Harry woke up slowly. He felt his limbs heavy against the sheets. The bed was surprisingly comfortable. The sun was coming through the curtains. "Oh, good you're awake." He heard a female voice say. Harry knew that voice. That voice saved his life. "I suppose you have questions. Don't worry we will get to that. But first you should eat and drink." Narcissa said sitting the tray down on the bed next to Harry. Harry opened his mouth to speak but realized how hungry he was. He felt as if he hadn't ate in months.
Narcissa sat on the edge of the bed near Harry. "It took you awhile to wake up. I told my son that your magic was healing you because of how much you were drained during the final battle with Voldemort. Your magic put you in a coma to heal." Narcissa said. Harry was now eating a sandwich. Something that looked like turkey meat and cheese. He was surprised. But he finished it quickly and downed something that taste like lemonade. He briefly wondered where the pumpkin juice was.
"Why am I here?" Harry asked. His voice was scratchy despite the drink. Narcissa sighed. "You're here because contrary to what everyone thinks my son does have a heart." Harry snorted but didn't speak. He looked around the room. He imagined this was probably a guest room. It was swathed in shades of green. The comforter was a beautiful emerald green.
"What do you remember last Potter?" Narcissa asked. This time she stood up. Harry noticed that she hobbled a little in her stance. "I remember beating Voldemort. Then I walked around for a bit with Ron and Hermione before going to the infirmary to see if Madame Pomfrey needed any help. When I got to the infirmary I remember someone shouting my name but I passed out and now I'm here." Harry said. Narcissa nodded along with his story.
"We made it back here to the manor when we felt him die. It was as if a weight had been lifted in that moment. Lucius however couldn't believe the man he kneeled to could be defeated by a child, he said. You are far from a child." Narcissa said looking over at Harry. She was now standing in front of the window looking out on the lawn. "It wasn't until the morning that we noticed something major had happened. I know that Draco cried himself to sleep that night. I slept holding him in my arms, I know how close I came to losing him because of his father and that man but we expected Aurors at our door. To hold us accountable for what happened during the war but we never expected…" Narcissa's voice traveled off. She was watching her son take down an undead that got too close to the fence outside.
"Mrs. Malfoy?" Harry asked. She looked over at Harry after she made sure Draco was OK. "We woke up and found that we no longer had magic. At first I thought it was punishment but Lucius went to visit the neighbors when we realized the floo system didn't work nor could we fly broomsticks. When he came back he said that no one had magic and that he had been attacked. At first, he said inferi attacked him but inferi are controlled by dark wizards. With no magic, there is no one to control the inferi so Draco started calling them undead." Narcissa looked back at Harry. Harry was now a lovely shade of white.
"I know this is a lot to take in." Narcissa said. "Mother, he just woke up. Give him a break." Draco said. Draco wiped his hands on a towel and sat it on the back of a chair. His mother walked over and hugged him. "I saw." She said. Draco rolled his eyes. "I had to deal with that. I don't like when they get that close." Draco said. Narcissa nodded. "I'll leave you two alone." Narcissa said. Draco nodded and watched as his mother moved slowly out of the room.
"How do I know this isn't a lie?" Harry asked. Draco scoffed. "Have you tried doing magic? Mother said that since magic healed you that you might still have some to use." Draco asked. "I don't have a wand and didn't really learn nonverbal spells." Harry said. "But I don't feel my magic anymore. I thought it was just a side effect of being out as long as I was." Draco shook his head. "Unfortunately, not and please tell me why in the bloody hell would I want to go without magic? Why I would let my mother limp around with an injury that she has had for seven months? Please tell me why anyone would ask for any of this?" Draco asked. "You killed that sonofabitch and then it's like all hell broke loose all over again. Radio says that Voldemort cast a curse that when he died all magic would be lost. And as a kicker the dead would come back alive to kill those who fought against him. So, in the end he won." Draco said. Harry was surprised to hear him sound so defeated.
Harry let out a sigh and wiped his eyes. "How long was I out?" "Nearly seven months." Draco said. Harry shook his head. "Everyone I cared about?" Harry asked. His eyes watering. "I can't say. I've only been in contact with Longbottom. He manages to get in touch the last Friday of the month. The manor is the halfway point between Diagon Row and Gryffindor's Crest. That is where they have set up a rather large base of operations. I imagine if your friends made it, they would be there." Draco said.
"I want to go there. Immediately." Harry said. Draco laughed. "Just a little problem." He said walking over to the window. He opened the curtains far enough for Harry to see out. A foot of snow coated the ground. "It's early November." Draco said. "No traveling anywhere during the winter."
"You can say what you want but I will leave this bed and head to see my friends." Harry said vehemently. Draco sighed. He walked over to the side of the bed and practically moved into Harry's space. "Listen, I understand that you want to play a stubborn arsehole. But you just woke up to this. I've been dealing with it for almost 7 months. Not only that but your legs have no doubt atrophied from lack of use. Now I didn't drag your arse all the way from Hogwarts castle to here just so you can run back out there to be eating by a goddamn undead. You will stay here at least until spring. I'll accompany you myself then. We will need to restock on supplies. We will already be pushing it as it since I wasn't planning on a fourth mouth to feed. So shut up and be grateful for once instead of being a stubborn pigheaded Gryffindor." Draco huffed out his annoyance. Harry hesitated but nodded. He wasn't really sure what to say. He wasn't used to Draco caring. And he had a good point. His legs barely moved.
"Can I get a shower?" He asked. Draco cracked a grin at him. "You do smell." Draco added. "I was wondering how long it would be until you insulted me." Harry said. "Not an insult. Just an observation." Draco said. "I've got to help father with the goats then I'll be back to help you into the bath." He disappeared before Harry could say anything back. Harry closed his eyes. Wondering if this was a dream. If it was it was on its way to be the most bizarre dream he ever had.
"Time for a bath." Narcissa said as she entered Harry's room. Harry had fallen asleep again. She laid the clothes of Draco's she picked out for Harry to wear. First she would help him shave. She wondered if he ever did that without magic. She has had to learn to do a lot of new things lately. She sat up the wash basin and shook Harry awake. He nodded at her. "I thought Draco was going to help?" "He got held up with the livestock. He said he was sorry. He didn't want you to be embarrassed about having his mum do it." Narcissa said with a smile. She was nearly finished shaving his face. "Next time you should be able to do this." Harry nodded. He enjoyed feeling the smoothness of the skin.
"Now you'll have to use the crutches that I had to use to make it to the bathroom. The water is there waiting." Narcissa held the crutches out for Harry. She was glad she didn't need them anymore. Breaking her ankle wasn't the worst part, it was healing without medical or magical help. Draco did his best to help. Harry almost fell twice but made it to the bathroom. The tub was full of lukewarm water. "It will be cold, my tip is to make it quick and hit all the important spots." Narcissa said. She laid a towel out and soap and shampoo. Harry let out an uncomfortable cough. "Alright, I'll step out while you get in." Harry thanked her.
Once she was out of the bathroom he took off what was left of his shirt. It must have been Draco's. It was in far too good condition. Then he pulled off his boxers which also must have been Draco's. He managed to slide into the water with little trouble but he gasped, not expecting it to feel that cold on his skin. Narcissa came back into the room and grabbed a small glass that she could use to pour water over Harry's head. Then she shampooed his head while he soaped the rest of himself. He already felt better. She grabbed the towel and began to dry his hair.
Harry stood up and Narcissa wrapped the towel around him. She dried his arms and his back then stepped out of the room while he dried the rest. "Forgot to tell you that we don't use the toilets we have to go outside. It's not far from the house. Also when you get better you'll be showering outside." Narcissa said. Harry nodded. "Thank you." Narcissa smiled. "Once you get dressed you should join us in the parlor. It's the only lit room in the house." Harry nodded. "I'll think about it."
"Harry, I know that there is a lot of bad blood between you and Draco and you and my husband, please try to look past that. I'm not apologizing for their behavior but when you lose the very thing you stand for it changes you as a person. And I think maybe if both you and Draco had looked passed your own prejudices back when you were children, I can't imagine where you two would be at today. I daresay happy. But what am I? I'm just a mother who wants the best for her child. And happiness takes all sorts of shapes and sizes." Harry was dressing while she was talking. But he listened to what she had to say. He knew that in his heart of hearts he was just as prejudice against Draco that first time they met. What if things had been different? After all Draco did save him. Why didn't anyone else save him. He saved all of their lives. Where were they? Why didn't they try to find him? Why did they give up? Harry shook his head. He pulled on a pair black pants that felt nice against his skin and a white t-shirt and a thick green sweater. At least he didn't feel too out of place.
Harry managed to walk to the parlor with the help of the crutches. He didn't enjoy being in the manor again after what happened the last time he was here. "Nice of you to finally join the living Potter." Lucius said. "Dear." Narcissa hissed at him. Lucius sighed. "Do you need help?" Lucius asked. Harry laughed. "Wouldn't want to trouble you any." Harry said. Thankfully Draco walked in the next moment. He walked over to the wood burning in the fireplace and held his hands there for a moment.
Harry felt the cold off of him as he walked by. He forced a shiver down. "Good to see you up Potter." Draco said. "Need help?" Draco asked. Harry shook his head no. Harry walked over to the chair by the window. "Might not want to sit there long. Always colder by the windows." Draco warned. Harry nodded. "I just wanted to have a look outside." Draco sat down with his mother and began playing chess. Lucius was reading a rather large book.
Harry looked at the pale expanse of a yard outside the manor. The sky was grey. Harry wouldn't be surprised if the forecast called for more snow. He suddenly felt more hopeless. He doesn't know when he fell asleep but he remembers being carried. He remembers the smell of aftershave. He remembers the feel of strong arms placing him safely in bed. He remembers the nightmares.