Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 68 – Let it go

Published – March 11, 2020

The ground squished with blood as he walked. He was already shaking and his breaths were becoming shorter... quicker. He wanted to close his eyes, but he couldn't. He did this. He let them down. He got them killed. Fred, Lupin, Colin, Tonks, Snape, Dumbledore and Sirius. But there were more...hundreds... causalities of the next war were there, too. Draco, Teddy, Hermione, Blaise, Neville, McGonagall, and the rest of his friends were lying motionless and bloody on the ground. He had failed them, too. He was supposed to save them... save everyone. He was the one who was supposed to die, not them.

"I'm sorry," he said to their bodies.

He reached for Draco, intending to pull him into his arms, but Voldemort waded through the sea of his dead friends and family to approach him. Harry couldn't raise his wand. He couldn't defend himself. He had to face his executioner and not do anything. He could almost smell the blood and burning flesh. You didn't forget that smell.

"Harry Potter..." he whispered and there beside him was Hopkirk, her wand out.

She was grinning and said, "...you're going to lose everything this time."

Harry didn't respond. He just stared blankly at the specter that caused so much damage and his newest shadow. Voldemort raised his wand as did Hopkirk, following his every step. Harry tightened up and the dry sobs started up. It was coming... again. He froze and if he could close his eyes, he would have. But no, he was going to watch every millisecond of it. Death hurdled towards him, in slow motion, amping up his fear. How many more times much I endure this agony? he thought, as the green light smashed into his chest. Pain shot through him and he cried out.

"Harry!" he heard, before he started thrashing and fell off the bed to the floor, crying.

He woke up, but that didn't stop the pain radiating from that white scar on his chest. Draco got out of bed and wrapped his arms around him, but Harry couldn't stop crying. Draco arms clenched tightly around his chest to his body and Harry buried his face into Draco's skin. It was still dark in the room. He kept repeating, "I'm sorry," and could barely register Draco's soft voice, trying to lure him out of his break. He had no idea how long he was there. He fazed out trying to stop the screaming in his mind. He didn't hear the movement, but he saw it. He cringed away as someone placed a wet hand towel on his head.

"Thanks," Draco whispered.

"Looks like a bad one," Blaise said, making Harry stop muttering.

"Yeah. Harry? Can you hear me?"

Harry didn't answer, he just tried to keep from crying. Draco was one thing, Blaise was another. Harry sensed movement by their bed, which told him Neville was awake, too.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, again.

"It's okay... I've got you," Draco said, quietly, as he wiped his forehead with the towel. Harry felt Draco shift him and one arm went under his legs.

"Need help lifting him?" Blaise asked.

"No... I got him."

Draco slowly picked him up and got to a standing position, then he pulled him into bed. "Thanks, Blaise. I'll take care of him." Then he shut the curtains and said, "It's just us, Harry," like he knew how much Harry hated others seeing him when he was down.

Harry cried for a long time and slowly, against his will, he drifted to sleep. When he woke up, he was still tightly held in Draco's arms on his chest. He blinked and then looked up into Draco's soft gray eyes. He was definitely worried about him. Harry sighed and traced his chest, which Harry had to admit was getting well-toned from quidditch practice. Balancing on a broomstick was not easy and worked the core muscles a lot. He wiped the dried tears out of his eyes and looked back at Draco.

"Sorry I woke you up," he murmured. He knew that Draco didn't go back to sleep.

"I don't mind. Are you okay? You couldn't calm down, last night."

"It was the battle... and the f-forest," Harry whispered, but slowly kept going. "B-But Hopkirk was there... and everyone was dead... because of me. I-I didn't save you." He leaned into him.

"You did, Harry. That was just a dream."

"We're going into another war... who else am I going to lose? You? Hermione? Mrs. Weasley? Hagrid? That is what happens in a war. People die," he said, stifling a sob.

"And people live... live because you and everyone else fought for us. You sacrificed yourself so we could win and have a future free from tyranny and oppression. What would have happened if no one fought Voldemort? Where would everyone be? Hermione would be in prison or dead. Students would be learning how to kill muggles. I'd be bowing to that madman and thanking him for torturing me. What will happen if Hopkirk takes over? Maybe not as much death and torture, but she'll hurt anyone who challenges her. Maybe start persecuting muggleborns, again, takeover Hogwarts and send all of us to prison. I know you are worried about losing more and you've given so much to us, but we can't let her win."

"No... but... I can't lose you, Draco. Or the others... I don't want to lose any more of my family."

"I know, Harry. I don't want to lose you, either. But the price is the same as the last time. We fail and we all die... or be arrested. You wouldn't survive Azkaban any more than I could."

Harry shivered at the mention of the fiends. "No. I wasn't going to give up... I'm just... scared."

"That's okay, Harry."

"I'm a Gryffindor. I'm not supposed to be scared," he muttered and griped Draco tighter.

"And Slytherins aren't supposed to be in gay relationships and like being hugged. What's your point? You don't have to follow the stereotypes of your house, Harry. It hasn't really gotten us anywhere, has it?" Draco said, bitterly.

"So, I should stop being a self-sacrificing prick?"

"Yeah... that and accept that it's okay to cry and to be scared. You don't have to act like a tough guy all the time. You can have vulnerabilities. You can ask for help."

"I'm supposed to be in charge," Harry said. "Everyone looks to me for answers."

"Because you are awesome... and smart... and a natural leader, Harry."

"So are you, Draco," Harry said, looking at directly at him.

Draco tensed up. "No... it's gone. They took it away."

"They can't take it away... you just got to find it, again," Harry whispered.

Draco didn't reply. He sighed and leaned in and kissed the top of Harry's head. He had not done well in their dueling practices, so far. He wouldn't attack or defend, despite his new probation officer and Bill telling him he could and literally having it in writing.

"I'm sorry I scared you," Harry murmured.

"It's okay... I don't mind taking care of you. You've taken care of me so much."

"It's just... my mind won't... let it go... it just keeps... remembering. I keep going back there," he said, shaking.

"I know, Harry. I know. Mine won't either, but listen to me... I'm right here for you, just like you are there for me when I get bad."

Harry eased back to look into Draco's beautiful eyes. Draco brought his hand up to cup his face. Harry felt ashamed for even bringing up his issues when Draco was so hurt. He was supposed to take care of Draco. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...."

"Harry, don't. I didn't want you to apologize for anything. I want you to ask me for help. We're in this together. You don't have to fight it by yourself. I don't want you to. I want you to tell me you're hurting. I don't want you to starve yourself or force yourself to stay awake. You can tell me anything."

Harry's eyes watered, again, and he cried into his boyfriend's chest. Merlin... if his enemies could see him, now. This is what he really was. Weak, broken and helpless.

"Shhh... Harry. It's okay. You can cry all you want. I'm here. I won't let go, Harry."

He just gripped Draco tighter, letting his emotions fully take over. They didn't say anything else until Theo and Daphne got up and went into the bathroom. Harry stopped crying and started to beat everything back into place. He had Denkar this morning. Two weeks of sessions had done little but set him further on edge. He hated them and was nearly ready to explode by the end of each one. He didn't really blame her, but he didn't want to talk about it. Why didn't people understand that?

"Ready to get up?" Draco asked.

"I guess."

"Hey... why don't we just go to Madam Pomfrey and skip Denkar this morning?"

Harry gave him a hopeful expression. The matron could give him a pass to skip it, but it'd be hard to convince her. She might give him some potions and make him talk, too. But he trusted the healer more than the mind manipulator and it was Friday. Three days without mind healing sounded great. "Yeah... that sounds better. Thanks."

"Alright... get up. You are getting heavy," Draco groaned.

"Oh... I'm sorry, Draco!" Harry said, quickly getting up and out of bed.

Draco followed him. "I was kidding. I like holding you, prat. Like a big stuffed unicorn."

"Did you just call me a unicorn?"

"Yep. Because you're so precious," Draco said, and tapped his finger on his nose.

"And gay," Blaise added, from his bed.

Harry blushed and looked to the floor. Being poked fun at for Draco's choice words was fine, but Blaise had been there when he cracked last night. He hated looking weak in front of the Darks Arts professor. He was supposed to be the Chosen One, after all. Harry pulled on his same clothes as yesterday and didn't look at Blaise, embarrassed. Draco went over his wardrobe on by the window to presumably get clean clothes.

"Hey, I'm going to go back to my room and change, I'll see you later," Neville said, and slipped out the door with a brief good morning to him, but Harry was busy lacing up his trainers to look at him. He didn't mind Neville seeing him like that, but he wasn't interested in talking.

He sighed and threw his robes over his shoulders and turned to find Blaise leaning against Draco's bedpost and staring at him with his arms crossed. Harry immediately felt defensive and instinctively located his wand in his pocket, though he didn't draw it. It was still Blaise.

"What?" he snapped.

"You alright?" he asked.

If there was one thing worse than Blaise knowing he was fucked up, it was him pitying him for it. "I'm fine," he growled and looked away.

Draco turned his head in their direction, but Harry knew he wouldn't intercede. The Slytherins were very predictable in that regard. Blaise was the leader. But so was Harry and he really didn't know where that left them.

"Fine... such an ambiguous word. Not good, not bad. But somewhere in between. Doesn't give any indications of your emotional state. I've embraced that word, more times than you can imagine."

"What do you want, Blaise?" Harry huffed, finally meeting his eyes.

Blaise wasn't moved by his anger, but just smiled knowingly. "You don't have to feel ashamed, Harry."

"I'm not...."

"Yeah... that's why you wouldn't look at me earlier."

"I was annoyed at you," Harry grumbled and looked away, pretending to be looked for his bag. He wanted out of this conversation. He hadn't felt like this since his third year when the dementors only affected him. He hated feeling weak.

"Don't lie, Potter."

Harry snorted, but didn't rise to the bait.

"If you're not ashamed, then why aren't you looking at me?" Blaise said, quietly.

Harry stopped and slowly lifted his head up to look at him. "I'm getting ready."

"You are dressed and all your stuff is in your bag, Potter."

Harry couldn't get out of this conversation anymore. He glared at Blaise, waiting for him to finish with his point.

"No one will judge you in here, Harry."

Harry just stared, what else could he say? It probably wasn't helping that, generally, the Slytherins hadn't resisted tormenting him before the war when he was really down. Some hurts aren't as easily dismissed. But he trusted Draco, and Blaise was Draco's honorary brother.

"You know we all have weak moments, when everything becomes too much. This is where we don't have to pretend. I can hold Theo when he's crying without idiots making shitty comments. Draco can tell me how he feels about you without the world knowing. Draco has woken up screaming since we started school... and you never knew anything about it, did you? This is our sanctuary from the outside world. We learned how to ward in our first year. You don't have to feel self-conscious."

"I don't," Harry said, but he didn't want to keep up his staring contest with Blaise and looked away.

"Really? You can't seem to look me in the eye very long."

"That's because you're making me uncomfortable with your staring. I'm going to g-"

"No, you aren't. You need to understand me," Blaise said, and Harry could feel more wards go up. No escape.

They had postponed their in-class duel for another week, but Harry didn't need an audience. He pulled out his wand and he didn't hesitate to stare at Blaise, now. He was a threat.

"Better. But listen, Harry. We're all messed up. We all have bad dreams and need comfort and reassurance. All of us... me included."

Harry stared at him. Blaise had always seemed powerful, unbreakable. Even in the hospital, he looked like he could tear down the world. Draco and Theo looked to him for what to do.

"You don't believe me?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You open up? You let your guard down?"

"Yeah. Maybe not as often as them, but I do."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Harry... Theo and Draco have seen me at my worst. When I was weak, when I was begging them to let me go back to my abuser."

Blaise's eyes watched him carefully, but Harry wasn't sure what he meant. Those directed comments at Blaise's third year, maybe?

"You look confused," Blaise said and tilted his head. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

Blaise glanced to Draco. "You didn't tell him?"

"It wasn't mine to tell," Draco said, quietly.

"Well, I see why you don't believe me, now."

"I don't und...."

"In our third year, I was Marcus Flint's sex slave," Blaise said, in a flat voice.

Harry jolted at that announcement and loosened his grip on his wand. He wasn't expecting that.

"Surprised?"

"I... umm... well...."

Blaise smirked. "It doesn't get lower than that Potter. He beat me, humiliated me and fucked me in the most undignified ways you can imagine. He made me call him master, made other people fuck me and sent me to the hospital every week. And Draco had to pull me away from him. Draco beat up Flint in front of our whole house and Theo backed him up. They watched me, made sure I didn't go back. They even had shifts overnight, to make sure I was never unguarded and to hold me when I cried. I was beyond fucked up. And my fourth and fifth was more of the same, just with anyone I could find. The slag of Slytherin... surely you heard the rumors?"

"N-Not r-really," Harry said. He did hear things, but he didn't really believe in them. People said crazy shit about him, too.

"Yeah... well they've seen me in many compromising positions... and outfits. Quite a few emotional breakdowns. Draco finally smacked some sense into me and I slowly got it together. Not saying I don't have problems. I've cried plenty of times this year, too. Being confined to the fucking hospitable bed, almost losing Neville, when my mum came, when Draco almost... and a bunch of times with Neville. So, don't think that this is a détente between us. I'm not judging you and I don't want you to be embarrassed. I'm not trying show you up. I'm not exactly the model of a well-balanced person."

Harry sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry. I just... it just feels like there's a competition between you and me."

"There's not. Besides, I'm more of a badass than you, anyway," he said, with a laugh.

Harry laughed. "Yeah... Professor."

Blaise stepped forward and held out his hand, which Harry took and gripped it. "But there's nothing you're hiding that would make me think less of you, Potter. You saved Draco. Fuck everyone else. You saved him. I owe you everything. You can play that card anytime you want to bring me in line."

Harry stared back into the Slytherin's dark brown eyes and nodded. "Thanks."

"That being said... when we duel... I'm going to mop the floor with ya!" Blaise said, loudly.

"Yeah, right, we'll see Zabini!"

"Well, I mean if Theo can get the drop on you...."

"We were practicing Shield Charms, Blaise!" Harry growled, annoyed.

During their Monday defense practice, Theo sent a hex through his Shield Charm and he was blasted to the ground, breaking his arm in the process. Blaise laughed the whole time. Draco helped him up and they went to the infirmary, not willing to let any of them try healing it. They were to learn that next semester. Blaise graciously said that they could have another week before their match. Honestly, they were both a little rusty on dueling one-on-one.

"Sure, sure," Blaise said, with a smirk.

Harry knew that Blaise gave Theo that spell, which made him a little nervous about their upcoming duel. Blaise no doubt told Theo to use it, just to mess with him. Having your mind in the game was important. Theo and Daphne finally emerged from the bathroom and Blaise gave him a wink and took his turn.

Draco came over. "Hey, you still want to go?"

"Yeah. Let's go," Harry said, quite aware of the risks associated with going off with just the two of them.

Draco had been attacked twice since his quidditch match on last Sunday. Just roughed him up a bit and they scattered before anyone could do anything. It pissed Harry off as one, Draco had managed to wander off alone and two, none of their patrols caught any of them. They were using the map to their full advantage, now. Draco hadn't reported either one officially, which is why the school wasn't in lockdown. When they walked down to the hospital wing, Harry's hand was on his wand. He hoped they showed up.

Madam Pomfrey was just doing her morning rounds, when they came in. She came right over to them. "What's wrong? Were you attacked, again?"

"No, Harry just had some problems sleeping and I suggested coming to see you," Draco said, like he had been the one escorting Harry there and not the other way around.

The matron gave Harry an astonished look. The only thing that would have surprised her more was if Blaise randomly showed up and asked for emotional help. "Of course, come in, dear. Have a seat on the bed."

"Okay," Harry said softly as she went to her office.

Draco led him over to the closest one and Harry sat down while Draco stood next to him. His heart was weighing on him. His chest actually hurt. The only thing that was keeping him grounded right then was Draco's hand. He gripped it tighter. Fuck... everything hurt. He was exhausted, lethargic almost, and starving, but not hungry. He only ate when Draco was there and only for his benefit. He resisted the urge to cry. The sadness and guilt he felt never really left him.

"Harry, it's okay. I'm right here."

Madam Pomfrey came back out with a small vial, which she set on the table next to them. She waved her wand and did her diagnostic spells. "You've been eating regularly?" she asked.

"Kinda. I wouldn't call it regularly."

She pursed her lips. "How are you feeling?"

"Cold... tired... but restless. I just want to sleep, but I don't. The dreams come. Draco helps, but they come back."

Her face lined with worry. "What are the dreams about?"

"The battle... my friends dying... and Draco... I feel so... helpless," Harry whispered, not meeting her eyes.

She rubbed his arm. "It's okay, sweetie. You've stopped coming to see me. Will you try some taking some Mood-Lifter Potions, again? It might help with your emotions."

Harry looked at Draco, who nodded. "Yeah... I guess... just don't tell anyone."

"You have my word, Harry. We'll start small and get you destabilized. Sometimes when you go through an experience, it shocks your system and it's hard to get everything back to where it was before."

"Yeah..." Harry murmured., looking down.

The healer raised his head with her finger. "You are not weak. You've been through so much that others couldn't possibly understand, let alone recover from. You are not alone, Harry."

He nodded, but wasn't sure what to say. She patted his head and poured a measure for him to drink. He did without arguing. He wanted the pain and sadness gone. Warmth spread, through him and let out a breath that he hadn't known that he was holding. The tightness in his chest loosened and he met her eyes.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Yeah... it's working," he admitted.

"It's okay to ask for help, Harry. Everyone needs it sometimes."

Harry nodded and let the potion work. He wanted to ask questions, but he didn't really want to hear the answers. Just like the alcohol... he was going to be stuck with a new dependency. He let out a breath of exhaustion.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing means a lot coming from you, Harry," she said. "But I'm glad you came here. It shows a lot of courage to do it, instead of fighting everything on your own."

"Yeah... courageous," Harry sulked. Last time he checked, failing wasn't a sign of success.

"Harry," Draco whispered and Harry turned to him. "You're always telling me that I can ask for help, does that make me weak?"

Harry's eyes widened. "No! I don't think that!"

"Then stop playing the role of all-suffering hero. You don't have to face the world alone, anymore. You have me and I'll help you through this, like you help me through my struggles. You don't have to be invincible, Harry."

"Sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry about anything," Draco said, and Harry gave him a small smile.

Madam Pomfrey had a big grin on her face as she put the potion away. She had been waiting for him to give in for a long time, now. He grimaced, but he caught Draco glaring at him knowingly. There were so many emotions going through him that he didn't know what was up. Madam Pomfrey came back out and started on about the potions that she was recommending. Harry toned out all of it. He didn't want to take them, he didn't want to talk about them and he sure as hell didn't want to think about how they made him feel.

"Harry? Harry! Are you even listening?" she asked, irritated.

He finally looked at her. He had been zoning out a lot more during conversations lately. He literally hadn't heard a word she had said. Her eyes softened though as he looked at her.

"Why don't you head on to your appointment? You're going to be late, if you don't hurry."

Harry dropped his head. "Can't I stay here, please? You're helping me."

She hesitated and placed her hands on her hips. "Are you here for help or do you just want to skip your therapy session?"

He grimaced. "Please? I just can't anymore. It's... too much."

"She can help you, Harry. That's why she is here."

"I don't trust her. I trust you though."

"Do you?" she said, a little surprised.

"Well, you've seen me when I'm at my worst and healed me more times then I can count. You've never told anyone anything."

"Your issue is that she might find some way to break confidentiality?" she asked, a little stunned.

"Well... I don't really want to talk about it, either."

Madam Pomfrey brought his face up gently with her hand. "This time and only this time, you can stay. You'll have the weekend to recover and you better be in her office Monday morning."

Harry gave her a smile and nodded.

"But you will have to pay attention. What I'm telling you is important and could help you."

"Okay, I will," Harry easily agreed and looked at her.

"These potions... aren't really for one-time use, like a Calming Draught. If you were to take it regularly, your body will quickly... adapt... develop a higher and higher tolerance to it to the point where it becomes ineffective."

"Like alcohol," Harry whispered.

"Yes, actually. But these potions won't do it that as much, but in order for them to properly work, you need to take them consistently. This once or twice a week thing you've been doing isn't going to help you heal. Consistent, daily treatment will help stabilize your emotions."

Harry looked at her confused. "I thought my mind is messed up, but you're saying that potions will heal me? We can skip Denkar's psychobabble?"

"It's not psychobabble, Harry, and no, you can't skip it. It works best when you do them congruently. The mind healing helps with the underlying cause for your distress and the potions will help your physiological symptoms. I could give a very long-winded explanation, but Harry... your brain isn't working properly... medically speaking. The shock that you went through, triggered an... imbalance if you will."

Harry looked at her strangely.

"Bear with me. When your body goes through a change and that change is prolonged, your body... or your brain in particular, doesn't change back easily. It needs to be reconditioned to function correctly."

"Correctly?"

"Your dreams, the panic attacks and inability sleep... those are physical manifestations of the turmoil in your brain. I'm not saying that you don't need counseling, Harry, but I'm saying that I can offer some assistance in regulating the effects."

"So, I won't feel so... powerless?"

"Yes... to a limited degree. A normal, healthy person is able to have emotions... sadness, anger, and joy, but they are able to go from one to the other... easily. But with this imbalance... you aren't coming down when your emotions, particularly the negative ones take over."

"I'm angry... all the time."

"That's been there a while, though and now there are... others. What these potions do is help modulate your brain into communicating properly and allowing the emotions to calm down. However... what you want is your brain to do this without the use of the potions, correct?"

"Yeah," Harry said, looking at her. Draco seemed to be listening, too.

"Well... it takes time. An extended period of time while using these potions, will help get your body to start working correctly. How long will vary depending on other factors."

"So, I won't have to take these potions forever?" Harry asked.

"Perhaps. You shouldn't have to, if you work on the underlying cause of all of these issues. The symptoms caused by the imbalance will decrease in number and severity over time... maybe about six months."

"Six months?" Harry said, unsure if that was long or short.

"More or less. But they will return if you don't address the things that cause it. Otherwise, it's just going to happen, again."

Harry grimaced.

"Harry, this past summer... did you regularly consume alcohol?"

Harry dropped his eyes. "Every day and night pretty much."

"Fire whiskey is a potion itself and while it brings temporary relief, it has a lasting side effect. It slows down the functions of your brain. With such a prolonged abuse of it, it altered how your brain works."

He dropped his shoulders. "So, I did this to myself."

"There are always consequences for drinking, Harry. Alcoholism is its own illness and if you were still consuming it, we'd be having a very different talk. But... it is not the sole reason you are like this. You could have very well been in that condition before you started drinking and it was the only way you saw for relief. I imagine it was rough... this past year. You were on the run and that wasn't... fun. It was stressful, lonely and wrought with anxiety and helplessness with no end in sight, correct?"

Harry nodded.

"Then the battle and all the horrible things that happened."

Tears welled in his eyes and looked away from her. He didn't want to think about it.

"The point is Harry, you've been through a lot. You can't say just one thing is the cause. Can I ask you another question, with Draco here?"

Harry brought his eyes back to her and nodded. Draco told him what was wrong with him.

"During your first year... when I examined you... you were very underweight, then."

Harry felt a chill go through him that the Mood-Lifter Potions couldn't affect. "Yeah?"

Madam Pomfrey was watching his expression carefully when she asked, "I was wondering if you had difficulty eating since before you started here."

Harry sighed. "It wasn't by choice."

The matron looked confused. "I don't understand."

Draco had gone still. He knew a little about what happened, but not much. "My aunt and uncle didn't really let me eat every day."

"Oh, my Merlin! Harry, I'm sorry I'm assumed. But I understand why you have difficulty in eating when your hurting," she said, patting his arm. "Was it like that every summer, too?"

"The first couple. Things got marginally better when they found out my godfather was a fugitive and wanted for mass murder," Harry said, smiling at the memory, but quickly frowned and retreated back to silence. His chest was hurting him, again.

"Oh, Harry... it's okay to miss him. Grief is a natural part of recovering from a loss. But I just wanted you to see that these potions might help with your mood and emotions, marginally. You'll never be able to get off them until you confront those things and you will eventually develop a tolerance, too. So, do consider trying to talk to Madam Denkar. She's quite good at what she does."

Harry nodded and Madam Pomfrey whisked away to send a message to the mind healer. Draco took his hand and ran his fingers through Harry's messy hair. "I'm so proud of you, Harry. You did great."

"Well, I've found out why I'm so messed up. Apparently, my three-month bender did have lasting effects."

"Harry... you heard her. It wasn't like your life was full of sunshine and rainbows. I mean... you were connected to Voldemort... your parents were killed... your foster family abused you... and you lost so many people. It wasn't just the alcohol that caused all this... it was just the straw that broke the hippogriff's back. You started drinking for a reason, Harry."

"Yeah... and I really want one, now, but I won't..." Harry said, after seeing Draco's eyes raise up. "I got you. I won't fuck this up."

"Language!" Madam Pomfrey said, coming back out.

"It's all set. Go eat breakfast. And if you lose any more weight and you will be back on nutrition potions!" she scolded.

Harry nodded.

"And come see me every morning... and I'll help you get straightened out. If you start feeling overwhelmed by your anger and can't manage to let it go, come back anytime. Okay, dear?"

"Yes... thank you. I do feel better."

Harry hopped off the bed and Draco took him down to breakfast, holding his hand.

***

Bugger me, classes were long today, Draco thought, as he left his last one twenty minutes before it ended. He hoped Harry wouldn't be there, yet, and Blaise still had class for two more hours. But he had a meeting with Ron in the loo, so he bowed out of class early. Hermione glared at him as he left, and he resisted the urge to smile. He slipped inside and Weasley was waiting for him.

"If anyone sets off my ward, I'm going to have to punch you, a lot," Ron said, casting the spells.

"Fine. They suspect anything?" he asked the redhead.

"No... but Dean's got the map, now."

"He does?"

"Yeah, big power struggle with the other eighth years. Zach bowed out. I guess Dean stole it from him and that Fawley kid beat the fuck out of Hopkirk and Rivers for it and ordered the group to leave Zach alone."

"Whoa... interesting. Does Dean know who the leader is?"

"No, the red-striped guy said that he couldn't have it out whenever he was around and the others would escort him down to the meetings to make sure. He's nervous."

"I'd be, too. Dean... you should try to flip him."

"Really? You think I can?" Ron asked.

"Well... if you can't, you could blackmail him... he's been fucking Seamus since school started, at least."

Weasley's mouth dropped. "You're kidding, right?"

"No... they really are together."

"Are you telling me that all four of my dormmates were-are gay?"

"Hmmm... yeah?" Draco said, shrugging. He wasn't really sure on the labels exactly.

"Well... that's mildly...shocking."

"Theo's straight, if that helps."

Ron smiled. "Alright... I'll try Dean, but I need to bring on the violence more to rope them in."

"More? What do you have in mind?"

"I think I have to make it so you can confirm my identity."

"Well... they'll be barreling toward here as soon as class is out... so lock the door," Draco said and Ron waved his wand.

But he frowned. "Wait, we can't meet anymore... what about the trap?"

"I told you... distraction on the far side of school. Put the barrier wall in the corridor outside of 13, and I'll run East Tower. Patrols are on certain floors... Ernie, Susan, Terry and Hannah have one. Harper and the Slytherins have two and Dennis and his friends have fifth. The Slytherins are also camped out by the kitchen, owlery, hospital and library. They move but not much. East tower is the perfect place to be alone and set our ambush."

"How will I get them there beforehand?"

"Huh... fine. You'll have to drag me there. I'll go to the prefect's bathroom and hopefully, Dennis doesn't see me. You'll be watching the map with Dean and Tracy or someone like that, capture me and then trigger the coins to meet there so they all come."

"Yeah... okay, but how to get the information to your friends to spring the trap?"

Draco frowned. "Can you do a Patronus?"

"Yeah... I mean I never made it talk before."

"Well... practice... we'll wait until Monday. I have a counseling session before dinner. They always come from the same way to come get me to go to the Great Hall afterward."

"Alright... I'll work on it. It's a Jack Russell terrier."

"A loyal dog, huh?" Draco said, with a smirk.

Ron glared. "And what do you got? A peacock?"

"Hey!" Draco said, indignantly, though he had no idea. He did like peacocks, but the ward triggered. Planning was over.

Ron spelled some bruises on him, but had to punch him a few times, to get blood out. Then they went over to the stall. Draco helped him with the spells as any second Hermione would be coming in. Ron's lock wouldn't hold her back. Ron tied him up, used Epoximise to stick him to the partition wall and then gagged him.

"You sure?"

Draco nodded and motioned with his head to shut the loo door. Ron did and walked over the sink, muttered under his breath to calm down. He had to keep his game face on. Draco heard the door being blasted open and it collided with the wall behind it with an audible bang! Draco could hear the gasp from Hermione's lips and knew she had her wand out. Ron was in trouble. He strained his ears to listen. There were a few people in the hallway, no doubt, just wanting to use the loo after a long class period.

"Ronald! Where is he?"

"Oh, you're speaking to me, now?" Ron sneered, with a credible amount of disdain.

"Where is Draco!?" Hermione hissed.

"No idea, but do you mind, this is the gents... I'm sure you're not allowed to be in here."

"Shut up and don't you dare move, Ron, or I'll curse you into a flobberwurm pus!" she snapped. "Go check the stalls."

"I used the last one... still has a nice smell to it, Greengrass."

"Don't you talk to her!" Theo growled. "Remember I was the one who broke Ackerley's legs and gave Peakes a severe concession! Don't try me, Weasley."

Daphne finally opened his stall, looking horrified, and Draco saw, through some fake tears, a crowd of students in the hallway and Theo, Hermione and Luna were in front of the door.

"Ron..." Hermione said, her face as white as a ghost, but still kept her wand up and pointed at her former boyfriend. "...how could you?"

"Oh... I didn't do that," he said, nonchalantly. No one bought that. Even the innocent onlookers were watching in shock and indignation.

"Assaulting another student can get you expelled, Ron," Hermione growled.

"I didn't hit him. Ask him yourself. He wouldn't blame me for something someone else did. After all, I did speak in his favor at his murder trial. Sorry, I mean conspiracy to commit murder trial."

Hermione's grip on her wand tightened. If looks could kill, but another few words out of Ron and she might actually do it. Draco looked away. He had to pretend to be ashamed. He was, but it doesn't sting as much when you're playing people. He's known that for years. Daphne untied and ungagged him, but was having difficulty with the Sticking Charm. Hermione pointed her wand at him, and the glue loosened, making him crash to the fall.

"Nice place for you, Ferret," Ron hissed, and Daphne looked at him, with a glare.

Draco looked at him for the confirmation and then back down slightly, pretending to be humbled. Hermione stopped Theo from cursing him, when she walked over and slapped Ron hard.

"How dare you, Ron! I don't even know who you are anymore."

Draco looked up to see the hurt in Ron's eyes, but he put his mask back on. "I'm doing exactly what I have, too, Hermione."

She was shaking, but turned to look down at him. "Draco, are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Was he the one who hurt you?"

Draco looked up cautiously at Weasley. He had to play this right. They had an audience. He shook his head and looked down.

"Draco, please tell me the truth," she said, crouching down as he hadn't gotten up from the floor.

He couldn't meet her eyes, but told the truth. "He didn't hurt me."

"There... see? I didn't do it. I'm leaving," Ron said, but Hermione shot to her feet.

"Your knuckles are bruised, Ron!"

"I got mad and punched a wall."

"Ron... stop this! Please! Doesn't our years of friendship mean anything to you?" she said, through tears.

Weasley had to look away. "Yeah... I would have asked the same of you. Enjoy your time with the arse-buggering poofs."

Hermione's curse came shifty and suddenly. Weasley had no chance to defend himself, not that he would. He crumpled to the floor in pain and suddenly sprouted hair from everywhere. His whole body was soon covered in a thick, red, long-haired fur coat.

"If you are going to act like a baboon's ass, you might as well look it. Come on, Draco," she said and grabbed Draco's hand, pulling him up and out of the room followed by Luna, Theo and Daphne.

"Draco, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital wing?"

"No... I'm fine," he grunted, trying not to laugh.

Hermione waited until they were out of earshot of the crowd jeering at Weasley's new look, before she pulled him to stare at him. "Draco... why did you leave class early?"

He gulped. He should have expected that she would grill him, too. "I-I had t-to go."

"You couldn't wait twenty minutes?" she growled. "Are you trying to get them to hurt you? You're just being plain reckless at this point."

Draco dropped his head, trying to come up with a reasonable answer that wouldn't bring on more questions. Daphne, who was still recovering from her minor cold, looked uneasy.

"Hermione... why don't I take Draco on our hunt a little early?" Luna said, with an airy smile.

Hermione turned to her. "Luna... this is important."

"Yes... it is. Yelling at him, isn't helping. I'll take over from here. Let's go for a walk, Draco."

"Okay," he said, gratefully and took her hand.

"Luna... you really shouldn't be alone," Hermione said, softly.

"I'm not alone! I have Draco," she said, as a matter of fact and looked at him, with a smile.

"Yeah, but he won't..." Hermione began, and Draco felt uneasy. They all had been trying to break him of his fear of casting spells.

"Hermione?" Luna said, and waited for her friend to look at her directly. Her voice was firm. "Draco would never let anything happen to me."

Draco straightened up at the forcefulness in her words. He sure as fuck he would never let anyone hurt her. He didn't care if he would die as a result. He met her eyes, resolutely communicating that her faith in him wasn't misplaced. She smiled back.

Hermione interjected, "It's not just that... there's quite a few of them."

"Do you think that we can't take them? No one is going to sneak up on us outside. Come on, Draco," she said and pulled him outside before Theo or Daphne could object, either. Luna waited until they were by the lake to say plainly, "So... you and Ron are working together?"

Draco looked at her a little shocked, but not much. Luna had a way of seeing through people. "Y-Yeah. I don't want to hurt Hermione and Harry, but... we're trying to catch them."

"I understand, but you could have asked for help."

"I didn't want anyone to say no. I'm set up to be the bait. They might stop me out of concern."

"Well... I know you'll be okay. Blaise and Harry just worry about you too much, but I could have helped, you know?"

"Yeah... I know," Draco said, and looked out across the lake. The giant squid snatched a duck on the surface of the water and pulled it under. He was a little surprised that it surfaced so much as the cold was settling in.

"Well, come here," she said, and turned him toward her. "I'll glamour your injuries away." Draco didn't feel any different, but she fixed his hair, too. He was glad she didn't heal him. He needed the evidence.

"Luna... how did you know about Ron?" he asked, as she put the finishing touches on him. He didn't move.

"Oh... the wrackspurts left. And yours, too, for the most part."

Draco laughed. "Wrackspurts? Yeah... he apologized... and I did, too. He's not a bad bloke... he's just... lonely and depressed."

"Like you are. There! All done!" she announced, backing away with a smile.

He didn't need Hagrid to get in a titter about his injuries, fake or not. "Thanks, Luna... for everything."

"Oh... I always did like Crumple-Horned Snorkacks," she said, and Draco gave her a look. "You're getting better... slowly."

"Umm... it doesn't feel like it," he said, quietly, looking down.

"Well... you haven't needed the link in a while, Draco. Your enemies are falling, and your chains are about to be released."

"I still have a year until my probation is up."

"Actually... less now... just over half a year," she said, with certainty.

Draco didn't argue with her. It was over nine months, still. "Yeah."

"So, can we talk about Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Draco grimaced and couldn't meet her eyes. "I'm scared. It's not just... Azkaban. I had to let them torture me... I just... go back... to the times that I tried to fight back... in my head, I mean... and they hurt me more. It hurts so much, Luna."

She brushed his tears away. "Dray... I know. It still has power over you. I know they hurt you and I know how hard it is to let it go, but... it will always haunt you, if you let it. Accept it... stop denying it and acknowledge it happened."

"I have."

"No, you haven't. You are stuck firmly in the denial stage... even Harry's move onto the anger stage."

Draco frowned, but asked, "What about you?"

"Oh... it varies, depending on the topic. But come on, we need to get to Hagrid's! He has a surprise for you! We don't want to be late!" She took his hand and forced him to half-jog to the hut.

"I don't think Hagrid will mind if we're late," Draco said, breathing a little rough as they made it to the door, but Luna pushed him inside.

"Ah! There's Draco!" Hagrid said and beamed proudly. "He's here!"

Draco was confused by his greeting, but he froze when he saw his mother. "Mum?"

"Hi, angel," she said, smiling at him and held out her arms for him to take.

He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Mum? How?" he whispered.

"Hagrid owled me! He said that you've been having a rough time at school and invited me over for dinner. He's been telling me all about how you've been helping him. You're such a sweetie!"

"Mum!" he whined, now struggling to escape her grasp.

His mother was laughing. "Sorry, honey... I just had to pick on you." She let go of him to look in his eyes and take both cheeks with her hands. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, mum... I'm fine... but what about you? How's Aunt Andy and Teddy?"

"They're great... it's so wonderful to have my big sister back. Teddy has been running us ragged. They welcomed me into their home."

Draco lowered his head. "I'm sorry they came after you, mum."

"That's not your fault. That beast always did want me. They wanted to make an example to the Death Eaters who turned their backs. It had absolutely nothing to do with you."

"They mentioned me."

"And you also turned from the side of evil, but don't argue... Mr. Hagrid's prepared a nice meal for us."

"Well, it's naut 'xactly a nice meal... yer probably use ter somet'ing lit' bet'er than this," Hagrid said, blushing at the "mister" part.

His mum sat down and said, "Please, I'll been dining on microwave dinners this whole summer. I'm sure it will be delicious."

"Wha's a microwave?" Hagrid asked.

"Harry said it cooks the food for the muggles magically," Draco said.

Luna laughed and sat next to Draco. "Harry says funny things. Draco's been working on his Patronus," Luna announced, suddenly, and his mum looked at him.

"Not really getting anywhere."

"It's no easy thing, Draco. It's not skill or knowledge that will help you. It's about finding your inner peace."

"My happy place," he muttered.

"Yes and no. You can settle for your happy place... but it's more about what will complete you."

"Can you do it, mum?"

"No... I've tried... but there's a lot of darkness to shift though. All I have is you, but I worry so much for you."

"I'm sorry, mum," he muttered looking down chastised.

"Honey... I'll always worry about you. That's what being a parent is," she said, patting his arm.

"Aye, I still miss my lit' Norberta," Hagrid said, dabbling his eyes on a very large handkerchief, before he swung the pot crane off the fire. He scooped large portions into bowls and handed them to each of them. They all enjoyed the delicious lamb stew and ate it all. They chatted a bit after they finished, but his mum wanted to watch him practice spells with Hagrid. They were doing fine until it was time for Transfiguration.

"Avifers!" Hagrid tried, but after the tenth try, the stubborn rock wouldn't turn into a bird.

"You have to enunciate a little more. There's an 'o' in there. Avifors not Avifers," he explained.

"Codswallop, I'll ne'er git this."

"Don't give up. Transfiguration is hard."

Luna came over and said, "You know, I am the Transfiguration Professor, Draco?"

Draco laughed and Hagrid said, "That yer 're!"?"

"Okay... my lovely lady, would you like to take over?" Draco said, with a small bow, offering his spot with his hand.

"Yes, I would! Now, Hagrid... what is the bird you are imagining in your mind?"

"Imaginin'?" he replied.

"Yes... it's not just the words that do it! You must focus! Imagine it to be true!"

"Well... o'kay..." Hagrid said, giving a look of deep concentration.

"Draco... will you come with me?" his mother said and pulled him outside.

"Mum? Is everything alright?"

"Yes... and no. I don't want you to worry, but...."

"What's wrong mum? Are you okay?"

"Yes... I just have to go away for a while."

"What? Where?"

"I have to get a job..." she trailed off.

Draco's mouth popped open in a form of a horrified "O". "No... it's too dangerous."

"They assured me that it is extremely safe and impossible to find unless they work for the company. All precautions have been taken. I'll be safer... safer than you are," she said, tracing the spot which hid his bruise.

"B-But... if you leave the safety of the Fidelius Charm... they could find you!"

"Maybe... but this isn't a choice. I have to pay my bills and Andromeda only has a small stipend from her saving that doesn't help. No... I have to earn money. I'm already in arrears to the wrong people. I just wanted to say I love you and that I won't be able to write on Wednesdays."

"Mum? What are you talking about? Where are you going?"

"Away... I'm leaving the country, but I won't be with muggles anymore."

"Mum! You shouldn't have to go...."

"I can't work in England with my past and I don't want to risk coming home every day and endangering Teddy and Andy."

"But what if something happens to you!" Draco pleaded.

"I'll be fine."

"I can ask Harry...."

"No, I owe a lot, Draco. I can't just Let it go, anymore," she said, softly.

"Owe to who mum!"

"It doesn't matter. I won't be letting Harry dug me out of this one. We owe him so much, sweetie," she said, with a sad face.

"I-I don't want to lose you!"

"You aren't going to lose me. I just have to leave to take this job. I should be back for your graduation."

"Should?" he gasped, his emotions were taking over.

"Yes, honey. Don't worry. I'll send messages when I can, but I don't want to risk my location. So, there might be delays in my posts."

"But...what if they do come?" Draco said, tears coming out.

"Draco, don't fret. You aren't going to change my mind. I'll be protected. Now, dry your tears. We don't need to upset Hagrid or Ms. Lovegood, do we?"

Draco shook his head and wiped his eyes. "I'll miss you, mum."

She wrapped her arms around him. "I know. I'll miss you, too. But don't you worry about me. I can take care of myself." His reply was lost when she took his hand and guided him back inside.

***

Eirene Denkar made the climb up to the headmistress's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in... how has it been going?" Minerva said, cutting to the chase.

"Difficult. You weren't kidding about them resisting, but I have to tell you, some did not grant me permission to speak about them."

"Well, Blaise gave it, since you already told me about him. How is he?"

"Complicated. But I think he can be reached. He appreciates playing quid pro quo. As long as I share and do most of the talking, he's fine with communicating. Not going too deep, but not outright openly hostile."

"Like Harry," Minerva muttered and Eirene did not acknowledge her assertion. That would be revealing his privileged information in an indirect way.

"I see Harry was one of the ones that refused. I am not surprised."

"Minerva... I can't breach confidentiality."

"I understand and I don't mean to intrude, but Harry's deteriorating mental health is quite noticeable."

"Still...."

"Yes... I will keep that in mind. How is Draco doing?" Minerva asked.

"Decent, but he is not trying to talk to me. I separated him from his friends and he still is following their unspoken rule of not talking about what happened."

"I see. What about Theo?"

Eirene couldn't answer. Theo gave permission for his friends, not Minerva.

"Yes... you have ideas on how to get them, or rather get Draco and Blaise, to open up?"

"A few. Blaise is someone who will need a long time. Short of some traumatic event or a psychological break, he's not going to randomly open up. It's going to take a while... but the pressure could get to him. He seems happy, but there's a very thin line between happy and misery with him. But Draco... he's on the other side of the line. He's happy... when he's with his friends and Harry, but he's not getting better. He's unable to come to terms with what happened. It's worse now that he knows that I know. I imagine he's going to have a difficult time talking to you about it. Don't bring it up, unless he does."

"I won't. But how are you going to help him?"

"I'm not sure. You can't really force someone to get help. I'll try to make him see that it will be okay... but he's terrified of talking about it. Not just about the abuse, but he believes that either he'll snap and be sent to St. Mungo's or... that it'll just hurt him more. There's plenty of guilt about what he's gone through, too. It's getting him to see that he needs help."

"For all of them... I'm sure. We should call them the Silent Trio. Have you noticed how closely knit, they are?"

"Oh, yeah," she agreed and nodded. "Never seen anything like it. Draco and Blaise both gave their permission for each other to know... everything. Though, I think they know just about everything about each other anyway. Maybe not the particulars... but... enough," Eirene said.

"And Theodore... he's as close as he can be to them."

"I can't..." Eirene started.

"I know. But I can talk. The boy can't talk about what happened to him, but he knows that he is dependent on Blaise and Draco. And he has a girlfriend. Not entirely in the clique, but definitely a part of it. How is Daphne, anyway?"

Eirene didn't answer.

"Well... what approach are you going to use, for Draco and Blaise, then?"

"Blaise will talk to a limited degree, but I suspect that he would never let his guard down. He won't admit that he needs help, so getting him to talk about his feelings on it, will be difficult. Draco... it's a matter to convince him that it'll be alright to talk about what happened. Time... will help, but there's a good possibility that it won't. They collectively decided not to talk and going against that decision is not going to happen easily."

"I see. Have you considered using them against each other?" Minerva asked directly, and even Severus squirmed in his portrait.

Eirene frowned. "Oh, Minevra... that is a dangerous game."

"I just meant asking them to help each other open up, group therapy?"

"Yes, I understand what you are saying, but I would be able to hide what I'm doing. Whoever I ask will know I used him and the trust will be gone. It might help two of them, but... the other...."

"Blaise," Minerva said, clearly.

"Blaise... he'll know what I am doing. He won't forgive it either."

"But he can handle it?"

"Handle being used? Yes, unfortunately. He can... but..." she didn't finish. She had been avoiding thinking about the very same thing.

Minerva nodded, sensing her unease. "I think you will have to use that option. I want him to get help... but he is already going to be needed for when we start Occlumency with Theo, anyway. We won't convince Theo to cooperate without him and Draco. It's only a little step further to convince Blaise to work with Draco. He'll help his friends."

"But what about Blaise?"

Minerva frowned and let out a deep sigh. "I think he will recover better than Draco and Theo will. He has a lot of support in his boyfriend, and his friends will help him when it comes to it."

"I didn't like abandoning him five years ago and I don't like it anymore, now," she huffed.

"I can be the bad guy... if you wish."

Eirene shook her head. "I'll be the one in the room. It must be me. It's better if I'm the bad guy. This might come back to you, if he finds out. You might lose some of his trust, too."

"I understand and I'll say the same thing now that I will tell him when it happens: what is more important to him? His friends or him?"

Eirene nodded. "And he will agree. That doesn't mean he won't sulk about it for weeks... months. He might never truly get over it."

"I think we will have to risk it. I think Draco and Theo's mental health are a more immediate concern, or do you think otherwise?"

"I can agree with you, on Draco's behalf, at least. He is suffering from severe anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks and hypersensitivity to touching and speaking. He has had most of these issues for a long time. Years, in fact. He's getting worse, in some ways. More closed off, unreachable. I can't tell if his friends are the reason he doesn't open up, or it was beaten into him by his abusers."

"A bit of both, I'm sure," Minerva said, sadly.

"Yes, but Blaise... I don't think that he was going to open up anytime soon, really. It'd probably take half a year to get through his mental defenses and most of it would be breaking through his compulsive rules. This may make him even worse, to the point of never trusting anyone outside of his niche. Of all his friends... well, of Draco at least, he has most trust issues. He latched onto Draco and Theo so completely that the three of them are practically co-dependent on each other. Ideally, I'd want to separate them into individuals, rather than drive them more together."

"Ideally? In an ideal world... all would be right and we could heal their wounds as quickly as mending their cuts and bruises. But sadly, that is not possible. I'm still going to advise you to ask Blaise to help Draco and Theo. Moira is almost ready, anyway. So, you had best broach the subject, soon. She could probably give it a go now, but... we want to play it safe. Narcissa's coming back for one more round. She needed some time to recover from the last time."

"I could imagine. Perhaps she needs some counseling?"

"Yes. I would like you to sit in on it, tomorrow."

"Okay, I've gone through Occlumancy training before."

"Do you want to go through it with Moira?" Minerva asked.

Eirene nodded, though she disliked it. "I daresay that I should, though it'll be most unpleasant."

"Well, she is due shortly, so unless you want to wait until tomorrow?"

"No... the sooner the better. I believe it is long past due that we meet."

"Very well, she shouldn't be long. But since I have a moment, I wanted to ask you about Zacharias Smith."

Eirene sighed internally. She had hated his interview, but couldn't give a reason to force sessions. "Yes?"

"You signed his form?"

"Hesitantly. I had to make cuts and he was not on your list and he did not request counseling. He was in the 'maybe' pile."

"He's been doing very poorly and seems to be in a bad place, mentally. But he has taken shelter in the bed of seventh-year guy."

"Well... I didn't see that coming. Mr. Smith was a tricky one. He appeared to be toeing the traditionalists' line in our meeting, but didn't offer anything else. He did consent to you knowing about him, but he was definitely avoiding his real issues and deflecting questions. He appeared to be calm and rational though, during the interview."

"I assure he's not anymore."

"I'm a little full schedule-wise. Unless you want me to cut sessions from the others? Harry and Blaise have the most sessions by your order. Others requested more sessions and I'm convinced that they need counseling. I can try to fit him in in one of their spots, but I won't cut anyone else's hours for him."

"No... I'll monitor him for one more week And if he doesn't get better... I'll send him to St. Mungo's. That is, if I can't get Blaise to remove his curse. He was fairly adamant that he "doesn't know anything about it" and "wouldn't take it off even if he did."

"Zach said it was gone, though?" she said, now very confused.

Minerva looked at her. "Not as far as I know. He's been erratic for over a month, now."

"Oh my, he's definitely a liar. Maybe even a compulsive one. Forced therapy won't help him, then. It'd take a desire to want help for me to be of any use. I'd have an easier time with Blaise, then him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think so. If the curse still is on, he was lying about everything. He even knew how to react in the room, to my questions and maybe altered his appearance. I wouldn't be able to trust anything he says and he led me along. Blaise wouldn't do that. Makeup stories, his feelings and play games. If Zach wants help, I'll gladly help, but it's not worth my time, otherwise. You gave me a whole school of traumatized kids to help, and I can only help so many. Do you know that there's a fifth year who was at the battle? One of his friends came up to tell me after the library was attacked. He had a small break as well as a new trauma."

"Yes, he's tried to shore up his courage by leading a patrol through the school. He's going to get himself hurt. I just want this to stop," the weary headmistress said, shaking her head. "Draco was attacked, again, as well, and who knows how many other times, as he doesn't report it."

"You think he wants them to hurt him?"

"Bill thinks that he lets them because he thinks he deserves it... and a bit that he doesn't want to fight back. That threat of going back to Azkaban really traumatized him," Minerva said, grimacing.

Eirene nodded. "If I can get Blaise to help... I think he'll open up. That first session... he seemed willing, but then both Harry and Blaise were there, proudly defying me. He follows their decisions."

"They all do. Theo, Daphne and Draco all look to him. Blaise told me that Draco wouldn't take charge anymore, that he was supposed to be second. I gather it means more to them than to me," she said, flustered.

"In charge... huh? It makes sense... that Draco used to be in charge. The power dynamic is off. Blaise resents it, but won't shirk his duty. There's something else between them... debt... certainly. Yes. I don't think I'll challenge that. I honestly think it's what's keeping them going."

"I agree."

Eirene glanced at the fire and steadied herself. "So... can I ask about...Moira Zabini before she comes?"

Minerva smiled. "She has never killed anyone who hasn't thoroughly deserved it. All men. You shouldn't worry. But she will threaten you a bit."

"I see. Well... I've also seen the curses that her son can do, and I can imagine that she can do worse."

"Indeed."

"And... I'm about to make her son... very unhappy," she said, plainly.

The headmistress frowned and nodded. "Blaise isn't going to... rat you out. He never told his mother anything as he learned... very early... that her reaction to fixing things is killing them."

"His stepfather."

"Yes. Despite everything, Blaise is a very moral person. He's not Moira... or rather... he's the best of her. But yet... there's that possibility. He's very capable of murder... but like his mother, he would need a good reason, more than his own physical and emotional well-being."

"Draco and Theo."

The headmistress nodded. "He will protect them and avenge them with everything he has. I imagine... if he had grown up without them... Draco, in particular, he would be very different, now. Either broken beyond repair or a killer like Moira."

Eirene processed that. "And his mother's reason?"

"I hardly wish to spread her 온라인카지노게임, but she was after revenge... of her own, and I consider what she did as justified... in my eyes, though I would never endorse such a path. Those men were very much evil."

"And she married them... to kill them?"

"I didn't say that I supported how she went around doing it, but she had reasons."

"Galleons?"

"I suppose that's why she married them, instead of hunting them down and killing them outright."

Eirene did not feel anymore comforted by that. She had met murders before in her profession, but they weren't usually armed with a wand and out on their own recognizance.

"Relax. She's not a sociopath or a psychopath. She is what people have made her. But you're going to find out for yourself, now," she said, as the flames roared to life and Moira Zabini stepped out of them. She ignored the healer and went straight to the headmistress.

"Minerva...."

"Good evening, how've you been?"

"Fine, fine... but can I ask how two former Slytherins got to my son?" she growled, cutting out all formalities.

Minerva looked a little taken aback. "Moira... I'm not sure what you are implying...."

"I'm implying that my son isn't safe here!" she growled.

"I haven't the foggiest idea how you came to that conclusion, as he has the ability to create danger wherever he goes. I don't know how they came into the school, but mine and Hagrid's floo are the only ones that work. So... unless they portkeyed in, another Vanishing Cabinet appeared or somehow masked their presence crossing the threshold of the boundaries... they didn't come onto school grounds. Perhaps Hogsmeade?"

Moira's eyes narrowed. She nodded. "That's possible."

"Blaise did leave during a Sunday morning. Eighth years have weekend passes to leave the grounds."

"Can you prevent him from leaving, again?"

"He is a professor, now, Moira, I'm not going to tell a grown adult what they can and can't do. I can summon him here, if you want to chastise him, yourself."

"No... he would not appreciate that, I know that much," she admitted.

"You seem to worry about him, more than I thought you would," Eirene said, plainly and the Widowmaker's dark eyes turned to analyze her with some ire. Minerva seemed a little shunned, too.

Moira Zabini wasn't surprised by her presence. She had noticed her, sitting in the chair, but possibly just assumed that she was a staff member. But she tilted her head, but her hand twitched, ready to draw. "Who are you?"

"Eirene Denkar... the school's new mind healer."

Moira smirked. "Mind healer? Are you counseling my son?"

"I can't...."

"Yes," McGonagall said for her. "She's rather skilled."

Blaise's mother stepped closer and stared down at her. "I remember you. You were the one brave enough to come to my house."

"Yes. I'm sorry that I couldn't help Blaise, then."

"You did. You cared enough to face me and make me aware that there was a problem. I took care of one of them. Blaise refused to tell me anything about the others. Did you know what happened?"

Eirene, slightly against confidentiality, nodded.

"He spent that summer absorbed in his studies. I had a hard time shielding the Trace. I thought he'd find some closure and strength. He had the means to eviscerate his abusers, but that was not what happened at all. I received many letters, but he knew how to defend himself."

"He choose not to, you mean?"

Moira Zabini stared for a moment and nodded. "The next three summers were the same. Research and as little communication as possible."

"You don't talk at all?"

"As needed... he ceased needing lessons from me by then. He needed to learn things on his own. We spoke at meals, but he wasn't very forthcoming."

"Scared?"

"I suppose he was, a bit. But your first comment... did you imply that I don't care for my son?"

"Do you?" Eirene dared, ignoring her fear.

The Widowmaker glared at her. "I care deeply for him, but I won't coddle him. He needed to learn self-sufficiency."

"Did he? That's usually a mark of adulthood, rather than forcing it upon a child."

Minerva seemed to approve her statements, but Moira hissed, "I knew how to take care of myself at the age of ten!"

"And you turned out emotionally well-balanced?" she asked, swallowing hard.

"Well, you do have some... chutzpah. I'll give you that. But I care deeply for my son and will do anything to protect him."

"Really? Cause I was there five years ago on your front step where you slammed the door on my face."

Moira grimaced. "I gave him my clan's tome and let him learn exactly how to defend himself. So, unless you're implying that I should have come to the school and ripped out his abusers' entrails in front of everyone, I'm not sure what you wanted me to do."

"Did you get him help?"

"I just told you that I gave him my spellbook," she snapped.

"What about his mental health?" she asked.

"He seemed fine."

"Fine? Do you even...."

"He seemed fine. He didn't have an emotional breakdown or anything. No, I did not know the extent of his abuse, then, but I know what happened to him, now."

"He told you?"

"No, someone else did. Vividly. Let's just say... Flint is glad that he's already dead. He would have begged for death, if I had gotten to him."

"And what about your son!" Eirene growled and Moira's wand appeared in her hand. Minerva looked a little nervous, but did not intercede.

"Don't think that I don't regret my lack of care in that regard! You better restrain yourself, healer, I might not kill you, but I won't hesitate to make you... uncomfortable."

"Go ahead! I need you to see that he needs your support, not protection. He knows how to defend himself, but if you haven't noticed, he doesn't!"

The headmistress looked a little shocked as she waited for the Widowmaker to respond to the directed comment. But Moira put away her wand and sat in the chair, wiping her head and grimacing. "I think we're beyond that, now. He's not going to open up to me. Maybe to Draco, Neville or even Minerva, but not me. He doesn't want to look weak in my eyes ... I don't know if I should be flattered or ashamed. Pride is one thing... but he is obstinate in pretending that nothing happened to him. That he isn't hurt. What should I do, healer? I don't have a Time-Turner. I can't undo the past. Are there magic words I can use to heal his wounds?"

Her voice was full of regret and Eirene shook her head. "No. But doing the same thing... acting the same way toward his pain and actions, isn't going to help. If you care... you'll try to reach him. You can't keep doing things the same way and expecting something different to happen."

Moira glanced at her mentor, who nodded. "And what do you suggest I do?"

"You're helping Theo?" Eirene asked.

"That is our plan."

"He's going to be there, right?"

"Yes... I'm assuming, anyway. Theo didn't leave his side all summer," Moira said, with some amusement.

"Then you can interact with him during that time, too."

"Interact? I do talk to my son."

"Positively? Do you hug him? Smile?" she said, staring down the murderess.

Moira glared at her in response.

"I can tell, you know. You radiate hostility."

"And you assume I'm like that all the time? I did get married eight times."

"I'm not going to comment about that, but if I did ask Blaise about your relationship, how would he react?"

Moira snorted. "I don't think I've met anyone with a bigger death wish."

"Do you think he's scared of you?"

Moira gave the headmistress a look, but then said, "I think he knows that I wouldn't hurt him, but he knows my abilities better than anyone I'd wager."

"How do you think Theo reacts to you?"

"Well, he tested every meal I gave him this summer... it was interesting. I thought he and my son were together."

"Are they?" Eirene asked. She had thought that Theo was firmly attached to Daphne.

"No, Blaise said that Theo couldn't be alone... and he just told me that his father died in front of him."

"Hence the Occlumency training we've been doing," Minerva added.

"Okay... my point is... Theo needs to be able to trust you. If you're going to invade his mind and try to rip out his walls... it'll be a lot more... easier if he wasn't scared of you. You should have trained your son in this. It would have been easier."

Moira nodded. "Do we have time to wait?"

"Again, I'm bound by confidentiality. I've only been able to talk so far, because it's been about things that happened five years, ago. Unless you want me to ask your son if I can talk to you about it."

Minerva cleared her throat. "I don't think we can wait. His friends are not going to take on this burden. But she does have a point Moira... you will have to turn down that aggression. It won't make it easier."

"I'm about to invade his mind and break down his whole sense of self. I don't think that me being nice is going to help in any way."

"He's got to recover... and if he becomes traumatized from what you did... it's only a new wound to heal. I think..." Eirene stopped. Confidentiality rules.

"I think that gently pulling him out from behind his mental guards is better than breaking through them," Minerva finished for her.

Moira deliberately looked at Snape. "You've been quiet."

"Oh, just letting you bluster," Snape said.

"Watch it!" she hissed.

"Madam Denkar is correct. It's much easier to do Occlumency if the subject is willing. You'll have to coax him, unless you want to chain him down and rip through his mind to such an extent that he never recovers. As amusing as it is to do to your enemies, he's a still child in most senses."

"Fine... I'll be more... nicer."

"Nicer? You need to be a mother. To both of them!" Eirene growled.

"Healer... you are getting on my nerves."

"Enough... Monday... I'll pull Blaise in here right after class. You give him a warning during your session with him and I'll summon him at dinner."

"I will work on my... disposition."

"Probably a good idea," Snape sneered.

"Like you're one to talk!" she snapped.

"Alright... so Monday, then. We should get on with your practice."

"So, healer, do you only want to watch?" Moira sneered and Eirene gulped.

She hadn't prepared for an attack, but this would go both ways. She would feel the tenor of Moira's mind and thoughts, too. "I'll agree, but you cannot go looking through my counseling sessions. You have to focus on my childhood and I will attempt to stop you."

"Well, it's no fun if you just give it up," Moira said, with a smirk.

Eirene stood up. "If this is your maternal intents you intend to show Theo, I'm going to have to recommend that Blaise go first."

Moira looked startled. "You want me to look into my son's head?"

She had to stop from smirking. She had found the Widowmaker's fear. "Yes."

"He doesn't use Occlumency. I don't see why...."

"No, you wouldn't. Blaise is going to have to convince Theo it is safe, doesn't he? Blaise trusting you enough with his mind and every memory, will be a good... demonstration. Convince him that he can let it go."

"Blaise wouldn't agree to it."

"And you think Theo is going to be any more cooperative? You need to work on your niceties. You need to show emotion and that you care for them both. Like Theo's your son, too."

"Fine... now I want to see what's in your mind, healer."

Eirene had an abusive childhood of her own to hide from her, but she suspected that Moira would never trust her if she didn't see it. She sighed and prepared for the assault. She didn't doubt Moira's abilities in the slightest, but she wanted to feel Moira's emotions when she's rooting around in her head. But she already had a feeling that Moira was a very kind person at heart. Minerva said that she had done what she needed to for justice, not out of enjoyment and greed. She would see how far she could slip past her blocks, too, as Moira Might not know that she is a Legilimens. They were about to know each other so much more.

Moira Zabini raised her wand and sneered, "Legilimens!"

***

"Come on, Draco..." Harry urged.

His boyfriend's face lined in concentration, trying to focus. His arm was up and he said, "Expecto Patronum!"

Nothing but a stream of puffy mist came out, though it was better than before. It was just before dinner and their impromptu Defense Against the Dark Arts training wasn't going so well, again. Blaise spent the whole time whispering excitedly into Neville's ear who giggled a lot and they barely practiced. Hermione chatted with Ginny and Luna, more than trying spells. Theo and Daphne actually practiced, but their spells were a little too aggressive for Harry's taste. Theo had nearly destroyed half the library last week when SAD attacked.

McGonagall had not been pleased that of his choice of spells on Ackerley and Peakes. Not surprising to anyone, neither one had agreed to her generous offer of snitching their SAD mates out in exchange for not getting expelled. They had been at least removed from the school for now. As neither had completed their OWLs, it was going to the board to strip them of their wands permanently. Harry suspected that with that threat, they might yield, but their parents took them home as they were suspended, pending the official inquiry. Harry was relieved that there was no question of guilt. Eight students including Dennis saw both of them attacking Theo and Daphne.

"I'm never going to get this," Draco huffed. Lowering his wand and panting from the effort.

"You can do it, it's just a concentration kinda thing. You have to believe in your happiness," Harry explained, though Draco had been upset yesterday when he came back from Hagrid's.

He had spent the majority of their sessions this week guiding him through selecting a memory and trying to find something he believed in. Draco couldn't, or wouldn't, believe that any of his memories was happy enough to work. He wouldn't hear of it. But Harry hooked him in a little when he started talking about a future. A future where he was free. No war, no pain, just him and Harry... and their friends. But try as Draco might, he wouldn't completely believe it. It was just that some part of him couldn't accept that he would ever be happy, doomed to lose everything.

"It's not going to work," Draco said, lethargically.

"It won't if you keep thinking that that!" Harry said, throwing his arms up. "Draco... you have to let it go... all your worries, fears and memories. There is happiness out there. I mean look at your mate friend over there."

He gestured to Blaise, his lips brushing Neville's neck as he spoke sweet words that they couldn't hear. Draco smiled as he watched him.

Harry stepped in closer. "You have to believe that you will be happy. That all the badness will melt away."

"It's hard... I mean I think about it.... and then... something else comes up."

"You have to focus... block it out."

"Harry... my wall is gone."

Harry looked at him. "Draco... no one else here, besides Theo, knows Occlumancy and we all figured it out. In fact... that's probably your guys' problem is. Occlumency blocks out all your emotions, good and bad."

"I have to block out the bad stuff," he whispered, and then lowering his head and tightened up.

No more pushing, tonight, Harry decided. He pulled Draco over to the wall and they sat on the floor. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, as his boyfriend leaned into him, trying not to cry. He just let him try to recover. But then Draco asked if he could see Harry's Patronus. He pulled out his wand and said the spell, but it didn't come outright. Similar to Draco's shapeless cloud, but it felt the same. Harry could feel his positive emotions in it.

"I thought yours was corporeal?" Draco asked, but he looked a lot better.

"It was," Harry said and looked at it spread through the room. It was large and would do its job, but something was off.

"Harry? Was that you?" Hermione called out.

"Yeah... I see what you mean. It's weird."

"See... I'm even affecting you," Draco said morosely.

Hermione came over. "It's not that strange, actually. You've been through a lot, Harry. Your soul has been through a lot of trauma, lately. Between the... war, the battle, Voldemort... it's a lot."

"I cast it on the train without difficulty."

"Well, you did run into the dementor a few weeks... ago," Hermione finished quietly, as Harry nearly jumped out of his skin. It was later in the night and his potions had worn off by now.

He started shaking and Draco had to grab both of his hands and scream his name before he slipped back. Harry took deep breaths, trying to reign in his near panic attack. He didn't like doing it in front of other people. Everyone was looking at him, now.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," Hermione said and he nodded. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said, gently.

"That didn't seem like 'fine', Harry. But... that might be why... you Patronus is like that. You went through a shock and you haven't... faced it."

"Face it? And just let it go? Like it's that easy? It ripped my soul out and nearly swallowed it. Kinda hard to get over it."

"Have you talked to Madam Denkar about your episodes?"

"Episodes? I'm not crazy, Hermione," Harry growled, his anger starting to boil.

"Of course not, but it is affecting you. She can help you...."

"I don't need help!" Harry growled and got to his feet. "I don't need fucking therapy!"

Everyone was staring at him and he stormed out into the halfway, wanting so desperately to hit something. The rage was near blinding. Hermione followed him.

"Harry?"

"Just leave me alone," he spat. Couldn't she take a hint?

"Harry, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not afraid of your temper."

"Damn it... just go!"

"I'm not going anywhere! I lost Ron... I won't lose you, too," she said, tears coming down. "You really need to think about cooperating with Madam Denkar."

He whipped around to stare at her. "I won't. I'm on the Mood Uplifter, now. I'm not talking about what happened! Just let it go, Hermione!" he roared.

Hermione wasn't fazed by his rage. "Why? What you are so afraid of?"

Harry jerked upward. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Really? Because you're doing everything you can to avoid talking about it!" she shouted back.

"I'll talk to you... to Draco... not someone I don't know," Harry tried.

"You'll talk to me? Alright... tell me about why you started drinking? Tell me what happened when you went to the Hog's Head? We'll start there."

Harry hated when she called him out on his bullshit. "I can't."

"Madam Denkar can help you, Harry. She can. Give her a chance. You can admit your faults... talk through the things that hurt you. She's quite good. You know how rough it's been for me, right?" she asked and Harry nodded. "She made it so much better... just having someone neutral to talk about. Things I can't talk about to you. Can you tell Draco everything?"

"Yeah!" Harry growled.

"Really? How about how much you're dependent on him, what happened to you before you came to Hogwarts... or even how you felt when Draco taunted you for years?"

Harry gave her a look.

"How about how you felt when you used Sectumsempra?"

Harry tried to leave, but his trainers were stuck to the floor. "Hermione!"

"Don't walk away from me, Harry. Can you talk about these things with Draco?"

"It's not like I won't, but I don't want to hurt him!" he spat trying to free himself.

"That's what the mind healer is for! She can talk through everything... everything that you're too uncomfortable or scared to say to us."

"I don't... I can't trust her."

"Harry... she's a nice person. You can start small... work up to the bigger things."

Harry was about to tell her off, when Draco came out into the hallway. "Harry?"

"I'm here. Ready to go back to our room?" he asked.

"Harry!" Hermione said.

"Let me go," Harry growled and she released the spell. He walked over to Draco. "Are you okay?"

"I still can't do it and what little happy thoughts I was able to form, was because you were there."

"Okay... let's go," Harry said, just as Daphne came out and headed toward the bathroom. She hadn't gotten over her cold, yet.

Hermione seemed worried about her, so she just left him with a "Just think about" order. Draco took his hand and they went up to their room. Draco locked the door and Harry sighed.

"I just don't understand why she thinks I should talk to Denkar."

"I don't want to talk about that," Draco said, with a smile.

"Good, cause I...."

"Harry... you know... you never did congratulate me on my win last weekend," he whispered staring at him.

Harry looked at him confused. "Yes, I did!"

Draco stepped in closer. "No... I don't think you did."

Harry felt some panic and racked his brain, thinking that maybe he really didn't say the words. "Draco... I'm sorry... I thought I did. I-"

"Harry...I mean... really congratulate," Draco said, leaning down to plant his lips on Harry's neck.

Harry chuckled, catching up with his boyfriend, and instantly relaxed as Draco sucked on his neck. "You almost had me panicking."

"But I'm not wrong... I feel... neglected," Draco whispered into his ear.

Harry was shaking and he whispered back, "Perhaps I can make up for my oversight."

"Really? How do you mean?" Draco shot back. His pupils were wide as he stared.

"Well," Harry said, his cock already hardened to the point of pain. "I have wronged you... I think you should decide how I can... make up for it...."

"Really?" Draco said, still staring at him. "You'll do what I say?"

"Of course, Princess... anything you want," Harry purred.

Draco smirked and backed away a little for a view. "Take off your clothes," he ordered. "Slowly."

Harry smiled wide and slowly let his robes drop to the floor. Then his shirt and trousers. Draco didn't say to leave on his boxers, so he slowly dropped them. He wondered if Draco was going to make him dance, again. Draco came in closer, still fully dressed, and splayed his hand on his chest. He guided him to the bed and pushed him down. Harry slowly moved back to the headboard as Draco kneeled over him. Draco kissed him, but took ahold of his hands, bringing them up to the bar, again.

Harry grinned as he stared into Draco's eyes. His chest and stomach were opened up, his dick ready and erect. He nodded, just in case Draco was waiting for his permission. His boyfriend smirked and wandlessly summoned the handcuffs. He wrapped them around Harry's wrists, securing him to the headboard. Then he murmured a few other spells under his breath. Harry felt the cuffs soften and fit snuggly around his wrists.

"There, no more pain from those. I put few Cushioning Charms on them," Draco said, as he towered over Harry.

"Thanks," Harry said, staring up at him. The anticipation was building.

"I wouldn't want to hurt such... delicate... skin," Draco said, leaning down to kiss Harry's chest.

"I think you have delicate skin between the two of us," Harry muttered, with a smirk.

"Do you think it's wise to taunt me, when I have you like this?" Draco growled seductively, as one finger traced around his nipple.

Harry shivered under his tone. "No... it's not. Sorry, princess."

"You are reckless and brave, Gryffindor. Let's see if I can get you to play along and hold that tongue of yours," Draco breathed into his ear.

Draco's fingers just barely brushed his skin as they ran across his chest, slowly torturing him between the tickles and his raging hard-on. Draco didn't touch him anywhere else, just tormented him with his feather-touches. Harry tried in vain to connect his throbbing member to something, but Draco moved out of the way every time. Harry could only settle for thrusting his hips up and down on the mattress without any friction on his dick. He nearly cried when Draco leaned in and started to roughly suck his nipples.

"Draco... please...."

"Oh... louder than that Harry. You really need to beg for me to do anything...."

"Please! Draco! Please... I need to come!" Harry whined, not caring at all that he was placating to Draco's ego. He loved it when Draco was like this.

Draco didn't grant him a reprieve. He continued to punish Harry's skin as his hands slowly made their way to Harry's member.

"Please Draco!" Harry rasped, pulling as hard as he could on the handcuffs. He nearly screamed as the pressure reaching a boiling point in his groin. He thrusted up and made the briefest contact with Draco's hand, and Draco lifted up off him.

"Stop moving," he ordered.

Harry tried to stop, but he was panting so hard. "Draco...."

"Look at your chest... tsk tsk... who's got delicate skin, now?" Draco said, smirking.

"Me... please... I need to come," Harry pleaded.

"Well... you did ask nicely."

Draco pulled off his robes and shirt and sat down to wiggle out of his trousers. If Harry hadn't been so close to exploding, he might have laughed, but he needed release. Watching Draco crawl back toward him, now naked, only made it hurt more. As Draco settled in front of Harry, Harry bent his knees and opened them. He was ready to take that next step. He wanted to wrap his legs around Draco's waist and pull him in, but it was Draco's decision. He would never take that step from him.

Draco was smiling down at his captive prey, though, also fully erect. Draco's hand felt his chest, again. Going up and down, almost tauntingly Harry's cock. But Draco, wrapped his other hand around his own shaft, pulling himself off.

"Please..." Harry whined, wanting so desperately to feel Draco's hand around his prick. But watching Draco wank, was sending him over the edge.

Draco seemed to realize it and removed his hand from Harry's chest and cupped his face, gently. "Hold it back, Harry."

Harry swallowed. He'd never really had to stop an ejaculation in progress, but he tightened up as best he could and tried to avoid looking at Draco's other hand, as Draco continued to play with himself.

"Good boy... now what did you learn?"

Harry, sensing that Draco would let him come if he got this right, said, "Not to taunt you when I'm tied up."

"True... what else?"

"Make sure you are properly congratulated after your matches," Harry whispered, staring up at him hopefully.

Draco smiled. "Ready?"

"Please!" Harry begged, almost in tears.

"Well, I wouldn't want to leave you here, so wound up," Draco said and leaned over him.

Draco's knees spread Harry's legs a little further open and Draco's prick rubbed against his. Harry almost came at that second, but Draco told him to wait. Draco planted one arm on the bed next to Harry's shoulder and then roughly kissed his mouth, his hard cock pressing against his.

"Do you want to come?" Draco whispered through the kisses.

"Yes! Please!"

Draco kissed him one more time and then wrapped his hand around both their cocks, rubbing and squeezing as he gently gyrated. Harry screamed out his name when he finally let it go, as did Draco, who collapsed onto his chest, sated.

"Thank you," Harry breathed, kissing the top of Draco's head.

"No problem, Harry. You needed some stress relief."

"Are you going to let me out?"

"Maybe... I like seeing you... tied up," Draco said and Harry rolled his eyes.

"We do need to eat," Harry tried.

"We can go to the kitchen later," Draco said, exhaustedly.

"I haven't seen Kreacher in a whi-"

But Harry was interrupted with a loud pop! "Harry! Kreacher is here!" the old elf announced.

Draco tried to scramble up, but couldn't as his body was the only thing covering up their pricks. He just covered his face by burying it into Harry's stomach and mumbled out a few swear words.

"Harry! You'se is tied up?" Kreacher asked.

"Yeah...."

"And Harry and Harry's Draco are naked!" he said with wide eyes.

"Yeah... we were playing around," Harry said and Draco sighed into his skin.

"Playing around naked?" the elf stated and Harry didn't know if he was taking the mickey out of them or what.

"Yes... sorry I didn't mean to call you. I was just saying that I hadn't seen you in a while and we were going to come down to the kitchen since we missed dinner."

"Harry missed dinner! Kr-I will get Harry and Harry's Draco food!" the elf said and disappeared.

"You just had to say his name, didn't you?" Draco huffed, looking at him, with a red face.

"Maybe we should get more presentable?" Harry suggested.

"Do you know how fast house elves are?" Draco said, incredulously, and as if to prove his point, Kreacher arrived with a whole platter of food.

"Dinner is ready! Harry needs to eat. Harry is too skinny."

"Well, he has a point," Draco mumbled.

"Thank you, Kreacher. I'll stop by tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay! Kre-I am happy! I will see Harry tomorrow! Have fun playing around naked!" Kreacher said and Apparated away.

"He definitely knew. He's probably telling all the other house elves, now," Draco huffed.

"It was better than Blaise and the others popping in on us, again," Harry huffed.

"Blaise thoroughly enjoyed it," Draco said. "Are you okay with what happened yesterday? Blaise wasn't trying to fuck with you on things like that."

"I was just embarrassed."

"Well... don't. We don't have to hide our emotions here, Harry. We can cry and need hugs. We are all we have," Draco said, his head still resting on his stomach.

"You really saved him, huh?"

"No... I didn't. I picked up the pieces. It took him years to heal from it and he still isn't right."

"None of us are. I don't like that I yelled at Hermione. She's just worried about me and is going through so much right, now."

"I know. We're going to get through this, though. One step at a time."

"Yeah, right. With those SAD fucks, it's hard to get over any of it."

"Well... I don't care about them, anymore," Draco said, smugly.

"Why?"

"They can't hurt me."

"Yeah, they've been stepping up their attacks. Just wait until the time that Blaise catches them. They'll be hurting."

"Probably... but he's restrained himself. He doesn't want to get fired. He wants to stay here... with Neville after we graduate."

"He's found his calling. Merlin's nob... I'm facing him on Tuesday. I'm getting nervous. Any tips?"

"And give you the advantage?" Draco said, lifting up his head to stare at Harry.

"He knows some powerful spells," Harry pointed out.

"So, did Voldemort."

"Yeah, but we aren't trying to kill each other."

Draco grimaced. "Don't let Blaise hit you?"

Harry's forehead furrowed. That information didn't really help. "Thanks. You want to eat dinner, before it gets cold?"

Draco gave him a smile. "I think I'll feed you bite-after-bite... after I get some dinner of my own." Harry was surprised when Draco sucked on his skin as he worked his way down his chest. Harry had to hold in another scream as Draco took in his length into his mouth.

***

Blaise was pacing in the common room, annoyed at being locked out of his own dorm for two hours. The two morons were in there messing around or sleeping, now. Theo and Daphne had opted to go stay up in her room, instead of waiting, as she still wasn't feeling well. Neville was doing his potions homework... or their potions homework. Blaise had no time or desire to write a book on each step of the Polyjuice Potion.

The portrait hole opened and Blaise saw that Fawley had come up. He gave him a look and then looked at Neville, who took the hint. "I'll go finish this in my room and maybe try talking some sense into Ron, the hairy wonder."

As soon as Neville went into his room, Fawley put the Privacy Charms up. "Blaise... I need you to lift the curse."

Blaise couldn't help but snort. He knew it was coming, judging on his behavior over the last week. He thought Fawley understood it the first time he brought it up. "No."

"Blaise..." he began, exasperated.

"No, damnit. I won't let him go. I don't care that you're fucking him."

"It's not that. Blaise, he's in pain. He can't sleep anymore with that curse on, Blaise. He fucking needs sleep."

"And you're here to beg for him? How hard is it for him to say that he's sorry?" Blaise scoffed.

Fawley's shoulders dropped. "He won't do it. Don't you think I've tried?"

"That's because he's not sorry. He just wants to get you to do it."

"No, that's not. He's never asked me to do anything!"

"He's playing you," Blaise growled.

Fawley threw up his hands. "I'm smart enough to know the difference, Blaise! He doesn't sleep! He's now addicted to Asher's potions. He doesn't talk anymore!"

Blaise looked at him, but didn't say anything.

"Now, I'm getting messed up because I have to stay up with him, too!"

"That is your choice! It's his curse. Who asked you to help him deal with it?"

"You did, Blaise!"

Blaise stared at him, realizing he walked into that one. He sighed.

"Blaise... he's hallucinating, now... from lack of sleep. He watches things that aren't there, jumps at random fucking times. He's fucking scratched his arm open with his own nails as he stares off at nothing. He doesn't eat... he's lost over 25 pounds! People need sleep to survive! Show some mercy, Blaise, please!" he begged, desperately.

Blaise was starting to feel guilt turning in his stomach. He knew that that particular curse was ruthless. No one ever beat it. It broke everyone. But how hard was it to apologize? Zach didn't even have to do it publicly. Blaise leveled with Fawley. "I don't see that it my problem. It's three words, Keith. Two with the contraction."

"He's beyond reason at this point. I bring it up and mumbles the same two words. "I can't". There's no reasoning with him. He's so scared and can't stopped crying. He's broken, Blaise. You got your revenge! Or do you want to drive him insane?"

Blaise gave him an incredulous look.

"He's wrecked. You probably already sent Corner to therapy for the rest of his life... do you have to destroy Zach for your revenge? When is enough enough?"

"Once I lift the curse, I can't curse him again. McGonagall won't let me... if he is faking it."

"He's not faking it!" Fawley shouted, agitated. "And he's not going to fuck with you or your friends ever, again! But he will die if you leave it on him any longer. I had to summon a house elf to watch him while I came here! He couldn't feel it when he clawed through his skin. He's going to hurt himself, maybe off himself, Blaise. Let-it-go."

"I can't just... let it go! If it was just me... I would, Fawley, but he hurt Draco and Theo. He brought this on himself. He has to deal with it."

Fawley stared at him, dumbstruck. He lowered his voice and spoke clearly, "Blaise... we are friends and I know what he did to you... but if you don't lift it... we won't be friends anymore."

Blaise squared his shoulders, recognizing how serious he was. Fawley didn't really owe him any due... not officially. But Fawley had more than earned his trust. Blaise knew Fawley would have protected him until his dying breath. Blaise didn't want to lose his friend, but what he was asking was something that he simply would not do. He dropped his head, refusing to break for an asshole like Smith. He couldn't just get away with what he did. He couldn't let it go.

"Fine. If I don't mean anything to you... I'll try to break the curse, myself."

"You won't. You're not that good, Keith," he whispered

"Fuck you, Zabini," Fawley growled.

"Fawley..." Blaise began.

"No... this is it, Blaise. Your choice... your friend or your revenge?"

Blaise was shaking. He'd promised himself he'd never lift it. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

"You really are your mother's son," Fawley sneered, angrier than Blaise had ever seen. "We are done. Don't even think of asking me for a favor."

Blaise lowered his head. The guilt was really burning, now.

Fawley turned back. "One last thing... if Zach dies...."

Blaise looked at him and he was in earnest.

"...I'm coming after you with everything, Blaise."

Blaise felt a chill with that. It was no idle threat. Fawley was completely in love with the prick and he would avenge him until the bitter end. Fawley turned and started walking. Blaise couldn't leave it like that. Fawley was a good friend and didn't deserve to be in the middle of this.

"Keith, wait!"

"Stop calling me that!" he roared.

"Sorry! But... how about a compromise?" Blaise said, hurriedly.

"Compromise?" he scoffed, but light had returned to his eyes. He didn't like leaving this where it was any more than Blaise did.

"Yeah... I can't just... let it go and release him... but I'll give you the ability to release him from it... temporarily."

"Umm... temporarily?" he asked, skeptically.

"Yeah. You say that you can't convince him because he's lost his gobstones. Well okay, fine. You can release him from the curse for twelve hours at a time... plenty of time to sleep... go to class... recover. You can do it whenever you want. He's your responsibility, now. To rehabilitate or to punish or whatever. I give him to you. If you're vouching for his... change in behavior... now you can prove it. The curse will still be there, but he can sleep and, as soon as he apologizes, I'll release him from it completely. How's that? Will it be... sufficient?" Blaise said, looking at Fawley, with a hopeful expression.

Fawley took a deep breath, considering, and nodded. Blaise told him to wait and went up to his room. He broke through the wards on the door and enjoyed the yelp and scramble of the two idiots when he entered. He went to his trunk with an Undetectable Expansion Charm on it and in a section he locked. He wanted to make sure that Zach remembered that he was under a curse at all times and that this was not something that Zach would choose over doing the right thing. He pulled out a stiff metal ring and stepped out into the hallway to avoid questions.

It took ten minutes to layer the spells correctly. Twelve-hour limits, both restricting and allowing proper body function and limits on who can touch it. Zach wouldn't be able to touch it, only Fawley. It would definitely remind Zach that he only had this much, because of Fawley's mercy. It'd be perfect. Blaise would have to be a backup, of course, but he'd probably release him, before he willingly touched Zach's member. He went down the stairs and handed it to Fawley.

"A cock ring?" Fawley asked, dubiously.

"Yeah. It'll work for twelve hours. You will have to put it on and take it off," he explained, as Fawley took it out of his hand.

"You can't leave these things on longer than a few hours, Blaise," Fawley said, cautiously.

"I fixed that. It'll allow enough blood to flow in and out, but he won't get an erection with it. He also can't take it off, either. It will start acting like a normal ring after the twelve hours are up... and damage will occur if it is not removed."

Fawley still wasn't sure about this. "What if something comes up?"

"He'll have to come to me, which is the point. If he apologizes, then none of this will matter anymore. I can't just pretend what he did was alright. I can't just... let it go."

"You're putting all this on me, then?"

"You're the one here begging for the bastard. It's a compromise. You said it was about sleep... here it is. Sleep. Twelve hours' worth even. You can slip it on and off to restart the clock, too. You asked for mercy... this is as much as I am willing to give. With it, he should stop going crazy, you guys can talk and maybe he'll give me the apology that I deserve. And if he keeps being an asshole, just let him suffer without it."

"You are giving me a lot of power over him, Blaise."

Blaise grimaced. "I am. I'm doing this for you... not for him. I don't want him to ever think that he got away with it. This should remind him of that. I'm sure that you won't abuse him with it, will you?"

"No. Much anyway."

"He can be free anytime he wants. He's yours, as you told me. So... as long as he is yours, he gets this deal and no other."

Fawley held the ring in his hand and looked at him. He nodded. "Thank you, but... you can't tell anyone about this. Not Draco. Not no one," he growled, staring at him. "He gets enough shit without people knowing about this, too."

"As you wish, though I will tell Neville, if he asks. I won't lie to him. But Fawley, I do value our friendship. It means a lot to me. I wouldn't have removed it even if Draco, Theo or Neville asked me to. I probably wouldn't have even done this much. But I don't want you to lose someone you care about. You like him... I can see that. I hope it works out for you, Fawley."

"I do, too."

"Am I forgiven?" Blaise asked, giving him a smirk.

Fawley managed a smile. "We'll see. If I get him talking, again, I might be inclined to give it. But I do have to ask, did you know that it was going to fuck him up this bad?"

"Not exactly. I knew it would break him, but most people that had this curse put on them don't take endless amounts of Stimulant Potions and stay awake the whole time. They agree to terms. I don't know why Smith's being so stubborn. It's not that big of a request. If he's willing to bend over for you... why can't he kneel to me?"

Fawley glared at the bend over comment, but let it go. "He's been traumatized, Blaise. His dormmates, his father... they all wanted to see him suffer. He's never had friends before."

"Neither did I before Draco and Theo. Neither did you... before me."

Fawley straightened up and nodded. He had been so overbearing and always stuck in a book. He was worse than Hermione, but Blaise fixed that. Fawley spent the last two years becoming more vocal and well-versed in sexual relations. More confident in speaking out in a crowd.

"Yeah... I'll see you, Blaise," Fawley said. "Thank you... for this, though I am still a little mad. He better get better."

"I'm sorry I won't do more."

"You're just as stubborn as him, Blaise."

"I'm more stubborn."

"No, you aren't. You gave me this, didn't you?" Fawley said and held out the ring. "But now I need to go use this and force a sleeping potion down his throat."

"Good luck."

Fawley walked out and Blaise was alone. He thought about going to get Neville and about the compromising position is just saw the Chosen One in, but went over to the fire. Ron was working with SAD. Dean confirmed it. They were going after Draco with all force in the next few days. Dean didn't have any idea though. Blaise wished that he could curse every one of them... but he couldn't. He promised the headmistress that he wouldn't do that anymore.

Suddenly, Tracey and Malcolm came in and quickly went up the steps. Her skin condition had spread down to her arms, now. Green, flakey skin. She had gone to St. Mungo's three times already and they hadn't found a way to counter it. Blaise smirked. Knowing his mother, it was linked to current malicious endeavors. That was when he saw it spread more. For every evil deed and word, the curse took more of her. She had better be careful... because there was no reversing it.

He wondering if she fucked Malcolm without her clothes on, or maybe they were just sharing intel. Blaise took out the note that Harper gave him last Sunday. Harper and Pansy broke into Tracey's room to figure out where they were getting their information. He didn't really expect them to find anything important, but one word was written on the paper that he held over the flames, ruminating over it. He hadn't told anyone about it, yet, afraid of the reaction. He let it go and it floated down to coals. He read the letters one last time as the paper blackened and curled inward.

One word that solved so many questions, but opened so many more doors. Goyle.

Sorry for the wait! I got distracted by Harvest Moon and been playing that nonstop for the last month. I'm sure I'll get sick of it soon... or beat it. Ha... beat it. There's no beating it. But I'll keep it A/N short for once. 

But the summary is Draco and Harry are almost there, winky smirk face! SAD is about to get trapped... and our heroes will have to finally get the counseling they really need. TTFN!