Harry. You're not," he whispered. "I've been doing mind healing for a while, now. And you... you took out so much pain and fear, Harry. You fixed me."
"So, nothing hurts you anymore?" Harry pointed out.
Draco was tense and didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry...."
Harry sighed and spoke softly. "I know, but I want to talk about things like this. You just tightened up, again. You can be afraid of things... and yes, you can use Occulmency to ignore them, but... it still triggers you."
"I... this is hard for me to understand," Draco admitted.
"Do you want me to give an example? Trigger you? I know a few after working on you for so long," Harry offered, gently.
Draco let out a breath of exhaustion. Harry was trying to connect, but he just didn't understand what the point was. Control and minimalizing things was all he knew. "Yeah..." he agreed, as he needed to see where this was going.
"You're sure?" he verified.
"Yes."
"What if I suddenly put you on your stomach without warning?" Harry said, quietly.
Draco's heart beat faster, and he sucked in a breath. He tried to control his reaction, but it wasn't easy.
"Shhh... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... you're okay. I won't do that," Harry said, rubbing his back.
"You... you made your point," Draco whispered and melted into Harry's arms, again.
"I'm sorry."
"I asked for it, but I'm okay... I promise," Draco said, and he wasn't sure if he was lying or not.
They were quiet for such a long time that, eventually, Harry said, "I have to go to work soon. I can still give you a quick massage if you need it?"
"No... I'd rather stay like this, please," Draco murmured, trying to get closer to Harry. Honestly, he was still reeling from the trigger. Harry was just as careful with him as Draco was with him.
"Are you sure you're okay? I'm really sorry."
"I am processing it all. I'm okay, though, from the trigger. You don't have to worry about that. I'm.... questioning my control over... everything."

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Healing Draco Malfoy
FanfictionHealer Potter gets a new patient in his specialized ward at St. Mungo's. He can heal injuries that no one else can and it's clear from the start that this patient is broken. Injuries and abuse dating years. He knows that he can help him and he is su...
Chapter 68
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