Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 60 – Light

Published: 10/23/19

***TRIGGER WARNING*** mentions of suicide attempt

***Previously on Draco Malfoy, Broken (que Kansas's "Carry on My Wayward Son")*** Draco was attacked by SADE, beaten, shaved (oh no!) and outed, and he slipped into his "pit" memories of being brutally assaulted by Fenrir, Rabastan and Voldemort. He loses the ability to stop the flashbacks and he's relatively out of it for a few days, stuck reliving his memories. Theo breaks into his mind to rescue him and Harry gives Draco a potion to regrow his hair. However, Skeeter posts a homophobic article about Draco and Harry's relationship (biatch). Draco escapes the confines of the infirmary and runs into Ron, who doesn't hurt him, but Draco slips back into a pit flashback anyways. Harry arrives and beats the crap out of Ron (um, yay?). Draco stays overnight in the hospital, but Dawlish comes in, stuns Neville and threatens to abuse Draco sexually (pig). Draco runs to the Astronomy Tower, done with the pain and abuse and ready to end it. Ron gets his first POV and he's pissed at Harry, but is genuinely concerned about Malfoy's well-being (surprise?) when Neville comes to get Harry. He steals Harry's invisibility cloak and follows Harry to the Tower, and watches as Harry manages to talk Draco down off the ledge.

And now...

Draco woke up suddenly, sitting straight up in the hospital ward. Harry jumped awake immediately in the bed over, no doubt having set silent Caterwauling Charms.

"Draco, are you okay?" Harry asked, slipping out of bed and coming over, though it was barely morning.

Draco took a deep breath. He had taken the Dreamless Potion last night, after Harry had brought him back. He didn't remember any dreams, but he was still apprehensive... just more rested. He nodded.

Harry let out a breath of relief. "Good, that's good... Blaise said that he'll stop by later. Are you... up for visitors?"

Draco wanted to glare at him. He wasn't sick.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to be... umm... overly sensitive. You didn't deserve that," Harry backtracked.

Draco nodded. He hadn't talked since Harry carried him down from the Tower. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that he take the Dreamless Sleep, but he still wanted nothing to do with it. Harry told him that he didn't have to take it, but that was the point where she tried to usher out Harry and the others. Harry and Blaise argued with her for ten minutes about the fact that Neville had been stunned and they couldn't leave him unguarded. Harry ended the argument by saying if she made him leave, he was going to Sectumsempra himself in the hallway. She huffed and told everyone else to leave. She left Harry with him and he had managed to lure him into drinking the sleep potion, anyway. Harry was staying there. He felt safe enough.

Harry sat down in the chair, now facing the entranceway. He looked exhausted, worn down. Draco leaned back into his pillows and stared at the windows. The morning's first light was coming in through the window. A new day had come and maybe there would be some relief for the sense of hopelessness and helplessness that he felt last night.

Harry put his hand on the bed. He wanted... maybe needed, physical contact, but didn't want to ask for it. Draco pulled his hand out from under the blankets and put it in his hand. He felt groggy. He knew he shouldn't have taken that potion. Harry had the right of it. Draco needed to process what had happened... accept it. He was right back where he was last night. Hurting, confused and lost. Blaise would be there soon, too. He might force answers out of him. Draco's breath caught and Harry gave his hand a squeeze.

"It's going to be fine. I won't let anyone make you nervous. You don't have to talk to them if you don't want."

Draco looked at Harry surprised. Did he just read my mind?

"You were staring at the door, looking worried. I guessed."

Draco's mouth twitched into a smile, for a few seconds. But he grimaced. "Y-You're never l-letting me be alone a-again, are you?"

Harry frowned, too. "I wouldn't say that. You're just hurting. I trust you not to... try, again."

Draco's eyebrows rose up in shock and he stared at Harry, incredulously.

"It's true. I promise. Last night, I just didn't want to be alone... or anyone to hurt you. You came down. I didn't have to pull you back. I can't say that Blaise won't be crazy obsessive over you, but I have faith in you."

Tears came out. He didn't really occur to him to lie or try to deceive him about his actions. Draco believed exactly what Harry said. He'd jump, too. He couldn't let Harry to that. Harry was too important for that. Blaise, Theo and Daphne... they'd be heartbroken. His mum... she'd be devastated. He'd fuck up everyone by... leaving. He knew that he'd have to take the pain. There was no escaping it.

"W-What happened... yesterday... earlier... I mean."

"Well... we went to Charms. I'm... I'm sorry we should have left someone here, too, but when we came back, Rivers was blind, again. Hopkins tried to curse us, but Blaise stopped that from going anywhere. Smith tried to say that he hadn't done anything and was just there to see Madam Pomfrey."

"He d-didn't do anything," Draco verified, remembering how scared Smith had looked. He wondered what Blaise hit him with.

"Well, she wouldn't let us curse him anyway. She said that you ran when you saw the paper. I'm sorry, Draco. We should have been more careful."

Draco nodded. It was done. Not point crying over a spilt potion. "They said... t-that s-someone t-told them."

Harry tilted his head and his eyes glanced down at Draco's chest, where the bad word had been. "On Tuesday?"

He nodded. "The Slytherins."

Harry processed that information and continued with the 온라인카지노게임, "Well... we didn't know where you went, so we split up. That's when I found you... and Ron. I kinda beat the crap out of him."

Draco smirked a little, but then said, "Sorry."

"Don't... I've been aching to do that... all damn summer."

"He hurt you... a lot."

"He hurt you. He was lucky I managed to stop."

"He didn't touch me... well... I did walk straight into him."

"You were on the ground, Draco."

"I thought he was going to hurt me. My mind... it was messing with me."

"The pit?"

Draco looked at him sharply and nodded. He did mention it a for times the previous night.

"I'm so sorry, Draco."

"I can't... it wouldn't stop."

"Theo... did something?" Harry asked, uncertain about questions.

"He... used Legilimency. He went in and saw the bad stuff, but he pulled out a memory... a happy one and made me think about that. It's a temporary wall to keep the pit contained."

Harry seemed to process this. "Do you want me to learn...?"

"No! No." Draco spat, panicking. Salazar's pasty ass... he couldn't see that.

Harry held up his hands. "Okay... I just...."

"Sorry... I don't want you to see that. Theo was bad enough."

"I understand. But I want to help... so if there's anything I can do...."

"You can kiss me," Draco said, suddenly, realizing that he wanted Harry to erase the... dirtiness he felt.

"Really?" Harry said, surprised.

"Yes... please...."

Harry slowly lifted out of his chair and his hand gently traced his face, before he leaned forward and his lips slowly met Draco's. Draco didn't balk. He knew it was Harry. He tasted like he should and Draco pushed his tongue into the soft, warm space of Harry's mouth. Draco didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around him awkwardly, as he was still standing. Draco growled and pulled him into bed, to his opposite side. Harry made some surprised gasps, but Draco never let him get a word out.

Draco captured his face with his hands, kissing him with such a desperation that Harry was out of breath. Harry never stopped though. He wanted more. His hands gripped his shirt and Draco didn't mind, as he rolled on top. He broke their kiss for a few seconds to stare into the bright green eyes of his boyfriend. He saw nothing but love and admiration. He was full of life... light and pure. Draco kissed him, again and then made his way down his neck. Harry tilted his head up to give him more access. Draco's fingers found the buttons of his pajamas and started undoing them.

"Ahem," the matron coughed, loudly.

Draco jumped to the side, off Harry, who sat up quickly.

"And this is why I don't let visitors stay overnight, Mr. Potter! He needs rest not... fornication!"

Draco laughed at Harry's embarrassed face, but said, "It was m-my fault, Madam P-Pomfrey."

"It does not matter! I never... even Blaise didn't misbehave in here!" she huffed, and Harry quickly got out of bed.

"I'm sorry... we just got carried away," Harry said, apologetically.

"He's here to recover!"

"I'm fine... I feel better. Can I go?" Draco asked, hopefully.

The matron looked at him with a sad expression. "I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy. I'm not releasing you so soon after last night's incident."

His happiness deflated immediately, and she noticed. She came over and fixed him with her eyes. "I know that is not what you want to hear. Your mood shifts too much and you need to stabilize. I want you to stay here until Monday morning, okay?"

He nodded, recognizing that the Despair Potion was causing that, and the old healer turned to Harry.

"Now, you, Mr. Potter. Accosting someone who is in the hospital wing? How dare you!"

Harry blushed and Draco laughed quietly.

"I was the one pulling him onto bed," Draco said, jovially.

"It does not matter. I should ban you from the hospital wing!" she grumbled.

Draco paled, but Harry lifted his head. "I won't go."

"I figured that out. You are not out of it, either. The headmistress was not pleased about your threat to self-harm. You are a patient, now, too. Now, go lay down and you will take your potions."

Harry gave him a small smile and sulked over to the other bed. Madam Pomfrey went and got their potions, and Harry drank his without complaint. Draco watched his reaction carefully. Harry went from being tense and embarrassed, to calm and breathing easier. He was stressed out, that was for sure. Madam Pomfrey came to him next, doing some spells with her wand and then telling him to drink his potions. He complied and tried to copy the reactions that he had seen from Harry, but Madam Pomfrey did not buy it. She ran her diagnostic spells, again, and seemed confused.

"Mr. Malfoy... I'm..." she started and noticed that Draco had looked over at Harry, worriedly. She huffed, and closed the curtains separating them and put up privacy wards. "Tell me what is wrong. You're not responding to the potions and you are not surprised by it."

Draco looked down. He needed the Despair Potion out of him. "I need to invoke my right of confidentiality."

"Very well. I am here only to treat you. I will not break confidentiality."

Draco grimaced and still whispered, "I have the Draught of Despair in my system. Multiple doses...."

"The Draught of Despair?" she repeated, horrified. "Why would you take...."

"They made me drink it."

"Oh... Draco... that is a cruel potion and it's no wonder.... I will make the antidote. It should only take two hours to brew. You poor child," she said, concerned and patted his head.

"Please, don't send Harry away... he's the only one that makes me feel... happy," Draco pleaded.

"I won't, but no more snogging sessions in my hospital," she scolded.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Was there anything else?"

"I don't want to take Dreamless Sleep anymore... please," he whispered.

"Okay. I won't force it on you, if you sleep. You have to sleep, though."

"A regular Sleeping Draught would be preferable then."

She agreed, and then released the wards and opened the curtains. "I'm going to brew a potion. Try not to get into trouble. Mr. Zabini will bring you breakfast, and I want you both to eat your whole meal."

They didn't hesitate to agree and as soon as she shut the door, Harry hopped out of bed and took his seat back. His hand back on the bed. Draco didn't hesitate to take it.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah... she just wanted to make sure I was fine."

"Okay..." Harry said, as Blaise burst in with two floating trays, followed by Theo, Daphne, Hermione and Neville.

They greeted him with somber hellos, clearly unsure of how to handle something like this. Blaise gave him a few searching glares until Harry told him to stop. Draco ate, while Harry talked about their classes he missed, with the glaring exception. But it was Blaise, who waited until he finished to poke.

"Draco...."

"Blaise, don't," Harry said, defensively.

"It's okay," Draco said. He needed to get used to talking, again. It helped keep his mind out of the past.

Harry sighed, but Blaise asked, "What happened... on Tuesday?"

Draco grimaced. "The SAD people caught me in the hallway. They were all wearing masks and even disguised their voices. They grabbed me, beat me up..." Draco ran his fingers through his now short hair. "... and stuff. Threatened me. I slipped into my memories... of being tortured. I couldn't get out. I don't really remember what happened around me... until Theo... pulled me out. Thank you."

Theo didn't meet his eyes, but nodded. His hands were shaking. Daphne took grabbed one of them.

"You didn't recognize anyone?"

Draco shook his head. "No... well... Tracey... her voice wasn't as disguised as the others. Pretty sure Alexus was there, but they were all different. None of them were familiar."

"Not even Smith?"

"No... he... the leader, red-stripe guy, said that Smith was distracting you guys. He was afraid of you."

"Yeah, they were all in the common room. Wayne and Rivers were leading the argument more than Smith," Blaise said, angrily. "I'm sorry... I didn't think that...."

"It's not your fault. It would have happened eventually. There were over fifteen of them, Blaise. Even you would have had a hard time fighting them off."

"Still... umm... do you know why they left the mask behind? It's creepy."

Draco tried to remember and said, "There was one... he or she... let me go. Said they were sorry. I was pretty out of it by then to look up to see who it was."

"Guilty conscience?" Blaise suggested.

"I guess."

"Draco said that the Slytherins told them about us," Harry announced, and Draco scowled. They were in trouble.

"Really?" Blaise said, flatly. "I'll look into it. But what about Weasley? Did he...?"

"No... I just ran into him and panicked."

"Humph, he lives to annoy another day."

Draco smiled and more when Madam Pomfrey eventually finished the antidote and brought it to him. He drank it and his heart unclenched, pumping freely. The dark veil over his emotions faded and he felt airy, light. He could breathe.

"Thank you," he whispered, and she patted his head. "Your friends aren't wearing you out, are they?"

"No..." Draco muttered and trembled at the thought of being alone.

"Madam Pomfrey... can we take Draco out for a while? Just for a walk outside and get some fresh air?" Blaise asked, suddenly. Both Harry and Draco looked at him surprised that he would make the suggestion or that the harsh matron would consider it.

Madam Pomfrey put her hands on her hips and looked at his hopeful expression. "Very well. As long as you stay with him. Be back before dinner, I want to monitor his reaction to his potions."

"Thank you!" Draco said and got out of bed.

When Harry did, too, she said, "Where do you think you are going?"

Harry's smile faded.

She shook her head and waved her hand. "Be off with you. I'm still angry."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, staring at the floor.

She then went into her office. Harry threw his robes on over his pajamas and Draco did, too. Blaise laughed and spelled them clean.

"Thanks," Harry grunted.

"Yeah... and for getting us out of here," Draco added.

Blaise came over and straightened his robes for him. Blaise tended to do that when he was nervous. "I hated being trapped in here. It's probably not doing you any good. Besides, me and Theo are supposed to be at practice."

"Theo and I," Hermione corrected, making Draco smirk.

"What?" Harry said, oblivious as ever.

"Nothing. Come on, let's go. Hermione and Neville take the lead, Theo and Daphne the rear. Potter and I will handle anything," Blaise ordered.

Draco seemed confused for a second and remembered that he had been publicly outed. "Oh...."

"We won't let anything happen... even words," Blaise assured him. Draco believed him. As long as he didn't get attacked physically, he thought he'd be fine.

They left the hospital ward in mass. His assembled bodyguards were enough to deter any comments or threats coming his way. Blaise took his hand on the way down and Draco realized that he was at his limits, too. He gripped it, knowing that Blaise needed reassurance, too. When they walked it outside, the sunlight nearly blinded him, but he breathed in the air that was unusually warm for late October. The frost from the night before was gone. Blaise pulled him aside, away from Harry, who needed Draco's permission before he let it happen. Theo stayed, too. They stood in a circle silently, waiting for someone to speak.

"I'm sorry," Draco finally said.

Blaise nodded, but wiped some tears away. "I've never been so scared, Dray. Please don't...."

"I won't. I'm sorry I gave up. I just couldn't take any more. Everything happened at once."

"You don't have to apologize... and I don't want you to feel guilty... or worse. I just... I don't want to lose you. But Draco... I-I'll take you away from here f you want. Theo and I have enough money... we can go live on the continent. I don't give a flying fuck about this country. You don't have to stay here. We can all run, now. Your dad is gone."

"They'll extradite," Draco said, looking at him, a little surprised.

"Africa or Asian then... they aren't as cordial with Ministry. We can run, Draco. No one that I'm worried about will follow us."

Except Rabastan, Draco thought. "Okay... I...."

"Just another option, Dray. We can leave this second if you want. We can bring Potter or not. I don't want you to think that you have no other options. You just have to ask. You can leave it all behind."

"Thanks... I won't try anything, again."

Blaise nodded and asked, "Draco... who stunned Neville?"

He winced and looked down. "I don't know," he lied.

Blaise grimaced, but nodded. "Alright... girl-Weasley is waiting impatiently for us. You and Harry can sit in the stands with Neville and the others, while we practice."

Draco snorted. "Don't trust me enough to let me fly?"

Blaise flinched.

"Sorry... too soon?" Draco said, with a small smile.

"Well, you can joke, but no... I can't... yet. Sorry."

"Don't be... I deserve it. Besides, I'll get to watch you play quidditch for once."

Blaise reluctantly smiled and started walking. Draco didn't move, he was looking at Theo. When Blaise stopped, he asked, "What's up?"

"Can you give me and Theo a sec?" Draco asked.

"Sure," he said and moved away.

Theo lowered his head. He never was a talker. Draco would be waiting forever before Theo opened his mouth first.

"Thank you. I don't think I would have ever found my way out, Theo."

He nodded, still avoiding eye contact.

"You saw... what was happening?" Draco asked, quietly.

He nodded. "I didn't tell them."

"Thanks... I... it was Easter break."

"I figured. You were... hurt then...."

"Broken."

Theo grimaced, but asked, "Did you see mine?"

Draco met his eyes. "Just some pain... and a flash of it. I broke the connection then. I didn't want you to go through it."

"You saw her?" he asked, quietly, like his mental voice.

"A second. I'm so sorry, Theo."

"I hadn't seen her in a long time. It helped... you being there."

Draco tilted his head. "Theo...."

"It's been hard... since my dad. You've helped me. I was glad I could repay the favor."

Draco nodded. "You saved me, Theo. It wasn't going to stop."

Theo nodded, sagely. "I know, Draco. I know." Theo looked across the pitch. He knew exactly what it felt like to shut down. He didn't talk for two years and Salazar only knows what his father did to get him to talk, again.

They walked silently to where Harry was waiting. Ginny eyed him, concerned, and gave him a warm smile. Dean was staring away from everyone, standing by himself, not even listening. Seamus and Terry occasionally glanced at him. They knew. The whole school probably knew. Blaise checked that he was fine, before he took off on his broom, Ginny at his side, determined to get him up to snuff before the first match. Draco sat next to Harry in the stands, Neville on the other side and Daphne and Hermione were behind them.

"Sorry... about last night," Neville whispered.

"What?" Draco said, confused.

"I was there to protect you and I didn't," Neville said, ashamed.

Draco's mouth dropped. "He stunned you from behind. I didn't even feel the wards go. He would have snuck up on anyone."

"Who?" Harry asked, looking at him.

"He was wearing a mask," he lied.

Harry scowled, though.

Draco didn't want to look at him anymore, though. "Thank you for keeping me company. I really needed that."

Neville still was looking absurdly guilty.

"I'm okay now, Neville. I got overwhelmed. Harry saved me... I'm just sorry I made you nervous."

"Nervous is an understatement. Blaise would have never spoken to me, again," Neville said, tears coming out.

Draco's jaw dropped and Daphne patted, Neville on the shoulder. "That's not true. He was just worried about Draco last night."

"He yelled at you?" Draco asked.

"What? No! I could feel his pain though. He closed right up. He was..." Neville broke off and shuddered.

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered. He could only imagine how Blaise was last night. He never really saw how much damage his death would cause.

Neville frowned. "You don't need to apologize. You were hurting."

Draco was about to say something when Luna announced her arrival. "Hi, Draco!" Draco's eyes found hers and tears welled right up.

"Oh! The dakquins are nearly gone... that's good," Luna said, assessing him. "Hi, Harry, can you move over? I want to sit next to Draco."

Harry looked like he was going to protest, but Luna stared him down. He sat behind them, next to Hermione and Luna claimed his spot. Luna also took his hand, that Harry had been holding. Draco wanted to cry.

"Oh! Look, Blaise is going to score for the first time!"

Draco looked up and indeed the quaffle went past Thomas, straight through the loop. Seamus caught it before it fell, and Ginny patted Blaise on the back. She was showing him the proper way to throw it. He almost looked happy. Theo even stopped by to bump him in congratulations.

"They're alright, Draco," Luna said. "They were scared. Blaise didn't want to practice unless you could come."

Draco grimaced.

"But Draco... you made this possible, you know? You think Blaise would have ever played quidditch again if you hadn't needed him? You think that he would have ever trusted anyone, even Neville, if you hadn't saved him? And Theo... no one else here knows Occlumency, Draco. He would have been put in St. Mungo's a long time ago, if you weren't here."

He hung his head. "Yeah... I know I'm stupid."

"No... the dakquins were messing with you, but the darkness is fading, Draco. Light is finally shining through you, again. Believe in yourself and your family."

Draco stared and he didn't know what to say, but Luna pointed up to the bright sky, where Blaise scored another goal. He was having... fun. He was smiling, happy in a way that Draco had never seen, and Draco felt it in his soul.

"There you go," she said, and they watched as Blaise slowly learned how to become a chaser. Seamus and Ginny welcomed him to their team with open arms, while Terry and Theo chased the bludgers around.

When it was near lunch, Hermione and Daphne went inside and brought back lunch for everyone, in a big picnic basket. Hermione conjured a huge blanket and the whole group sat down. Seamus even pulled Dean onto the blanket, farthest from everyone else. Blaise asked Draco if he should have ants attack him, but Draco told him to be nice. Dean was behaving for once, picking at his roll pensively. Draco sat next to Luna and Harry and basked in the light of the sun in the height of Autumn.

He dared Harry to a sandwich-eating competition that Blaise, Terry and Seamus also competed in. Seamus won, mainly because Dean was helping him squash his sandwiches. Draco was actually having a good time and it got Harry to eat, too. Draco even made eye contact with Dean once and he was the one who looked away, first.

When Dean left shortly after that with Seamus and Blaise nudged him and whispered, "You want to know something funny? Those two are together."

"Yeah... I know," Draco said, unimpressed.

"You do?"

"Yeah... I figured it out in like are second week here."

"What? You figured it before I did? Is your gay-dar better than mine?" he said, laughing quietly.

"Umm... yeah?" Draco said, uncertainly.

Blaise smirked and looked at Harry. He hissed in his ear, "I figured about him before you, though."

Draco elbowed him.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Harry asked, as they were looking at him.

"Nothing," Blaise said.

But the Hufflepuffs next team's practice was about to start, so Ginny and Hermione got everyone moving and cleaned up. They walked back to the common room, again, formed a protective detail around him. Hannah, Susan and Ernie were in the common room when they got there and wished him well.

When they got to the dorm, Luna asked, "When do you have to be back, Draco?"

"Dinnertime?"

"Perfect! Let's go to my room!" she said, and took his hand.

"Hey!" Harry said, indignantly.

"You can play with him all night, Harry. It won't be long!" she said, and he didn't argue with her.

Draco walked hesitantly up the steps and into her room and she shared with Hermione, Daphne and presumably Ginny. She let go, locked the door and motioned for him to follow. He assumed that she was going to talk to him about last night, as she pulled out her desk chair. He sat down, rubbing the mark that she had given him.

"I'm sorry about last night, Luna. I never wanted to hurt you," Draco whispered.

"Oh, Dray, we aren't going to talk about that."

Draco looked at her confused, wondering why she wasn't hexed. She smiled humorously and he spluttered, "How...?"

"Oh... it just takes some time to work it out."

Draco frowned. "You don't want to talk about...?"

"Nope... we are going to talk about Transfiguration."

Draco tilted his head, even more perplexed. "Why?"

"Because that's what you and Hagrid are having difficulties with, right?"

"You want to do this now?"

"Yep, but hang on. I need a sheet."

"Why?" Draco said, again.

"Oh, just cause," she said, and her bed sheet flew out from under her rainbow unicorn blanket. She wrapped the sheet around him.

"What's this for?" he asked.

"So, what's your hardest problem with it?" she asked instead of answering, and run her fingers through his hair.

Draco liked usually when people touched his hair, but it was mostly gone, now. He felt self-conscious for the first time in a long time. "Conjuring. It takes a lot of focus."

"Hmmm...." Luna said and, then his chair sunk into the floor more, with a wave of her wand. "Sorry. You're taller than me. So... focus. Have you tried humming?"

"Humming?"

She said, walking behind him. "Yes, I find it helps when I paint... and cut."

"Cut?"

"Hmm-huh," she hummed, and he heard the scissors snip. Some finer pieces of his hair fell onto the sheet. Draco grimaced and when he tried to turn, she wiggled her finger and said, "Nuh-ah. Keep your head still."

Draco listened and smiled. "Luna? Are you cutting my hair?"

"Quite a few of them... yes."

He laughed quietly and a few tears dropped, as he thought about Tuesday. "It was... humiliating."

"I know, Draco. I'm sorry. Is that why you didn't grow it back out? Are you afraid that they will do it, again?"

Draco's head dropped. "Yeah... they called me... a girl."

"What's wrong with being a girl?" Luna asked, straightening his head back up.

He managed a small smile. "Umm... I'm sure it's great... but they meant it to be insulting."

"They don't know any better. I like being a girl."

"I like you as a girl, too."

"You wouldn't like me if I was a guy?" she countered.

"I will always love you, Luna, no matter which gender you are."

"Why, thank you! But maybe I'm a guy...."

Draco grimaced and asked, "Are you a guy?"

"I think not, but you never know, do you? People have a tendency to surprise you sometimes."

"You don't say? Harry sure surprised me when he first kissed my shoulder."

"Harry's a girl?" she asked, with some humor.

"No... pretty sure he's a guy."

"Me, too. He's too Harry to be a girl."

Draco laughed. "Yes, he is."

"Alright. Work time. Make me a bowl filled with water."

"A bowl?"

"Yes... with water in it. No cheating, either, I want it at the same time."

Draco tilted his head considering, but Luna tilted it back. "Don't move."

"I've never made something like that," he realized. It's always been one spell and then another.

"Focus," she said, clipping more of his hair.

"But... you're distracting... me?"

"Hey... you need to learn to focus, if you can turn me out and complete that task, good on you."

Draco concentrated, as much as he could with Luna touching his hair. He knew how to conjure water and a bowl separately, but doing it at the same time, and he assumed she meant the water in the actual bowl, a physical location, was extremely difficult. He sat there considering how to do it for nearly a half-hour. She had stumped him, but his mind, ever the asshole, drifted back to what Luna had talked about... and what people were calling him.

"Luna... you didn't ask me if I was a girl...."

"Well, I think you know that answer. You shouldn't question it."

Draco hung his head, going red. "But people...."

Luna tugged his hair.

"Ow!"

"People say a lot of things, Draco. They call me crazy. Do you think I'm crazy?"

"No!" Draco said, vehemently.

"Well, we can figure this out logically. One, everyone is right and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks imaginary. They say it enough, so it must be true, right? Or... everyone is wrong... and they aren't imaginary. They are their own creatures and they are beautiful. But no one can see them, because they don't open their eyes and look."

Draco's shoulders dropped and he considered it. "I don't think I am.

"Of course, you aren't. You're Draco."

"But... I like my hair long... and when I'm with Harry... he says... and... I don't understand... how it is supposed to be."

"There's no girl or boy in your relationship, Draco. You're both guys and you can like things like that and how Harry talks to you... and it's still okay. He's not doing it to disrespect you, is he?"

"No?" Draco asked, uncertainly. It didn't feel like it.

"Ginny calls even me Loony sometimes. It's a nickname, not your identity, Draco."

"I guess...." Though now he was wondering how Luna knew what Harry called him.

"Good. But can I talk to you about Tuesday?"

Draco shrugged. "The SAD...."

"No, before that."

Draco tensed and waited. He wasn't going to fill in the blanks.

"I don't mean to be cross, but why did you trigger our marks?"

He paused. "Oh... after Defense Against the Dark Arts... I... Dawlish... it helped me focus. I didn't know I set it off. It flickered."

"It didn't go off, then, but I felt you trying to draw from it. I felt it, but it wasn't physical pain. I was lending you strength."

"You were?"

"Of course, Draco. I told you I wanted to help you share your pain," Luna said, clipping a few more hairs.

He considered that for a few minutes. How important her help had been in that moment. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. But later that night... I didn't understand. I usually feel your emotions when you do trigger it. Last night, you were in absolute misery, but Tuesday... you were just anxious and then almost happy about it. You said, "I don't believe this anymore," before you purposely said it. What was that about?" she asked.

Draco didn't move. He didn't think she was lying, or wrong. But he couldn't remember saying or doing that. "I really said that? You know what I say?"

"Think more than say. I feel your emotions, but you don't remember?" she said, curious.

"No, but a lot of stuff happened that night," Draco said, but his mind was going elsewhere. I wouldn't forgot that. I don't believe this anymore? What was that message? It was a message for Luna. So, he purposely set off the mark just so she felt it. The only reason he would do that... and not remember it... is someone wiped his memory. She said before the SAD people. Umbridge... was playing with his memory, but what else did she take... or know?

"Draco... are you okay?"

"Yes... I'm sorry I hurt you, Luna," he said, not knowing who to talk to with this information. It was dangerous.

She came around and took his face with her small hands. Her silvery-blue eyes looked into his. "Draco... you are worth that pain. You don't ever need to feel guilty for it. I want you to use the connection... and to stop calling yourself that. But Draco... you really don't remember it?"

"I... don't... sorry," he said, not willing to lie to her.

Luna stared at him and nodded. "Alrighty. Now, where's my bowl of water?"

Draco really thought about it, this time, having no desire to dwell on his faulty memory. How to build the bowl walls first, how to not cause a mess. Luna gave him some more insight into looping the conjuring spell. It took a long time and a few failed tries before the bowl appeared, water up to the edge.

"I got it!" he said, and Luna looked.

"Great! Now, I want a goldfish, too, and the bowl clear."

Draco looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you asking me to make you a pet fish?"

"Yes, for the purposes of learning. Hurry up, I'm almost done."

It took less time than before, but a fishbowl appeared with a live, moving fish. It was rainbow-colored. He smiled.

Luna laughed heartily. "For me, Draco?"

He nodded, enjoying her sweet laughter.

"Thank you! And you learned how to build the inside first... so conjuring should be a lot easier for you, now! But we are done! Ready to see?"

"Is it rainbow-colored, too?" he asked, afraid.

Luna laughed. "No, I think Harry likes you blonde."

"Me, too."

Luna spelled his chair to spin and it turned him toward the mirror. His mouth dropped. Luna had evened the top out, but cut some layers in it, giving him a pixie look on his right side with a side part. The other side was longer, with bangs that hung down above his eyes. It also had an undercut, that he hadn't noticed her doing that. She must have used her wand, but he hadn't seen her using it. A short, buzz-cut from the upper ridge of his left side down, with two lines sharply cut through it. His longer hair hung over it. He loved it, immediately. Different, unique, like her.

"Thank you! It looks amazing!" he said, happily.

"Beautiful, is what I was going for... but okay. I put some protection spells on it. Anyone who tries to cut it, again, will get a nasty shock."

"Cool... thanks. Wait... when? You didn't have your wand out, did you?" he asked.

"Oh, Dray. You aren't the only one who can use wandless magic. You even forgot that I wasn't supposed to know. Don't worry... we keep each other's secrets. Including why you don't remember activating the mark... but come on... Harry and Blaise are getting really anxious."

"They are?"

"Draco... stop being stupid. All they do is worry about you."

Draco conceded that. Luna took his hand and pulled him out of the room and down the steps. As predicted, Harry and Blaise were both standing, away from each other and not speaking. Theo was on the couch with Daphne and Hermione was near Harry. Their friends and a few other non-friends were there, too, mostly around the tables.

But Luna made their entrance known to all when she yelled out, "Ta-da!"

Draco immediately blushed when everyone looked at him and looked down at the floor, embarrassed.

Hermione was the first to respond. "Luna! You cut his hair? It looks great!"

Draco looked at her and watched her kick Harry, whose mouth had dropped. He yelped and said, "It's beautiful."

"See! Harry got it," Luna whispered in his ear.

Draco went redder and Harry came up to him, as the others came over, too. Harry moved his bangs out of way and ran his fingers across his short buzz on his left side. He trembled. Harry stared into Draco's eyes, as though knowing how much his approval was needed.

"It's perfect... you're perfect," Harry whispered.

Draco shivered and had they been alone. He would have kissed him.

Blaise gave Harry a playful push. "Oh, just say you looovvve him," Blaise taunted, and Harry jabbed him in the gut. Blaise hit him back harder and Harry playfully tackled him, pushing him back into the wall, trying to wrap his arms around him.

"Don't you..." Harry started as the others laughed as they wrestled trying to gain position.

"You're not going to pin me down, oh, Chosen One," Blaise said, using his height and strength advantage on Harry.

"We'll see," Harry growled, increasing his efforts.

"Get 'im Harry!" Seamus said, enthusiastically.

"Yeah, right. Ten Sickles on Blaise," Theo said.

Seamus looked at him like they were now best friends. "You're on, mate."

Dean looked a little out of place in the background, but Seamus asked, "Anymore takers?"

"You-guys-aren't-betting-on-us!" Harry growled, trying to keep Blaise from gaining position.

"Looks like it's too late for that," Ernie said, laughing. "I'll do ten on Harry."

"Really Ernie? Betting?" Hermione said, disapprovingly.

"Oh... let them have fun, Hermione," Ginny muttered.

"Are you going to bet, Draco?" Luna asked.

"I don't have any money... and I think Harry would be mad if I bet against him," Draco said with a smirk.

"Hey!" Harry grunted.

"Anyone gonna take Ernie's bet?" Seamus asked, as they dropped to the floor, still fighting for control.

"I'll take that, Ernie," Neville piped in.

Blaise's eyes lit up and he didn't hold back. He finally snaked his arms through Harry's, hooked around the back of his neck and then pushed Harry's face into the floor.

"Ow! Fuck, my glasses!" Harry said, wincing.

"I got them!" Hermione said, waving her wand and his glasses flew into her hand.

"Thanks," Harry said, sarcastically, trying to break Blaise's hold. He tried to hit Blaise in the groin, but Blaise, master of flexibility and positions, easily maneuvered out of his reach and put his full body weight into smashing Harry to the floor.

"Fuck! Get off me!"

"Admitting defeat?"

"No!" Harry hissed and rolled over, so Blaise was under him, but Blaise just wrapped his legs around Harry, hooking them in between Harry's and cinching down his arms more. Harry could barely move. After a few more fruitless minutes of trying to break his hold, Harry groaned and stopped resisting.

"Ready to concede, Potter?" Blaise chuckled.

"Yes, you ponce," he spat, angrily.

"Ponce? I can stay here all night."

"No, you can't. I'm gonna need him, soon," Draco said, with a smile.

"Fine," Blaise said, and let him go.

Harry rolled out of his grasp and got to his feet. He took his glasses back Hermione and rubbed his neck. "Holy, Merlin... what the heck?" he grumbled, looking at Blaise.

"Don't be sore about it, Potter. I just have more... experience... at wrestling."

Several people in the group winced, including Draco. Harry just stared at him, dumbfounded, and then back to Draco. "And... now I see why you didn't want to bet on me."

"I'd never bet against Blaise," Draco said, and Blaise smiled, but Harry gave him a look. Draco laughed, realizing that Harry had an ego, too. "...but I bet you could out-duel him."

Harry seemed appeased with that thought, but Blaise's eyes flashed in challenge, "We'll see about that, Savior."

Neville and Theo collected their winnings, much to Hermione's annoyance. As the others, started ragged on Harry for losing, Blaise stared at Neville intently for over a minute. Draco sighed. There was no way that they were going to last another month, much less six. He kicked his foot, to snap him out of it.

Blaise grimaced, but run his fingers through Draco's hair. "I like it... it's more you. Your long hair was a little annoying and messy."

Draco scowled, but felt some relief at Blaise's approval. "Thanks."

"Yeah... you're almost prettier than me, now," Blaise said, staring at him, making him blush, again.

But then Neville muttered, "No, he's not."

Blaise's skin went a little darker and Draco had to grin at him. Blaise grumbled, "Shut up, Dray."

Theo sniggered at them and took ahold of Daphne's hand. She praised his new look, too. "It's really cool. You did great job, Luna!"

Luna beamed and then summoned her new fishbowl and fish, "Look what Draco made for me!"

Draco hated that everyone looked at him and his rainbow-striped-fish creation, as Dean, Sue Li and Sally Smith were in the room, too. The latter two glared at him. But Hermione came over and looked at the fish, critically.

"You conjured the water, too? Did you do it all at once?" She sounded impressed. Draco nodded. "That's very difficult, Draco. Conjured creatures are difficult to create if they need more than air to survive. You got the gills and fins perfect... it might not need fish food either. Remarkable. Are you going to keep it, Luna?"

Luna looked scandalized. "Of course! She... they... I think it's a they. They will be called... Fluffy."

"Fluffy?" Draco said, and Hermione and Harry burst out laughing.

"Darn... it's taken... Fishy, the fish?"

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"No... I'll have to think about their name." She stared at the fish, who swam closer to her and then in a circle. "So cute!" she praised them.

"I'm glad you like... them," Draco said, and Luna set it floating in the air and then hugged him.

He still felt uneasy about being touched, after his recent descent into the pit, but Luna's soul was pure light. He could never feel anything but safe with her.

She brought his head closer to hers and whispered. "Don't give up, Draco. We need you. We are your family."

Draco held back the tears and she let go and he stared at her. "Thank you."

"No problem, Draco."

"We should probably head back, before Madam Pomfrey ties us to the bed," Harry muttered.

Draco shivered at the idea and Harry looked at him. "Yeah. Thanks, guys... for everything."

His friends all offered their support and didn't harass him or feel guilty about what he had almost done. Harry and Blaise walked him back and Draco had a few tears coming down.

Blaise grimaced and stopped him, "What's wrong, Dray?"

"Nothing."

Harry looked and Blaise and back at him. "Then?"

"I-I really had fun, today. It's just been so hard... I'm sorry for scaring you. Both of you."

Blaise let out a deep breath. "You don't need to apologize. I know you're hurting, Draco. You can tell us... and we will fix it."

Harry nodded.

Draco couldn't though. He could never forget that Umbridge could hurt him so badly. That Dawlish was going to.... "I can't... you'll kill them."

Blaise straightened up and Harry's mood changed, instantly. They would. Draco believed that with all of his soul.

"Who?" he demanded, and Draco lowered his head, shaking.

"No... you can't know. Please don't make me tell you."

"Blaise...." Harry said, cautiously.

"We won't kill them," Blaise growled, ignoring Harry.

"I don't believe you," Draco said.

Blaise grimaced. "Well... there are other people who can help you, Draco. McGonagall... Madam Pomfrey...."

"And when you find out... you'll go after them. I know you, Blaise. Just let it go. I'll deal with it... I won't do anything stupid, again. I promise."

"Anything stupid?" Blaise sighed and hugged him tightly. "I love you, Dray. I can't stand this... not after last year."

"I'll be okay... I'm okay, now."

Blaise let go of him and nodded. He moved the bangs out Draco's eyes. "Alright, Blondie." He walked them to the hospital wing, cursing three students along the way that were stupid enough to open their mouths in front of him. They ran away crying. Draco wasn't even upset that he did it in front of him. Outside the infirmary, Harry thanked Blaise for the escort and asked if he'd get them some dinner. Blaise smirked and left.

Draco watched him go, confused, but Harry said, "And now... I must snog you... before we are confined in the ward." Draco smiled and let Harry pull him in for a long kiss. "I do love your new look. You're so... fucking hot right now. Rockstar...."

Draco hummed with his praise. He loved it when Harry looked at him like he was the only thing that mattered to him. He could have stayed there all night, but they heard someone coming, so they slipped into the ward.

"There you are! Oh! You fixed your hair! You look very handsome, Draco," Madam Pomfrey said.

"Yeah... I went with hot," Harry said, and Draco shoved into him.

"Boys! Now, get into your beds! You've had enough gallivanting for one day!" she scolded, bringing out his potions.

She put the curtains and wards back up around his bed, to monitor his reactions and ask him how he was feeling. He answered truthfully that he was a lot better, especially since she gave him the antidote. He had had a great day and his stress was nearly gone. She confirmed it with her wand, but wasn't satisfied to release him until Monday. Recovery takes time, she assured him. He didn't respond. Sometimes, things get bottled up and people make rash decisions. He wondered if they'd ever stop treating him like a piece of glass.

Blaise, Theo and Daphne brought them dinner and Madam Pomfrey only suffered their presence for an hour, before she kicked them all out. She fussed over them for a while longer and they chatted about nothing in particular until the matron locked the door and turned the lights off. She bid them goodnight and closed the door to her office.

Draco rolled around on his small bed for maybe a half-hour, before he whispered, "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you come and sleep in my bed?" Draco asked.

Harry didn't even answer, he just came, nearly jumping out of his bed and ran over. Draco smiled and rolled to the edge of his tiny bed and let Harry slip under the blankets, pressed up against his back. He went slowly and asked if he could wrap his arms around him. Draco nodded. They barely fit on bed, but Draco was ten times more comfortable than before. He was warm, safe. He could feel Harry's steady heartbeat up against his skin. Content.

"Thanks... this feels right."

"I know. I missed having you so much," Harry whispered.

"What do you think she'll do when she wakes up?"

Harry grimaced, but smiled. "Just close the curtains. I already set the alarms."

Draco did as he wanted, and Harry rested his head against Draco's. He smelled his hair, which gave Draco goosebumps.

"Stop that."

"Oh, Draco... I know how much you love me touching your hair," Harry whispered. Draco humphed. "You were a lot happy when you came down with Luna."

"She helped me figure some things out... and fixed my hair."

Harry said, "She has a way to make things... make sense... she helped me when my godfather died and when we went to Slughorn's Christmas Party."

Draco snorted. "Man... that was humiliating."

"Oh... yeah... when Filch brought you in. You looked terrible."

Draco grimaced. "He sent me a howler of her screaming."

Harry was tense. "Bastard."

"Literally."

"What?"

Draco sighed. "Nothing. Well, I'm wide-awake, now. Any chance you want to... what word did she use? Oh, yeah... fornicate?"

"On this bed?" Harry said, snickering.

"Hmm... good point."

"Don't get me wrong... I do love to... forn-a-umm-messing around, but...." Harry trailed off.

"Got any other ideas?"

"Why don't I tell you a 온라인카지노게임?"

Draco chuckled. "That's what Blaise would do."

"I know... he told me," Harry said, smiling.

"Merlin's balls... he really is something, isn't he?"

"Yeah, I'm jealous... that he's your best friend... and Theo. I actually haven't figured out who he loves more."

"Theo."

"Why do you think that?" Harry asked.

"Because I told him to."

"That's not how it works, Draco," Harry chuckled.

"Well... he better."

"Okay, Draco... okay."

"Are you going to tell me a 온라인카지노게임 or not?" Draco drawled.

"Feisty, aren't you?"

"Surprisingly, I get more when I'm happy." And he was, despite everything he had gone through in the last few days. He knew the bad stuff was still there, underneath. But the happy, light stuff... was on his mind, now.

"Draco... before that... can I ask one question... and you will answer?"

Draco took a deep breath. There were a lot of bad things he could ask, but Harry hadn't been very demanding. No, not pushy at all, and Harry had been through a lot lately. "Okay..." he agreed.

"Why did Madam Pomfrey have to the privacy wards up?"

Draco was surprised, of all the things he could have asked, that wasn't even on his list of guesses. "I... had another potion in my system... that they made me take. It's probably why I... lost it... a bit."

"Oh... good..." Harry said, relieved. "Sorry, I meant that... there's not anything... worse. My mind wasn't being very nice thinking up possibilities."

Draco nodded, understandingly. "You could have asked for anything... and you still choose that?"

"I had to make sure that you were alright... everything else... I can handle as it comes."

"I'll let her know that you can know everything medical about me in the morning. I just didn't want you to... freak out and then get angry. I'm still... scared."

"I won't. I'll be the zen master," Harry said.

"You literally beat the crap out of Weasley, yesterday... in front of me."

"Oh... sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"No... but it just goes to show that you... have anger problems."

Harry chuckled. "I suppose I do. I think you are right about me killing the people who are hurting you."

"You've finally seen the light...."

"I won't... I won't kill them. I promise. I'd neither risk leaving you alone."

"I believe you. It's Blaise I'm worried about."

"Draco...."

"No, Harry. He died inside a long time ago. He's only now coming back life. His mindset had been nothing, but survival mixed with high-risk sex and games. He doesn't care if he lives or dies. He thinks that he owes me... his literal life. He will give it to me, and I don't mean that he'll take a wand blast for me... he will do anything for me. I'll never let him sacrifice himself for me... for revenge. Promise me that you'll never let him do it," Draco demanded.

"I promise," Harry promised, easily.

"Thank you," Draco sighed.

"Well, I know how to rile you up."

"Shut up."

"I can't tell you a 온라인카지노게임 if I shut up."

Draco turned his head to glare at him and let out a breath. He pulled Harry's arms tighter and wiggled his body closer. "Tell me a 온라인카지노게임."

"Once upon a time... there was a boy... who lived in a dark cupboard under the stairs. Though he grew up in a household with three people in it, he was very much alone. Orphaned as a baby and raised with his relatives that hated him, he knew nothing about magic, broomsticks or dragons. He was told his real parents had died in a car crash and to never ask questions. All he knew was silence and isolation. He had no friends... no dreams... no love. He was sad, underfed and overworked."

Draco swallowed hard. It was Harry's 온라인카지노게임. Draco managed to find his hand and interlocked his fingers. Harry took a deep breath and kissed his shoulder.

"Then one day... a letter came... a letter from no one. But they took it away from him... refused to let him see it. But they were muggles... and they couldn't keep the letter from the boy. More came... they fled... but the letters followed them... because they were sent by a wizard. At the very second, the boy turned eleven... a giant banged on the door of the small hut the muggles found to hide in and smashed the door in. The giant told the boy about the world of magic... of his parents... and about his sworn enemy. The giant brought the boy out of the darkness and into the light.

"He took him to a street filled with potions, magical creatures, wands and goblins. He showed him a vault filled with money he never knew he had. They bought his school supplies, his own owl and a magical wand. Then the boy went to get his uniforms and met his very first friend, though... it took a long time for them to become friends."

"Me," Draco smiled, giggling.

"Hey... this is my 온라인카지노게임... no... interjecting," Harry chastised, playfully. "And this new friend... was beautiful. He had gorgeous platinum-blonde hair and a superiority complex that no one could break with a hammer."

"Hey!"

"But he was the first person that the boy had ever talked to, other than the giant. He tried to make conservation... but there was so little the boy knew... and the new friend knew too much. They couldn't connect right then... though they were destined to be together. Fate had smashed them together at that time, in the most peculiar way. You see the boy had a destiny... a destiny to save his new friend... and maybe the world, too... but definitely his new friend...."

Draco relaxed and listened to Harry's perfect voice tell him about talking hats, midnight duels, three-headed dogs named Fluffy, invisibility cloaks, trick mirrors, dragons and bucking broomsticks. Harry did tend to exaggerate their encounters, but it made Draco smile. Draco slowly fell asleep and dreamed of a different world. One where Harry became his friend from that first meeting and no evil things never happened to him. It was a good dream.

***

Blaise didn't know if Daphne just stayed away for him or Theo asked her to stay in her room, but he was grateful. Blaise really felt better sleeping with Theo. He was so... nervous... worried. But Draco was a hundred times better than the day before. He was a little reassured... but the underlying cause hadn't been removed. Dawlish... it was Dawlish... he felt it in his bones. He should just write to his mother and get it over with. But... such things were a little brazen. He also didn't want to be an accessory.

Draco mentioned the red-stripe guy in the group... a leader. Blaise wondered if Draco knew him, but it was hard to say. Draco didn't give him much to go on. There were too many gaps in his 온라인카지노게임. Draco had detention with Dawlish. Neville saw him writing lines, but Dawlish took him out the back and no one saw him again, until Madam Sprout found him on her patrol and triggered the alarm. They all had been horrified at the sight of Draco, shaved, marked up, beaten, and unreachable. Nothing but a mask and robe behind to explain what happened. Those next few days had been beyond painful. Draco was worse than ever before, stuck in his memories... then Theo....

Blaise clutched Theo tighter. He was waiting for Draco to yell at him for letting Theo risk himself like that. It was coming. Priorities. Blaise promised to take care of Theo before him... and Theo had been shaky afterward, never fully regaining his mental guards... and Draco's were gone. Blaise took that to understand that Draco couldn't help him anymore. He couldn't fix it when Theo slipped. It was going to happen, and Blaise only had the small hope that his mother... would be able to help him through that. Theo... would be the difficult one to convince, but Blaise had had a full year to more than earn his trust beyond just friendship.

Sleep hadn't come to him since they found Draco. Four days... or was it five? It was nearly morning, now. He was keeping himself awake and focused with pick-me-up potions. He didn't know if Theo had noticed or not. But generally, as soon as you snuggle in with Theo, he falls asleep. Blaise didn't blame him, he deserves sleep. But he couldn't sleep until he knew how to fix something. Targets, names... curses. Maybe Draco was right... he would kill them... if they did hurt Draco, like that. He wasn't lying to Smith that day. If anyone touched Draco like that... he'd kill them. Fuck mercy, fuck the law. Undiluted rage pumped through his system and yeah... he wasn't going to sleep. He wanted something to smash. Damn Draco for knowing him so well. All he needed was a name....

Blaise felt his wards buckle slightly and there was a knock on the door. Theo's eyes popped open. Blaise got up and grabbed his wand. There were only a few people who knew how to get in and out, but someone had broken the charm, one charm. They were not usual guests. He turned on the light and opened the door. He almost raised his wand at the Ravenclaw, but boy dropped to knees and went to reach for his legs. Blaise stepped backward into the room, in surprise. The kid followed, crawling and apologizing in barely coherent sentences.

"What the hell?" Theo asked.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... please... take it off. I'll do anything!" Michael Corner begged, evidently, he had finally snapped. "I'll leave school... I'll tell you anything you want! Please... I don't want it to touch me anymore!"

Blaise grimaced. He knew it was risky to use that spell, and had he not been so distracted with Draco, he'd have kept a better eye on him. His intention was not to drive him insane. He waved his wand performing the countercharm without bartering over it. Maybe he had some mercy in him after all. Terms had been met and there was no fucking way Mike had anything to do what happened on Tuesday.

"It's off, Corner."

"I'm s-sorry..." he cried, still trying to grab his leg.

"I said it's off. You don't have to keep apologizing," Blaise growled.

The Ravenclaw stopped begging, but didn't get off the floor. He was shaking and crying though. Shit, he really broke him. Theo tilted his head, a little surprised by everything.

Blaise sighed, he knelt. "I took the curse off, Corner. It's not coming back. I promise that I will never curse you with that spell, again. You're free."

Corner lifted his head slightly and met his eyes. The light was gone out of them. He dropped it immediately, cringing away. Fuck. "W-What d-do you w-want?"

"I don't want anything, Corner. I told you that you just had to apologize... on your knees... you've done that. I'm not going to make you pay more for it."

Corner didn't move. Blaise figured he was waiting to make sure the apparition was gone. Really gone.

"It's not coming back... well... I can't stop your dreams. You're probably going to have nightmares for a while, but I can't fix that," Blaise said and stood back up.

"You d-don't w-want anything?" he asked.

"I want you to stop hurting and taunting Draco and my friends. Fucking study. Graduate. Stop being an asshole."

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"You're apologizing to the wrong person, Michael. Your buddies just beat Draco up again, shaved him and outed him. People think Slytherins are cruel. Go back to bed. I'm done with you," Blaise growled, turning away.

"I can tell you who they are," he said, quietly.

Blaise stopped and looked down at him.

"I... w-went to the f-first m-meeting, b-but I d-didn't g-go back."

"I want to make sure you understand me. I'm not holding you over a barrel. This isn't you bargaining to be free of the curse. I'm not forcing you to be a decent fucking human being, Corner. I'm...."

"Blaise," Theo cautioned. He wanted the names, too.

"It's your choice, Mike. Your risk. I imagine they'll hurt you for this, which is why I'm giving you the choice to walk away and fade into the background."

Corner didn't get off the floor. "I understand. I... w-want to m-make up for w-what I did. I was angry. I miss m-my friends. I t-took it out on you and M-Malfoy. I'm sorry."

Blaise waited and Corner told him. Theo wrote them down. The list of homophobic, hate-mongering students that formed SAD. Some Blaise had guessed, the eighth years, Smith's teammates and the Slytherins, but others, like nearly the entire Gryffindor team and random sixth and seventh years that Blaise didn't even know.

"The Patil sisters were there... but they left saying they w-weren't g-going to be a p-part of this. Another two... Andrews and Summers left, too."

Theo nodded, writing the last names, anyway. Blaise nodded. "Thank you. Who told them about Draco being gay?"

"Malcolm... he s-said... that h-he had f-first-hand knowledge of it."

"I bet they just loved the idea of outing an ex-Death Eater, huh?" Blaise growled.

Corner cringed and nodded. "It was... sick."

"He didn't say who told him it?"

"No."

"Hmm... who's the leader?"

"We d-didn't know. He wore his h-hood over his head and d-disguised his voice. Only Zach k-knew him."

"Why Smith?"

"He h-has Harry's map," Mike readily answered. He hadn't gotten off the floor, yet.

Blaise grimaced. That was the map that gave them freedom of movement and the ability to track Draco when he's alone.

"Does he keep it on him?"

"Usually? I d-don't know. He disappears a lot more now... to do... you know...."

Blaise laughed. "How's he handling that, by the way?"

"He's at his b-breaking point, too. He can't sleep. We can't sleep. But his h-hands are messed up. We were w-waiting for the curses to... dissipate... but we figured out t-that they're p-permanent."

"Was permanent in your case. They'll all permanent. Who went on Tuesday?"

"I don't know. They stopped t-talking to me. I know it w-wasn't Zach, Wayne or Olie. We stayed in the c-common room to... 'lure you into a false sense of security'," Michael said, shakily.

"It worked. Motherfuckers... I need to know. They hurt him really bad."

"I can tell you a few of their names," a new voice said from the doorway.

Blaise lifted his wand as another of Smith's entourage came into his room. Blaise glared at Theo, like it was somehow his fault that he didn't shut the door. Mike was shaking even more. He came in and Blaise shut and locked the door, this time.

"Really? Have you seen the light, Thomas?"

"You could say that... I heard Mike leave and I followed. I'm sorry."

"I can't remove your curse."

"What curse?" Dean asked, confused.

"Well, you didn't beat up Draco on Tuesday, then," Blaise grunted.

"You cursed me?" Dean said, surprised.

"No, Harry did."

Dean grimaced. "I don't know everyone, but Fay, Tracey, Alexus, Sue Li, the Gryffindor beaters, Romilda Vane and Smith's beaters. I couldn't recognize the others as they were wearing masks. I recognized their voices before they took the potion."

Blaise's black eyes narrowed. "They? Is there really a "they" in there?" Blaise growling, closing and locking the door with a quick wave of his wand. "Because I'm pretty certain it was a "we". You were there. You went with them."

Dean backed into the closed door as Blaise advanced. "I didn't touch him!"

"Obviously... but you watched. Enjoyed the show?"

"N-No! I was... horrified... I couldn't believe what they were doing!" Dean whimpering, tears coming out. "He was so... scared. I didn't think they'd go that far."

"That far? That far? You fucking asshole. That was the point that was too far?" he roared, inches from his face. Dean winced. "Really? Ten... fifteen on one, defenseless tortured kid? And you watched and did nothing."

"I couldn't...."

"You could have gone for help, sent an alarm... stopped them. But no... you watched."

Dean trembled. "I let him go. I tried to help, but he told me to leave."

"You just beat him up! Who knows how long he was there until Madam Sprout happened by? That doesn't excuse you from what you did, Thomas."

"I'm trying to make it right now."

"Now? You're a little late. Either of you could have said something... anything... before this! Draco almost killed himself on Friday, asshole."

Dean's eyes went wide and he gasped, "No! I'm sorry. I didn't...."

"Sorry? You should be. I should hex you into next week! But I won't... and be glad for that."

Tears came out of his eyes and he murmured, "I didn't think that...."

"You didn't think! All you care about is your revenge, you don't even care about that you almost got a completely defenseless person to try to kill themselves. Do you have a soul?" Blaise yelled, inches from his face.

"It just got out of hand...."

"Out of hand?" Blaise repeated, throwing the crying boy's words back at him at high velocity. "What was it supposed to be Dean? A simple beat down... a clever exchange of wit? They... and you... were torturing him! What the hell kind of Gryffindor are you? You heard him begging and you still kept hurting him? You're a fucking coward, Dean."

Dean really starting crying, now. Mike probably was, too. Dean just nodded. "I... am...."

"Damn right you are."

"I... don't know what to do. I want to... make this right."

Blaise pinned him to the wall, rage unleased. "Right? What, you want to un-beat him up? Un-traumatize him?"

"What can I do?" he whispered, looking scared.

"Get me Potter's map, Dean. Confess to your boyfriend, what you did, and pray he still takes you. Make your friends see the light and maybe... maybe you won't go to hell for what you've done," Blaise hissed and let him go.

Dean was shaking, but he nodded, and Blaise tried to reel in his volatile temper as he paced the room, strung out after being awake for nearly four-five days straight. It was difficult. Everyone in the room seemed to be waiting for him to calm down. He came to a stop.

"Get up, Corner," he growled, as the Ravenclaw was still prostrate on the floor.

Mike reluctantly climbed to his feet and didn't meet Blaise's eyes.

"I don't want to hear a fucking whisper toward Draco from either of you, you understand me? If you even look at him wrong... I'll consider you one of them. No calling him Death Eater or any other homophobic names. You got me?"

They both nodded.

"You want out... this is your way. But pass along a message to your buddies. If he dies... will hunt down every last one of you motherfuckers... and kill you."

Both their eyes widened, and even Theo looked at him, but he nodded, too. His life was too linked to Blaise's. They were all a single unit, entity. One dies... they all die... in the near future, anyway. His mum had taught him how important revenge was and he didn't want to live in a world without Draco in it. Blaise nearly started crying, but he shifted his emotions back to his anger. He waved his wand and the door clicked open.

"Get out and be better humans."

Corner slinked out first, but Dean said, "I'll get the map... somehow."

Blaise nodded, taking a less crazy approach. "Thank you. It's how they're hunting him down."

Dean tossed Blaise a gold coin. "Give it to Hermione. She'll understand."

Blaise tilted his head, but Dean disappeared. It was a galleon... what the hell did he mean? Was it a bet? Who bets just a galleon? But he shook his head and tossed it onto his bed. He stared out the window, as the sky was just starting to rise. He was shaking... trying to come down from the volcano of emotions he just went through. He almost lost Draco, twice... once to his mind... once to...himself. Tears came down his cheek. Fuck, Salazar's nutsack... he was so tired. He was honestly surprised he didn't beat the shit out of them like Harry did to Ron.

Theo came over, to try to calm him down, but he went into the bathroom. Safety. He punched out the window, out, cutting his hand open. He didn't stop the bleeding, letting it drip to the floor. Blaise nearly blacked out watching it fall.

"Blaise?"

He jerked his head up to see Neville at the bathroom door. Theo must have gotten him. "Slayer," he said, with a smirk.

"Hey, Boo. You got Theo all worried. He couldn't even talk."

"Where is he?" Blaise said, suddenly worried. He didn't think he was gone that long

"I escorted him to Daphne's room and woke her up. They're together," Neville said, softly.

Neville had taken care of Theo... he knew what was important to him. "Thank you."

"No problem..." he whispered and stepped closer to him so he could hold his injured hand.

"I was... frustrated," Blaise whispered.

Neville nodded, like he understood and pulled out his wand. He murmured the mending spell and the cut healed. Blaise tilted his head to look at him. Neville was still concerned, but he wasn't nervous. He was only concerned about him. "I didn't know you were good with healing spells."

"I'm not usually, but I didn't like seeing you hurt. I... focused and... it worked," Neville said, uncertainty.

Blaise tilted his head, considering and then thought of something else. "You also broke through my wards and nearly took the door off last night."

Neville went red immediately. "I... was desperate."

"Yeah... I could tell," Blaise grimaced.

"Blaise... I'm so, so sorry. I was supposed to watch him," Neville whispered, lowering his head.

Blaise felt his blood go cold, all fire went out instantly. That rage and anger that was fueling him disappeared. Neville was hurting... feeling guilty. Blaise brought his hands up to Neville's face and lifted it up, leaving his fingers on his cheek.

"Hey... don't feel like that, please. There was nothing you could have done."

"I know... I'm squib of our class."

"No... Neville. No. You aren't a squib. You are brilliant. You got through my wards, three different spells. You are not weak... you just have to have more confidence. You told me that you were afraid of magic. Your doubt and fear taints the magic."

Neville didn't believe him and shook his head. "You trusted me with him and I let you down."

"Nev... honey," Blaise said and wrapped his arms around his body, pressing it into his. "You couldn't let me down. No one else would have done any better. I just didn't want him to be alone. If I thought he was in danger...."

"You wouldn't have left him in my care."

"I would have made sure that you were okay. Daw-Someone... stunned you. He could have hurt you, because I let you stay there," Blaise emphasized. "He used his wand... on you, Slayer. It's not just that Draco was hurt or he almost...." Blaise squeezed him tighter. "I don't want anything to happen to you... because of me."

Neville choked back some sniffles, but some tears found their way to Blaise's skin. Neville rubbed his cheek against his and Blaise instantly warmed back up, but in a different way. He pulled his head away from Neville, but didn't let go. They were inches from each other's face. Blaise could feel his breath on his lips and he drew slowly closer to him. Neville was right there. They were in the bathroom... no one could see. No one would know. No one but them. Blaise could smell his sweet natural aroma, like the way spring and summer should smell. Fuck, he wanted it, wanted him. Neville moved, closing the separation between them.

Centimeters from Neville's lips, Blaise froze and leaned away. Neville followed, as Blaise backed into the wall. Neville took his hands and pressed the backs of them into the wall. Blaise had never seen the Gryffindor so confident... so set in his decision. Neville's blue eyes stared back at him, determined, and Blaise backed as far as he could into the wall. No more escaping. He was shaking. He knew that it was wrong. They had rules. He had to follow them, but he wanted Neville to make that connection. To taste the boy... no, the man... he had been wanting for so long.

"We can't," Blaise whispered, as Neville moved toward his mouth.

He stopped. "I don't care. I can't wait anymore, Blaise. I can't even wait a day... much less half the year. I don't want to wait anymore for you." Neville's lips almost touched his.

"Don't... I don't want to wait, either, but we have to."

"We're kids... we can make mistakes."

"We're not kids, anymore. Consequences and reality, Neville. You have a responsibility to do the right thing. I have to respect that... respect you. It's desire... lust, that's influencing you."

"No... it's love. There's nothing wrong with love."

"Yes... there is. You cross that line... things become blurry. I can't let you do that. I want to... I want you... but I need to have some control. And so do you. Please."

Neville's shoulders dropped and he let go of Blaise. "I just really want... I want to be with you, Blaise, in every way. I could ask Madam Sprout to take back her classes."

"Don't, Neville. They're your first students. They love you."

"I'd rather have you. There are other jobs."

"This is your job... you love teaching them, Neville. You're so excited when you go to teach class."

"I want you more."

"Just wait... please. I have enough things to feel guilty for, I don't want you losing your dream career, too."

Neville eased off him, immediately, but pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry. This probably was a bad time to push you. You have a lot of things to worry about and I shouldn't be one of them."

"You'll always be one of them... I mean that in a good way. I'm going to worry about your health and morale. Because I love you."

Neville smiled and his fingers traced Blaise's face, from his tired eyes to his nervous frown. "I love you, too. But I'm here to help you, too. You know? And Blaise, it's time to sleep."

Blaise looked at him, he clenched his jaw shut to avoid yawning. "I'm not tired."

"Theo... ratted you out, after I got him to Daphne. He said that you haven't slept since Tuesday night."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Magic and potions can keep you going, take away your grogginess, but your mind needs sleep."

"No, I... don't want to...."

"Tough. You need sleep. You need to be on your A-game on Monday for Draco."

Blaise's eyes narrowed when he thought about that. Lack of sleep increases reaction time. He reluctantly nodded, but looked out the window at the rising sun, nearly about to crest the horizon. "He'll be expecting me," he stated.

"I already told Theo and Daphne that you would be elsewise occupied. They will tell Draco."

Blaise grimaced. He didn't like not fulfilling his obligation to be there when Draco wakes up. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could barely reopen them. He really did need sleep. But he wanted... needed to make sure Draco was taken care of.

"Draco will be fine. You saw him smile yesterday. He watched you every time scored. Luna spent hours with him and he really calms down after talking to her. Please... Blaise... you need to relax. Harry set his perimeter alarms and he won't let Draco out of his sight, unless a short, blonde-haired witch takes him. Please...."

The sun's rays lit up the room and Blaise had to blink the spots out of his eyes from the bright light. He finally nodded and Neville pulled him out of the loo and over to his bed. Neville pushed him onto it and crawled in with him. Blaise had to stop himself from trembling. Neville had a t-shirt and bottoms on, but pajamas didn't cover everything. Neville pulled the blankets over them, spelled the doors shut and obscured the light from the window. It was relatively dark in the room.

"Alright, Blaise...."

"You being here is going to keep me awake."

"Not this time."

Neville slipped his hand under Blaise's back and pulled him closer up against his body. Blaise rested his head on Neville's chest. Neville rubbed his back and whispered, "Go to sleep. I'm right here. I'll protect you, Blaise."

Blaise shivered under his words. Maybe deep down, that's what he was scared of. Draco protected him. No one else protected him. Not his mother, not Theo, not Daphne. Draco was the leader... should be the leader. He tilted his watery eyes up at Neville.

"I got you, Blaise. You're my only priority."

Blaise found Neville's hand and intertwined their fingers. He slowly went to sleep, knowing he'd be out for a long time.

***

It was Sunday evening when Professor McGonagall stared at the retainer and estimated bill of service for 1,500 galleons and sighed. There was no way that the board would cough up the money to pay. They had always been tightwads when it came to money. After all, the rich don't stay rich by spending money. All extra money went to rebuilding the school, they told her. Though Minerva declined the rightful pay increase allotted with her position, they were still stiffing her on necessary expenses. She pressed on determined to hire a qualified counselor and mind healer for the school.

The one she found came highly recommended by a few close confidants and Minerva had already spoken with her a few times and found her suitable for the position. Eirene Denkar was a muggleborn, who after excelling as a mind healer, ventured into muggle psychiatry as well. Minerva thought that it would be handy considering the difficult cases she would be facing. She treated muggle patients as well with issues ranging from shell shock, familial incest and sexual assault. She also worked with child psycho-development. Madam Denkar, or Eirene, had worked at MCAPS before she started her own practice about five years ago.

Minerva had asked her to come back to Hogwarts for a visit to go over the position with her. Due to the nature and severity of the issues, Eirene would have to work and live at Hogwarts, enjoying a similar position as Poppy does. But Minerva realized that Madam Denkar's skills were very sought after and she nearly charged two galleons an hour. However, she couldn't say no to it. Draco and Harry desperately needed help, and Minerva was going to have to face-off against the school board to get her paid.

"The cost is irrelevant," she told Madam Denkar this morning at their latest meeting, where Minerva had agreed to sign her contract. "You can start as soon as you can."

"You said that you needed the board to approve this?" Madam Denkar said, understanding how institutions work.

"Yes, but I will front the retainer and you will get paid one way or the other," she said and wondered if she had enough in her Gringotts account to cover it.

"I see. I have to express concern, as I've been preparing my current clients to be handled by other healers and it will be inconvenient if I... changed my mind. I have to maintain my practice and home in Muggle London whilst I'm here, as I'm to understand that this is temporary, correct?"

"I would grudgingly say yes, though... it would be nice to have a mind healer, rather than resort to calling MCAPS or letting the damage to the children's minds get worse. I think many would have benefited from having at least someone to talk to."

"Yes, I remember how lonely it was when I came here. It was in the height of Voldemort's first rise. They didn't like muggleborns any better then."

"It's slowly getting better... here, in that regard. Now, it's almost the opposite."

"Opposite?"

"Yes... and before you sign, you should know that one of your... patients is going to be a marked ex-Death Eater, though...."

"Draco Malfoy?" she guessed.

"Yes. He was a Death Eater though he never really wanted it."

"I would imagine considering the article in the Daily Prophet about him and Harry Potter."

Minerva scowled. Skeeter. "Yes, though it was highly inappropriate, she was actually right this time."

"I didn't read it. My patients sometimes like to gossip as a way to open up. It's true, then?"

"Yes. He is also going to be one of your patients, too. But that's the one thing I need to make sure that you are willing to take on."

"Willing? Of course, I'm willing. They're children. Why would you...."

"Draco is a former Death Eater and they are in a homosexual relationship."

"Why would that matter? I've found over the years that many children and adults struggle with their sexual identity and orientation... more than... and I'd hate to use the word normal... so... traditional relationships go. It's more stigma, social pressure and persecution, magical and muggle community alike. But if anyone needs help... I will help them. I've also worked with criminals before. They're often from broken homes and suffered all kinds of abuse. Everyone deserves to be helped."

Minerva nodded. "There is another issue... they will not be... easy to reach. It is going to be difficult to get them to open up. I'm going to make their participation mandatory."

"How are you going to make them come to counseling?"

"I'm the headmistress. They'll do it or they will be forced to leave."

"Harsh."

"Well, there have been one, practically two, attempted suicides and there's a hate group that established itself in the school... against "Death Eaters" and their friends. They've been verbally and physically attacking Mr. Malfoy."

"Ah... I'm walking right into a battleground."

"Yes... literally. This isn't going to be easy, by any means. My hope is that you can bring some stability to the eighth year students' mental health, and perhaps also alleviate the misplaced rage against Mr. Malfoy."

"That's a lot to ask for... but just the eighth years?"

"Starting there. They were really the ones who were at the battle and lost close friends, but ideally, you'd accept appointments or walk-ins from the younger years, if you have time. But I'm more concerned about the older students, yes."

"There are a lot of students in the school," Madam Denkar commented.

"I know that... but unfortunately, I can barely pay your wage. No, we are focusing on the older students. You will see all the eighth years until they are cleared by you that they don't need counseling."

"I can't tell you about their mental health status."

"Unless they give you permission. I'll require a form to be signed off, if you feel that they aren't in need of counseling."

"There are still a lot of patients. I will have limits on how many patients I can see at once, but I will at least do half-hour interviews and, if they consent, I'll clear them. But a half-hour talk isn't long enough to really know for sure."

"We can only lead a hippogriff to water, we can't make it drink. But I will be insisting on counseling sessions for several students, so if you want to start preparing, I can go over that with you."

"Yes, that would be helpful," Madam Denkar said and pulled out a muggle notepad and pen. "Perhaps a brief sum-up of your observations?"

"Of course, first is Mr. Potter. He's been severely depressed for the better part of summer, using excessive amounts of alcohol to cope. He has very troubled sleep patterns and periodically stops eating."

Madam Denkar's eyes were full of shock, but made no comment.

"He's become co-dependent on Draco, if I've spotted that correctly. He threatened self-harm yesterday if he wasn't allowed to stay with Draco in the hospital. He will not be easy to reach, if you get him to talk at all. Draco Malfoy will be the next one. Severely abused by his father, Voldemort, and his Death Eaters. Azkaban nearly broke him. He'll probably be the easiest to open up, out of his friends, but he won't easily do it. He tried to jump off the Astronomy Tower on Friday, after he was attacked and humiliated earlier in the week. His relationship with Harry is now public knowledge. This hate group and others have been bullying him at every chance. He's scared... and withdrawn."

"I see. Is he actively being watched, now?"

"Yes, by his friends and he's still in the ward. But Madam Pomfrey says his health and mindset have improved enough that she is going to release him."

Madam Denkar nodded. "Do you suspect sexual abuse?"

"I suspect it, but I haven't confirmed it. His demeanor and his mental health... make me think yes."

"How many others?"

"Two. Undoubtedly, your most difficult one will be Draco's best friend, Blaise."

"Blaise Zabini?" she asked.

Minerva looked at the woman. "Yes... how do you know...?"

"I... well," she said and frowned. She was bound.

Minerva spotted the problem. "Are you willing to work with him, again?"

"More than willing. It was the reason I left MCAPS, but I can't say more."

MCAPS... Blaise had been investigated by MCAPS in his third and fourth years. With no results, Minerva noted. Scandalous really, after what little she had known about came out. But, she went on, "He's been... better... since then. He's matured these last few years, with Voldemort's rise to power, Draco's decreasing mental health and just getting older. He's an accomplished wizard in curses and counter-curses. He's been Draco's main protector and has been creatively hexing their classmates for abusing him. But his past isn't leaving him. He snapped one day not long ago, when I told him that he couldn't have a relationship with an assistant professor."

"And how old is...."

"Younger than him, it's Neville Longbottom, but still not allowed."

"Legally speaking, not morally. But a monogamous relationship?" she asked. Well, she knows him, Minerva thought.

"Yes. He's not been... putting himself out there as much, these last few years. I imagine that it was Draco's doing, as Blaise is so steadfastly loyal to him. But it's clear that he's very... damaged from what happened to him."

Madam Denkar wrote down a few things and looked up, "And the last one?"

"Draco and Blaise's other best friend, Theodore Nott. He witnessed his mother's execution when he was eight and then his father's, too, by Voldemort just over a year ago. You know Occlumency?"

"And Legilimency to a lesser extent. It's required to be a mind healer. Why?"

"Theo has been using it for nearly a decade... constantly."

Madam Denkar looked at her, even more surprised. She put her pen down, "Constantly?"

"His father taught him it, apparently. He didn't speak for two years after his mother's death. Edgar Nott used what he knew to rebuild save his son's mind."

"Holy St. Francis... that's... extremely dangerous. He's been actively shutting off his emotions since then?"

"Yes... this actually was the main reason I started looking for a mind healer, my predecessor, Professor Snape, who has expertise, assured me that you would be needed. We have a skilled Legilimens to remove the walls in his mind, but you would need to be there to help him recover."

"That'll be... I see you weren't kidding about the necessity for a mind healer. I'll be here in a few days. I'll send over some forms for you to look at, for the students. I have just some last appointments on Monday and Tuesday. Then... I guess I can start on Thursday?"

"It's perfect. I can't thank you enough for taking on this responsibility."

"No... you don't have to thank me. I'm sorry that they have had to go through all this alone."

"None of them are going to be happy to see you, just so you know."

"That's not surprising. I've had many patients who were forced into therapy, by their guardians or the court. With the war... it's very common to need a mind healer after."

Madam Denkar signed the contract and Minerva promised to send the retainer as soon as possible. The healer disappeared into the floo and Minerva had been reading Blaise's book since then. Extraordinary writing. She was trying to take her mind off the meeting she had with the board members tomorrow. She would be laying out ultimatums and if they didn't sign off, then she would empty her savings account to pay for the healer.

But her fireplace reared to life and Moira stepped out. "Evening."

"You could send an owl."

"I've heard from Blaise, yesterday. He said that Draco tried to...."

"Yes... Harry reached him in time. He's doing better. Madam Pomfrey said that he was going to be released in the morning."

"This group...."

"Leave it, Moira. It's not your place to interfere."

"But Dawlish... his background is most disturbing. I haven't found much on him. His family is still alive."

"What are you going to do? Kill an Auror? Your father isn't around to blackmail... and Kingsley...."

"I'm not worried about Kingsley."

"Fine... I hired a mind healer."

"You did? Denkar?"

"Yes, she signed her contract, today."

"Good... she starting soon?"

"By Thursday, I hope...."

"Hope?"

"Oh, she will show. The question is if I can convince the board to approve paying her."

"Approve?" she repeated angrily. "You're the head. They don't have the right to question your appointments."

"They're knut-pinching me. The drawstrings of the money bag are under their control. Dumbledore never had to worry about the money, because there was always plenty. But we went through a war. The coffers are empty and I've been fighting them for every knut I can. Neville isn't even getting paid. But he said not to worry, he's "in-training". But tomorrow I have to meet with them to convince them."

"The board members... they have money and don't want to spend it? Or are they actually out?"

"Out of the reserve fund... they're still paying out their exorbitant salaries to themselves."

"You should have said something before now, Minerva!" Moira growled and Snape tilted his head in his painting to show his displeasure. McGonagall wasn't sure who it was directed at.

"No offense, but I don't want you to... get yourself into trouble."

"You think that I have no control or something?"

Minerva raised her eyebrow and didn't answer.

"I shall go to the meeting, in your stead. I'll wrangle the money out of them, as well as Neville's pay."

"Moira...I don't think...."

"Is that... Blaise's book?" she asked, suddenly, pointing to it on Minerva's desk.

Minerva wasn't sure that Blaise wanted his mother to know, but the cat was out of the bag. "Yes. It's why he came to visit me the other day. He wanted my opinion."

"Yours?" she said with some interest.

"He said that you were slightly biased... as far as opinions go."

"Can I see it?"

Minerva grimaced. Snape was one thing. "I think he'd want to give it to you himself. I think your approval matters a lot to him, whether he cares to admit it or not."

Moira Zabini's black eyes stared at her and she nodded. "I will wait... impatiently, though I'm a little ... jealous that he came to you first."

"As I said... your approval is important to him. I don't think he wanted to risk showing it to you unless he had... someone else's opinion."

"Perhaps you are right. Ready to go a round? Perhaps I will see some tidbits of it?"

Minerva snorted, but Severus said, "Not with an attitude like that."

"Shut it! Be lucky that you are a painting!" Moira growled.

Their tirades had only been increasing as they were in a constant battle of who knew the darkest spells. Minerva rolled her eyes, though she appreciated the fact that Snape was there. His knowledge of the dark arts provided a most interesting insight into Blaise's book and how to reach Theo. Plus, Moira was truly a formidable Legilimens, now. Minerva was starting to feel hope... that there was an end to all the darkest. She could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Rest and healing were coming, and her students would finally find the happiness that they so rightly deserved.

Boom! Two monster chapters! 32000 words! And I worked a fuckton with a 3-day drill. Ya know? It was fun having two chapters to go back and forth making changes, but still... a lot to edit.

But we are out of the darkness! Yay! No idea when I'll get the next one out! I'm freakin' exhausted, but I got jitters for the next chapters. Good ones....

But I'm coming up on 50K! Excited face! Do you want some more spoilers in an A/N?