Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 37

Published: February 14th, 2022

Draco pressed his legs harder, forced Harry's hands backward, determined to build his strength more. Harry wasn't providing much resistance, just holding his feet in the air. Making his muscles work right was taking longer than he had thought, but Draco focused on the goal at the end of the tunnel. So while Harry feared his release... he was driving toward it, as fast as he could. If he could deal with Azkaban, he could fight through the rehab. It was only sore until Harry gave him a massage at the end.

He knew that Harry's magic was the only reason he was progressing as fast as he was. Harry could heal the small tears and stress from his body essentially hitting muscle failure over and over, again. From his quidditch training, he knew that sore muscles took two to three days to heal, if not longer, but Harry healed it all in seconds. The potions were helping tremendously, too. They were filled with protein and minerals to enhance and promote growth.

But it still was a lot of pain at the moment and actively pushing past it. In Azkaban, he just had to endure, but now it was about not giving up. He just had to look at Harry, and his smile, whenever he broke through a plateau to keep pushing forward. Draco didn't rank or track his failures (or successes as Harry liked to call them) as he didn't see the importance of most of the exercises. He was currently pushing Harry's hands backward in a "leg press" exercise.

"You can go further, Draco... push!"

Draco resisted the urge to snap back. It was difficult to make his muscles move in that way, much less press the limits of his strength, too. Harry was still a bit sensitive, too, even though it had been three days since... that day. They had just fallen back into their regular routine after that hard talk that they had that night. Reporters were now a frequent security threat, though restricted officially to the lobby and cafeteria. Some were able to slip past security, posing as visitors or even patients. Draco had a feeling that Higgs was assisting them, too.

Just wait, he told himself, and he pushed his legs harder, earning another smile from Harry. His legs were shaking from that effort, and Harry slowly set his legs down on the mattress.

"That was great, Draco," he said.

Draco, again, refrained from swearing at him. Harry didn't need abuse from him, though he hated the pep talk. What he enjoyed was the sappy, happy look on his face, not the unintentional condescension afterward.

"You haven't been complaining as much," Harry said, massaging his now sore and achy legs.

"You don't deserve that abuse," Draco muttered.

Harry's eyes locked with his. "I do want you to tell me your limits, Draco."

"I don't have limits, Pottah," he drawled, getting another big grin from Harry for a second, before he grimaced, again.

"You haven't been doing it since..." Harry broke off and didn't finish the sentence. They both knew when.

"I don't want to... make it uncomfortable for you."

Harry nodded, hitting a pretty sore spot in his hamstring, and Draco groaned in relief. "You don't have to... keep quiet."

"I shouldn't blame you, either, when you're helping me."

Harry looked at him. "You're not really blaming me, Draco. You're blaming yourself, your muscles and the people who did this to you."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Maybe... but I'm directing it at you."

Harry stopped and took a seat in his rolly chair, going next to him. "Draco... I'm a healer. I know that. I want you to complain... to yell at me for annoying you, or how much you hate the exercises."

Draco gave him a look. Who would want that?

Harry lowered his head. "I like hearing you talk, especially when you're trying to get out of something," Harry murmured and bit his lip, before continuing. "You... haven't been able to use your voice for such a long time, that it's a relief when you do... even when it's just talking back and bickering with me. It makes me happy. I don't want you to... grin and bear it like you had to do for your whole life, Draco."

Draco's mouth popped open a little in shock. All he could do was stare at him.

Harry's eyes were wet, when he whispered. "I want to make you stronger... not just physically. You shouldn't have to suffer in silence... or have people hurt you without you being able to use your voice... for any reason. I want you to use your voice, Draco. I want you to tell me that you're upset or uncomfortable, without fear of reprisal. And I will always give you positive encouragement, though I know you hate it, because I'm pretty sure that no one has given it to you before."

Draco felt some tears fall, and he wiped them away. Damn, he didn't know what to say to that. He nodded and whispered, "Thank you."

Harry nodded. "It seems we both like to hide our pain from each other, but it doesn't really do us any good. So, please don't be worried about telling me what's wrong, and I'll try not to do it, too."

Draco blinked and nodded.

"How are your legs?"

"Still sore... could you...?"

Harry smiled. "Of course, your highness."

"Shut up, minion."

Harry chuckled and then really loosened his sore muscles, while he hummed in relief. Draco definitely mulled over what Harry had said, about using his voice and about not hiding stuff. He hadn't told Harry about what Blaise was doing. He didn't want to get Harry's hopes up, only for it to go nowhere. But wasn't that exactly what Harry had tried to do for him? He hadn't liked it, either, though this time there wasn't really any risk to them, short of dashed hopes.

When Harry finished up his limbs, he took his hand for a small massage. Harry had explained that his hands would need a lot of healing massages to recover from all the abuse that they had endured. He was confident that Draco would have a full recovery, but they would be stiff with arthritis-like pain until they were back up to full strength and dexterity.

"Better?" Harry asked, though Draco was practically purring.

"It's always better when you're doing this," Draco scoffed.

"Of course, but your legs?"

"Still dead weight... but better, thank you."

Harry sighed. "They're not dead... just... tired."

"Dead tired," Draco snorted and Harry snickered.

"Look... I think... umm... tomorrow... I think that we can try to get you into a wheelchair," Harry said, staring at Draco's hand as he continued to massage it.

Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. That had come out of nowhere. Harry was nervous, but he was still awkward about Draco taking such steps toward his eventual departure. Draco waited for him to finish.

Harry still wasn't looking at him. "I mean... just for a bit. You can try it for a few hours and even eat sitting up, properly, at a table. You'll get some exercise getting in and out of bed and lifting upward in your chair, and you could try moving the wheels, too. It'll give you some freedom, and I think you'll enjoy it."

Draco swallowed hard. Mobility... real mobility. He hadn't had the ability to move on his own in over five years. He took a shaky breath. "Yeah... I'd like that."

Harry smiled and wiped his eyes, too. "Alright. I'm going to expand your room, today. I'll start setting up the room for your physical training. You're not ready for bars, but I'll put a table and make room for you to wheel around freely. There's even a way to exercise in the wheelchair without it moving and stuff. The chair will have lift features to get you in and out of bed, safely, though I will layer the floor in Cushioning Charms, too."

"That sounds great, Harry," Draco said, getting excited about tomorrow.

"There are a few things that we need to talk about though..." Harry said, dramatically pausing.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes?"

Harry chuckled. "Alright... you have to promise not to try to stand up, or get out of your chair, until I'm here and say it's okay to try, alright?"

"You already ordered me not to."

"I need to make sure you understand that you can injure yourself and, unless you want me to ward everything in Cushioning Charms, I want you to promise, again."

"I promise I will not try to stand up until you say it's okay... is that good enough?" Draco huffed.

"Fine. But Draco... I know that you're under the belief that you can't be injured, but you could hit your head or cause a painful injury."

"Holy Merlin! I said I won't do it. I think you worry too much."

"Maybe I am, but your body is weak, Draco. Frankly, I have no idea how your body survived that fall, with your body as frail as it was when you arrived. I do have a theory..." he paused and waited for Draco to look at him. "I think it's because it happened at your house. I-Hermione... she once told me about Childproofing Charms in magical homes when Rose was born."

Draco leaned back and nodded. Damn. "That makes sense. Magical homes have innate protection charms woven into the bricks. I fell down the main staircase a few times when I was younger and didn't need to see a healer. Mother was always protective of me, and I'm sure she cast plenty of Cushioning Charms."

Harry nodded. "A normal body wouldn't have been hurt with a Cushioning Charm, but you weren't healthy... so it nearly killed you."

Draco nodded. He was glad he understood how he had survived, but cringed remembering the agony he had gone through. "It makes sense."

"So, my point is that your body isn't back to normal. So please be careful, okay?"

"Yes, mother."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Next thing... you'll eventually be able to roll around on your own. I'm not going to lock your door... but please... please, don't leave the ward without me, Joel or Nat. And especially don't leave the hospital... with Blaise or alone."

"I'm not going anywhere, Harry," Draco said, seeing that Harry needed reassurance.

"I want you to have freedom, but listen... if the head healer thinks you're mobile enough... she might order you discharged or ready for Mental Health review. I'm trying to get that requirement removed or wait until Joel gets his mind healing license, but I don't want you to be discharged."

"I understand," Draco said, and made eye contact as Harry was starting to panic at the thought. "I will not try to leave even this room, okay?"

Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks. Plus, the reporters still try to get in my ward... so...."

"I can handle them, Harry. Please don't worry. Besides, I'm not likely going to wander off with no protection am I?" he grunted, and Harry gave him a look.

"Okay. Well, we can do more exercises after lunch, okay?"

"Really? More exercises? Haven't I done enough today?" Draco huffed.

Harry raised an eyebrow and Draco smirked.

"You said that you wanted me to complain."

"I did," Harry acknowledged, and then went off for his morning appointments.

Joel stopped by for his lesson and a not-so-subtle counseling session. Joel was really concerned by his withdraw from everyone when Harry had disappeared. Draco had to admit that it was helping to talk to the kid. He made everything seem easier. Draco even told him about what he and Harry talked about, which had always seemed so private, but Joel had told him that open conservations were always the best conversations. The only thing they hadn't talked about so far was what happened at Azkaban. Draco guessed that Joel wasn't going to bring that up until he did.

Harry ate lunch with him and Joel, ordering room service as Harry never went out anymore. He even flooed to Granger and Weasley's house instead of Apparating straight home. Harry set up the Extension Charms, conjured a table with two chairs and a few other exercise things that Draco had no idea what they did. Joel had to remind both him and Harry that this was an important step, but Draco could see that Harry was sad. Harry really needed to talk about his feelings, but he hadn't even entertained the idea of counseling or quitting his drinking.

One step at a time, Draco thought, but his mind ventured back to what Harry had said in their morning session and what Joel said about open conversations. He needed to tell Harry what he knew and was planning. No more surprises or hiding things for the other's good. He knew that there were things that they just couldn't discuss, yet. He was still Harry's patient and, by necessity, they would have to wait until he wasn't. Draco hated waiting, and was determined to get out of the hospital as quickly as possible.

Harry returned at the end of the day to torture him or, rather, run him through his physical training exercises. Draco argued with him for every rep, and Harry was just soaking it all in. Draco was surprised that he hadn't noticed that Harry was never upset when Draco complained before. He needed to pay attention better. Harry finished the torture with another soothing massage, and then he sat down on his stool.

"How you feeling?" he asked.

"Good, thank you," Draco said, easing back into his pillows.

"No problem. I'll bring the wheelchair in the morning and let you get used to it with Joel until lunch. If you're doing alright then, we can do some light exercises in the chair for your noon session, and then do the normal exercises at the end."

"Sounds good, Harry," he said.

Harry nodded and then fell into a sullen silence, no doubt concerned about his progression. Draco would have felt just as apprehensive if he was unsure of what would happen after he was healed. Patience, he told himself, again. After Azkaban, he had plenty of patience and would need it for what was to come. He had written to his new solicitors (delivered by Blaise) about MMMB rules and Patils were fairly certain of the criteria they would need to have to avoid an inquiry. Draco was already making those plans, too. That stuff would have to stay under wraps for now, but Harry deserved to know about Higgs.

"Harry?" Draco said, and Harry looked at him, ready to listen to anything. "You mentioned this morning... about not hiding things?"

Harry nodded, now tense.

"Blaise... has been stopping by after you go home."

Harry's eyebrow quirked, and he nodded. "I see. I don't mind. Of course, it's okay if he comes to see you... and I'm not mad at him or anything."

Draco smirked. "No, I mean it's about... well... you remember that I had Blaise check into what was going on... with you?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I asked him... to look into Higgs, too."

Harry straightened up. "Look into? Or is that a euphemism for something?"

Draco laughed. "Kinda, just investigate him. Blaise put a private inspector, an ex-Auror, on him... before the trial had even started."

Harry grimaced. "Okay?"

"He followed him... to a restaurant one night, about a week before your trial."

Harry froze, somewhat expecting the revelation that was coming.

"He had dinner with two people: Grayson Runcorn and Kevin Bletchley," Draco said, and Harry's eyes widened. "Blaise didn't think anything of it, cause they all were friends, if you didn't know. Kevin's younger brother is Miles Bletchley. You might remember him from school? Higgs was a seventh year when we started, but Runcorn was two years older... and was on the Slytherin team, with Higgs. I'm sure they knew Kevin as Miles was also on the Slytherin team."

"Draco?" Harry whispered, as though seeing where this was heading.

"After the trial happened, Blaise watched the memory from the private inspector, as he was close enough to see and hear them. Blaise said that he saw Higgs pass a roll of parchment to Runcorn. Higgs told Runcorn that he needed him to get that admitted into record. Bletchley said that it couldn't happen, but Runcorn said he could get it in if Bletchley raised no objections during the questioning. Said that he just needed to get you to identify it... and he could get "it" in, as he held up the roll of parchment."

Harry's jaw dropped. "They set me up."

Draco nodded. "Bletchley even asked what was in it for him as he was risking a lot by losing the trial. Higgs and Runcorn both offered support for his upcoming Wizengamot bid. Higgs even suggested tipping off Skeeter to have a camera there. But then Bletchley said that he wanted a thousand galleons from McGrath and Runcorn nodded."

Harry's eyes, thankfully, darkened. "Those bastards... I...."

Draco huffed. "Blaise and his PI made an appointment to see Granger and Kingsley next Monday... but if you wanted to stop it...."

"Stop it? Why would I do that?"

"It's your life, Harry. It's another scandal. It's another round of stories."

"I don't care. Bletchley took a bribe! It's one thing if he crucified me, but it's another to be a corrupt asshole. Who knows who he let go...."

Draco smiled. He loved seeing Harry this focused. "Blaise's inspector gathered a good amount of evidence. But the concern is that Higgs is the weakest case. We don't have anything to show that he bribed a government official, except the offer of support. At least that is what my solicitor says."

"You have a solicitor?"

"Yeah, two, actually. The Patil twins? I hope you don't mind them."

"No, they're cool... but what about Higgs?"

"It just might be harder to convict him for bribing a government official, but Padma said that he'll probably lose his healer's license, if we can convince the board that he handed over your scan to Runcorn."

Harry nodded. "It's better than nothing."

Draco grimaced. "She did suggest... flipping Runcorn."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"We got Runcorn and Bletchley cold on bribery. Gringotts confirmed the transaction. But she said that we could offer a lesser sentence to Runcorn to get Higgs, too. There is a slew of lesser crimes that he could be charged with... if Runcorn will admit that the scan was yours... that Higgs told him what to ask. I think Granger would probably insist on including you in that decision."

"I'll think about it," Harry muttered.

"Okay... I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but it wasn't a sure case."

"It's fine. I just... I hope this works after everything. He's the one who caused all this."

"I hope so too...."

Hey, just recommending an in-progress 온라인카지노게임 that is really good. It's about Harry taking care of Draco (kinda like this 온라인카지노게임). It's Alpha/Omega dynamics, but nothing crazy. Draco was kidnapped and held captive for 11 years, having three cute kids during their imprisonment. Harry becomes his support Alpha to help them recover. Family fluff. It's on AO3. My Shining Stars by Hufflepuff_Romantic. It's been updating every week.