Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 47

Published: 7/25/22

Harry gripped the porcelain, as another forceful round of vomit exploded out of his mouth. Bloody hell, he thought as he rested his head on the rim of the bowl, not even caring about how unsanitary the toilet was. Or at least he wasn't until he thought about it, then he focused and cleaned it with his magic. He was drenched in sweat and shaking. Joel had given him a few potions, but he was being stupid and refusing them.

"Fuck," Harry said, wishing he was dead. He hated feeling this smashed, hated that he let it get this far.

He thought maybe he should get back to his bed, but his stomach convulsed, and he nearly threw up, again. He slid off the toilet and upon the floor in a veritable heap. He realized that he was going to spend the night in the fetal position on his bathroom floor. He really couldn't care less at the moment. He just wanted this to be over with. He needed it out of his system. Over five years he had spent in the bottle... trying to survive. But Draco was right. He wasn't healing.

"Fuck," he whimpered, again, convulsing painfully on the floor.

Harry had no plans to do anything else for the next day or so. He had already informed his boss and Natalie that he was taking a few days off. He sent a Patronus to Ron and Hermione saying that he wasn't coming over and wanted some time alone. They both wanted an answer why, but he ignored their response back. He wasn't in the mood to talk, and he didn't want anyone to see him this bad.

He shuddered, remembering that Neville had found him at his parents' graves smashed to all hell. That was embarrassing. He didn't like an audience to his pain. He never did. He refused Joel outright when he asked to stay with him. Joel tried to reason that he needed support and someone to help him through it. But Harry couldn't stomach having Joel or anyone clean him and watch him wallow.

Draco... maybe. He could imagine Draco wiping his brow and rubbing his back as he hurled into the bowl, but he shook the image out of his head. His mind wasn't cooperating, really. He was sweating and his brain, he was sure, was messed up. Delirious. He was shaking, and his heart was beating like crazy, or at least, he thought it was. It was hard to separate reality from his imagination. He knew that hallucinations were possible during withdrawal and that he wouldn't understand what was happening.

He suddenly felt a ping in the back of his mind, but he ignored it. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep away the nausea and pain, but his eyes opened when he felt the ping, again. The wards. His mind told him, finally realizing what the feeling was. Someone tripped the wards he had set against intruders, but he closed his eyes, again, wanting sweet oblivion. He didn't care who was there, or rather didn't care what happened. Unconsciousness was better.

A sudden lurch made him wake up again as the room lit up... loudly. He groaned, annoyed. Was that a Revelio spell? He lifted his head up for a second before dropping to the floor and coughing up some vomit-infused phlegm on the tile floor. He heard something, but ignored it as long as he could until the loo door opened. He could barely open his eyes to see who it was.

"Ron?" he breathed weakly, just making out the red hair.

"Harry... holy Merlin... are you alright?"

"Fine," he mumbled and turned to press his face on the cold tile. It felt good.

Ron crouched down, and his hand touched his forehead. "You're sweating Incendios, Harry. Let's get you out of these robes and into bed."

"I like here," he mumbled.

"You're going to catch a cold on the floor!" Ron said and hoisted him up.

Harry didn't resist as Ron dragged him out of the bathroom and into his room. Then, Ron lifted him onto his bed and pulled his robes off. Harry luckily wasn't bothered by that. He was too far gone. Ron positioned him into his bed and pulled the blankets up to his chin. He sat down next to him, looking at him.

"There you go, mate. You alright?"

Harry cracked his eyes. "What... why?"

"Thought I'd check up on yeh. Why didn't yeh tell me that you needed help? I woulda come!"

Harry, still light-headed, said, "Don't... didn't want you to... see me like this."

Ron snorted. "You saw what came out of that Horcrux, Harry. You saw the worst in me, and you didn't turn away. You welcomed me back. I would never think less of you."

Harry opened his eyes and looked at him. "That wasn't you."

"It was a part of me. A small part of me that the Horcrux feed on, just like this is only a small part of you, Harry. The broken, screaming part... it's not the only part you, and I wouldn't judge you for it. You're trying to quit firewhiskey, aren't you?"

Harry's eyes watered, and he nodded, meekly.

"You silly twat... you coulda told me... anyone. Well, you got me. Let me call that kid, Joel."

"I talked to him," Harry mumbled.

"Really? He didn't offer to stay with you?"

"I can handle it myself," he growled.

"But you don't have to, Harry. We aren't going to judge you for it."

"I... want... pain..." Harry mumbled as he drifted off to sleep.

What seemed like hours later, he woke up by turning onto his side and upchucking some bile onto the floor. Ron sat with him on the bed and cleaned up the mess and his airways.

"Get it out, mate," he said and patted his back.

After a few more coughs, Harry turned back to collapse into his pillows. Ron cleaned him, again, and he nodded in thanks.

"Here, mate, drink," Ron said, and Harry felt the goblet against his lips.

It tasted weird, but his stomach settled at the first gulp down and he felt better. His mind didn't seem as foggy, and it wasn't spinning as much. He drank the whole thing and immediately fell asleep for a long time. His dreams were fuzzy. Not his usual nightmares, but sunny, happy times. Flying. Flying with Draco. He didn't want to wake up, but a dull ache brought him out of his blissful sleep. His head was killing him.

"Fucking hell," he said, aloud as his eyes opened.

"Harry? You awake?" Ron said, walking over to him. Harry saw that a chair was now in his room, and Ron must have been watching over him.

"You don't have to stay here," Harry said, groggily.

"Yea, I do. I called Joel. He gave you potions to take, and you need to eat food. It doesn't look like you can even get out of bed, so that means that you aren't going to make meals. Here, drink this. It's a Nutrient Potion."

Harry diligently swallowed it and then slowly ate some soup that Ron had made, too. Then he stared up at Ron, beady-eyed and wondered how long had he been there.

"You doing okay?" Ron asked.

"What... about your kids?" Harry said, ignoring his question.

"Hermione and Molly have them. They can handle me being gone a day or two, Harry. Don't worry. Hermione sends her love, and I didn't tell her what was wrong, just that you needed some company. She understands. We love you, mate, and we both want you to get... healthy."

Harry looked away. "I... just... needed to not feel."

Ron nodded. "I know, Harry, but you need to stop the drinking. I know it's going to hurt, but you can lean on us now, okay?"

Harry nodded. Ron had him drink more potions, and he sank into another deep sleep. He didn't remember much the next day either. Most of it was sleeping under the lull of the Detox Potions. He had hot and cold sweats, headaches, nausea and light-headedness, but they all came in waves. He didn't really talk much to Ron. He was trying to get through the day, not having a heart-to-heart. Ron just said soft, kind words when he did speak to him.

Ron opened the curtains to look out outside. It was the morning of the third day. Harry felt stable, or at least more than he did. The withdrawal symptoms were waning, and he had no excuse to remain in bed. He still had the shakes. That would fade with time, but his mind was right and the chemical imbalance in his head had finally stabilized. He was through the worst. Now, he just had to stay out of the bottle. Easier said than done.

"Ron?" he whispered.

"Yea, mate?" he said from his chair. He was reading a book, which he set aside, immediately.

"Thanks... for staying."

"It was no problem at all, Harry," Ron said, and got up and walked over to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got trampled by a rampaging hippogriff."

Ron laughed. He obviously remembered the joke from school. It was a nice trip down memory lane. Ron held out his hand and pulled Harry to a seated position.

"Harry... I'm glad you decided to do this."

"Draco... convinced me."

Ron nodded. "He's a pretty good guy. He was a lot better than he was last time I saw him."

Harry paused. "When did you see him?"

"Right before I came here. He seemed to imply that you were being stubborn."

Harry smirked a little. He was the one who told Draco to bloody talk to Ron. Course Harry hadn't meant that night, but Draco must have told Nat to call him. He had practically given Draco permission to do it. No wonder Draco smirked when he had suggested that.

"Slytherin git."

Ron chuckled. "Yeah... he is."

"Though you did rat him out pretty quick."

"Yeah... he's still Malfoy. It's my job to get him in trouble."

Harry smirked. "I don't know if I would have gotten through these last months without him, Ron. I mean... I need you... and Mione and the kids... but... I've never connected to anyone like him."

Ron nodded. "He's something, ain't he? How he survived... I don't know, but it's clear that he's only functioning because of you. Ya shoulda seen how hurt and worried he was when... Higgs had yeh."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. He... told me what happened... in Azkaban. When he came to see me in the isolation cell."

"To bring you out of it?"

"To calm down... but yeah. Draco... he just opened right up... like I told him my... 온라인카지노게임."

"You connected to him."

"Yeah. I like being with him... talking to him. Do... do you think I'm... being stupid?"

Ron smiled and leaned down to brush the hair out of his eyes. "No, Harry. You're being... smart. You're finding what makes you complete, what makes you strong. He's good for you. I don't know if you noticed... but... you're doing better, Harry. You don't know how empty you have been for the last few years. I've noticed it. I noticed that you're coming back to life. Yeah, it hurts. You were hurt, but you're also coming back to us. You're starting to heal, and it's cause of Draco."

Harry nodded. "I should go see him."

"No, mate. Joel sent an owl. Draco's fine, even scribbled a note for you, too."

Ron held up a small note that had a brief message with sloppy, barely readable letters.

Stay home another day, minion. Joel will take care of me.

-D

Harry chuckled and took it. Draco was writing. Harry wasn't sure his motor functions had increased that much, but it was good. He just read it, again, and decided to follow Draco's commands.

"I like that he calls you minion. What do you call him?" Ron laughed.

"Your highness... or his majesty..." Harry said, with a smirk. It was just something I did to make him... laugh, get him to trust me. Yeh, know... he wouldn't talk when he first came in, even to me. He was... so scared."

"Yeah, I could imagine he was. Well, come on, git, time to shower and then we can go spend the afternoon with the kids."

Harry frowned. "You think I should be around them, right now?"

"Harry, mate. You aren't drinking. You're recovering. And quite frankly, anytime I get stupid thoughts in my head, all I got to do is think of them. How would I feel if my children went through it, or heard me say or do something wrong or mean? No, mate. They will make you a better person. Now hop in, you smell."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Ron. Did... you clean?" He noticed that the room was tidied up.

"Sure. Also, tracked down any bottles in the house and canceled your delivery service. Hermione said that she cleaned out Hugo's room if you want to spend some time with us... just until you're ready to be... well. I don't think you should be alone... and I hope you'd consider staying with us for a bit."

Harry looked at the floor. It had been bad enough that Ron had been there when he was delusional and upchucking every few hours.

"I don't know," he mumbled.

"Well, think about it, mate. We're happy to have you, and it might help having someone to talk to."

"I don't want the kids to hear my nightmares."

"Wards, Harry. You probably should get into better routines. Come home from work, play with the kids, eat, relax before bed, sleep, wake up and eat breakfast and then go to work. A normal regimented lifestyle that you won't feel the need to drink and wallow."

Harry nodded. "We'll see. It sounds great, but it's your family, Ron. I don't wanna...."

"You're my bloody family, Harry," Ron growled.

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Ron. I've... I've been alone too long."

"Well, let's start breaking the bad patterns now. Hop in the shower, mate, and I'll floo-call the wife and let her know you're coming over for dinner."

Harry thanked him again and grabbed his towel.

***

Draco didn't like that Joel took his responsibilities so seriously, as he tried to force Joel's hands back with his legs alone. He missed Harry, but was glad the stupid idiot was taking some time off for himself. He hoped that Weasley and Granger were helping him through it, too.

"Push, Draco," Joel encouraged.

"I am!" he growled and managed to push them back a little.

"Come on!"

"I didn't like when Harry egged me on. I don't like when you do," Draco seethed.

"Draco," Joel said, exasperated. After three days of this, they had gone through this song and dance a few times. "Harry would want you to complete your sets."

"Harry would like to be here," Draco growled petulantly. "Don't treat me like a child!"

Joel slowly lowered his legs and smirked. "Sorry, but you are a bastard when you are cranky."

Draco scowled. He missed Harry a lot, and Joel was a convenient target for his frustrations. He knew he needed to do these exercises, but he hadn't allowed Joel to massage out his cramps from the exercises, and Joel couldn't heal the tears like Harry could. He was sore and irritable.

He let out a breath and muttered, "Sorry. I'm in a lot of pain, actually."

Joel looked at him. "I can up your Pain Potion? Or order another Healing Draught?"

"No, I just..." Draco said, and wiggled his fingers.

"Draco, I'm not as trained or as skilled as Harry, but I can try to massage out the cramps."

Draco grimaced. He still didn't want someone touching him.

"How about we start on your hand?" Joel suggested, and Draco nodded. "Just let me know if it gets too uncomfortable."

Draco let him work. Joel's hands were kneading out the tension and ache, but he wasn't healing it at the same time. Harry's magic wasn't easily replaced, but it did feel better. Eventually, Joel switched to his other hand and, with his permission, worked his way up his arms, too. It took a while, but Joel managed to massage out his legs, too. But Draco was a bit uneasily with letting him touch his body. He let him do his shoulders, and that was it.

"Well, does it feel better, at least?" Joel asked, hopefully.

"It does. Thank you and I'm sorry I snapped at you, Joel," Draco said.

Joel scoffed. "Which time?"

"Point."

"Harry will probably come back tomorrow. Do you want me to come back later and keep you company?"

"No. It's Thursday. Blaise is coming."

Joel nodded.

"He's bringing my lawyers, too."

"That's good. You deserve remuneration for what you've been through."

"Maybe..." Draco murmured.

Joel made sure that he ate and drank his potions before heading out, and about a half-hour later, Blaise arrived with Padma and Parvati Patil. Draco was in his wheelchair at the table. The sisters sat across from him, and Blaise was next to him. They explained the recoupment process and tracking the people who had incorrectly handled his parents' estate. Padma was out for blood and was sure that they could get many fired and arrested for their scheming. She said that one of the people benefiting from his confinement was Ernie. Draco found it hard to believe that the Hufflepuff would commit fraud and a slew of other financial crimes, but money tends to corrupt people.

"How much do you think is lost?"

"Hard to say. If the perpetrators pay back what they stole, not too much. You're still very secure, financially. There were a few vaults that weren't accessible to Ministry, as they didn't follow proper procedure. However, how they gained access to any of your family's vaults is still a mystery. We'll be submitting an inquiry to Gringotts, too. But overall, judging by what documents we have from before the war... you lost about a quarter of your assets," Padma, the Ravenclaw, explained.

"However... with the pending cases on the docket... you will surely exceed whatever losses you have taken, probably tenfold."

Draco nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course, we're glad to help you get some justice for what has transpired. It was wrong... what happened to you."

"You didn't seem to mind it was me. We weren't exactly friends at school."

Parvati nodded. "Everyone deserves justice, Mr. Malfoy. What happened to you was... disgraceful for all witches and wizards, even for all humans. Animals act better than that."

"Yeah... was there any word on Higgs?"

Pavarti smiled. "Yeah, his peons folded quick. They were stripped of their healer licenses and probably will see a year or two for conspiracy, but Higgs... Higgs is done. He used that potion to torture his patients. Harry shouldn't have to testify, but his name will be in the case. But Higgs is looking at life, just for one victim. Harding was fired and stripped of his license, but there wasn't anyone to prove that he purposely made the paste to torture anyone. He just made an illegal potion."

Draco nodded. "What about Runcorn and Bletchley?"

"Bletchley's career is dead, and he's been indicted for corruption and taking bribes. He probably won't get too long. Runcorn might get disbarred, but there's no proof that he actually gave the money, and Bletchley was the one that offered it. McGrath is the one who paid the bribe. Higgs gave him insider knowledge, which isn't illegal for him to reveal. He was trying to win his case and wasn't afraid of getting dirty. He might get a suspension, but... legally, there isn't enough."

Draco nodded.

"But we will see if some digging into their old cases will reveal anything. They had such a casual approach to it that we feel it wasn't the first time," Padma said, and Draco smirked.

"Then we will definitely be able to convict him."

"I might have an in with Gringotts to help grease that investigation," Blaise said.

"Excellent, did you have any other questions?" Parvati asked.

Draco asked a few more about his finances and received the answers he needed. Then he glanced to Blaise and asked, "What about that... query I sent you?"

Parvati smirked and also glanced at Blaise. "Padma?"

"I looked into relevant case law. There needs to be clear separation and an adjustment period. Unfortunately, it's not necessarily a legal matter, so the overseeing authority determines if the period of adjustment was long enough."

"Could you get a preferred minimum time period?"

"I could narrow it down. Longer, the better, but there are prerequisites to meet as well that might sway it one way or another. Separation is one proof of independence, functional lifestyle, and maybe a mind healer's eval?"

"I see. Thank you. I trust that is also part of your confidentiality?"

The twins both smiled the same knowing smile and said, eerily at the same time, "Of course."

"Thank you for coming and for accepting me as a client. I haven't really asked about your fee for all this. How much...."

"Don't worry about that, Draco. I'm paying for everything," Blaise said.

Draco turned to him. "I have most of my wealth, Blaise. I can pay."

"Consider it my act of contrition... for not... checking up on you," Blaise said, looking downward. "Please, Draco. I need to do this, and it's not putting me out of pocket. I have no problem handling their fees, financially speaking."

Draco gave him a look and then turned to the twins. "Thanks for coming out to see me and for all your efforts."

"You're welcome."

"Please owl me when you know more of... the situation."

They nodded and left. Draco turned to Blaise. "I thought we talked about this. There was nothing you could have done. They would have killed me if anyone came snooping."

"I still didn't do anything, Draco. Just let me do this."

"You already paid the Private Auror to follow Higgs around for me."

"Well, I still feel guilty."

Draco rolled his eyes, but turned his wheelchair toward Blaise. "I have a bigger favor to ask... so let me pay the twins, myself."

"What do you need?"

"A place to stay after... I heal up."

"Oh... yeah, Potter said that you shouldn't be alone. I was already planning to have you stay. Summer holidays are almost here, so I'll open one of my mum's smaller estates. As long as you don't mind Neville being there... I'll set you up on a ground floor room and your own private areas and baths."

"Thank you and, no, I don't mind Neville being there, as long as I'm not imposing."

"Well, unless you climb the stairs and burst into our rooms when we are in the middle of things, I think we can handle you in the house."

"I have no desire to see you or Longbottom naked, thank you."

"Right, and I'll make whatever changes you need to the place for mobility issues."

"Thanks, Blaise. I'm just... I don't think I can handle being completely alone."

"I understand."

"I might need other help, as well."

"Like...?"

"We can talk about that later, but if you wouldn't mind starting to look for someone to assist me, I'd be appreciative."

"Draco?" Blaise asked, confused.

"I need a physical therapist... and someone to do massage therapy. Preferably a woman. Even Joel touching me was... off-putting... maybe if it was a woman, it wouldn't be as bad."

Blaise grimaced. "I will, but Draco... can I ask... why?"

Draco leaned back in his chair and said, "Once I leave this hospital, I'm not going to be Harry's patient, anymore.

Blaise raised his eyebrows, but he just nodded. He was a good friend. He understood, perfectly.