Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 45

Published: July 7th, 2022

After Harry watched Draco fall asleep under the potion, Joel asked him where he wanted to go. Harry knew there was no way he could keep his promise to Draco if he went home. So, he just said Ron's. Joel sent a Patronus to Ron, and he replied that they were glad he wanted to stay with them. After leaving some instructions for Draco's care with Nat, Harry went to his office's floo. Joel followed him to Ron's and said he wouldn't leave until they came.

However, before Harry could even wind down, Molly suddenly came through the floo with her grandkids. They were surprised to find them there, but the kids were ecstatic to see him. Joel introduced himself to Molly as Harry's friend from work and said they were meeting Ron and Hermione. Molly gave him a hug as a hello and explained that these last few days had been hectic for Ron and Hermione, too. she thought they needed a good meal.

It was nice of her to do that for Ron and Hermione, as Harry knew they probably had barely eaten or slept since the MMMB detained him.

However, Harry hadn't seen Molly in months and not since the news broke about what had happened to him five years ago. Worse, she looked ready to cry whenever he caught her eye, so he just focused on the kids. After a bit of awkwardness, Molly finally said that she would get started on dinner. Harry just stayed in the den with his niece and nephew, as he didn't want to be cornered by his adopted mum.

Harry thanked Joel and said he should take off, as Molly wouldn't leave until her son and daughter-in-law got home. Joel was also now the only mind healer left in the hospital, so he really did need to go. Joel was hesitant at first, but he left after handing him another vial of Calming Draught. After he flooed out, Rose and Hugo tried to draw his attention to their playhouse in the corner. As happy as he was to see them, he was finding it hard to keep his mind on their games.

When Molly finished dinner, she had them sit down to eat. Harry sat between the kids, who had cottoned on that something was wrong, though they didn't know what it was. Harry tried not to let it show how much he was hurting, but Rose was a little too perceptive. She knew he was upset, but luckily, she had some of her mother's tact. After dinner, she corralled Hugo into her room for the night, which Rose never usually allowed. Harry missed their presence and turned back to wash up, but Molly had deftly cleaned the kitchen in seconds flat. She walked into the den to tidy and he followed.

She dusted the picture frames with a wave of her wand and sighed as she straightened them. "I'm sorry for bursting in on you, Harry. I wasn't expecting you to be here. The kids wanted to see their parents tonight... as they stayed over at my house last night. Hugo, especially, was being fussy. I thought that it'd be fine if we...."

"It is fine, Molly," Harry said, quietly, as he sat on the couch. "It's always nice to see them, and it's their house. I know Hermione and Ron will be glad to see them when they get home."

She sat next to him. "Harry... are you... okay?"

Harry trembled. "No, but I'm getting better. It's been... rough."

Molly turned and opened her arms in an invitation, and Harry leaned in and accepted it. She held him for a long time, and he just cried into her shoulder. She didn't make him tell her anything. They sat on the couch for nearly an hour not speaking before Ron and Hermione flooed in.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, as she laid eyes on him.

"Mum?" Ron said at the same time.

"Are the kids fine?" Hermione followed up, concerned, and Molly put her hand up.

"Yes, they are. I'm sorry that I didn't send a message, but the children missed you. I surprised Harry here, but I made sure he got some food in him," she explained, patting his hand. "There's some on the table under a Status Spell for you, too."

"That's great, mum..." Ron said, glancing at his wife, and he looked around the room. "So... where are the kids?"

"Rose and Hugo went to her room a while ago," she said, gripping Harry's hand hard.

"Together?" Hermione asked.

"Willingly?" Ron clarified, as Hermione rushed to check on them.

Harry suddenly panicked that something had happened and he wasn't paying attention, but Hermione returned after a minute, unconcerned.

"Hugo's asleep and Rose was nearly out, too," she said, confused. "He was in her bed. Were they... okay, Molly? They haven't shared a bed in two years."

"Yes, they just miss you," she said, as she squeezed Harry's hand, again.

Harry looked guilty, but Ron chuckled, "Kids like to surprise ya. I'll go kiss them goodnight, hon, and I'll get some stuff for Harry."

Ron walked down the hallway, and Harry looked down. Hermione took the other seat next to him and took his other hand.

"I'm glad you're staying here, Harry. How are you doing?" she asked.

"Surviving. Thanks for...."

"It's nothing."

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry, I think I made the kids... worry."

"It's not your fault," Hermione assured him.

"They'll be fine. Children are resilient, and they're just worried about you," Molly said, and clapped her hand on top of his. When Ron came back with blankets and a pillow, she let go. "I'll leave you with them, Harry. You three were always a team. But I do love you, Harry. Please stop by more often, if only for some dinner. You need some meat on your bones."

He just nodded, and she flooed home. Ron set the stuff on a chair and took her spot.

"Thanks... Draco said I shouldn't be alone," Harry said, not meeting his eyes. He hated being so vulnerable.

"You can stay here as long as you want, Harry," Ron said and Hermione squeezed his hand. "If it wasn't so late, I would set you up Hugo's room, but...."

"Don't bother. I didn't sleep at all last night, and you guys probably didn't either. I'll be out in a jiff."

"Okay, Harry. Do you need anything?"

"No... just... I'll put upwards. I don't want to scare the kids."

Ron nodded, understandingly. "Alright, let's get yeh settled."

Harry stood up and started to put up the Silencing Wards. Hermione Transfigured the couch into a small bed, while Ron spread a bottom sheet it and laid down a pillow. Harry collapsed on the makeshift couch bed, and Ron draped a sheet and blanket over him.

"Are you sure you don't want anything? A Sleeping Draught?" Hermione offered.

Harry shook his head, his eyes drooping. She handed him a Calming Draught, which wasn't as strong as a Sleeping Potion, and he swallowed it.

"I'm locking the floo and putting up intruder wards in the yard... if you're worried. No one will sneak up on you, Harry," Ron assured him, but he barely had time to say goodnight before he passed out.

Hours later, Harry's eyes burst open, and he immediately started shaking. He tried to control his breathing as his eyes adjusted to the low light. It took a second for him to remember that he was at Ron and Hermione's. He let out a soft sob and tried to push the nightmare out of his mind. He was covered in a cold sweat, and his throat was sore... he must have been screaming in his sleep. Since neither his mates nor his niece and nephew had come running, he guessed that his Silencing Charms held up.

"Shit," he groaned, as he tried to calm down.

It took several minutes of the deep breathing exercises Joel had taught to bring his emotions under some control. He couldn't go back to sleep. Damn memories. Damn emotions. He wanted to go back to the hospital, but he had given Draco the extended-release Dreamless Potion. He'd be out for twelve hours, but it couldn't be taken more than once a week. Nothing's that easy. Harry had almost got addicted to it, but thankfully it was regulated, and they potion-tested new healers very irregularly for illicit potions when he was going through training. So, he stopped taking everything.

While intended for intruders, Ron's wards also meant that he couldn't leave either. Ron wasn't stupid, and Harry was sure that all dangerous things were tucked away (from him and the children) and the Anti-Apparation wards were up. Harry stayed awake and just stared at the ceiling and blurry shadows. Ron or Hermione must have taken off his glasses. He could hear Ron's snoring down the hall, and the wind was just strong enough to rustle leaves outside. Harry shivered as it whistled in through the cracks, but he tried to focus on the sounds and not think about what had happened.

Draco wanted him to process it, but Harry didn't want to. The memories bleed through anyway... that room... the straps... the potion... Wortchuck reaching for him... Higgs touching him... the anxiety... and feeling so raw and vulnerable when Ron rescued him. Bloody hell. He wanted someone, something to focus on. Draco was right about not being alone. Whiskey had helped him get by when the dark thoughts came, but he didn't even have that right now.

It had been nearly three days since he drank anything. He could feel the shakes... the withdrawal kicking in. He was a healer. He couldn't ignore the signs, nor the guilt, that he, a healer, was an addict. It had been easy to say "I need to drink so I can sleep". But Harry was always ashamed that he was so weak that he couldn't get through the night without his bottle. He knew, without a doubt, that he would have gone home and gotten blind drunk if Draco had not said anything.

He really needed to stop drinking. Process it, as Draco put it. Not use alcohol to anesthetize his normal brain functions. He had never really let what happened five years ago... sink in. He let some tears fall as he didn't want to think about that either. It was all too much. Higgs was nothing compared to those nightmares. It's what Higgs had been triggering. What was buried deep, as deep as he could make it. Those three days where that... guy had ripped him apart and taken everything that was him out. He berated himself for thinking about it.

Screech!

Harry's eyes jerked open wide when he heard a door creak open down the hall. Ron was still snoring, so it wasn't him. Harry tried to squint into the darkness without his glasses, but it was hard to see. When he heard the little footsteps, he knew it was either Rose or Hugo. He let out a breath of relief, as the putter-pats came closer.

"Unca 'Arry?" Hugo whispered, reaching out to put his hand on his leg.

"Hey, little man?" he said quietly.

"Why're-you on the... couch?" he mumbled, his eyes drooping with sleepiness.

"Your mum and pop invited me over. You should be in bed, Hugo."

Hugo didn't say anything, but he yawned and pulled at the blanket. Harry lifted it for him, and Hugo climbed onto his chest and curled up on top of him, his head nearly touching his chin. Harry covered him back up. Hermione mentioned that Hugo was in the "sneak-into-mum-and-dad's-bed" stage.

"Unca 'Arry?" Hugo's sleepy voice whispered, again.

"What's up, Hu?" he said, kissing the top of his head.

"I don' wanna-ya to be sad."

Harry felt that. Rose must have told him that. It was the simplest way to explain to the toddler what was wrong with him. "I... tryin' little man."

"You got a boo-boo?" he asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"Want me to kiss it to make it bet'er?"

"I'm hurt... on the inside. My... heart hurts."

"Ohhh..." Hugo said and kissed his chest. "Feel better Unca' Arry."

Harry's heart swelled up. "Thanks, little one."

"I wuv you," he said and closed his eyes, content to be on his chest.

"I love you, too, Hu..." he breathed and kissed the top of his head.

Hugo drifted off to sleep, and Harry was determined to stay awake. He couldn't jostle Hugo with his night terrors. He felt warmer... and anchored, though. He wasn't alone anymore, even if it was a sleeping toddler. But only a few minutes later did he hear the floorboards creak, again. Harry squinted as Rose's small form also came over. She saw Hugo was on his chest and climbed up and over both of them. Harry opened his arm up for her, and she slid right between him and the wall. He wrapped his arm around her back and covered her with the blanket, too. She rested her head on his chest next to her brother's.

If Hugo felt anything, Harry had no idea, but he rubbed her back and whispered, "Goodnight, sweetie."

"Night, Uncle Harry," she breathed and closed her eyes.

Harry watched them for a long time. His breathing fell into rhythm with theirs, and despite his concerns, sleep finally overtook him. Thankfully, his nightmares didn't assault him and he was woken by the smell of food cooking. The kids were still on him, though Rose was staring at him, thoughtfully. Hermione came into the room and saw he was awake. She smiled, came over, and handed his glasses to him.

"Thanks," he breathed.

"Come on, Hugo. Wake up, honey," she said, and coaxed him awake.

"Mama?" he said, and she brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"That's right. Why aren't you two in your bed? You shouldn't have woken up your uncle," she said, in her disappointed voice.

"I sarry," Hugo said, pressing into him.

"It's alright, Hermione. They kept the dreams away," he said, hugging Rose and Hugo tightly.

Hermione gave him a grin, and when he let go, she pulled Hugo off him. Rose gave him a kiss before climbing off, as well. Hermione carried Hugo into the kitchen and put him in his chair. Harry and Rose followed and sat down at the table. Hermione, like her daughter, watched him closely as he ate his breakfast with shaky hands. Hermione broke the tension by asking what the kids did at their grandmum's house. Harry didn't pay much attention, but eventually, the talk died down as they finished.

"Harry... are you going to the hospital?" Hermione asked.

He dropped his fork and the kids looked at him, worried. "Yeah."

She nodded. "Let me floo the kids to their grandmother's house, and I'll go with you."

"You don't have to," he said, looking at the table.

"I'm sure the news has broken... not necessarily about you, but we arrested six healers."

"Mama?" Rose said, looking at her mother and back to him. "Healers... like Uncle Harry?"

Harry let Hermione handle it, and she nodded, "Yes, dear."

Her brown eyes narrowed, and she looked at him, "And they hurt you?" She looked mad.

Hot damn. She was a miniature clone of Hermione. He glanced to Hermione and then nodded. Rose set down her fork and crossed her arms.

"Rose," Hermione started. "You remember what your papa told you about what he does?"

She nodded and said, "He catches bad guys... and you help him."

"That's right... and we caught them. We will make sure that they don't hurt anyone else."

Rose looked at him, again, and Harry couldn't meet her eyes anymore. Gosh, he couldn't even withstand the scrutiny of a five-year-old.

"Rose, dear, finish your breakfast," Hermione intervened for him. "Then you can spend some time with your cousins and grandmum."

"I don't wanna!" Hugo cried, throwing his plate on the floor. It clattered noisily.

"Hugo!"

"I wanna stay with Unca Arry!" he whined.

"Me too!" Rose said, and he met their eyes sadly and a little happy that they loved him so much.

"Rose... Hugo... Uncle Harry has to go back to the hospital. He has a very important patient to check up on."

"Awww... please, mum? Can't we go to St. Mungo's, too?" Rose asked, and Hugo was nearly bursting out of his seat at the idea.

"No, my dear. Your uncle's patient needs peace and quiet," Hermione explained.

"I kin be quiet!" Hugo promised, eagerly.

"Sorry, dears. It's just not possible."

Harry frowned and then thought about it. Maybe they could come. "Actually, Hermione, if you don't mind... I'll bring them with me for a few hours and then take them over to their grandmum's."

Hermione stared at him, surprised. "Harry? Are you sure that's okay with... Draco?"

Harry nodded. "I think he'd like to see them. They can stay with Nat while I check on him. Nat has kids, too, so she will know how to handle them."

Hermione debated it, and after the two kids begged a bit, she agreed. She did make them promise to be on their best behaviour and leave when Uncle Harry said it was time to go. She smiled and prepared a kit for Hugo, with some nappies and snacks. Rose was old enough not to need snacks on demand. Hermione got them, including Harry, dressed and inspected them.

"You'll do," she said, poking Harry in the arm.

Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Thanks, I'll send a Patronus if something happens."

Hermione kissed her kids goodbye, and he took Hugo and Rose by the hand to floo. Hugo was nearly jumping for joy, and Rose was as excited as he had ever seen her. They had only gone to the hospital for regular checkups before now. They arrived in his office, and Hugo let go first.

"Where're we?" he asked, amazed.

"This is my office, kiddo, where I write reports and healer records," Harry explained, and Rose wandered over to his bookshelf, now nothing but a space holder. He hadn't needed books since his healer boards. "Come on, let's meet Natalie! She's really nice."

Hugo wanted to explore more and tried to open the door on his own, but Harry reached the door first, taking his hand. He took them both down to meet Natalie and told them to wait with her while he checked on his patient. He slipped into Draco's room, who was just starting to stir. Harry ran some tests as his eyes finally opened.

"Harry?" Draco said, weakly.

"Yeah... the potion should be wearing off."

"Yeah," Draco said with a yawn, and then his eyes locked on him. "Are you okay?"

Harry nodded half-heartedly. "How about a checkup?"

Draco nodded, groggily, as the Sleeping Potion was powerful. Harry did a comprehensive inspection of Draco's injuries, new and old. He had pulled a few muscles in his wanderings yesterday, so Harry gave just a quick healing and didn't go further.

Draco stared at him, confused, as Harry never cut out his massage. "Harry?"

"I have someone here to meet you, two people actually, if you're up for it," Harry said, quietly.

"Oh?" Draco said, waiting for him to expand on it.

Harry smirked, but lowered his eyes, embarrassed at the eye contact. "It's... my niece and nephew. They wanted to come, and I thought... maybe you'd want to meet them?"

Draco stared at him, until Harry finally met his eyes. Draco said, evenly, "You... want me to meet them?"

Harry smiled and nodded. "I do."

"And their parents said it was... okay?"

Harry grimaced. "Of course, Draco. They might be a little... huggy, though. Can you handle that?"

Draco nodded, and started to get into his chair. "Better get out of the bed, then. Fix my hair, will you?"

"Yes, your majesty," Harry said, cleaning and brushing his hair magically, as well as cleaning his hospital robes and sheets. Draco put some of the hair potions that Harry had gotten him and threw a blanket over his legs for good measure.

"Ready?" Harry asked, and Draco nodded.

He went and opened the door. The kids ran to him and poked their heads into the room curiously.

"Kids, this is Draco. He's my friend and my patient right now."

Rose seemed to be assessing him, but Hugo stated very astutely, "Your chair has wheels!"

Draco grinned and said, softly, and rolled the chair a bit forward and back. "It does. I can't walk right, now. Your uncle is healing me."

"What's wrong wit' you? Unca' Arry can fix anything!" Hugo growled, and Rose whacked him gently.

"Be polite, Hugo. Apologies, Mr. Draco," she said, taking her brother's hand.

Draco laughed, surprised a bit. "It's alright... Rose, is it? Your uncle speaks very highly of you... and you remind me so much of your mother."

Rose tilted her head. "You know my mother?"

"Mum? Do you know our da, too?" Hugo asked, pulling out of his sister's grip.

"Yep. We went to school together when we were children."

Rose grimaced. "They never mentioned... you."

Draco seemed intrigued by her tenacity and bluntness.

"Oh, they did," Harry chuckled, and he crouched down and whispered something into Hugo's ear.

Hugo's head whipped upward, and he shrieked, "Really?" Then he ran to Draco's wheelchair. "You're the ferret!?"

Draco sniffed haughtily, and sighed, "I suppose I am." His grey eyes met Harry's, and he gave Harry a smirk. However, it was broken when Hugo grabbed Draco's knees, and he winced fleetingly at the contact. Draco quickly relaxed, thought, quicker than Harry would have.

"Can you turn into a ferret?" Hugo asked, happily.

Draco laughed and carefully took his hand. "Sorry young man, not for a while."

"You're...really...him?" Rose said, warily, as she was older, she understood that Draco was generally labelled as the villain in her parents' stories.

Harry knelt next to her, pulled her close and met her eyes. "Rose, my sweet one, I know this is hard to understand, but sometimes people argue and fight. But sometimes they can work things out and be friends. Like how you argue and fight with your brother, but you'll still look after him, if something happens. It's called love, and he'll always be yours.

Draco was suddenly very alert, and Rose nodded, having accepted her duty to watch out for her brother. Harry met Draco's eyes, briefly, but he couldn't hold it for long. There was a lot they needed to discuss. He turned back to look at Rose's curious eyes.

"Draco and I are friends, now, and nothing else matters," Harry said, and patted her shoulder.

Hugo and Draco were waiting for her reaction, but the mini-Hermione lifted her head up and walked over to Draco. She put her hand out, and Draco took it.

"I'm Rose Ginevra Granger-Weasley. Nice to meet you, sir," she said, ever the proper lady. Hugo snickered next to her.

Draco straightened up in his chair and gave her hand a firm shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger-Weasley. I'm Draco Lucius Malfoy."

Hugo laughed. "'Raco! Your name's funny!"

Harry sighed. If Rose was Hermione's daughter, Hugo was most assuredly Ron's son. "Hugo, it isn't polite to poke fun at people."

"Your dad thought it was funny, too," Draco said, anyway, and Hugo turned to smile at him.

"Can I call ya ferret?" Hugo asked.

Harry was about to say no, but Draco said, "Sure."

Rose didn't like that. "Hugo... mum will not like you calling someone names."

"But 'Raco said it was okay."

"It is. Hey, want to go for a ride?" Draco offered, and Hugo literally jumped into his lap.

Draco grunted in pain a bit, but he quickly recovered.

"Hugo, please be careful," Harry said, concerned.

"It's fine, Harry. What about you, Rose?"

She looked uncertain, but after Draco wheeled Hugo around the room a few times, she acquiesced and hopped on, too. The room was small, but the kids were happy and enjoyed spending time with Draco. He asked them about Dragons and Wizards, which really got them excited. Rose told him about the book she was reading with her mother, and Hugo kept playing on Draco's therapy machines. Harry didn't have the heart to stop him, either. He couldn't stop watching Draco, either, as he naturally talked and interacted with the children so easily. He was patient and so gentle with them.

Harry wondered if Draco would want kids and then froze when he realized the direction of where his thoughts were going. It wasn't something he needed to be thinking about. They weren't... nothing was certain... settled... or even really discussed. There was something... but they couldn't acknowledge it.

"Unca 'Raco?" Hugo asked, and Harry felt tingles going up his back at his words.

Draco smiled widely at that, too. "What's up, Hugo?"

Hugo took Draco's hand and pointed to the restraint scars. "You got old boo-boos."

Draco schooled his expression. "I do. I have a lot of old boo-boos. Your uncle is healing them."

Hugo rubbed Draco's scars and, if it had been Harry, he would have been trembling. Draco maintained his control.

"Has Unca' Arry kissed you yet?"

Harry froze on the spot, and he felt his face heat up. Oh... fucking hell. Why did he play that game with the kids? He couldn't meet Draco's eyes.

"Unfortunately, no," Draco's amused voice said, and Harry closed his eyes to block the fervor of emotions rushing through him.

"Uncle Harry? You're blushing," his niece so helpfully pointed out.

He opened his eyes, swearing internally again, and glanced at Draco. He was grinning maniacally.

"Yes, thanks, Rose. Hugo just meant to kiss to make... it better," Harry mumbled, looking away, again.

"It does make it feel better! Unca' Arry can heal anything by kissing the boo-boo!"

Harry had to beat down the embarrassment. "Hugo, some things need time. Even a kiss can't heal everything."

Draco then said, so fucking casually, "Huh, I bet it can heal more than you think."

Harry could not stop himself from blushing more, so he pretended to read a random file on the table.

Rose watched him for a long time, and when Harry went over to pull Hugo off Draco's bed (lest the little guy fall off), he heard Rose whisper to Draco, "He's happy here... with you."

Kids, especially Rose, saw way too much. She knew, almost instinctually, that last night he was upset and here... he was happy. He pretended not to hear her, or Draco's similarly loud whisper, "I know."

When it was near lunch, Harry knew he should get them to Molly's for food and naptime for Hugo. He told them it was time to go, and they looked dejected.

"Can we come an' see you, again?" Hugo asked Draco and Rose perked up, interested, too.

"Well, I don't have a problem with it, but your parents might say you can't."

"They will!" Hugo insisted.

Draco just nodded. "We'll see. Hospitals aren't a place for children."

"I'm not a child! I'm a baby!" Hugo pouted.

Rose sighed. "That means you're younger, stupid."

"Rose... don't call people names," Draco said, before Harry could. Draco really knew how to act around kids.

"Sorry... Uncle Draco," she said, giving him a grin, and Draco smirked.

Harry's heart melted, again. The kids could even see it... them, too. He met Draco's eyes, and they got a little misty. Harry hadn't been entirely certain why he had brought them to the hospital in the first place. Staving off the impeding talk was one reason, but really... the children were pure happiness and innocence, and he wanted to share that with Draco. He did actually want kids of his own and, if he had to guess based on what had happened, Draco liked them, too.

But Harry was feeling something else he really couldn't describe. It wasn't just his love for the kids. There was something else that was making his heart beat faster. The closest thing he could associate with the feeling was hope, and hope was a dangerous thing.