Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 31

"I fucking hate you," Draco hissed.

Harry had to refrain from smiling as Draco had taken to saying that at least five times a day, now. Luckily it was only when they were doing exercises that he didn't like to do. "Come on, one more rep. No slacking off."

"I'm not slacking off!"

"Sure... come on. You can do it," Harry coaxed.

Draco sighed and slowly raised his leg off the bed. He got four inches, and it crashed to the bed.

"Excellent! See?"

"Still hurt," he pouted.

"I know, but a few more exercises and it's time for your massage."

Draco smiled, but frowned as there was still more to do. "How many?"

"Three."

"Three?" Draco growled. "No, two...."

"Draco, no cheating."

"You never let me relax. Damnit... I want a day off," Draco pouted, not-at-all adoringly.

Harry had to refrain from smiling, again. It was never a good idea to laugh at a patient. "Hey, come on...."

"Don't 'come on' me. I'm tired of being in pain every time you come."

Harry sighed and was a little curious about Draco's word choice. He hated it, too. Draco's bad mood ended as soon as the therapy sessions were over. Still, he was a little more cankerous, today. He attributed Draco's grumpiness to the fact that McGrath's trial had started, but truthfully, Draco had been getting more and more frustrated by his limitations. But Draco wanted a day off. Two birds and one stone, Harry thought, as he wasn't going to be here tomorrow morning anyway.

"I'll make you a deal. We do your three rounds today... and I'll let you have tomorrow off from exercises."

Draco took a deep breath and eyed him, suspiciously. He didn't expect that. "Really?"

"Yep, no stretching, turning or straightening. Only a massage, if you want it."

He considered the options. "And no extra stuff today or two days from now to make up for it?"

"Covering your bases, Draco? But no extra or new exercises. A day off to relax, but come on, do this lateral raise."

Draco reluctantly did it. Harry worked him through that, dips and overhead presses to end his workout. Harry massaged his arms and then his leg muscles as Draco contently moaned until there was a knock at the door. Zabini had arrived. He had taken to coming every Tuesday and Thursday before his morning classes started.

"Blaise, you're early," Draco said, as Harry finished his legs.

"Yeah, sorry. Just came from Theo's. He got your file. Morning, Potter, I mean Harry."

Harry glanced up, but kept working. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No, what for?" Draco said, suspiciously nonchalant. Harry had a feeling that Draco wanted him to stay to talk more with Blaise. Draco wanted him and Blaise to become friends.

Although knowing that, it didn't make Harry feel any less awkward. He just wanted to be invisible around them. "Well, I... didn't know... if..." he rambled, not looking at either of them.

"Harry, it's just my finances. I need to know where I stand. I don't care if you know."

"Oh, that's a good idea. Well, I can finish this later," Harry said, relieved as he actually needed to finialize his final reports for the trial.

Draco snorted. "But there's no slacking, Harry."

Harry smiled at him but paused unsure if Draco really meant for him to stay. He couldn't look either of them in the eye.

"Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath and slowly met his eyes.

"I'll see you later, okay?" Draco said, softly.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, Draco. Bye, Blaise," he just mumbled before he left. He went to his office, and Joel was waiting for him.

"Did you tell him?" Joel asked, hopefully.

"No," Harry said. "I'm not going to. Will you be here tomorrow morning? Let him know that I'm okay?"

"I think I should come with you, Harry. Nat can tell him."

Harry shook his head. If he came with him, then people might assume that Joel is his mind healer. He didn't need to cause more speculation.

"Please don't come. I'd appreciate it, but it'd only cause more drama. Would you mind getting an extra Calming Potion for me?"

"Of course. Harry, I think this is going to be harder than you realize."

"I know, but Draco needs to be able to sleep at night, knowing that the man that tried to kill him is put away for life."

"It's not a sure thing," Joel said, trying to prepare him.

"But there's also the chance it could work."

Joel nodded. "I hope it does. Send me a Patronus... if you need me, alright?"

Harry nodded and Joel left. Nat brought him a spiked tea, which Harry wasn't sure why she liked giving his Calming Draught in his tea, but it was good. After just the first swallow, he could breathe easier. The trial now seemed a distant thing, not to be concerned with, and Blaise was a good guy. Heck, Blaise was even trying to be nice. Still, he represented everything that Harry feared: a strong, confident personality, a former enemy, and most of all, he was Draco's soon-to-be-liberator.

Harry couldn't let that fear go... that Blaise was there to take Draco home... away from him. Harry had to push those feelings aside, though. Draco's needs were more important. Draco had to leave the hospital and move on with his life. He didn't need to be trapped like Harry was. Harry took another long drink. Draco was going to leave him one day. He knew that. He might as well accept it, no matter how much it hurt.

***

"I swear I wasn't trying to be... me," Blaise said, after Harry left.

"I don't think it's just that. He's been getting worse, but you are so... you," Draco muttered.

"I am. Alright, here's the file for your perusing. You're still rich, and the manor is in your name, as all properties reverted to you upon your mother's death. Unfortunately, there were some legal shenanigans at the Ministry during those years, and certain accounts mysteriously disappeared. Theo's paying for Gringotts to audit your probate arbitration. As you were detained at her death, there was a procedure that was supposed to be followed. Namely, you signing things, you appointing a guardian or conservator of your estate, or they had to appoint one. They didn't."

"Interesting."

"I got your solicitor, too. Two, actually. Go-getters who were friends with Potter. Remember the Patil sisters? They started their own firm and are quite good. Padma is relentless on the legal side, and Parvati is good at swaying the court. I explained what I could to them, but they're looking into your case for... everything. They can smell blood in the water."

"You think we can win?"

"The law is the law. Public opinion doesn't control it that much. From estate mishandling, corruption, thief, wrongful confinement, and about a hundred other things."

Draco nodded. "I don't want to go in front of the Wizengamot, Blaise."

"I know, but threats work, too."

"They do. Just tell Padma and Parvati not to overplay their hand. I'm not willing to even go disposition."

"I know. I will tell them. I also... made contact with Higgs."

"What kind?"

"Just informational. Casually referenced you and his involvement. I might have subtly warned him what happens if he keeps messing with you. He got offended by that. Saying he was older, and he has rank and blah blah. He's a thick one. I'll give you that. Theo's pulling his records, too. I mean... Theo's not pulling anyone's records, cause that is wrong."

Draco smiled. He wanted Higgs under control or gone.

"I also hired a shadow."

Draco looked at him. He didn't see how tracking Higgs's movements would yield anything. "You can use my money. I'm not lacking."

"No, Draco. Consider my penitence for not keeping track of you."

"They might have killed me, if you had tried to help, just to avoid legal entanglements. The only reason they let me go is that I didn't talk, and they wanted me to die outside of the prison. There was nothing you could have done, short of breaking into the prison and becoming a wanted criminal."

"Tempting," Blaise said and shook his head. "Those fuckers deserve more than life."

Draco nodded. "Harry... had to convince me to tell him what happened."

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Cause they broke me, Blaise."

His best friend's eyes were full of sympathy, and he edged closer. "Draco...."

Draco leaned back further into his pillows. "Harry's the only reason I'm here."

"Joel said that... well, said that you only started talking because of him."

"He was so... careful, and it's hard to be scared of someone who is just as afraid as I was. He's getting worse. Not just with you... with everyone. He could barely meet my eyes after you came in."

"He feels threatened by me. Maybe I should come after he goes home?"

"It's not just you. Harry's hiding something. Guilt is another thing he carries."

"I see. Well, I can get a shadow for him, too?"

"No, definitely not. He'll notice and freak out. Try talking to his friends."

"Go talk to the Head Auror and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Suurrre. I still have a bad rep cause of my mum, Draco. I can't just walk into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and ask to see them without an appointment."

"Blaise...."

"I will try... but it might take a few days or weeks as they are not idle drones at the Ministry. Granger is still waging war against corruption, and Weasley forgets that he is Head Auror and can delegate. He goes on nearly all the missions that come up. I'm not exactly a buddy of theirs to drop in and ask about their best friend."

"His sister?"

"Ginny "Quidditch Extraordinaire" Weasley? She's the top Chaser in league. And you got every magazine of her next to your bed for some reason."

"Potter offered me reading material," Draco huffed, but Blaise was right. Granger and the Weasleys were influential people now. It would take time. "Just when you can, alright?"

Blaise grimaced. "I might be able to speed along introductions and arrange a private audience."

"And the catch is?"

"I'd have to explain why. I promised your mind healer and Potter that I wouldn't... discuss your case."

Draco nodded. "It's okay, Blaise. Just about everyone knows what happened."

"And... I'd have to break my promise to you not to talk about Potter."

Draco frowned. "You'd have to reveal that?"

"No, but my plan would involve him taking me to Granger and Weasley to find out what is happening with the Chosen One... he'll probably find out."

"Do you trust him?"

"More than I trust myself, and he knows Potter and is friends with him, too."

Draco raised an eyebrow. That limited the number of choices of who it could be. Harry didn't have many friends anymore. His anxiety drove nearly everyone away. "And who... is this guy?"

Blaise sighed and looked down, embarrassed. "He's... I mean, we're together... at Hogwarts. But he's shy and doesn't want everyone to know."

"The professor," Draco recalled.

"Yeah, he teaches Herbology. Sprout retired," Blaise said, leaving it hanging.

"Okay?" Draco said and tried to think of Potter's friends, and who knew Herbology. He jolted when he figured it out. "Longbottom?"

Blaise smirked and nodded.

"Neville Longbottom? Your boyfriend is Neville Longbottom?" Draco repeated, aghast.

"Stranger things have happened. Besides, his confidence has gotten better since he beheaded Voldemort's pet snake."

Draco smiled, but then sighed. "I mercilessly bullied him in school, Blaise. I doubt he wants to help me."

"He's not a grudge-holding type, but that's my only non-nefarious means to get to Potter's mates."

"It's fine, if you're willing to do it. Please, Blaise, I want to know what is wrong."

"Okay, I'll ask him tonight. We have a lot to talk about... as we kinda been avoiding talking about the past. I think we should be able to meet Granger or Weasley tomorrow."

"Thank you, Blaise."

"I have to get back to class. My first class is starting soon."

Draco could recognize that he was forcing Blaise to out his relationship. "You don't have to do this. I don't want it to affect your relationship with Longbottom."

"It'll be in a good way, Draco. We need to talk about it. So, don't worry," Blaise said and met his eyes. "It'll help us, really. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with him knowing."

"It's fine, but you haven't brought up Longbottom, I mean Neville, before now, Blaise."

"I... I really like him, Draco, and he's shy and hasn't come out yet."

"I won't tell anyone."

"Yes, but he hasn't got the words out to tell his friends."

Draco sighed. "If you didn't want to put him through it, Blaise, why'd you bring it up? Just write Granger and Weasley a letter. Granger is competent enough to read her owls."

"No... I don't mind asking Neville. I was just explaining why I hadn't brought him up before..." Blaise said, softly. "...and why he might be reluctant to do it. But Neville... he's a good guy. He'll do it, if only for me."

Blaise had changed, Draco noted. Maybe a bit of that curse-happy, Slytherin, pureblood remained, but Blaise had grown for the better.

"Thank you for telling me. If Neville wants to stay out of it, or tell other people about me... he's well within his rights after the hell I put him through during school."

"He doesn't hold that against you... or me. He's really... a good soul. I can't even describe it."

Draco smirked. "You're in love."

Blaise's cheeks darkened slightly, but he smiled. "I think I am."

"I'm happy for you."

"And Potter?" Blaise hedged, watching his reaction closely.

Draco gave him a look, and he knew that he was blushing, too. "It's... too early for us. Harry will get fired if he acknowledges it. So, I have to get out of here first before we say anything. I won't cost him his job."

"I see, but you love him, right?" Blaise said, with a sappy smile on his face.

"Shut up... and yes, I think I am. But we have a mountain of shit to get through, and we haven't come close to bringing it up. Not to mention... neither one of us is ready for... intimacy... after everything that has happened."

"Understandable. But you have a mind healer, right?"

"Joel."

"And he seemed chummy with Potter."

Draco sighed. "To put it simply, we aren't really interested in help, right now."

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... that is smart."

"We did what we had to... to survive. Letting people in isn't easy for him or me."

"Yeah... but I'm worried about you," his best friend said, staring at him with a pitying look.

Draco nodded. "I know, but I'll be fine."

"I've seen you drift out, Draco," Blaise said, and Draco had to stop his knee-jerk reaction to look away to a safe spot.

"I can't talk about it, Blaise. It's just ... easier with Harry."

"So, you and Potter do talk?"

"Sometimes. He's been hard to talk to for a while, now."

"I d-don't want to make you upset... but what did I say that... triggered you? I don't want to do it, again."

"Greg's dad," he replied, quietly.

Blaise's forehead furrowed in confusion. He didn't understand, but nodded and was going to leave it there.

Draco appreciated that, but little things didn't bug him if he was prepared beforehand. "They let the other prisoners... have me."

Blaise's eyes immediately darkened. "I fucking swear to you, Draco. Damnit, give me leave, and I'll make every day they live pure agony for you."

Draco's heart was warmed by his dedication. "I can't. You're out of that life now, professor. To inspire kids to become Aurors and Gringotts executives."

Blaise snorted and said, slyly, "I inspire them to be devious."

"I bet."

"I really need to go. I'll ask him, and we'll try to see them tomorrow."

"Thanks," Draco said, relieved, but at the same time, he felt Blaise was going to be too late.