Chapter 10- Almost Better
Hermione woke to the sound of birds chirping in the windows. As she usually did every time she woke from sleeping, she checked to see what was missing. She could hear and see. Hermione shifted under the blankets and found she could feel as well. It seemed she was alright.
She looked over and saw Draco lying fully clothed next to her on top of the covers and wondered why he was there. Hermione moved over and rested her head on his chest comfortably. She was still sleepy, but not nearly as much as the past few days.
"Did I say you could use me as a pillow?" Draco murmured softly and Hermione let out a laugh.
"Fine, I'll leave." She went to pull away but he kept her there. "I didn't say that!" He scowled halfheartedly.
"Oh, by the way I have to go to the ministry today. I want to see my father. If someone wasn't discreet enough than whoever is hurting him could know that we're investigating."
Hermione nodded into his chest. "Can I go? I'd like to see him again before we marry."
Draco didn't answer for a long time and Hermione feared she'd overstepped.
"I would love that." He breathed and Hermione's heart soared. He was happy she wanted to see his father.
"Come on then time for showers. Call for a house elf if you need any help." Draco bent down to kiss her and Hermione left her eyes open watching the contentment wash over his face. He was so beautiful. He pulled away but Hermione reached for him again wanting another kiss. He obliged happily and told her to be ready to go in an hour.
Hermione didn't need any help and was ready in forty minutes, having spent most of the time drying her hair. Draco was talking with his mother when she made her way slowly down stairs.
"Hermione!" She looked up, startled and saw both of them starting at her in awe. Hermione looked down at herself searching for a clue. She saw nothing wrong with what she was wearing. It was just a simple green cotton shirt and a pair of muggle jeans.
"You look better than you have in weeks. So much better. The difference is so huge." Draco said and reached out for her. Hermione leaned into his touch, relishing in it. She felt better than she had in weeks as well. She remembered what that meant. For about two months she was get steadily better and then the symptoms would come back with a vengeance. She thought it was best not to tell them that last part.
"Well let's go then while I feel better." She smiled up at him and he grinned openly back at her. That look was alluring enough for her to reach up and kiss him softly, right in front of his mother. Draco smiled against her lips and she laughed.
"You go see your father and tell him I will be visiting soon." Draco's mother said softly. Draco told her he would and they apparated through the wards, after Hermione assured him it was okay.
Harry met them at Azkaban entrance since they were only allowed in with his security. "Mione! You look great!" She beamed at him as he led them down the dark halls.
Hermione held Draco's hand tightly, suddenly getting a little nervous. But she knew Draco wouldn't have let her come if he thought it was a bad idea.
Lucius was awake when they came in and was bleeding profusely from his nose. There was blood all over the room. Draco pulled out his wand and healed his father's nose before he realized they had entered the cell. Harry stayed outside in the hall even though he must have heard their little gasps when they first entered. Draco also cleared away all the blood and whatever else was there.
"Draco…I was fine….I've always gotten nose bleeds." He said feebly and sighed in resignation. He sank tenderly onto his meager bed.
"Miss Granger…it's nice to see you again." He murmured softly.
Hermione smiled brightly at him, "You too. I thought it would be nice to see you before we married if you couldn't be there."
Draco held her hand and just remained silent. Hermione knew he was holding his anger back and she admired that.
"Really? That's kind of you. You look very well; I suspect you are in a period of recovery?"
Hermione stiffened, "It seems so." She glanced over at Draco who was now staring down at her as well.
"What is he talking about Hermione?" She sighed and went into a quick explanation.
"You didn't think that was important to mention? Mother and I got our hopes up! We thought you were getting better!" Draco snapped angrily. Hermione looked away from his betrayed expression and to his father, who looked suddenly terrified.
"I didn't mean to say that! I really didn't mean to. I'm so sorry." He babbled seeming to frighten to remember that he was Lucius Malfoy and he didn't have to apologize for anything.
"It's okay, really. You couldn't have known." The fear didn't leave his eyes, though his poster relaxed slightly.
"I did plan on telling you Draco, I just thought it would be nice to have one day when you're not worried about me. I'd like to just enjoy our time together while I feel better. I'm sorry." Hermione said softly and Draco's scowl softened as he gazed at her.
"It's fine. So, father, tell me what's happened since I saw you last." Lucius seemed in a sort of trance and didn't appear to hear the question.
"Father? Hello?" Draco reached over to touch his father's shoulder but he recoiled violently from the touch and let out a terrified gasp.
"No!" He cried and Hermione felt a surge of anger. Nothing Lucius could have done in the war made him deserve this. The people doing this to him were no better than any other Death Eater!
"Father! It's just me, Draco. It's alright." Draco assured his father gently. It was a whole new experience for Draco, to be the one comforting his father. Their relationship had never been very affectionate even before Voldemort returned.
"Oh, of course. I-" Lucius struggled to keep himself calm but Hermione saw the conflict in his eyes. From the look on Draco's face it was clear he saw it too.
"Mother said she'll visit soon. She misses you terribly." Draco said stiffly, holding back his anger. What right did these people have to hurt and abuse his father this way? His father!
"That's so nice to hear. I look forward to her visit." Lucius sounded distant and his words were disjointed in such a way that he sounded mechanical. Hermione worried what would happen once they left. They were only allowed thirty minutes per visit. Their time was running out.
"Father, I really think you should tell me what's happened. It might help you to speak about it." Draco said finally into the silence. Hermione admired Draco's determination to help his Father.
"I could never speak of such things with you, Draco. Leave it alone." Lucius snapped angrily. Draco let the hurt and disappointment show on his face. Lucius didn't react to it or didn't allow himself to.
"Hermione could you give us a minute please?" Draco asked, his eyes never straying from his father face. Once Hermione had closed the door behind her Draco glared over at his father.
"Draco-
"No, let me speak. You took care of mother and me. You risked everything to protect us! You are my Father and I have no choice to sit back and watch as you waste away here. They are hurting you, abusing you and if the only help I can give is to listen, then that is what will happen. Let me protect you the best I can this time, Father. Let me help."
"It's the two male guards and one woman. I do not know their names, or what they look like. They always blind me with some spell the moment they come near. At first they were just beating me, but then they started to starve me. I am a strong man, but the constant ridicule got to me. I…begun to believe the things they said. It was stupid and I should have been stronger, more resilient. But after a while all the beatings became too much and I was…broken."
His father was crying silently across from him and it invoked a painful feeling in Draco's heart.
"That was when the…sexual abuse started. I no longer have the will to fight back. They take what they want and give nothing back." Lucius said and then seemed to realize what he had revealed.
"Oh, Draco you cannot tell anyone of this. They will do unspeakable things. Please!" Lucius begged him.
"Father, of course. It's okay I won't speak a word. They won't find out. I promise." Draco said calmly.
The door opened and a voice barked, "Time's up." The absolutely dread on his father's face assured him that this was one of the men hurting him.
"Coming. Mother will come see you soon, Father." Draco didn't wait for a reply but stepped out of the room and stared at the guard with what he hoped was a blank expression. Hermione smiled hesitantly at him and he planted a soft kiss on her lips.
"Let's go home." Draco whispered into her ear. Potter walked them back to the apparition point and bid them goodbye.
Harry walked back to Lucius Malfoy's cell and waited for five long minutes before ripping the door open and his eyes bulged out of his head when he saw what was happened. The male guard, the one he'd spent thirty minutes chatting with, was shoving his penis into Lucius Malfoy's unwilling body. Malfoy was silent as he stared into his own bed sheets. Sick and disturbing grunts were coming from the guards' mouth and he didn't seem to notice that someone had entered the cell. Harry raised his wand and stunned the man before he could it could turn into a fight. He slumped over Malfoy's body and Harry was horrified to see he was still inside the man.
"Mr. Malfoy. It's Harry Potter, are you alright?"
A soft and sad, "No.", came from his direction and Harry hesitated a bit before levitating the man out and away from Malfoy.
Malfoy immediately dressed himself and sat silently on his bed. Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly and sent a patronus to Kingsley. It was time for this all to be over.
A/N: I know it's been a long time. I feel awful about that. I have some personal stuff going on and couldnt find any inspiration to write this. I feel better now so I should start updating more often. I hope you guys liked this chapter.