Waringings: Language I suppose. . .
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. . .all belong to JK Rowling. . .
I appologize for the long delay, but school is really tearing me a new one. . .I haven't had much time to sit down at my laptop and write more than a few sentences. I have chapter 11 done too, but I'm going to wait a week or so before I post it. . .sorry to keep you waiting for so long, and I won't keep you waiting any longer for this. Here be The Beginning of Healing. . .
Chapter Ten: The Beginning of Healing
Harry woke up to the sound of a shower in the bathroom off of the bedroom he was in. He wondered who it was as he sat up, gasping a little at the pain a simple act still caused him. Suddenly, Pansy was in the doorway to the room. Harry gave her a puzzled look, not knowing why she was there.
"Draco asked me to listen for you," she supplied, seeing the unasked question in Harry's eyes. "Do you need anything?"
"No, not at the moment. Though, I don't suppose you could get me a book to read?" Harry inquired softly. Pansy nodded and went into the living room. She came back a few minutes later with a small pile of books in her arms. She laid them down on the bed next to Harry and lit the candles closest to the bed.
"Thanks," Harry said as he looked through the pile of books. He saw one that caught his interest. It was a wizarding romance novel. Not the usual witch falls for wizard romance novel either; it told the story of two wizards who'd fallen in love and were on opposite sides of a war for good and evil. Harry thought it was a little ironic.
"Ah, I thought you might like that one," Pansy said as she watched Harry read the caption for 'The Rose and the Thorn'. She had picked that one for a reason, it hit close to home. Though, Draco was on the side of the Light. Most of the Order had tried to get Draco to become a spy, but he had refused. They didn't actually leave him alone until Harry had screamed at the top of his lungs, saying that Draco had every right to refuse and was glad and proud that he had. Draco had been ecstatic after that, grateful that the pestering stopped and he'd done something right. That he'd done something to make Harry proud of him, though Draco would never admit to that.
"Yes, it sounds interesting." Harry replied, breaking Pansy from her thoughts. She smiled at him and nodded her head.
"It's an excellent book and whatever you do, don't let Draco tell you otherwise. He hasn't even read it, he's convinced it's about a stupid, air headed witch who falls in love with some random wizard. You know, your typical romance like Romeo and Juliet." Pansy said barely containing her laughter.
"Well, it wouldn't surprise me in the least! The last time you got me to read a bloody romance novel you were trying to convince me that I wasn't gay. If anything, the book put me off women forever." Draco said from the door way of the bathroom, smirking at Pansy who had glared at him. Harry let out a bark of laughter, grimacing at the ache in his ribs.
"Don't worry Draco, I'll read it and let you know what it's about." Harry said in a serious tone that was destroyed by his barely contained laughter and brilliant smile. Draco smiled back, taking Harry's breath away. Harry wished Draco smiled more, he liked those rare smiles given by the blond haired wizard.
"Yeah right, you'd probably be in on it with Pansy." Draco said, laughing at Harry's look of indignation.
"Would not, I'll have you know that you aren't the only one to be subjected to stunts like that. When Ron and Hermione found out, Ron practically shoved porn down my throat. I thought I was going to be scarred for-" Harry stopped when he realized whom it was that he was talking about. Harry curled in on himself, staring at the floor.
Draco looked at Harry sadly and walked over to the bed. Pansy frowned, not liking how Harry had shut down. She was starting to like the other wizard, he reminded her of Draco when he was in private, and she was becoming concerned with his mental status.
"Harry," Draco called, moving from the doorway to sit on the bed next to Harry. Pansy backed away, just enough not to be noticed. She wanted to see what transpired with Draco and Harry.
"Harry, it's okay. Come on, breathe. Raven, breathe with me; you'll be fine. I swear to you it'll be fine." Draco said softly as he rubbed Harry's arms. Pansy had a hard time not saying anything to the nickname Draco had given Harry. She remembered one night in particular, a few days after Draco moved in. He had been having a nightmare and had screamed 'Raven' in his sleep. Pansy had always wondered who it was and it didn't surprise her to find out that it was Harry.
"Raven, come on, breathe with me. In and out, in and out. There, that's good," Draco said as Harry's erratic breathing finally calmed. "Do you want a Calming Potion, or do you think you can try to go with out one?"
Harry shook his head, leaning away from the table where the potions sat. Draco sighed and gave Harry a half-hug before leaning over and grabbing the medicinal potions Harry needed. He handed them to Harry who took them without saying anything. Draco realized that Harry wouldn't be able to be alone for awhile. He may have books to distract him now, but it didn't mean he'd read them. Sighing once more, Draco picked up the book that Harry had been looking at when he came in. He opened it to the first page and began to read.
After several hours, Draco finally closed the book. Harry lay sleeping next to him. Draco slipped off the bed and moved to his own. He was exhausted and worried. Harry, yet again, didn't ask for food. Draco knew he'd have to do something about it, but he wasn't entirely sure how. He'd seen cases like Harry's before, but Harry was different. Draco knew that he'd have to use some sort of method to get Harry to eat again, but he didn't know what that method would have to be.
Just as Draco was settling into his bed, a desperate cry came from the other bed. Draco realized then that Harry hadn't taken Dreamless Sleep Potion and was probably having a nightmare. What was worse was that Draco knew Harry couldn't have it every night, otherwise he could become addicted to it. Getting up, Draco made his way over to the bed. He gently nudged Harry until he awoke, wild green eyes frantically searching for the ghosts of his dream.
"Harry, it's okay, you were having a nightmare." Draco said soothingly in an attempt to calm Harry. Harry's eyes locked on Draco's face and he visibly relaxed. Draco summoned a damp cloth and handed it to Harry to wipe his face. Harry smiled gratefully at him as he did so. When he was finished with it, Draco threw it into the bathroom whose door had been left open.
"Thank you, I suppose that should've been expected. I didn't take any of the Dreamless Sleep Potion because I know that it can be addicting and I'd rather not get addicted to it." Harry mumbled, trying to explain to Draco why he had a nightmare.
"I know Harry, you don't need to explain that to me." Draco said softly. He sat down in the chair next to Harry's bed and picked up the book he'd been reading. "Okay, so where was I when you fell asleep on me?"
"I think Xavier was just admitting to his friend that he was in love with Zane." Harry replied quietly, relaxing into the pillows. Draco nodded and began to pick up where he'd been when Harry fell asleep. Draco found that he liked the book. He thought that it was really ironic and he wondered if Pansy put it on the pile of books for that reason.
"Draco?" Harry said softly, as Draco turned to a new chapter. Draco looked at him questioningly.
"Yes Harry?"
"Could I read?" Harry asked. Draco smiled and nodded, handing the book to Harry.
"'Xavier, are you going to be okay? I know you're in love with him and all, but orders are orders.' Michael said as they walked to their rooms. Xavier shook his head, trying to drive out all thoughts about his new orders. He had to kill Zane! He didn't think he'd be able to do it. Granted he was used to killing people, they weren't anyone he cared about. He killed countless numbers of innocent women and children on his master's orders and Zane killed those who deserved it. Opposite sides of the war, different views on groups of humans. But Xavier's time with Zane in that prison had forced him to see Zane's side of it. . ."
Draco listened to Harry read the next few chapters. He found that he hung on every word that Harry spoke, eager to hear more. When Harry closed the book, Draco found that he was very disappointed but he knew that Harry was probably tired. He took the book from Harry and set it down next to the potions. He got up from the chair and went over to his bed. He bid Harry good night before he allowed sleep to claim him.
"What did I tell you? I knew he'd like the book, but he can be such a git!" Draco heard Pansy whisper. Curious, he listened to the conversation that he seemed to have awoken to.
"Yeah, he can be. But I suppose that's what makes him, well, him." Harry replied. "He seemed kind of disappointed when I stopped reading last night."
"He would be, but if I told you why he'd kill me." Pansy said, the tone of her voice telling all that she didn't care what happened. Draco chose this moment to make his presence known.
"I hope you're not talking about me," he said with a yawn. He sat up and stretched, avoiding Pansy's mocking gaze. He got up from the bed and walked into the bathroom.
He took care of his business to find Pansy smirking at Draco. Draco sighed in defeat.
"Yes Pans, I like the damn book. Rub it in if you will, I don't care. If you excuse me, I'm going to go fix some breakfast." Draco said, scowling at Pansy who began laughing at him. He walked out of the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. He cooked up some breakfast, making enough for Pansy, Harry, and himself.
Carrying the food filled tray, Draco walked back to the bedroom. He stopped just outside the door, listening to the conversation that was going on.
"So. . .Harry, how did you and Draco become friends? If you don't mind my asking," Draco heard Pansy ask. He stood silently, thinking back on when he and Harry had become friends.
"I suppose it happened during the war. We were partnered a lot and we just sort of became friends. Of course, I think we started becoming friends the last day of lessons at the end of our seventh year. I don't know if Draco's ever told you about that." Harry replied quietly, causing Draco to strain hard to hear him.
"No, he didn't. But I suppose that is for a good reason and you don't have to tell me if you don't wish to. I was just wondering because I remember when Draco first moved in. The nights were horrible. He used to have horrible nightmares, most of which had to have come from the War. Sorry about bringing that up. . "
"It's okay, Hermione and Charlie used to make me talk about it after I got out of the Infirmary, so it doesn't really bother me all that much." Harry replied. Draco felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the mention of Charlie's name.
"Oh, I suppose that's good. I should have done that with Draco, but he was just so. . .tore up by the things he saw. I remember a really nasty nightmare he had, it was a few days after he'd moved in. I know it was from the War, because I made him tell me about it. Of course, he never told me who it was that he was screaming for." Pansy said softly.
"Though, I think I know who it is now."
"Who do you think it is?" Harry asked, curiosity barely tangible in his voice.
"Well, Draco was screaming 'Raven! Raven!', like the person was being tortured and there was nothing he could do about it." Pansy replied. Draco felt that that was far enough. He walked into the room. Whatever Harry was going to say dying on his tongue at the sight of the blond wizard.
"I've made breakfast for everyone," Draco said acting as if he hadn't eavesdropped on Harry and Pansy's conversation. He didn't miss the eye connection between Harry and Pansy as he sat the tray piled high with food on the bed.
"Here you go Raven," Draco said as he handed a plate filled with fruit and toast to Harry. Harry took it wordlessly, laying it in his lap. Draco handed another plate filled with eggs and sausage to Pansy. She thanked him politely and sat on the chair, resting the plate in her lap as well. Draco took his plate over to the cot he sleeps on and sat down. He and Pansy began eating silently, both watching Harry closely.
"I'm not all that hungry, but thanks anyway." Harry said after a few minutes of playing with his food. Draco sighed heavily and sat his plate on the cot.
"Harry, you need to eat. You haven't eaten anything since you've been here, and I doubt they feed you anything." Draco said softly yet firmly.
"And, if neither of you have noticed, you're practically swallowed whole by Draco's robes. Draco's robes! Harry, Draco is sodding skinny as hell and his clothes are swallowing you whole. You need to eat!" Pansy added, hoping to get her point across. Harry looked at the mattress, not willing to meet either of their eyes.
"Harry, please eat. . .I really don't want you starving on me. I'd feel horrible because I'd know that I could've forced you to eat. Please eat Raven." Draco pleaded when Harry remained silent and hadn't touched his food. Harry nodded slightly and began picking at the fruits. Tentatively, he picked up an orange slice and put it in his mouth. Draco breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he'd accomplished a lot. Now all he had to do was get Harry to start talking so that he could begin to heal and everything would much smoother going.
When they finished, Pansy took the empty plates and food tray out to the kitchen while Harry took care of his needs in the loo. Draco's thoughts wandered to the conversation he'd eavesdropped on. He was glad that Harry didn't mind talking about the War. It was healthy, but he wished Pansy hadn't brought up that nightmare. It was the worse one he had, still had. Pansy was practically right on about what it had entailed too.
Draco and Harry had been captured and taken to a Death Eater camp during a mission to find the Gryffindor Horcrux. The Death Eaters forced Draco to watch Harry being tortured. It had nearly killed Draco, seeing the other wizard writhing in obvious pain on the ground and not making a sound. Draco would have gladly taken it for Harry, but the Death Eaters seemed to realize how much torture it was for him to watch Harry put under Crucio.
Draco had thanked every single Order member who had rescued them, though none of them realized that Draco was thanking them for saving Harry. He had told them to take Harry when the Order members had swamped the camp, but they had thought that Draco had been out of it to have them take just Harry and leave him. When Draco had woken up in the Infirmary, the first thing he did was inquire about Harry. It was then that Draco realized that he cared for the other wizard.
"Draco?" Harry said softly, breaking Draco out of his memories. Draco smiled up at him from his spot on the bed.
"Harry, I think it's time that you started talking. If you want, I can fire-call Charlie and you can talk to him. Whichever, you will start talking. It'll help you heal." Draco said after Harry sat next to him on the bed. Harry stared at Draco for a few moments before nodding his head.
"Do you think I could talk to both of you?" Harry asked in a small voice. Draco sighed in relief and nodded his assent. He went to the door and had Pansy fire-call Charlie. A few moments latter and Charlie strolled into the room.
"Harry, I'm glad to see you awake!" Charlie said as he walked over to the bed. Draco looked at the floor murderously when Charlie sat down beside Harry closer than necessary. Harry tensed, making Draco even angrier. Charlie seemed oblivious to this.
"Weasley, I think you need to move a little." Draco said nodding towards Harry. Charlie realized almost instantly what was wrong and moved farther from Harry. Harry smiled gratefully at Draco.
"Now then, I think it's time you started." Draco said to Harry. Harry swallowed nervously and nodded. Charlie looked between Draco and Harry in confusion. It was obvious that Pansy hadn't told him what he was there for.
"Charlie, I thought that you deserved to hear this. I would have had Hermione here, but I don't think she would've been able to handle it." Harry said softly. He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them. Charlie nodded for Harry to continue.
"Well, where should I start?"
"Start at the beginning. When you were taken if you'd like." Draco answered, Harry nodded and told them everything.
"Well, you both know that Lucius Malfoy abducted me. He came to my house and asked to use the floo. I let him, not really thinking about who it was. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in some dungeon. Malfoy came in followed shortly by Snape. Malfoy tortured me and left me alone. Snape came in, knocked me out and. . .rapped me." Harry paused, shuddering at the memory of Snape. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he continued.
"When I woke up again, there was someone else in there with me. It was Ron. . .he didn't make it past that day. . ." Harry choked on a sob. Draco quickly walked over and sat next to Harry on the bed. He put his arm around Harry and encouraged him to continue. Harry wiped the tears off his face and cleared his throat.
"That's really all that needs to be said, I think. The rest is pretty much repetitive. Malfoy tortures me during the day, Snape rapes me at night. It was an everyday routine. By the time Draco found me, I was so used to it that it's not even funny." Harry finished softly. Draco clenched his teeth in an effort to avoid an out burst. He couldn't stand it, it wasn't right for someone to be used to things like that. It wasn't!
Charlie talked to Harry about Ron then, to remember the good things. Draco sat mutely by Harry, offering silent comfort. They stayed clear of what was done to him by Malfoy and Snape, but Draco intended to get Harry to talk about it. At least a little, enough to start the healing process.
After several hours, Charlie finally left. Pansy made them dinner and tea. They all ate quietly in Harry's room. Afterwards, they chatted for a while about inconsequential things. After awhile, Pansy headed to bed and Draco picked up the book they'd been reading. They took turns reading out loud for a couple more hours before they both decided to go to bed.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! And again, sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long! I'm working as hard as I can to get more done. . .Please review! Thanks again!