Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 53

Published: January 11, 2023

It had been nearly three weeks since Draco's first steps, and he was up to almost twenty laps on the balance bar daily. Harry was now making him try step negotiation, which requires shifting all weight to one foot, stepping and pulling up all the weight with the other. Draco was struggling with this exercise. It required a lot of power from his legs, even to do the small inch step-up. Harry put balance bars on either side, and Draco had to use his arms for balance and even lift power.

"Eventually, we'll have to take the bars down, Draco. Try only using it for balance."

"I'm fucking trying!" Draco hissed. He had only managed to do a few before he used his arms.

"I know. One more step up and down, and I'll massage it out, okay?"

Draco nodded and forced out another one. It took some effort, but he could get both his feet on the step.

"And down. Take it easy," Harry urged.

Draco lowered his right foot, and when he went to lower the left, his right ankle turned, and he nearly fell. Harry caught him and hoisted him up.

"Oww!" Draco yelped, and Harry helped him to his chair.

He knelt and assessed the ankle, which had twisted and was agitated. Harry massaged out the pain and healed the minor tears out of it.

"Better?"

"Yeah. This is pointless. Blaise said that there aren't any steps in his house."

Harry smirked a little. "Yeah? Even into the shower? Or steps to a store if you venture out?"

Draco sighed. "I meant we don't have to focus on this."

"I disagree. This is only the first step to hazard negotiation. You need to build your upper leg muscles and hip flexors, because, Draco, accidents will happen. You will fall and, right now, you can't get up on your own. You can't anticipate everything, either. Your leg could give out, you could trip or slip on something, you could fall out of bed... the point is... you'd be helpless without someone to help you up."

Draco glowered. "Blaise will be there."

"24-7? He and Neville do sleep and leave the house."

"He said that he might contract out for house elf services until I'm well."

"Okay... you want a house elf to rescue you every time you fall?"

Draco met his eyes and sighed.

"I'll take that as a "no", but Draco, this is hard stuff. But once you can do a few steps at level three height, you can probably try getting up from the floor. But come on, I'll massage and stretch those muscles out."

Draco nodded and rolled over to the bed. Harry loosened and healed his muscle tears and then stressed them out all over again when he worked the upper leg muscles hard. Draco pushed through it, not complaining too much but still struggling. He was getting there... getting closer to the end, and Harry was dreading it. At the same time, he knew Draco needed to be free of this room and this hospital. He needed air... and space... and freedom.

Apart from his stint to rescue him from Higgs, Draco hadn't left the room in almost three months. Before that, it was the Emergency Ward, his house and Azkaban. He had never had any control over where he went and how. Harry humphed as he realized that he could fix that.

"What?" Draco said, as Harry stopped the last exercise.

"Nothing, let's get you relaxed enough to nap," Harry said, and Draco nodded. Such had been their routine since his birthday. Morning workout, massage, nap. Joel would come near lunch, and they would work on... things, then Harry would come for lunch and afternoon workout and massage, then maybe a third round in the evening.

Draco didn't fight to fall asleep anymore. His body seemed to crave sleep. Sometimes he'd fall asleep after the afternoon workout, too. But it only took a few minutes into his massage for him to pass out today. Harry smiled and let him sleep. He walked out, and Harper was sitting with Nat going over schedules.

"Harry," he said, lurching to his feet. He seemed to think that he was indebted to him for giving him a job, despite Harry repeatedly telling him that Susan had come up with the idea.

"Easy, I'm not the Head Healer or anything," Harry grunted.

Harper nodded. "Your next appointment with Madam Thornpether isn't for another 20 minutes."

"Okay, it should be a routine check-up. I just had a thought, will you come with me?"

"Of course," Harper said, eagerly, and if Harry could tell, with a bit of fear, too. Joel had had it as well when he first came to train with him. Harper wasn't training, however. His job was on the wandpoint.

Harry went to the lift and took it to the top. It opened up on the roof. Maybe ten people were scattered across the flat roof at various tables and benches. It was gorgeous out.

"Does it get busier out here at lunch?" he asked Harper.

"Sometimes, but most don't bother leaving the cafeteria."

"If Draco is okay with it, we can come up here for lunch today or tomorrow. Would you like to come?"

"You want me to come?" Harper asked, uncertainly.

Harry gave him a look. "Yeah? Draco is okay with you."

Harper looked down at the gray-plated roof tiles. "I didn't know if you... wanted me."

"I accepted you into my service, Harper. Why would you think that?"

The warden wouldn't look at him. "Maybe you just did it for Draco. I didn't help you... when you were... when they took you."

Harry nodded. "Joel didn't stop them either, Harper. It wouldn't have been legal to do so. I don't blame you. You knocked out that healer and helped Draco into my room, so I could tell him what happened. You even claimed that you had tipped off the Aurors, so Draco wouldn't get dragged into court. Why do you think I blamed you?"

Harper lowered his head more. "Cause I didn't... report it. I didn't know that Higgs was torturing the other patients. I swear I didn't. I knew they were upset, and he was doing something to set them off, but... I didn't know what and didn't know how to report it. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."

He had tears in his eyes, and Harry guided him to the ledge, so they were more isolated. He could feel the inhibiting charms meant to ensure no one could see them and nothing could get in or out of it.

"Harper, it's not your fault. Higgs was a prick, and there was no way that you could have known what he was doing."

"I knew that there was something, though. I looked after those patients for almost five years, and they never were... that bad."

"You reported what you knew when the time was right, Harper. It hadn't been going on for weeks, had it?"

Harper shook his head.

"Joel is a lot better than Higgs was, so he can help them recover. You said... five years, Harper."

"I wasn't there when you came in. I was transferred there right after, actually," he clarified. "I mean, Higgs talked about it enough, though."

"I'm sure he did, but where were you before that?" Harry asked curiously.

"I... I was in the healer program," Harper said, a little embarrassed.

Harry looked at him, surprised. "Were you? It... didn't work out?"

Harper shook his head. "They said I failed my healer exams and didn't offer me a spot in the next cycle to retrain. They offered me a warden position, and I needed the job, so I took it."

Harry nodded. "What were you struggling with?"

"I... wasn't... really. They marked me down for... professionalism and bedside manner and those...things that were arbitrary points."

Harry gave him a look.

"They didn't like me, especially as the war just ended, and I am-was... a Slytherin."

Harry glowered. "I'm sorry, Harper. I definitely remember what it feels to be discounted because of who you are. Do... do you still want to be a healer? Wardens becoming healers isn't unheard of."

Harper met his eyes. "It's been years since...."

"Harper...."

"I still want it, and it would mean a lot to my mum. But they are hardly going to give me a chance after this. Plus, I haven't kept up in my studies."

"We have all the time in the world, Harper. My poor organizational skills aren't going to go away, and with Nat's promotion, she'll be busy. We can train up and get you back into the program when you're ready."

The Slytherin looked at him as though shocked he would even make the offer. "Why would you... help me?"

Harry chuckled. "It's the right thing to do, Harper. I'm not petty. It's always great when someone wants to better themselves or choose a different path. If you want to be a warden, then hey, that's fine, too. It's your life... but you deserve the option."

Harper looked back at him, misty-eyed and slack-jawed. "Thank you."

"Come on, let's get our appointments knocked out. Susan said that you can't perform warden duties with patients, but you can watch me."

Harper's eyes widened again, and he stared at him, dumbstruck.

Harry blushed, and tried for levity, "And just in case you need some bedside manner etiquette, we can cover that, too."

Harper barked a laugh. "Right, after five years with Higgs as my boss, I'll need help, alright."

Harry smiled and headed toward his appointments. Harper took diligent notes, for both Harry's records and himself. He had a lot of catching up to do, but in a few months to a year, when Harper is ready, he could take the entrance board exams for the healer program. They finished near lunch and headed to Draco's room. Harper never followed Harry there, though. Harry knocked and opened the door.

He could tell immediately that something was wrong. Joel and Draco were at the table, and Draco was not making eye contact with him. He was looking down and away, and his arms were crossed in front of him. Defensive. Harry looked at Joel, who had his eyes closed and was shaking.

"Draco?" Harry said, but he didn't look at him. "Joel?"

Harry moved to the table, and Joel wiped his face with his hands, before he looked at him. Harry took his rolly stool and sat between them.

"It's okay, Harry. You just stepped in at a hard point," Joel murmured.

Harry could see tears in his eyes and guessed that Joel had just seen something in Draco's head that neither of them wanted to see. That's why he never wanted to do mind healing. He didn't know why Draco, who was so skilled in Occulmency, would let Joel in.

Joel eyed him, but put his hands in front of him on the table halfway to Draco. "How are you doing, Draco?"

"Fine," he grunted, though he wouldn't look at him. "Are you?"

Joel took a deep breath and his hand tremored a bit. "Y-Yeah."

Harry gave him a weird look, demanding an explanation, and Joel just turned to stare at Draco, as though Draco had put the restriction on him not to speak about it.

"Draco?" Harry said, again.

"I'm okay," he whispered.

"Then why can't you look at me... or Joel?"

Draco sighed and slowly turned to meet his eyes. "I'm okay."

"You've said that. I don't believe you," he said, trying to assess his mental state himself.

"Joel... was trying to get in and I stopped him. I lost focus and attacked him. Are you sure you're okay, Joel?" Draco said.

"I'm fine. You remembered who I was and let go."

"Why..." Harry started and looked at Draco to explain, if he wanted to.

Draco grimaced. "He's trying to get in... to ease my fear... about my wand."

Draco had mentioned that last week. That he wouldn't let Joel in. Harry nodded. "I see."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Draco asked, meeting Joel's eyes.

"Yes, Draco. I promise. You're quite... forceful when it comes to it."

"I had to be. The Dark Lord had no qualms about using Legilimency on his slaves."

Harry raised his eyebrows. Draco didn't often talk about his past, especially the war. Joel seemed keen about that comment as well.

"Did he often cast it on you?" Joel asked, hesitantly.

"Of course. He certainly wasn't about to brand a less-than-worthy servant with his precious mark without testing them. Thank Salazar, my psychotic aunt and my mum showed me Occulmency before then," Draco scoffed and stared at the table.

Harry's eyes widened. He wondered he if could press more. "Why... did you need to know... Occulmency...then?"

Draco finally met his eyes, confused. "What?"

"You said, 'thank Salazar, they showed me Occulmency'. Why did you say that?"

Draco sighed and looked away. "A few reasons." Harry nodded and was going to leave it at that, but Draco added, "I wasn't... straight. The Dark Lord's perfect world didn't include me. Then there was the little thing that his very presence was revolting... like a horrible nightmare come to life. He disgusted me. Every word out of his mouth was sick. Fucking hell, I hated it... him. But... I couldn't exactly just... quit, right? They fed traitors to Greyback's pack."

Joel raised his eyebrows, but Harry murmured. "You didn't believe."

"No. My mum knew it, too. She convinced Aunt Bella to train me, and she wasn't kind about it. The only reason she did as she knew that my downfall would affect her place at the Dark Lord's side. She was minimalizing the damage... in her mind."

Harry leaned forward. "You don't have to call him the Dark Lord, Draco. He's dead."

Draco met his eyes and smiled. "I don't, but that sadistic, cold-blooded bastard was a vicious killer and doesn't deserve a name. His real and fake names should be struck from all records and our minds."

Harry nodded. "Perhaps."

"I think Harry should try," Joel said, suddenly.

Both Harry and Draco looked at him and said at the same time, "What?"

Joel didn't look away and even smirked a bit. "I think Harry should try to get into your memory, Draco."

Draco immediately looked away, and Harry could see that his eyes were wet.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Harry said. He hated seeing Draco upset.

"No... if you are willing, Harry... you should," Draco whispered, still looking anywhere but at him.

Harry swallowed. He didn't like that Draco was afraid. "You're scared."

"Of course I am. It's when the permanent pain started... but you'll see everything, too. It's mainly torture, but I can't guarantee anything."

Harry took a deep breath and looked at Joel to stop this plan. This couldn't be a good idea.

Joel nodded, somberly. "He trusts you, Harry, more than anyone. He'll let you in, and it will certainly speed his healing process."

"How? I'm not a mind healer. I don't know what I am doing!" Harry exclaimed. "I can't heal memories!"

"It's not the same as viewing a memory, Harry. You can interact with me... to help me through it," Draco explained. "I-I really need you to help me through it."

Harry looked dubious. He hated the idea of someone in his head, but it was Draco... and he needed him. Somehow that made all the difference.

"You can break the spell at any time, Harry," Joel explained. "I'll be right here if you need help."

Harry nodded. He could... would do this for Draco, he told himself.

"When do you want...."

Draco turned to look at him. "Now... please... or I'll never sleep easy again."

Harry was rooted by the agony in his eyes... the desperation. Draco hadn't been able to control his emotions since his birthday. His ups and downs were showing a lot more. Harry took his hand and nodded.

"Ready?" he prompted and waited for Draco to nod before casting Legilimens.

Harry once again lurched through a whirlwind before landing on his feet. It wasn't the pitch like before or even a torture cell. It was Draco's room that he had just been in, though it was dark around the edges, with a hint of blue... cold. The bed, his table and the workout bars were there, but he couldn't see Draco.

"Draco?" Harry called out, but he knew Draco had to be there.

No answer as the link throbbed, as though Draco was mentally retreating. Harry looked and finally found Draco huddled in the corner behind the bed.

"Draco..." he whispered.

The link wavered at first, but then the room lightened as Harry came closer to him. Draco's eyes flicked up to him, and the room brightened more and warmth spread through him. Strange.

"Draco, are you okay? Why are we here?" Harry said.

The link hummed in response, and Draco shivered. But he said, quietly, "I can't go back... to the pitch. Ever since... my birthday."

Harry nodded and crouched down. "I'm sorry, but... what should I...."

"You... you have to look for it."

"Look for it?"

"The m-memory."

Harry grumbled internally. "I don't know what I'm doing."

Draco nodded and shivered, again, giving no answers.

Harry was floundering. What did he mean look for it? Why did they do this without explaining anything? He glanced at the door to the hallway and wondered if he needed to physically search for it like in those weird shows Dudley watched when they were kids. But he turned back to Draco, now trembling, still hunched in the corner. He couldn't go anywhere with Draco this distraught.

"Draco... calm down. I'm not going to just rip into your memories. You're upset."

Draco wiped his tears away. "I can't look for it, Harry. I'm scared of it... of the pain. I need you to... think about it. Seek it."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "I don't think that's... I want you to calm down first."

"I don't think I can," he whispered.

"Well, I'm not just going to force you through it. You told me... you told me it's different. You'll relive it. We can't..." Harry said, starting to panic.

Draco grabbed his hand, and Harry locked onto his eyes. "We have to... please, Harry."

Harry blinked tears away. They really should have discussed this more before he cast the spell. He could feel Draco's fear, and it was only ramping up his. "No, this isn't a good idea."

Draco tugged his arm to pull him closer and didn't look away. "I need you... please."

Harry felt something different now coming from Draco: trust and faith.

"Just... think about it... the pain. It's... going to be bad, Harry. I'm sorry," he nearly whimpered.

Harry nodded and braced himself. The last time he had been in Draco's mind, he only had to casually wonder about the horrors Draco had gone through, and his walls rattled. He remembered Draco's shock and alarm at the ease he had broken through. Harry took a deep breath and pressed forward mentally. The world churned into blackness, and Harry focused on that darkness... on the throbbing pain. The vision cleared and the windowless, dark cell formed.

Harry could feel Draco's pain reverberating through him, though in him, they were only echoes of it. Draco was in agony. He was trying to shut off his emotions, but the pain was too high. Harry adjusted his eyes to the darkness and red haze of pain Draco was throwing off. Draco was not chained on the stained mattress like he was expecting. He was on the floor, naked, cradling his arms under him. The bastard must have already smashed his hands.

"Draco..." he whispered and knelt by his side, trying to avoid looking at his abused body.

Draco cringed from him as the memory of pain slowly broke him, again. Harry had to give him strength. This memory burned Draco so much.

"Draco... listen to me. It's just a memory. You're safe, now. I promise you," Harry vowed, but the cell door opened as soon as he uttered those words.

Blackness surrounded the guard as he strolled into the room. Connors had on red robes, similar to Auror robes but slightly different. His hair was red, darker than Ron's, but Harry could see why it had triggered Draco so easily. His face ... even in Draco's memory, seemed unnaturally demonic. Harry's anger flared, though he felt it crushed beneath Draco's fear. The temperature in the cell seemed to plunge to near freezing.

"How was your night, Death Eater?" Connors laughed and took a few steps toward them.

Draco was sobbing, knowing more pain was coming. Harry froze. He had no idea how to stop this... how to help Draco. Connors flicked his wand, and Draco was dragged closer to him, crying as his broken hands slid across the floor. Harry unfroze and made to tackle Connors, but he went right through him and crashed into the cell wall. Stupid.

He got to his feet as Connors stepped on Draco's bare back, pressing him into the floor. Connors then knelt, planting his knee into Draco's shoulders, effectively pinning him. His strong hands pried Draco's right hand out and held it in position with one hand, while the other pulled out the blood-stained mallet.

"Always a fun way to start the morning, eh, Death Eater?"

"P-Please..." Draco begged as he failed to get free, but Connors was so much stronger than him.

"Yes... beg. I always love hearing you beg... and struggle... my little pet."

Draco tried to buck him, again, but Connors drove his knee harder into his back.

"Yes, dog... struggle... let's hear you scream, today," he taunted.

Harry tried again to grab that asshole as he brought the hammer down onto Draco's hand. He winced as Draco shrieked in absolute pain. Connors was reveling... laughing at his misery. Harry came around to kneel in front of Draco, as he had no idea what else to do. "Draco... listen... it's just a memory. You're free."

Connors then pulled out his left hand and set the mallet on the back of it. He was revving up his fear. "Beg, Death Eater."

"P-P-Please... I-I'm s-s-sorry!" he whined, through the sobs.

"For what?!" Connors hissed, putting the mallet under Draco's chin and forcing it up.

Draco didn't respond, or at least not fast enough for him, and Connors lifted the mallet and smashed his other hand. He let Draco scream and cry before he grabbed him by his hair.

"For what, Death Eater? What did you do? Answer me or I'll whack them, again!"

Draco was nearly in pieces when he stuttered, "I-I-I t-t-touched y-your w-wand."

Fuck, this was brutal, and Harry had no idea how to get out of here. Fucking Joel said that he could just end it... but he couldn't. Draco couldn't. They were locked in this nightmare.

Connors let go of his hair, and Draco collapsed to the floor. "You're damn right you did. This is what you can expect the next time you try. Weeks of this! Death Eaters don't deserve to hold wands. Death Eaters don't deserve to do magic. You're not a wizard anymore, dog. If you try that again or do any magic again... I'll smash your feet, too. Got it?"

Draco didn't answer him, so Connors gave his right hand another whack. Draco screamed, again.

"Got it!!!" he roared.

Draco nodded furiously through the tears. "Y-Y-Y...."

"Let's test your commitment," he said, setting his wand in front of Draco's face. "Go ahead, Death Eater. Your freedom."

Draco looked at the wand and looked away. He pulled away from it, wanting no part of the punishment that came with the defiance. Harry saw that this was the moment. Why this was his worst, his most painful memory. He gave up. He gave up the idea that he could escape, that he could do magic.

"Draco... Draco... listen to me... you can pick it up. Connors is gone. He will never hurt you, again," Harry urged, getting low to catch Draco's eye.

It wasn't working. Draco seemed to be actively hiding from him, and the room darkened more as the fear rose.

"Draco... look at me."

"He won't," Connors said, suddenly.

Harry jerked up to his knees, wondering if he had imagined that Connors was talking to him. "Draco...?"

"He's my toy," Connors spat, staring right at him. "You'll never win. He'll always be mine."

Harry's mouth dropped, and then he recovered. This didn't happen. This wasn't just a record of a memory. They were in Draco's mind. Yes, Connors had permanently scarred Draco's mind, but this didn't really happen. This wasn't Connor's soul somehow trapped in Draco's mind. No, this is what Draco's subconscious was imagining would happen. This was all Draco's imagination, doing this.

Harry bristled and went on the attack. He needed to get through to Draco, and he had no desire to hear another word from his abuser. The walls shook and Connors stood up.

"You're not as strong as me!" the bastard shrieked, but he was.

Harry saw red as pain seared across their connection, and memory-Connors screamed and vanished from the memory altogether. The walls stabilized, and he was alone with Draco. Harry took off his robes and draped them over Draco's body. It didn't sink through Draco to the floor, and since Connors was talking to him, Harry figured none of the memory rules applied anymore.

"Draco... you don't have to hide from this anymore. This isn't your life. You're free and you have people who love you," Harry said, getting low, again. "He didn't win. You did."

Draco was crying in pain and refusing to even look at him or the wand in front of him. Harry didn't know what to do. Draco was unreachable in this condition. Every time Draco thought about using a wand, it triggered this memory and brought him straight back to this moment... to this memory of intense, unending pain. Harry didn't know how to fix it. He tried to talk to him more and get a reaction, but there was nothing. The pain seemed to overtake everything.

"I don't know what to do..." he admitted. "Physical injuries are just so easy to heal, and I..." he broke off and looked at Draco's hands. Maybe... maybe he could reach him the same way he did in the real world. Joel said that he doesn't erase the bad. He changes the memory and the feelings associated with it.

Harry reached forward and gently took his wrecked hand. As easy as if it were real, he healed it, imagining that it went faster and easier than in reality. Draco's tears slowed to a stop as Harry moved on to his other hand. The room brightened, and warmth filled the room as Draco's grey, fearful eyes met his. Harry smiled and finished "healing" him.

"You're safe, Draco. I came to rescue you, remember? Your hands are healed now, Draco. Come on... you can pick up the wand... you can have your magic. Connors doesn't own you or your mind. He's gone forever, and you are safe with me."

Draco looked down at the wand and back up at him. Trust was hard, but Draco's hand slowly inched forward. After a short pause to glance at him again, Draco touched the wand. His fingers curled around it, and he cried a different kind of tears. Draco pulled himself up and grabbed Harry's shirt. Harry lifted him into his lap, and Draco rested his head against his chest. Harry could feel Draco's emotions change from fear to calm, and then it blossomed into affection.

Harry wanted nothing more than to hold Draco forever and was sure that Draco could feel that, too. He brought his hand up to cup Draco's face, touching him like he couldn't touch him in the real world... at least when anyone could see. Draco almost purred into his chest, and his emotions were unfurrowing. Harry couldn't understand them all, but warmth filled his heart. It was more than affection... more than just devotion. It was love.

Draco tightened up, now embarrassed and burrowed face into his chest. Harry smiled and chuckled at him. There was nothing to be sorry about. Harry let similar emotions flow through the link, so Draco knew he wasn't alone in them. He relaxed again but wouldn't look up at Harry. So, he held him tighter, and they stayed that way for several minutes, basking in the warm glow of their emotions.

"Draco? How are you doing?" he breathed.

"I'm... processing."

"I... can I do anything else? To help you?"

"No... as much as I enjoy this, perhaps we should return," he said, quietly.

"Er... how?"

Draco chuckled, and link hummed, again. "Your magic is fueling this, Harry."

Harry blinked and still was floundering. He had been channeling magic longer and more frequently than probably anyone else had cause to. He couldn't really tell that he was still using it. So he took a deep breath and let go. His mind snapped out of Draco's, and they were forced back into their chairs.

Draco's eyes were wet, again, but he was looking at him. Harry just wanted to know that he hadn't messed it up somehow.

"How are you doing, Draco?" Joel asked cautiously, and Harry flinched, having forgotten Joel was there.

"Okay... he... did it. He got in."

Joel looked like he hoped for more, but Draco pulled out his wand. He stared at it and twirled it in his fingers. Harry was smiling, hoping it was a good sign. Draco needed one more push to break through his mental fear. He got up and walked to the side, crouching next to his wheelchair. He slowly touched his arm, getting the connection and letting Draco feel his magic.

"One more step, Draco. You can do it. That bastard didn't break you. Don't let him control you anymore. He's gone... and you are healed. I know you can do this... just try a simple Lumos, okay?"

Draco took a shaky breath and tightened his grip on his wand. He met his eyes for one more confidence boost.

"I'm right here, Draco. I will never let anyone hurt you, again," he vowed.

Draco's eyes softened and he nodded. He took another deep breath and whispered, "Lumos!"

The tip of his hawthorn wand ignited a light that brightened the room, but Harry didn't look away from Draco's face as he recovered the most significant part of himself in that moment.

"You're a wizard, Draco," Harry declared, ensuring Draco knew that no one could ever take that away. Draco cried, again, and hugged Harry tightly with his wand still in his hand.

Sorry for the long wait! Between the holidays and family visits, I couldn't write much. Then I couldn't write in Word, cause my script was up. Sigh. But doing better, getting more sleep... some days anyway!

I also rewrote nearly this whole chapter. It very rarely happens. I might redo a section or two... but this was several pages. I originally had Draco and Harry going out onto the roof for some bonding, and later Joel getting into Draco's mind, but I didn't like it. I feel that Draco will be the one to help Harry later, so... they needed to beat this huddle together.