Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 27

Published: 7/21/2021

Harry took some deep breaths. Hermione was in his office. Gosh, he needed to get his anxiety under control. He opened the door, and Joel and Hermione were talking. Joel had taken over his desk with his exam prep books, and they were talking about his boards.

"There you are," Hermione said, looking at him.

"You just missed Ginny," he said, giving Joel a worried look. Joel arched an eyebrow and stood up, as though ready to intercede for him.

"Oh?" Hermione asked, looking at him strangely.

"Nothing serious. Just a bludger."

She nodded. "Her team has been going strong. They're the favorites for the championship."

Harry nodded and looked at the floor. Regardless of how much Draco reassured him, he couldn't help but be nervous. Seeing Draco catatonic for weeks had hurt him a lot.

"Well, can we go in?" she prompted.

"Just... be careful, okay?" he whispered.

"I will, Harry," she vowed. "I'll be as kind and compassionate as I am with you, okay?"

Harry took a few more deep breaths before Joel piped up. "Why don't I come with you?"

"Will you?" Harry asked, relieved, and Hermione gave him a look.

She nodded. "I don't mind, but I'm not going to be interrogating him, Harry."

Joel, thankfully, spoke for him, "Draco doesn't usually talk to people, and Harry's worried you might overtax him."

Hermione gave Joel a look and then looked at Harry, expectantly. He motioned for her to follow and went out the door. He poked his head into Draco's room to see if he was ready. Draco stared at him and nodded.

"Okay," Draco said, quietly.

Harry pushed open the door, and Hermione and Joel entered. He closed and locked the door.

"Hello, Draco. It's nice to see you, again," Hermione said pleasantly.

Harry turned to see his reaction, still wondering how much of the old Draco was left in him. He took his seat on his rollie stool, and Joel leaned against the wall behind them, unobtrusively.

"Recovering. You don't have to call me by my first name. I thoroughly deserve a little discourtesy," Draco responded, not meeting her eyes.

"Harry says your name all the time. I will accept any friends he has."

"Still, I called you horrible names and was nothing but a prick. I do apologize for my bad behavior."

Hermione's eyebrows raised. "Thank you, Draco. But you need not mention it anymore. It was a long time ago. And I'd be honored if you called me Hermione."

Draco's eyebrows rose this time, and he looked at her, directly. "I'll see what I can do, Hermione. Granger just sounds better. Nice rolling r sound."

Harry was surprised when Hermione laughed and said, "Yes, well, don't be surprised if my husband still calls you Malfoy."

"Right... you married. I guess I have to call you Weasley, now."

"I kept my name. I do enjoy the nice r sound," she said lightly, and Harry was almost surprised at how well that they were getting along.

Draco smirked and nodded. "What can I help you with, Madam Granger-Weasley?"

She sighed. "I want you to know that we are working hard to convict everyone at Azkaban, in or out, that knew about... what was happening. I'm so sorry that this happened to you."

"You don't have to apologize," he said, tonelessly.

"But the Ministry does."

Draco shrugged and looked away. "It wasn't like we didn't deserve it."

"No one, not Grindelwald, not Voldemort, not Morgana herself... deserves that."

Draco shrugged and met Harry's eyes. He tried to give him a reassuring nod, but Draco looked back to Hermione.

She took a deep breath. "I don't know how much Harry has been telling you about the case."

"Just that most have already been convicted, and I wasn't needed for the case."

"Correct... but I just wanted to show you the list of names, in case there was anyone that was missed?"

Draco shook his head. "Lists aren't going to help. I didn't know their names, and by the end, I wouldn't even look at them. But I saw the newspaper. You got the ones I know."

"I see," she said, quiet, now. "Is there anyone else... that you know of, that hurt you?"

"The other prisoners?" Draco muttered and wouldn't look at Harry. This was embarrassing for him. He wondered if he shouldn't be there.

"What?" Hermione said.

"The other Death Eaters. I was... open for them to use."

Hermione's eyebrows nearly shot through the ceiling. "Oh my god... you mean... I can't believe that... do you know, which ones?"

Draco tensed up in a way that Harry didn't like and then relaxed, when he met Harry's eyes. "I do... but I'm not interested in testifying."

"But will you tell me who? They are appealing their convictions, trying to get out or reduced sentences... if you tell me who, I can work to deny it to them."

Draco lowered his head and nodded. "I don't know if I remember all of them."

Hermione opened her bag and flicked through several pieces of parchment, and pulled out six pages. "Here are the admittance records for your years in the prison. You can just check off the names."

Draco frowned but accepted the parchment. Harry wasn't sure that his fingers had the fine motor function to write, yet, but he took the quill and made marks on the paper. Harry couldn't see who, but there were at least twenty people. Draco flicked through the other pages and made a few more. When he finished, he put the papers down and just stared at the names, again... zoning out. Harry almost got up to rush to him, but he snapped out of it.

"Anything else?" he said, quietly, not looking away from the parchment.

"Draco, I'm really so sorry to put you through this... but is there anyone that... well... helped you... I mean... while you were in there?"

He sighed and shook his head. Harry didn't think anyone helped him.

"I'm so sorry," she said again and took the parchment. "Now, just a few more hard questions... about your probation officer."

Draco tensed up in a bad way and frowned. "Yes?"

"Did he ever do that to you?"

"No."

"But he knew?"

"I think so," he said and looked at the floor, again.

Harry stood up, came over and slowly took his hand. "Hey... it's okay. I'm here. Look at me."

Draco did.

"You're safe, now. I promise that he won't hurt you, again. Okay? I'm here."

Draco nodded and had some tears in his eyes. "Okay...."

"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."

"I'm so sorry, Draco," Harry whispered.

"I'm not."

Harry gave him a look.

"It got me here. It got me to you, and I can do this, now," Draco said, wiggling his fingers. "It was worth it... to be here with you."

Harry stared at him and felt his heart stutter. It sounded like... he didn't just mean... as a healer. Harry didn't think he could talk after that and was surely blushing. He looked down and massaged his hand more.

"Draco," Hermione said, stepping to Draco's other side. "You didn't try to commit suicide?"

"No. I couldn't. I mean I would have... though. If I could."

Harry started shaking. "Draco...."

"I didn't think I'd ever get better, Harry. That I'd never walk or talk, again. You saved me... in every way. But, I won't ever do that, I promise."

Harry let out a brief sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"I was in incredible pain when I first arrived, Harry... pain that I thought was never going to end. I'm sorry I made you worry."

"Draco... I'm sorry, I need a clear statement about McGrath," Hermione pressed.

"McGarth tried to kill me by throwing me out of my own house's window and left me splattered on my terrace for three days, hoping I'd die. Is that direct enough?"

"Yes, thank you. Harry has made it clear that you don't want to testify... but I wanted to...."

"No," Draco interruptted, quickly.

Hermione grimaced. "I understand your reluctance...."

"You don't understand anything, Granger. I have no desire to be pulled apart on the witness stand for your notion of justice. To have everything that I went through pulled out of me? No. I don't want to be under the scrutiny of the same pricks who sent me to that hell and ask them to believe me. No. I'm a Death Eater, Granger. They don't care," he spat and wouldn't meet any of their eyes.

"We got all of the guards of Azkaban convicted... even some who just knew about it. It won't be as bad as you think," she said.

"You had evidence against them. Not just my word."

"Draco, you have to underst-"

"Hermione!" Harry growled protectively.

"I'm sorry... but let me say this, please. Draco, if you don't testify, I can only get him on a few minor charges... he'll only get a few years for it. With an attempted murder conviction, he'd be looking at twenty-five to life. We really do need your testimony."

Draco shook his head, and Harry felt how tight his muscles were. His tearful eyes met his, and Harry started shaking, too. He didn't want this to go on.

Joel was the one who spoke, though, "I think that's enough for today, Madam Granger."

Everyone glanced back at him, and Hermione nodded. "Very well. Thank you, Draco... you were very helpful. I'm sorry if I upset you," she said.

"It's okay," he murmured, and Harry could see how hurt he was, no matter how much he tried to deny it. His eyes went to the safe corner, and that's when Harry knew it was bad.

"I'll talk to you later, Harry," she said, and he only nodded.

"I'll show you out, ma'am," Joel said, and they both left.

Harry looked at Draco, who brought his arms tight to his chest, again. Safety. He just wanted to be safe. Harry wheeled the chair over to the other side, where Draco was looking and slowly took his other hand. He massaged it and let Draco mull over what happened.

"I can't... I can't do it, Harry. Please don't make me," he pleaded, tears coming out.

"I won't. I won't make you do that. I'm sorry... I tried to tell her that... but she didn't believe me."

Draco slowly looked at him. "I know you did. I know you protect me. She needed to hear it from me, and that's okay."

"You're upset... Draco... I'm sorry... I didn't want to do this to you."

"It's okay, Harry."

"No... it isn't. None of it is," Harry growled.

Draco looked back to the corner. Harry's stomach dropped.

"Shit... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to...."

Draco looked at him, again, and his eyes watered. "Harry... I'm only here... because of you. Because of your kindness, your heart... don't get mad about the things that happened."

"I don't want people to get away with this."

"They haven't, Harry. People know what they've done. The people who hurt me in prison are caught. I'm fine with McGrath only getting a few years. I just want to be...."

"Safe," Harry finished.

Draco nodded, tears glistening in his eyes, and his hand moved up to cup Harry's face. "You know... it wasn't what he did that made me upset. It was remembering my mother... being in front of her, unable to talk to her... unable to move. That was the moment... I gave up."

Harry's eyes widened. "Draco...."

"But then... I came here... and you... damn it, Harry... I can't explain what you've done for me."

"I think you have, Draco. You've helped me so much, but you're going to walk out of here with your head high."

Draco suddenly grasped his hand. "Harry... we'll still be... I mean after... you'll still want to... I need you."

Harry's eyes filled with tears, relieved that Draco was as concerned as him about his final recovery. "Yes, Draco... we'll still be together. I need you, too. It won't end after you get released. Besides... we have a standing appointment... Friday morning massage."

Draco breathed easier. "You're the only one I have, Harry."

"I know, Draco. I won't leave you... as I hope you won't leave me."

"No... never. Harry... can you... stay here a bit?"

"Yeah, of course."

Draco scooted over, almost inviting him in. "I just... want... to be held."

Harry's heart just melted. He locked the door and then curled up in bed next to Draco. He slipped his arms around him and pulled him into his chest. Draco let out a sigh of relief, gripping Harry's robes tightly. His head tucked under his chin, as he quietly sobbed. Harry couldn't imagine anyone as strong as Draco was... to survive six years of torture, only to be nearly killed once he had gotten out.

Harry held him tightly. Whispered that he was always going to be there for him... that he was safe, and no one would hurt him again. Things that he couldn't guarantee, really, but he would try to keep... with every fiber of his being.