Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 65

Published: 1/27/2024

Draco was relieved that neither Blaise nor Harry questioned him about his absence. Harry merely gave him a smile and then helped Blaise cut the vegetables. When they finished, Harry set the table with a wave of his hand. Draco would have even tried summoning the cutlery with his wand. Neville finally came in from the front door, and he greeted them with a hello, before kissing Blaise.

"Looks great, honey. Sorry, I took so long," Neville said.

"No problem, these two came home early. Potter was regaling me with his cooking methods."

"Hey, I did more than that!"

Neville laughed and said, "Good. I'm no help."

"Sure, you are, Boo. You grow the vegetables," Blaise said as they laughed and put the last dish in the oven, setting a timer of

The floo chimed, and Blaise unlocked it with a wave of his wand. Theo and Astoria came through and brought a pie.

"Theo, Tori! Come in! Draco and Harry are already here."

"Oh? That's good," Theo said, and after greeting Neville and Blaise, he turned to Harry. It's nice to see you, again, P-Harry. I do apologize for my father's actions during the war. Rest assured that I never agreed with him."

"Thanks... umm... don't need to mention it. The war was bad for everyone," Harry said, quietly, not meeting Theo's eyes. Draco slowly moved beside him and took over.

"Theo, thanks for coming over. Tori, nice to see you without loud music," he said.

She laughed and took his hand. "Same. Draco. I know you and my sister weren't best friends, but you were always protective of our house. She did request that I tell you that she doesn't support Pansy's words and only left with her to get her away from you."

Draco nodded. "I'm not worried about it or Pansy. I never really cared for her."

Blaise humphed. "She's a bitch. She pulled enough shit at school."

"Especially when she tried to spike your drink with a love potion," Harry muttered.

Draco wasn't sure what Harry was talking about until Theo laughed and said, "I remember that! Luckily, Draco wasn't the one who drank it."

"Is that when Vince spent the night sprouting sonnets and chasing after her?" Astoria asked.

"Yep. Draco saw her do it, and Vince just drank the pumpkin juice before Draco could warn him. Joke's on Pansy. Vince kissed her in front of the whole house."

Draco blinked and frowned. He didn't remember that..., or any of it, either. Now that they had brought it up, he was starting to remember fragments. Vince had kissed and hugged her, but Pansy had hexed him and ran away. Harry must have read it in his journal.

"Well, Pansy's getting her comeuppance. Marcus Flint cheats on her at every opportunity," Tori scoffed. "Daph's told me all about it."

Blaise suggested they move to the den while dinner finishes cooking, where Harry sat next to him and unabashedly took his hand. Draco smiled at his boldness, as Harry didn't know Theo or Tori that well. Theo and Blaise kept the conversation going more than anyone else. They talked about safer topics like property improvements, holidays and work. Draco was surprised that Hogwarts was now offering work-study classes for seventh years and remedial programs for struggling students. They were some of McGonagall's first additions after the war.

Tori subtly probed Harry's feelings about it, as Harry hadn't offered much in the way of conversation.

"I think it's great that she's making sure students succeed. I mean... not everyone understands everything immediately, and some kids would like to work on their career earlier."

"I couldn't agree more. Theo and I... we were thinking about having a child, and... I'd want the best for them."

"Really? Congrats," Harry said, with a smile.

"Thanks, Harry," she said, slowly getting Harry to talk more.

Draco could see that Harry was uncomfortable at first, but Tori was so nice that the tension in Harry's shoulders faded. He didn't have to keep his guard up around her as much as Blaise and Theo. It helped that Tori was half his size as well. She was thin and had little weight on her. Blaise had mentioned that she had been in recovery. Draco wasn't sure that she could handle a pregnancy.

When they sat down to dinner, Tori explained how her family had sold her off to Theo, through a marriage contract between their parents. She took her husband's hand and smiled.

"Lucky for me, Theo was amazing... and kind. It took a bit...."

"Years," Theo added.

"...but we grew closer. We've gone no contact with our parents. Joke's on them," she said. "But we're happy... and Theo saved me in more than one way."

"Blaise saved you," Theo muttered, looking down.

"I lifted the curse. You were there for her when she needed it," Blaise countered.

Draco felt the sadness in both their voices. Tori had almost died. She was so kind and thoughtful, and she had healed Theo's troubled soul. Tori even sensed her husband's distress and switched topics by asking Harry about his work.

"Well, I haven't gone back... since Draco was released. I needed time off... to process everything."

"That's understandable," she said.

"I'm sure you saw the articles," he muttered.

"We did, but that doesn't mean that they were true."

Harry sighed. "Most of them were."

Tori gently took his hand. "I'm really sorry that happened to you, Harry."

"Thanks," he muttered, and Tori quickly changed the subject again.

After dinner, they helped clear the dishes and walked to the den, where the fire was going. Blaise was still cleaning the dishes, so they had smaller conversations until he returned. Draco sat on the couch with Theo. Harry seemed too anxious to sit beside him in front of the others. He was talking with Neville. Theo talked with him about Gringotts for a bit, but Astoria went over to Harry and Neville. Draco heard her ask about school.

"Well, September first is next week. We've already set up our classrooms and I check the greenhouses every day, so... the end of vacation is nigh," he said.

Draco hadn't realized that it was so close. The past few months had been a blur. He looked at Harry, who also seemed surprised by the news. It was a change in their routine. Blaise wouldn't be taking him to the café anymore for lunch.

Theo interrupted his thoughts to ask him about his accounts and his plans. Draco didn't know much. The Patils said the settlement check should be coming soon. His properties had been remanded back to his control, and occupants were ejected. Draco had hired a security firm to set up wards and surveillance. The Patils said that even after the government sent the checks, they still wanted to go after the individuals who either stole from him, hurt him, or allowed it all to happen.

Draco wasn't sure he was ready to sue the guards. That meant a trial... where he might have to testify. As the guards had been convicted for what they did, the Wizengamot might do a summary judgment. Either way, the Patils said he had time. He honestly wanted the whole thing over with, but that little nagging feeling of revenge was starting to sound appealing. Taking every galleon they had was small compared to what they did to him, but it was a start. Blaise said he knew a few people who would harass them for money. He didn't want that, though. He wanted to put it behind him.

"All cleaned. Did I miss anything?" Blaise said, coming out.

"I guess school is starting?" Harry said, looking at him.

"Yep, every year on my birthday."

"September first is your birthday?" Harry asked.

"The unlucky one, I am," Blaise joked. "No birthdays off for me anymore, but I never had cause to celebrate it until recently."

He looked at Neville, who smiled. "Me as well."

Theo rolled his eyes. "You two are definitely still in your honeymoon phase."

Blaise gave the FU gesture. "Just cause you're not romantic...."

"He's quite romantic. He just doesn't want you guys to see his soft side," Tori said, smiling at her husband while they laughed.

Blaise smiled and took Neville's hand. "Will you help me plate the dessert?"

"Sure, boo," he said, and Neville and Blaise went into the kitchen where the pie was.

"So... Harry... ummm..." Tori started, quietly, and Draco had to strain to hear her.

"Yeah?"

"I... ummm... was wondering... if you were going to go back? To the hospital?" she said.

Theo tried to talk to him, but Draco was listening to Harry and Tori's conversation.

"I guess. I haven't decided on when," he said, awkwardly.

"I... I've been trying to... get a hold of you," she started.

"Oh, Hermione blocks all mail to me unless it's from certain individuals. With my name being plastered in the papers, again, after so long...."

"I meant through your clinic," she said, softly.

Harry looked her up and down. "What's wrong? I know Blaise mentioned a curse. I'm not very proficient in spell damage."

"They said it's gone... but I haven't been able to... build any muscle. I was sick for years and so weak. I mean... some healers and curse breakers knew my husband's father was a Death Eater and have been a little nasty. It's so hard to find healers I trust. I heard... what you did for Draco, and... well... I don't mean to interrupt your... recovery time by asking. I didn't think you'd be here. I was going to ask Draco about what you can do. But you're here... and well... Theo and I want a baby. I was wondering if you... wouldn't mind... umm...."

"Assessing your condition?" Harry finished for her.

"Yes, when you... are ready, of course, though. I just... wanted to know if you would."

Harry's healer mode activated, and he said, "I'll never turn down someone in need. I could check you out... now? See if I can help?"

Tori said, excited. "Could you?"

Harry led her away to the corner of the room, out of earshot. He conjured some parchment and scanned her. Draco could see that he was going over it with her.

"...and that's when I joined the Weird Sisters," Theo said, loudly.

It finally clicked what he said. "Wait, what?"

"Have you been listening at all?"

"Sorry, I wasn't," Draco admitted.

"Figured. You were staring at your crush again."

Draco blushed. "You know what he means to me."

Theo nodded. "I do, and I'm happy you found someone. Potter is just as bad as you are."

"Is Astoria okay?"

"Yes, but she is recovering. She can't walk too far, and she drops things a lot. We came over to ask you... about seeing Potter," Theo explained.

"Okay," he said. He wasn't bothered by that. Theo had helped him for nothing, and Harry didn't seem upset by the request.

"I hope you don't feel that we only came for that. I am genuinely worried about you. I didn't even make the connection that Potter was a healer. I mean someone who could help us until Tori had to go back to the hospital. A warden suggested we try Potter, if he comes back. He didn't, and Tori wasn't getting better."

"You don't have to explain, Theo. Harry's alright, so everything is fine."

Blaise and Neville came in, holding six plates and a tray of drinks. Blaise had considered Tori and Harry's conditions and procured tasteful, non-alcoholic wines. Harry and Tori returned, and Tori had tears in her eyes. Even Theo was staring at her, now.

"Thank you so much, Harry. I've been so worried," she said.

"There's nothing that I can see that will keep you from gaining your strength back. We can work out some appointments... when I go back, I mean," Harry said, smiling.

Draco liked seeing him smile. Harry missed healing, and even he could see that. Harry loved to help people, and he's been idle for two months. It was something that hadn't happened since before the war.

"There's no rush. Thank you for checking, and I feel better already," she said.

"I didn't do much. Just repaired some of the lining in your arteries. Your heart rate has already improved."

Tori really started crying, and Theo leaped up to hug her.

"Good job, Potter. You made her cry," Blaise said, though he was smirking.

Draco blinked, realizing that Blaise knew. Blaise had a tendency to gatekeep the information. Most likely, Blaise had told Theo he'd have to ask himself. Damn, Draco was lucky to have Blaise. Even to help Astoria, Blaise wouldn't push Harry's boundaries.

"They're happy tears... I think," Harry said, and took two plates of pie from Neville. He brought him one and sat down next to him on the couch.

Draco smiled. "You okay?"

"Yeah. It felt good to help someone else for once. It's what kept me going all those years."

"I understand, but you've been helping me a lot."

Harry smiled at him, and they ate dessert. Tori was able to rejoin the conversation. After their plates were empty and they had had a few drinks, Tori started to feel tired, and Theo took her home. Blaise and Neville also went upstairs. Blaise was all too happy to remind Harry that Draco had to get up early.

"Goodnight, Blaise," Draco huffed, in annoyance. Blaise gave the two-finger salute and went upstairs after Neville.

"He just worries about you," Harry said.

Draco agreed with that. "Was that okay? With Astoria?"

"It was fine, Draco. It's an easy thing to do when people ask me to relieve their pain. She certainly won't need nearly as long as you did."

"Do," Draco added. "You enjoyed helping her."

"Yeah."

"You miss it," he stated.

Harry nodded. "It was a month of wallowing... followed by a month of... happiness."

"You're going back, aren't you?" Draco said, keeping his tone even.

"I think so... would you mind?" he asked, worrisome.

"This time has been wonderful. We know each other a lot better than before."

"We do..." Harry said and grimaced. "Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"You... have seemed... confused. When we talk about the past, I mean? Are you upset that I'm talking about things in your diary?" Harry asked, worried. "I'm sorry if I am... betraying your privacy."

"Ahhh... no, Harry. I'm not upset," Draco said, looking at the fire.

"Then?"

"It's just like spells, Harry. My memory isn't... good. I didn't remember that thing with Pansy and the potion until you brought it up. It's hard to remember my memories from my school days, especially my younger years."

Harry looked at him, a little horrified. "But we have talked about our school times, Draco? You didn't seem to have issues with that."

Draco snorted. "That's because you were in those memories."

Harry looked at him, surprised.

Draco laughed nervously, his hands shaking. "Harry, how often do I tell you how much you mean to me? Have always meant to me? You were what I held onto to keep me... sane."

Harry took his hand and clenched it tightly. "Sorry. Sometimes, I feel your faith and devotion in me is undeserved, and it surprises me."

"How can you say that? You kept me from dying, saved me from the fire, spoke at my trial, healed me, talked to me... brought me back from a lonely, miserable life of pain and agony."

Harry blushed. "But you... held on. The only times I thought of you is when I saw your wand in my sock drawer."

Draco almost laughed at that image. "You thought of me more than anyone else did. I had a crush on Harry. You had the mission."

Harry nodded. "Hunting Horcruxes across the UK. I... did think of you occasionally, especially after we left. I couldn't make sense of why you... did that."

"And sixth year?" Draco added with a smirk.

"I was... obsessed watching your every movement. I was determined to figure out what you were doing."

"I just wish you would have. That's always my what if... what if I had just flipped then... asked for help?"

"It's mine, too. Or one of them. So many people were lost."

Draco nodded, and they watched the flames for several minutes without saying. "Did you know it was almost September first?"

"No," Harry sighed, and shook his head. "Are you... can you take your Apparation test?"

Draco shook his head. "I can't. It's still hard to do magic, especially in front of people."

"I see. Well... so we can't go to eat lunch unless I pick you up and drop you off," Harry said.

"We'll manage," Draco said, though realizing that with Blaise gone, he would have a lot more alone time. He also realized Blaise and Neville had stayed at the school rather than travel home every night last school year.

Draco leaned back into the couch. Harry settled closer, getting right next to him. They intertwined their fingers and just held each other for a while. There were many things to process, and Draco knew that Harry usually needed more time. Things were changing. Their vacation was over, and their time would become even more limited. Harry was going back to work... back to the real world. He was worried about him.

"Are you okay?" Draco thought.

"Yeah... just thinking...."

"Harry? We're going to make this work, you know that, right?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I guess. These last few weeks... have been the best weeks of my life, Draco. I don't want it to end."

"It's not ending, Harry. I mean... unless you don't want to go back to work. I mean, Theo has assured me that I'm still rich. We can retire at 25."

"26," Harry reminded him.

"Yeah... we're getting old. Maybe we should retire? Find a quiet place in the country... get some fluffy, cuddly pets..." he said, and Harry giggled. "...and do nothing but eat decadent foods and lounge around all day."

"It's a dream."

"It's not your dream, though," Draco said, knowingly.

"Nor yours. It does sound like an amazing retirement, though," Harry said, and met his eyes.

They were close, closer than Harry usually got. "One day, though. One day... I'd want that with you," Draco admitted.

Harry was trembling but, for once, he didn't back away. He kept staring back at him. Draco could see the debate going on in his eyes, but he refused to take that choice from Harry. This wasn't the first time that they'd been caught in this tense exchange of insecurities. Harry needed to overcome it. He smiled, hoping it would give Harry some encouragement. It seemed to work as Harry smiled back and leaned forward.

Draco could feel Harry's moist lips against his, and his heart soared triumphantly. Finally! he thought, kissing back gently. Harry didn't hold it long, just long enough for Draco to taste him. Sweet and musky. No one had ever kissed him on the lips before, not even Blaise. He savored the taste and opened his eyes that he had unknowingly closed. He had to see how Harry was taking it.

Harry was looking at him worried, and Draco wasn't sure why. Their kiss was relatively chaste by all the knowledge he had.

"Are you okay?" he asked, staring at Harry.

"You're asking me if I'm okay?" he laughed a little.

"It was an important step for us... I always want to make sure that you're okay."

Harry looked down at the floor. "I'm always the weak one."

"You really think that? Have you not noticed that I always wear long sleeves? That you have to talk to the muggles at the restaurant? That I still can't look in the mirror without wanting to cry?"

Harry's eyes met his. "Draco...."

"Harry... I trust you more than anyone. You're all that matters to me."

"I shouldn't be," Harry muttered. "Even so... you know that you're in a better place than I was, and you went through so much more."

Draco sighed. "I don't like that you keep comparing our traumas, Harry. Did you forget already that you healed me?"

"Yeah, you're not in pain anymore, are you?" Harry murmured.

Draco tapped him on the head, lightly. "No, I'm not, but that isn't the point. You went in my mind and eradicated Connors, remember?"

Harry blinked, and his mouth opened, slightly in shock

"Yeah... you did. Don't suppose you remember how scared I was when McGrath and that other officer came into my room?"

He nodded. "But you're stronger now."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Mentally, anyway. What a pair we make, hmm? You're physically strong, and I'm physically weak."

Harry snorted. "Whereas you're mentally strong, and I'm mentally weak?"

Draco shrugged. "I wouldn't go that far. But look at it this way, you're running how long every morning? I can't run at all... yet. But I'm working at it. I can walk when before I couldn't, and I have to keep on working at, or I'll lose my progress, right?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed.

"Mental health isn't any different than that. It's something I always have to keep focus on, or I'll lose what I have. It's something that you should work on, too."

"I can't. I'll always be...."

"No, you won't, because I've seen you stand up for me, for Joel, or any of your patients. I've seen you put my needs first. And I've seen you be happy, and you can be. I have mastered the art of compartmentalization. I can put all the bad stuff into a box until I want to face it. But... I do have to face it, and when I do... I just think of you."

Tears flowed down Harry's cheek, and he leaned in to press his face into Draco's chest, leaning into him. Harry hugged him tightly, and they held each other until the fire died a couple of hours later.

"Shoot... I wasn't supposed to keep you up so late," Harry said, getting off of him.

"I don't mind," he said, smiling.

Harry rolled his eyes and helped him to his feet. Draco walked him to the door and out on the step. Harry turned back to look up into his eyes as Draco gripped his walker. Harry leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Draco smiled happily for another kiss.

"Thank you... for another wonderful night," Harry said, blushing at his forwardness.

"I'm glad you stayed... even if Blaise will nag tomorrow morning," he joked.

Harry laughed and stepped away. However, he stopped, turned back around and, expectedly, pulled out his journal from some sort of pouch. Draco was surprised that he carried it on him everywhere. He eyed Harry warily, unsure.

"Harry?" he asked, as Harry slowly handed him the journal.

"Thank you... for letting me in. I... think you should have it back... to help you remember. It was... unbelievable to read... and horrifying. I'm so sorry, Draco."

He accepted the book that had been his refuge for so many years. "I don't think that I had a way out. Most of the time, I didn't, but I believed."

Harry nodded and then shrugged. "And sorry... I added my own contribution to it."

Draco was confused, and then he realized Harry meant the book.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Draco," Harry said, before Apparating away.

Draco shuffled back into the house and to his room. His hands trembled as he took his wand from his bedtable and mumbled the password. He flipped the pages to the end, and tears flooded his eyes as he read Harry's messy scrawl.

I ha- Fuck Yeah! It works!

I love Draco.

I love Draco, just as much as Draco loves me, maybe more.

Draco held the journal close to his heart as he laid down to sleep.

Sorry, just got busy! But they finally kissed! Yay!