Chapter Twelve: Loveless Potion

Sound rushed in on Draco. He heard someone screaming on the other side of the door, banging their fists against it, "Hermione! Hermione! Damn you, Malfoy! If you've hurt her I swear I'll kill you!!"

Draco took a startled step backwards, "What?"

He blinked and saw someone standing in the entry to the sitting room. Turning his eyes, he saw his father, who gave him a wide grin before vanishing.

Draco was breathing so fast that it was safe to say he was hyperventilating. He looked down at Hermione, crumpled on the floor, not moving, her blood continuing to pool around her, "No…no…no, no, no!"

A crack sounded behind him, and Draco whirled around to see Harry standing there. Emerald eyes quickly took in the situation, and then he rose his wand, pointing it at Draco.

"Harry, please!" Draco began to plead, raising his hands.

Harry took a couple of steps forward, tapped Draco's head with his wand, and Draco felt something cold and wet trickling down his back.

"Harry?"

Harry placed his finger against his own lips, "Shh. Just stay out of the way for now."

Draco, noticing rather quickly that he was completely invisible, including to himself, moved down the hall, back in the direction of the kitchen, and stopped just before he would have entered, so he could watch what happened next.

Harry rushed forward and picked up Hermione, before waving his wand at the door, and it burst open a second later, Ron, huffing and puffing, and his wand up and at the ready, stood just outside.

"Expel-…Harry?" Ron then looked to Hermione, blood-stained, and deathly pale, and reached out for her, going almost as pale as she was, "'Mione? Hermione!"

Harry quickly relinquished his hold on Hermione letting Ron take her and cradle her in his arms, "Get her to St. Mungo's, Ron."

"Malfoy! He's the one-"

"Just go, Ron! I'll take care of everything!"

"But!"

"Do you want her to die?"

Ron only spared another moment to give Harry a confused look before he turned on spot and disapperated.

"Draco!"

"Here, Harry," and Draco reached out and touched Harry's shoulder.

Harry shut the door, replaced the spells Draco had had on it a moment before, added another on top of it to ensure that no eaves-dropping could take place, and then tapped his wand on Draco's head again so that Draco became visible once more.

Draco was looking down at the floor. Both he and Harry were standing in crimson liquid, and Draco felt immensely sick to his stomach. Turning, he spotted an umbrella holder that looked to be made out of a troll's leg, and after taking a second to remove the umbrellas; Draco knelt beside it and vomited into it.

Behind him, he felt Harry kneel, and then he felt the heavy weight of a hand on his head, running through his hair. Draco continued to be sick in the troll until he felt so weak he slumped against it, his hair hung limp in his eyes, his skin was a sickly shade of green, and a fine sheen of perspiration that chilled him to the bone covered his entire body.

Draco felt one of Harry's arms slip around the back of his knees, and then behind his back. Draco lifted an arm to wrap around Harry's shoulder as Harry then, wordlessly, lifted him off the floor. After ensuring that his grip was tight, Harry turned up the hall, and headed upstairs. With his foot, he nudged open the door to Regulus' room, and carried Draco inside where he laid him down on the bed.

"I didn't mean to, Harry," croaked Draco through a throat that was sore from all the stomach acid that had just went rushing up through it.

"Shh," Harry said simply, and then he moved to the end of the bed and reached for Draco's feet. He tenderly drew off Draco's socks that were drenched in Hermione's blood, and then waved his wand to rid the bottom's of his feet of the crimson stain, as well.

"I swear I didn't mean to," and Draco's voice caught at the end because he was now sobbing. Embarrassed by his actions, embarrassed by his tears, Draco turned onto his side. A moment later he felt the bed behind him sink, and then he felt a warm body pressed up against him from behind. One of Harry's arms stretched out above and over Draco's head, the other arm draped over Draco's side, the palm of Harry's hand resting warmly over the other man's heart. Harry pulled him backwards, and Draco sobbed even harder.

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Harry continued to hold onto Draco until Draco's sobs calmed, his breathing slowed, and his body stopped trembling. Once he was sure Draco was sleeping soundly, Harry slowly extricated himself from the bed. He then used scourgify to clean up the mess of blood, starting with his own socks.

His own socks. His socks were why he'd come back to the house after leaving Draco in the kitchen. He had realized, only after apperating back to the ministry, that he'd left his shoes beside the door. He could've gone back to his flat and grabbed another pair, but Harry was honest with himself now – if he had the choice of seeing or not seeing Draco, he was going to choose the former.

When he had appearated into complete chaos, Harry had taken in the scene, and after looking into Draco's eyes, had decided right then and there that Draco hadn't done it on purpose, and so he had hid him from Ron. But that didn't mean he was going to be able to get out of this mess. Ron would have every auror within the ministry alerted about Malfoy within the hour, and that was just one too many memory charms. Harry was going to have to fess up.

Standing in front of the door, cleaning up Hermione's blood, made Harry sick to his stomach, but he managed to keep the threatening bile down by thinking about Draco and his problem. Harry couldn't find anything. Not one damn magical reason as to why Draco was being forced to do the things he was. There were no signs of magic of any kind.

And then Harry froze, his wand poised over the troll leg as he prepared to cast a vanishing charm to get rid of Draco's sickness within. A light bulb could practically be seen flaring as bright as the sun above his head. Of course, this new idea made Harry's face pull into such a deep frown he looked as though he'd just been told someone he loved died.

A chiming noise sounded in the air, and Harry finished the vanishing charm before turning to the door, and, after using all the correct counter spells, pulled it open. Ron, standing in front of two other aurors by the names of Lex and Ella, looked at Harry. Ron didn't even say anything; he just pushed his way past Harry, the other two aurors quick to follow. Harry sighed and shut the door after them before turning to look at Ron.

Ron was glaring at Harry, but Harry forced himself to not look away. After a moment Ron said, "We're here to search your house."

Harry gave a slight nod. Ella moved into the sitting room, Lex into the kitchen. Ron and Harry stood in the hall.

"How is she?"

"Don't! Don't you dare pretend you give a damn about Hermione," Ron hissed.

Harry shook his head, "Of course I care about her!"

Ron pulled his wand and aimed it at Harry, and Harry couldn't hide the shock from showing on his face. He imagined this was the way Ron and Hermione had felt the night he'd pulled his wand on them before casting the memory charm.

"You don't give a damn about her. I don't even know who you are anymore, mate, and I-"

"That's right," Harry interjected, "I'm your mate. Still. Nothing's changed. I just needed time-"

"Time for what, Harry? And what the bloody hell was Malfoy doing here?"

Draco. Harry needed to get upstairs before either Ella or Lex went up first and found Draco sleeping in the bed.

"I have to use the bathroom," said Harry.

Ron blinked, "What?"

"The bathroom. I haven't been feeling that well today. I need to use the bathroom," Harry gave Ron the most innocent look he could muster.

Ron didn't lower his wand, but he nodded, "All right. Go on then, but I'm coming with you."

"It's just upstairs, Ron. I'm not going to run away."

"You could apperate out of here, Harry. I'm not stupid."

"Why would I want to apperate out of here? I'm not the enemy, Ron. I'm your best fucking friend. Now stop being a damn clod, and let me go upstairs," Harry gave Ron a menacing glare.

Ron continued to gaze at Harry with something akin to distrust in his eyes, before his wand slowly lowered, and he relented, "Fine. Go. But I swear to God, Harry – mate or not – if you apperate out of here, I'll hunt you down and beat the bloody life out of you. You have some answering to do. Hermione's lying in a bed…half dead…and you…" Ron shook his head and pointed violently toward the stairs, "Just go. You have three minutes."

"More than enough time. Go have a seat in the sitting room, and tell Kreacher I asked for him to bring you some tea."

Ron didn't acknowledge that he'd heard Harry. He stood rooted in spot, still pointing to the stairs. Harry walked around him and moved up them, and it was only when he was almost at the top that he heard Ron's shuffling footsteps move toward the sitting room, and, a second later, the sound of Kreacher's voice.

Harry then sped toward Draco's room. Once he was inside, he shut the door silently behind him, and moved over to the bed. He reached down and lightly touched Draco's shoulder, "Draco," he whispered, "Draco, wake up."

Draco stirred and then slowly opened his eyes, turning to look at Harry.

"I need you to hide. Ron and two other auror's are here checking the house for you."

Draco sat up, "What?"

Harry covered the other man's lip with his own finger, "Shh. Listen, I'm going to disillusion you again. When they come in here, looking for you, just stay out of their way all right, and be silent. If you do that, everything will be fine."

"What if they cast the counter charm the way I did to you that night…" Draco trailed off.

Harry looked at him, "What?"

But Draco didn't have time to explain, because Harry heard someone mounting the stairs. Draco leapt off the bed quietly, and then turned around, straightening the blankets so they were smooth and perfect. He then looked at Harry, "Okay. I'm ready."

Harry nodded, "You'll be fine – just stay hidden, Draco. If worse comes to worse…apperate the hell out of here, and we'll meet up later."

"But won't they…"

"Shh," Harry raised his wand and tapped Draco on the head. Before the man disappeared completely, Harry gave him a wink, and Draco gave Harry a weak smile.

The steps were moving toward this bedroom. Harry raised his wand and tapped his own head, casting the same charm he'd just cast on Draco on himself. He felt a touch on his shoulder, and he knew it was Draco noting Harry's current station before the hand lifted, and all signs of Draco being in the room disappeared – other than the faintest scent that was Draco's alone, and Harry doubted the auror's would pick up on that.

Walking over to the wall, Harry waited until the door opened, and Ella came gliding in. Once she moved over by the bed, Harry slipped out of the room, cast the countercharm, and then headed back downstairs.

Ron was sitting on the couch in the sitting room, holding a glass of hot tea that didn't seem to have anything drunk out of it, wearing a worried look upon his features, and Harry knew he was thinking about Hermione. Harry couldn't stop the pang of guilt that coursed through him as he took a seat on the couch next to his friend, and prepared to lie to him.

But before either man could say a word, the chime of the door bell, followed by a very soft knock sounded, and Harry stood up.

"Expecting company?" Ron asked, his voice full of suspicion.

Harry shook his head, "No, but wait just a moment, all the same." Harry left the sitting room and moved back to the door. Pulling it open, his eyes widened a little at seeing who it was standing on his doorstep.

Her dirty-blonde hair was pulled up into a loose bun atop her head with pieces of long hair hanging about her face and the back of her neck. Instead of sporting turnip shaped earrings she was wearing ones that dangled almost down to her shoulders and ended with a large round disc that had a cat's face carved into it. Her eyes, still just as protuberant as ever gazed up at Harry with the same misty, dazed look, and Harry, despite the predicament he was currently in, couldn't help but smile. She was dressed in muggle clothing, and, considering how odd she could be sometimes, seemed to have done a pretty good job of it (minus the earrings) as she was dressed in a long white skirt and a robin's-egg blue short-sleeved top. In her hands she was holding a vial filled with a black liquid.

"Luna. It's nice to see you, but what are you doing here?"

Luna gave Harry a quizzical look and then held out the vial, "You wanted this, remember? I told you it would take about two weeks."

Harry reached out and took the vial. He stared at it strangely, trying to remember what it was he would have asked Luna for, and then, everything clicked into place – the night he had brought Draco here to Grimmauld, he had called Luna asking her for this potion.

"I can't help but wonder," came Luna's misty, far-away voice, "who it is that you love, but have no desire to love, and so are in need of this Loveless potion."

Harry curled his fingers around the vial, but he didn't answer.

She continued to gaze up at him as though expecting him to respond, but when she was met only by uninterrupted silence, she said, "Well, the effects are immediate, and irreversible, so think about it before you drink it."

Harry nodded, "Thank you, Luna."

Luna shrugged, "Oh, you're welcome, Harry. Tell Ron and Hermione I said hello." And with a little wave, she turned on spot and disapperated.

Harry stood within the entrance, staring down at the vial, his thoughts waging war in his mind.

"A loveless potion, Harry?"

Harry closed the door and turned to look at Ron.

Ron gazed at Harry. Harry gazed back.

Ron took a step toward Harry, "Who do you love, Harry?"

Harry didn't answer.

Ron took another step forward, "Who do you love, Harry?"

Harry shook his head.

"You'd best drink that potion, Harry. Because if I find Malfoy in this house, I'm not just going to arrest him."

Harry's hands curled into tight fists. So much so that the vial creaked under the pressure, "Don't do this," he whispered.

Ron was looking at Harry as though he truly had no idea who the man before him was, as though Harry were an old enemy, someone not to be trusted at any costs, and Harry's heart hurt. Ron took another step forward, "Drink it, Harry."

"You're being irrational!" Harry yelled.

"I'm being irrational, Harry? You've got to be kidding me! I'm not the one in love with a bloody murderer, you back-stabbing, treacherous, lying…" and Ron's wand was aimed at Harry again.

Harry did not raise his own.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Ron yelled.

Ella and Lex appeared on the stairs and looked down at Ron and Harry, their eyes wide at the scene before them. No one had ever seen Ron and Harry fight, and now Ron looked as though he were mere moments away from throwing the killing curse.

"Guys…" came Ella's tentative voice.

"Ron, Harry – what are you two doing?" Lex asked, pure surprise reflected in his voice.

Ron did not acknowledge the auror's, neither did Harry. Instead, Harry continued to gaze at Ron, a pleading note in his voice as he whispered, "Just give me time."

Ron marched toward Harry until his wand tip was under Harry's chin, forcing his face up. Ron glared down at him, his voice a hiss that would not carry to Ella and Lex, and Harry was thankful for this as Ron said, "He killed those squibs, didn't he?"

Harry gave a slight nod.

"Why?"

"I don't know," Harry answered, "But I have an idea."

"An idea? I have one too. He's a psychotic, evil bastard."

Harry sighed, "You're almost right."

Ron looked past Harry, "Is he here?"

Harry gave another faint nod.

"And you love him?" And with this question, Ron's voice sort of squeaked out in disbelief.

"Yes."

"After everything he's done to us?"

"I've let it go."

"What about those squibs, Harry? Did you let those go too? What kind of auror are you?"

Harry felt tears gathering in his eyes as he shook his head, "I can't send him to Azkaban."

"That's where he belongs, Harry."

"I love him, Ron," and Harry felt a tear slip down his cheek.

"Why?" Ron asked, a look of betrayal in his eyes, but his wand lowered slightly.

Harry shrugged his shoulders, "Because I always have."

"And you just realized this?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded.

And then silence reigned between the two men until Ron finally turned to Ella and Lex, "Let's get out of here. He must have escaped."

"What about Harry?" Lex asked.

"Should we take him in?" Ella pushed.

Ron seemed to heavily consider it, but then he shook his head, "No. Let's just go."

Ella and Lex finished coming down the stairs, and then passed Ron and Harry on their way out the door. Ron lingered behind to give one last warning, "If she dies…he dies. Hell, if anyone else dies, he dies. So you'd best keep that potion handy. Got it, Harry?"

And then he was gone, and Harry was left standing in the entrance hall, shaking so hard he thought he'd fall apart. But then, he felt an invisible arm wrap around his waist, and then an invisible hand rested upon the back of his neck. Harry let invisible Draco pull him tight against his chest, and, with Draco's scent swimming around him, Harry buried his face in Draco's shirt, and cried.

A/N: Hello. I would advise all devoted readers (or new readers that are familiar with "If Looks Could Kill") to please turn to the update page. Thank you.