Warnings: mentions of male/male action, swearing
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
thoughts = italics
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Chapter 2
A few hours later the train slowed to a stop in the village. He pulled his robes tighter around himself and climbed off the train. By the end of the train ride, Harry's headache had evolved into a severe migraine. As entered the swarm of students on the platform he winced at the noise. He was ready to drop from the sheer amount of noise and people bustling around him. He pushed his way through the crowd as he headed to where the coaches were located. He was sure his friends had already departed as they had been on the end of the train near the coaches.
As he emerged from the crowd and stood close to a coach, he froze at the sight of the creatures in front of the wagons. He looked around, trying to see if anyone else reacted to them and saw Luna waving at them. He shook his head after another glance in her direction and went on in search of an empty coach. After several minutes his search ended as he found an empty one near the end. He climbed inside, pulled his hood forward and laid his head back in an attempt to relax the stampede in his head.
A few minutes later the coach door opened and several students piled inside and sat down. Harry shifted his face away from them. He didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment and hoped the others would leave him alone for the rest of the ride. He hoped they didn't talk too loud either.
"Did you see that half-blood hanging all over the Weasel like that? Disgusting," the aristocratic voice of Draco Malfoy drawled as soon as the door closed.
Gagging noises sounded from another occupant and the deep voice of Blaise Zabini answered, "How could you not see them? They were basically flaunting it. At least we don't have to see them act like they don't like each other anymore. Although I still feel that gouging my eyes out is the best course of action right now."
"I wonder where Potter disappeared to. I didn't see him with the rest of the Golden trio like usual. Oh, maybe they had a fight over Granger? " Pansy Parkinson cried gleefully.
"You guys don't pay much attention to your surroundings do you?" Harry asked in an irritated voice as he turned to face them and pulled down his hood. It was only a matter of time before Hermione and Ron got together, but to hear something like this from other people?
"We pay plenty of attention to our surroundings. We just prefer not to care if it's not a professor around." Blaise stated as he shrugged.
"Potter? What happened to you? You're looking rather pale there." Draco asked as he ran a critical eye up and down Harry's body as his robe fell open to reveal his new clothes. He had to admit, he liked what he saw.
"I decided to change my appearance a bit. And as for being pale, I'm fine. Not that it's any of your business anyway Malfoy." Harry bit out. Another wave of dizziness struck and Harry started to inhale in deep breathes.
"What's wrong with you? Draco's right, you look right peaky. I'll hex you if you throw up in here," threatened Pansy as she inched away from the sickly pale boy.
"It's nothing. Just a little dizziness that's all." Harry clutched his head as his headache grew worse. He laid back against the seat trying to keep from vomiting.
It was quiet as the coach started to slow down in front of the castle. As soon as the coach stopped completely, the Slytherins piled out. Harry took one step down from the coach before he gave a moan and fell forward.
"Merlin!" Draco cried out in surprise as the Gryffindor started to tumble down the coach steps. Draco rushed to catch him before he hit the ground. He shook him for a moment, putting his hand over Harry's forehead. He sighed and turned to his worried friends.
"Blaise, Pansy go on ahead. I'll take him to the hospital wing." Draco said before positioning Harry bridal style in his arms. The boy felt light, his slender frame giving him a softer look. He sure had changed over the summer.
Cuter. Draco thought before shaking his head. Not the time for thoughts like that. He scolded himself and then took off toward the castle.
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Severus stood to the side at the entrance of Hogwarts as he oversaw that the older students didn't cause trouble. He spotted Blaise and Pansy go by without Draco. He raised an eyebrow at that since those three were like the Golden Trio, inseparable. The last few stranglers went in before he spotted Draco. Both Severus' eyebrows raised in surprise as he made his way toward Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy."
"He looked out of it and pale on the ride here and he just fainted as he descended the coach. I caught him before he hit the ground. I was taking him to the hospital wing." Draco said in answer to the implied question.
Severus nodded in reply before casting a diagnostic spell. His eyes narrowed slightly and he cast a different spell. He then cast a levitation spell on Harry.
"I will take him to the hospital wing. You go to the great hall. Take care of any new Slytherins. Make sure they do not embarrass the house."
Draco hesitated for a small moment, before he gave a minuscule nod and headed off toward the Great Hall.
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"Poppy, you have a patient. Mr. Malfoy apparently caught him when he fainted."
"My, a patient already? This must be a record." Madame Pomfrey said as she turned around to face Severus. "Mr. Potter? Well, set him down over there"
Severus did as she asked, setting Harry in a bed further down that Pomfrey had pointed toward. Pomfrey moved over so she could examine Harry. She cast a diagnostic spell and frowned, then cast a longer spell. Her frown deepened. She turned to Severus who gives her a minuscule nod.
"How odd," she muttered. "Please fetch the headmaster."
Severus left the ward with a backward glance.
Several minutes later Harry groggily opened his eyes. He knew that ceiling – it belonged to one of his least favorite places. He groaned. He felt disoriented and his head pounded fiercely at the moment. Well, at least I don't feel like throwing up anymore.
"How are you feeling Mr. Potter?" Harry turned to find Madame Pomfrey off to his right.
"Like my head wants to explode."
Poppy nodded before she moved toward her potions supplies. She returned with a small bottle of yellow liquid and passed it to him. "Here, drink this. It should help with that headache."
A foul smell reached Harry's nose as he uncorked the bottle. He pinched his nose closed and downed the liquid in one gulp. He made a face in disgust before he turned to the healer.
"What happened?"
"Mr. Malfoy says he caught you when you collapsed and then ran into Professor Snape on his way here. Can you tell me what happened? Have you felt this way before? And for how long Mr. Potter?" the medi-witch inquired.
Harry sighed and leaned back against his pillows again as he gathered his thoughts. "I've been getting dizzy and nauseas over the years, but it became worse near the beginning of summer. The headaches as well grew worse. I thought it had something to do with my scar, but I don't get visions or anything."
He paused in thought, "You said Malfoy tried to help me? Are you sure he didn't do anything to me?"
"Mr. Malfoy has been rather decent lately. So I'll believe him until I see otherwise. Now, try and relax a little. The headmaster should be here soon."
Harry just nodded as she hustled around the hospital and along the way gathered and checked various potions. He didn't think he'd be able to rest. He closed his eyes to drown out the light and wait for the headmaster and before he knew it, he fell asleep.
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Draco dabbed at his mouth with a napkin as he finished his meal. He gazed around the Great Hall and noticed many almost finished as well.
The hall doors flew open and Severus walked up to the head table. He talked quickly with the headmaster before Dumbledore nodded and stood. He took a few minutes to rehash the rules and then wished everyone a good night and year. Then Severus and Dumbledore strode toward the entrance. Before he left Severus met Draco's gaze and gave a slight nod.
A short while later Snape arrived back at the medical wing with Dumbledore.
"Now, what seems to be the problem Poppy?" the headmaster questioned as he walked closer to Harry's bedside.
"Albus I believe Harry has some kind of seal on him. The kind added years ago, maybe as a child. Only a blood relative or someone rather powerful could have put it on him. It's blocking his power and any inheritance he might get and needs to be opened. But it is so embedded that the process could be dangerous. Mr. Potter said he's been feeling nauseas and dizzy for some time and it worsened after last year."
"A seal? Are you sure Poppy?"
"I also sensed something restrained about his magic when I diagnosed him. How are we able to sense it now?" Severus added.
"It seems to have cracked. Considering all Mr. Potter has done over the years, I'm surprised it did not fracture sooner." Poppy stated.
"How odd," the headmaster mused as he stroked his beard. "I never thought Lily would do such a thing. She must have had a good reason I suppose. Now I guess we should consider ways to safely take the seal off."
Odd. I don't think Lily would ever do such a thing. Severus furrowed his brows furthur at the mention of removing the seal. There were very few safe and legal ways to take a seal off that Severus knew of since a sudden surge in someone's power whether they were prepared or not for it, could cause extreme pain or damage. Well we cannot decide much without Potter.
"Well, we cannot decide much else without Mr. Potter." Poppy said as if reading Severus' mind. She handed him a piece of parchment. "Severus, if you wouldn't mind brewing some more of these potions for me? I believe Mr. Potter will need them."
"I'll see if I can find some books for Harry to read that could help explain more about the seals," Dumbledore said and then turned to Severus. "Severus my boy, see if you have any family books that could be of service to us."
"I'll see what I can do for you Headmaster. Madame Pomfrey, I'll begin these potions immediately."
All three looked toward sleeping boy before Severus headed on his way.
