Harry carried an unconscious Draco Malfoy towards his room.
"What are you doing boy?" Uncle Vernon roared.
"He is unconscious and bleeding. Death-eaters ummm some bad people are after him. I just can't leave him there." Harry granted as he heaved dead weight of Draco over the stairs.
"Listen boy! This is my house and I do not want another of you in here. I don't care what happens to him."
Something sharp like guilt pierced Harry's soul. Did not he behave just like that earlier? And Vernon does not even know Malfoy but Harry studied with him for last six years.
"You have to deal with it uncle. I will not leave him." Harry answered determinedly.
"What you little ungrateful brat.."
"It is for better Vernon" aunt Petunia interfered "What if neighbours see the boy and call police. You know how scandalous that will be?"
Harry fumed inwardly. Even if a man was on the verge of death, his aunt was only thinking about their reputation. But this comment stopped Vernon from protesting further and Harry dragged Draco through stairs and deposited him on his bed. In the bright light of his room Malfoy was looking more pale and feverish, his wounds striking out over his pallid feature.
'What are you upto Malfoy? What's been done to you?' Harry thought inwardly.
As he moved away from Malfoy one bloodied hand caught his as Draco murmured
"Please! Don't leave me alone!"
"Draco?" Harry sat beside the bed on the floor "What happened?"But Draco was still unconscious. He murmured through his unconsciousness
"Mother! Please do not hurt my mother. Please! Do whatever with me. Leave them alone. Stop!" he cried and moaned in his sleep.
"Malfoy!" Harry tried again. He got startled as he heard knock on their door for the second time and Uncle Vernon's loud cursing which stopped almost immediately. He climbed down the stairs and found Arthur and Moody on the ground floor. His uncle, aunt and cousin were standing at the furthest corner from them eying Mad eye in utter fear.
"Arthur! Alastor!" Harry was surprised.
"Constant Vigilance Harry!" Mad eye barked. You did not ask about our identity.
"Sorry!" Harry flushed.
"What's the bloody Malfoy boy doing here Harry?" Mad eye's prosthetic eye rolled towards the ceiling towards Harry's room.
"Harry! Arabella informed us about werewolf howl in this area and also presence of Mr. Malfoy. We came here to found two werewolves were running in this area. Thank Merlin! Nobody was hurt."
"Where is your wand Harry? Why are you not armed in these dangerous days?" Moody asked.
"I.. my wand is locked away along with my trunk in the cupboard" Harry winced.
"What nonsense!" Moody snarled as he opened the cupboard door and all the locks on the trunk opened with one swift wand movement. Harry inwardly grinned as he put his wand back to his pant pocket. Vernon's face was grim and determined as he retrieved some courage and spoke out
"I do not want your hocus-pocus beat of wood in my house and neither have I wanted another of you living under my roof."
This turned the conversation back towards Malfoy.
"What is he doing here Harry? Did he try to curse you? Did he bring those Weres?" Mr. Weasley asked as Alastor climbed the stairs.
"I'll kill the boy! After everything how dare he.."
"Please Alastor! He is hurt and unconscious. Death eaters are after him." Harry pleaded barricading the door before Moody and Arthur broke into his room.
"What?"Mr. Weasley exclaimed.
"He came here badly hurt. He asked for sanctuary. It seems Malfoys lost their favour from Dark lord. The werewolves are after him probably. He lost consciousness soon after." Harry tried to explain.
"This could be a trick. A great plot to sabotage you." Alastor protested.
"But any wizard with evil intention towards Harry cannot find this house." Arthur bit back.
"But after bringing death eaters on the Hogwarts and killing Dumbledore he proved his loyalty!" Moody barged on the room.
"But he did not kill Dumbledore. He was in distress for the whole year. He even wanted to take help from Dumbldore and lowered his wand" Harry came between Moody's wand and Draco.
Then they heard the shuddering breath of Malfoy. He was almost convulsing trying to breath.
"I am calling Pomfrey" Arthur burst out the room.
Harry tried to soothe Malfoy. Somehow when trying to argue for Draco and saying facts about Dumbledore's murder made Harry realize that Draco did not want to kill the head master. He was also a victim.
"I want to interrogate him under veritaserum." Moody sighed.
Pomfrey came along with Arthur. She ran a diagnosis spell soon after entering. Her face became pale. She muttered some quick spell on Draco and the breathing became easier.
"I need someone to assist me." Poppy said.
Mr. Weasley became flustered and Mad eye grunted with revulsion.
"I'll assist you madam Pomfrey." Harry volunteered.
"But Mr. Potter you are so young and his injuries are severe. I do not want a young mind like you witness such horror!"
"I'll assist you Pomfrey" Mr. Weasley said but Harry countered it "Madam Pomfrey! I am not just a young boy. I am Harry Potter. People believe I'll be their saviour and will win against Lord Voldemort" everybody winced at the name, "I am going to face a lot of horror in the future and may be witnessing it first hand will prepare me to face it finally."
"He is right Pomfrey!" Moody agreed.
"Ok Harry! If you must" Pomfrey agreed at last.
"We'll be down in the living room" Arthur said as he and Moody descended down.
"Please help me undress him. I need to see his injuries." Pomfrey commanded on her most professional no nonsense voice.
Harry was flustered to see Malfoy naked but he was horrified to see his injuries. All most all his body was covered in bruises and bloodied.
Poppy healed Draco's head first, then his broken ribs which was the main reason for his trouble breathing, then his broken hand. She tried to heal as much bruises as she could. Harry gasped as he helped Draco turn over. So severe was his injuries and rape. Harry could not even look at his opening without vomiting.
"He needs to be clean before any treatment or we'll risk infection." Pomfrey said.
With Harry's help they took Draco to the bathroom and conjured a bath for him. Pomfrey slowly but thoroughly cleansed him. When they laid a still unconscious Malfoy to Harry's bed Poppy closed his wounds and applied salve. She applied another ointment on his ribs, head, left hand and other bruises. Then she summoned a blanket and covered him.
"This will do for the moment." She told "but when he wakes up feed him these potions" she handed Harry three vials "and administer them twice daily after that. Also apply these salves on his wound twice. He will be on liquid diet for three days." She handed another potion "this will supplement food. Give him enough liquid." Poppy instructed.
Harry followed Pomfrey as she left Harry's room. As soon as they came to drawing room Arthur and Moody approached.
"I want an explanation right now!" Moody growled.
"Well! I already said he came here for sanctuary as he was hunted down by deatheaters. Before he could tell anymore he collapsed." Harry told again.
"And Pomfrey? How is he?" Arthur asked.
Madam Pomfrey's face was grim but determined.
"He is gravely injured. He was tortured by cruciatus for a long time. His nerves suffer a great damage due to it. He had concussion, his ribs and left hand broken. He was beaten and raped brutally by more than one person."
Arthur became pale hearing it.
"This must be a trick" Moody was still determined.
"I do not think he faked it. I did not find any masochistic tendencies on Mr. Malfoy during last six years." She defended Malfoy.
Moody nodded finally and then said "I still want a veriteserum confession from him. When is he going to wake up?" he asked.
"He needs rest. I hope he'll gain consciousness by tomorrow afternoon." Madam Pomfrey said.
"We'll be here by tomorrow evening," Moody said "Will you have any problem looking after him Harry or we can carry him to other places."
"I will advise against his moving from here. It'll cause him more harm." Pomfrey said.
"I'll look after him Alastor." Harry said finally.
"We talked to your muggle relatives Harry and they promised they will not bother you until Draco heals." Arthur said.
As he said that Harry realized they are not at their living room.
"Where are they?" He asked curious.
"Well! They went to dinner at some big hotel for the night. Do not worry. They'll be back in the morning." Arthur's eyes were mischievous like George and Fred.
Soon they left and Harry sat beside Draco holding his hand as he tried to soothe him from his nightmares.