Healing Harry Potter

Published: 6/16/25

Draco wasn't there when Harry woke up, but his alert ward sounded and he hurried to the room. Harry was staring at the cup.

"Harry?"

"It came."

"It did. You remember what I said about it reappearing? You don't have to drink it, okay?"

Harry just stared but then looked up at him. "Make it... go...."

Draco subtly raised his wand, and the goblet vanished. Harry was getting better and better with every hour it wasn't in his system. His mental ticks were less, and his shaking was diminished. However, one drink might wreck that progress. He told Laura to keep the monkshood counter accessible in case it happened as the bezoar was severely deteriorated.

"I'm sorry, I was working on paperwork. How was the visit? How do you feel?"

"Calm... they're... better... happy... without me...."

"Not without you. They're happy because you're doing so much better. They were very stressed out caring for you... because it hurt them. But they are happy only because you are doing better."

"I hurt them."

"You didn't, Harry."

"They're sad because of me. They gave up everything for me."

"Because you're worth fighting for... Harry. I won't give up on you either, okay? Just don't give up. That's what they wouldn't... what I couldn't handle... what would hurt us. You're going to get better... feel better. Cause remember... I'm amazing and I can do anything."

Harry glared but nodded. "Yeah... but... I can't... I can't live like this. Reality comes and goes."

"Gimme some time, Harry. Look how much better you are... you feel better, don't you?"

Harry nodded. "Please... I don't want to be... I don't want to be like that... trapped. Please."

"I won't let that happen. There are going to be ups and downs and setbacks, but I will be here. We will get through that, okay?"

Harry nodded and he slowly extended his hand out. Draco slowly brought his hand forward, palm up. Harry touched his hand, his fingers trailing across his skin. Draco knew that touching was very difficult after everything he'd been through. He let Harry enjoy the moment, but Laura came in with his dinner, and Harry, thankfully, ate most of it. Eating had been an issue, according to his charts.

After lunch, Laura knocked again on Harry's door. She said that his guardians were back. Harry looked at him.

"Hey, I was expecting them. Will you be okay, if I go talk to them?" Draco said.

"I'll stay with you, Harry. No touching, like I promised," Laura said.

Harry nodded and looked away, unhappy. Draco thanked her and walked out. Granger and Weasley did not wait in his office but out in the hallway. He looked to Granger.

"Any luck?" he dared to say. Cracking a five-year-old curse would be extremely difficult without his father's books.

"Yes. The Minister got the answer straight away. Malfoy Manor was not... impounded. He said that due to your actions, he stripped all lands and wealth from your dad and gave everything to you as the heir, though about half of the funds were put into a trust for Harry's care, when it became clear he was... damaged. I knew we were getting a government stipend, but I didn't know it came from your money."

"My father's money, Granger. I make enough to live comfortably and then some. If I'd known I had assets, I probably would have donated them."

Weasley looked at him, disbelieving.

Draco blushed. "I realize that I was an asshole at school and had a bloody mark branded on my arm, but you can call the last hospital I worked. Almost half my pay went to a charity for abused children, Weasley. I already set up a similar donation payout to the War Victim's Fund here. I... I want to help people."

They both looked at him, surprised and embarrassed. Weasley started, "Sorry... it's... we've always been...."

"I don't think it's a "we" Ron. I think I was a right bastard to you and you have every right to call me out on it. I was an angry kid whose father was Lucius Malfoy. I know exactly what kind of things Harry went through," Draco murmured, looking at Harry's door.

"Why would you know...."

Granger smacked him as she obviously understood his meaning. "Ron! But anyway. He said that the wards are still locked to everyone. But he has an Auror waiting at the gates to assist us."

Draco sighed. "Oh, goody. Hopefully, I don't get arrested."

"You wouldn't...."

"Please. I'm a Malfoy and a former Death Eater. I'm not that naïve to think they just forgot about the war."

"No... but I certainly won't stand for it. Let's get going."

"Now?" Draco asked, worriedly

"Yes, the Auror is already there. You're the owner and only one who knows what books to look for."

"Right. I don't know if we can leave Harry that long," he said, eying Weasley. "Will you stay here with Harry?"

Ron's mouth was thin. He liked none of this but nodded.

"The Auror will be with us. I'd offer up my wand, but I may need it for the wards."

"That won't be necessary," Hermione said. "Come on, let's tell Harry and get going."

Draco did, though he didn't tell him where, just that he was going to find books on the subject and if he was fine with Ron there.

"Okay," he mumbled.

"Thanks, Harry. Maybe play a game? They should have some in the visitor tea room," Draco suggested.

Ron agreed. Hermione led the way to the Apparation point and side-Apparated him to the gates of the Manor. She shivered, looking at the dreary house.

"I had hoped that they would have burned that fucker to the ground. Nearly a millennium of Malfoy assholes lived in that bloody house. I once thought of that face with some pride, but as I read and heard about their stories of cheating, stealing and exploiting people to gain that wealth, I learned it was all a sham."

"The little Malfoy brat shows contrition for the sins of his forefathers... and father," hissed an Auror appearing out of nowhere. He must have had a Disillusion Charm on. Draco lowered his head, feeling the shame of his condemnation.

"That is unkind, Auror Dawlish. Draco saved Harry from his father and helped us during the war!" Hermione defended.

"Once a Death Eater... always a Death Eater...."

"That is not true! He wasn't...."

"Don't Granger. Let's just go in. Please unlock the gates," Draco asked, blushing.

"I don't take orders from...."

"Unlock them and return the wards to Draco's control, now, or have you brought up charges for withholding property!" she snapped.

Dawlish lowered the Auror locks and pointed his wand at Draco, who flinched but felt nothing. "Done, your highness. I don't know how he's convinced you to do this...."

"He's a respectful healer now, and this is his property. Leave. We can handle the rest from here."

The Auror scoffed and Apparated away. Draco breathed easier. "Thanks. You didn't have to send him away."

"He was a ponce. Come on... this isn't going to be pleasant."

"No... it's not," Draco agreed.

They walked to the house, and Draco spelled the door open. The chains were still on the bloody floor. The buffet was set up for the party... the party to torture Harry. Draco remembered the clinking of glasses... the sight of Goyle's dad forcing himself into Harry... the people laughing....

"Draco... where's the library?" Hermione asked.

"Not the library... my father's study would be better," he said, walking away from that horrible place.

Draco led her to his father's study. There was a small bookcase in there filled with forty rarer... more sinister volumes.

"It'll be in one of these. I can look through them, or we can take them all back. I have a fear that some might not go easily. Their family tomes... tied to the estate."

"Just check them briefly. I'm fairly good at skimming."

"Let me handle them first, okay?" Draco said, looking at the first book. He checked the title, checked for spells, and lifted it off the shelf.

When nothing bad happened, he passed it to Granger and watched her. She started scanning without issue. He grabbed a second after his checks. They spent an hour or two checking the books until Draco finally lifted up a withering centuries-old book: Malédictions Grecques Anciennes.

"I think this is it," he murmured, slowly turning the faded pages.

"You can read French?" she asked, looking at the book as he flipped pages.

"I would hope so, after working in a French hospital for five years. I have seen this... I had a feeling... it's a Greek curse... from mythology. He twisted it... the item is cursed to follow a certain person... and when they are weak... it will appear to torment them. To try to get them to use it... or open it. Give up hope."

Hermione's jaw dropped as the word registered. "Pandora's curse? I thought it was about a woman cursed with curiosity, and after being warned... opened the jar anyway and unleashed the horrors upon humans."

Draco nodded. "It surely was diluted through hi온라인카지노게임, but the curse is real. Usually, it is meant to kill the one who bears the curse. A poison, a knife, a scorpion... something that will follow the bearer until they open or take something that they know they aren't supposed to take or do. Until they give in... whether it's surrender or curiosity. Sometimes, they can deny it... but it's meant to test the cursed person with a trap that they can't escape."

"And it kills them... but Harry...."

"Didn't die? No... my father's a right bastard. He grafted the cure into Harry's belly. He wanted Harry to die a hundred... a thousand times, by his own hand. Sick fuck."

"Is... is there a cure?"

"I don't know. It's an ancient fucking curse, but let's take this back... if we have to, we'll ask the Ministry for help."

"I'm taking these, too, and we can come back for the library later, if necessary. Take them out one by one, and put them in the bag," Hermione ordered, offering a beaded bag with an Undetectable Extension charm to him.

Draco nodded, and they checked the rest. He kept the Greek curse book, though. They went out the front door. The books were angry in the bag from leaving, but Granger Stunned them. Then they Apparated back to the hospital.

Hermione checked and all the books came with them. "I'll get started right away."

Draco nodded, gripping the Maledictions book tightly. "Let's check on Harry, though."

They went down the hall and found Ron and Harry in a chess match. Harry looked at Draco as soon as he came into the room, but then he returned to the game. Draco noted that the chess pieces were just normal, muggle ones. That was probably a good idea, as the magical ones tend to be annoying to players they don't know.

Harry's shaking hand moved the bishop to the middle of the board, taking Ron's knight.

"Nice move, mate," Ron said, nodding.

"You're letting me win," Harry muttered.

"No, I'm not," Ron scoffed.

"You're good at this game. I remember."

"I haven't played in years, Harry. I'm rusty."

Harry smirked. "Liar."

"You're just doing so well," Ron said, holding his hands up.

"Ya huh," Harry said as Ron made his move.

Draco and Hermione watched them play and bicker back and forth until Harry forced a checkmate. Ron didn't make it obvious, but the game made Harry think. It was a great way to nurture Harry's mental strength after so long. It was almost night and day from his arrival: full sentences sometimes, less non-sensical mutterings and more eye contact, though for not very long.

"You let me win," Harry maintained.

"I wouldn't do that."

"Yes, you would... but thank you. It... was... fun," Harry murmured, like the word was strange.

Draco was sure that Harry hadn't completed a game or any task really in years. The monkshood would have severely hampered his mental abilities. Draco probably will have to look at the damage the poison has done to Harry's system when they figure out how to remove the curse.

"It was great, Harry," Ron said, smiling at his best mate. He had to hide the tears in his eyes.

Draco stepped forward to distract Harry. "How are you doing? Anything hurting?"

"Head hurts... but it's light," he said, and looked at his shaking hands.

"Okay... it's almost dinner time. Do you think you can eat?"

Harry nodded. "I'm hungry... it's... weird."

Ron and Hermione looked surprised, but Draco just said, "I'm sure. Let's get your guests home so you can relax."

Draco moved aside so they could say goodbye. Ron got a goodbye, with eye contact and everything. Hermione moved closer and tried to see if Harry would let her hold his hand, again. He fidgeted but allowed it. Then he leaned forward, and one arm hugged her, putting his head into her shoulder. Her eyes widened in surprise, like a miracle had just happened.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"No... don't be sorry, Harry. I... I'm so happy right, now. You're doing so well," she said, crying. "We missed you so much."

"I hurt you and Ron. You... didn't give up on me."

"We couldn't, Harry," she said, patting his head. "You are our family. We stick together."

Harry hugged her for a long time before he let go and met her eyes. "Thank you."

She nodded. "We love you, Harry. It's going to work out."

Harry didn't respond and laid down, curled up into a ball. It was a lot of interaction for one day. Draco told him he'd be right back, and guided the two out to the hallway.

"Oh, my Merlin, Draco, that's... he's..." Hermione stammered.

Ron was crying harder. "He-He stayed present the whole match. He was making logical moves. He hasn't been able to do that since...."

"I know, but still give him time. Today was a lot for him. He needs space... time. The monkshood is out of his system, but he still has years of trauma to get through. Don't try to push him too hard."

"Of course," she said.

"Don't come every day... maybe every other day or every three days."

"You're right. We have research to do! Come on, Ron. We got to get to the post owl office before they close!" she said, and they left.

"Thanks, Malfoy!" Ron called as they walked down the hall.

Draco went back in. The goblet was on the food table. Harry was staring at it.

"I'm not going to get better."

"You're trapped in a cycle, Harry. You have experienced so much pain and hardship throughout your life that it's hard to believe that there's a way out of the loop. You're cognizant enough to see that things are difficult. The world makes more sense. Your senses aren't going haywire... the hallucinations have stopped. Or am I wrong?"

"But it will come back...."

"It will... if you drink that goblet. It's a curse, Harry. One... that I will try to break, but you can resist it. You can tell yourself that losing my mind isn't worth the pain. There's nothing but pain and confusion in that goblet. No relief. Did you enjoy playing chess with Ron?"

Tears fell from Harry's eyes. "I could... I never could before. Everything was too loud... too much... I remembered how to play."

"You could do that all the time. You can talk to people... eat... sleep... like everyone else. We'll get you there, okay? But you have to fight, too. You can't drink that... or you'll lose yourself again."

"I... don't want to... it hurt... but I keep drinking it. I had to."

"I know, Harry. Magic can be used cruelly. The compulsion spell made you do it, and now... you can resist the urge to drink. I can try to stop you, but I promised I wouldn't hold you down. I know you can beat this without me making me."

"I'm too messed up. There's no way...."

"Harry... you're the toughest SOB I know. You haven't drank it yet. You can't let my bastard father win. He didn't win. He hurt you... he hurt me, but we will overcome it. We will survive on our own terms.

Harry stared at the goblet for a minute before he looked at Draco and nodded. Draco Vanished the flask. Harry breathed easier and even let Draco perform some scans. Harry was going through some withdrawal, but it was only minor irritation. He decided to risk a pain reliever and a Calming Draught. The monkshood was out of his system now, and he trusted Harry wouldn't drink it with him there.

After Harry ate his dinner, he drank the potions. He breathed easier and looked at Draco with tears in his eyes. Relief was not only possible, it was happening. Harry probably hadn't felt so at ease in over five years. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. Draco tucked him in and pushed his bangs out of his eyes. Harry didn't move.

Draco sat down in a comfy chair he conjured and pulled out Malédictions Grecques Anciennes. They were going to crack the curse.

Updated by request by the one who helps show me my grammar and wording errors! AngelaDolomont