"I don't know which is worse, what my father did or that damn potion." Draco gasped out.
"So, what color is it?" Asked Hermione
"A nasty green-ish color." Replied Harry.
Hermione walked over and gently pushed Harry out of her way so she could see what color the potion had turned. After briefly glancing she went straight back to the book. Several minutes later Hermione stopped scanning the pages and closed the book with a look of let down on her face.
"That bad?" Asked Draco.
"As far what caused the gash…well the book just says that a combination of unlimited possibilities could have caused the injury. So, it means…"
"There is no way of knowing how to treat it, therefore we or the four of you are unable to heal it." Draco finished what Hermione was saying.
"Draco, I'm so sorry. All that extra pain for noth…"
"It's fine Granger. I just have to figure out how I'm going to get to and be treated by a healer without my father finding out."
"Speaking of…Draco what did your father do exactly? I mean I have a good as to what was behind your father doing this."
"Well, Harry if you are thinking of the hospital wing after the dementor attack…you'd be right for the most part. When we first arrived home everything seemed to be fine. I did hear my parents arguing but I couldn't understand what they were saying exactly. A few days went by and my father finally came into see me. He wanted to talk or at least that is what he said. My father kept saying that it was your duty to save me, or to save pure bloods. I disagreed with my father. I told him that you are better than all of us. That did it, my father was so mad, I'd never seen him like that. He then chose to beat it in me. As he chanted his, I don't know what to call them, with every word he punched me, and tortured me. I only remember the cruciatus curse, I know there were others I just can't remember.
My parents argued again, they were louder this time. I was curious and worried about my mum so I got up and managed to leave my room. They were down stairs, as far as I know they don't know that I was there. Anyway my father threatened my mother. He told her that if she were to leave that she wouldn't get passed the first step out of the door before she was killed. He also threatened that if she were to leave with me that he would kill me, send her to Fenrir Greyback and if she survived him, my father would have her killed as well. But that while she was with Fenrir, he'd tell Bellatrix of her betrayal of him and the Dark Lord. He also threatened to kill the rest of her family. My father yelled at her to leave, to get out of his sight. When my mother didn't do as he had said, my father then slapped her some and used the cruciatus curse on her."
Ginny gasped and looked at Harry with a horrified look in her eyes. Hermione gently put a hand on Draco's shoulder as tears fell down her face.
Draco took a breath and then continued, "Saturday night I felt all right so I decided to join my parents for dinner. I had some heated words with my father and went back up to my room. A little while later my father came in and kept yelling at me to stand up. I admit I was scared, so I apologized for what I had said and pleaded with him not to do it. He became even more furious, there was more into it that time when he used the cruciatus curse. Needless to say it was much worse that time. My mum ran into the room and tried to get my father to stop. He turned his back on me and hit my mother so hard that it knocked her out. Seeing her there on the floor…it pissed me off so I got off my bed and slugged him knocking him out. My mother proceeded to kick his wand out of his hand and dragged him down the stairs. Our house elf stayed with me as long as she was able to.
Sunday, really early in the morning my father came into my room. I can't remember what he did. When my mother woke up and checked on me she asked our house elf, Rosie, to bring me food and something to drink before she left my room. When I saw her later that day she was really anxious and rushing around. She then brought me back to school. It's so hard not to think about her, really hard not to think of what my father has done and is doing to her."
"Draco I'm sure she's okay." Hermione said hopefully
"She must be Granger. I told Rosie that if my mother needs help to find Dobby and tell him everything. I figured that Dobby would find Harry since he freed Dobby."
"You expect us to believe that you don't blame Harry or any of us for what your father did?" Ron said doubtfully
"I don't blame any of you. My father made his choice! I apologize again for…"
"Oh yeah. You never did explain why?"
"Honestly, back then when I was tormenting all of you I didn't know why. Or at least I didn't realize why."
"And now you do know why?" Scoffed Ron.
"Yeah I do. After the dementor attack I though about things. I'm sick of being told how to be, what to be, what to do, how to treat other and what to believe. As Evans put it earlier, the Dark Lord is a psychopath. I want nothing to do with him."
"But what does that have to do with us?"
"I'm getting there. As I though about you, Harry and Granger I realized that I've been jealous and still am…"
"Jealous of us! Are you kidding? My family are known blood traitors. Hermione is a Muggle born and Harry…well he hasn't had an easy life. You've got money. You don't have to have second hand, hand-me-down anything. You've got nice things, not rubbish like I do." Grumbled Ron.
"Ron, look at what my father did to me. You were here. You heard what I said my father did to my mother and me. Money is not everything. I'd switch places with any of you. I'd rather be so poor that I couldn't afford clothes to wear than what I have."
"Are you metal? Why would you rather be poor?"
"Your families care about you, they love you for who you are. Not what they want you to mold you into or what benefit you'll be to them. You have real friends. Crabbe and Goyle are paid to be my friends, to do my bidding…at least they were. Now they're paid to baby-sit me. Aside from my mother, I've had nothing real in my life. Then Evans helped me out. I'm not asking to be the best of friends. I'm asking you to listen and hear me out. If I knew the pain wouldn't practically kill me, I'd get on my hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness. So, I am asking for time. Let me show you that I am not like how I was."
"I still don't trust you or believe you."
"Fine. Let me show you that I can be trusted. Give me the time to show you that I am telling the truth, that I've changed. That I am nothing like my father."
"In other words Ron, you have to have an open mind." Ginny said roughly.
"You're all sucked in already? He hasn't done anything. He's only said the words."
"Get a grip Ron! I don't know about Harry and Ginny, but I'm giving Draco a chance. It's not about burying the hatchet, it's about giving someone the chance, the benefit of the doubt. How can you stand there and say that Draco hasn't done anything? Draco told the truth about the dementors and Harry. He could have said anything, but he was honest. That is why I am giving Draco a chance. Only time will tell. Have you even let it sink in what he went through last week?"
"I agree with Hermione." Ginny said.
"Ron, I already told you that I intend to give Draco a chance. I told you this before hearing what happened to him while he was at home."
"How do we know he really went though all of that?'
"Are you serious? Have you even looked at the injury?" Hermione asked with rage in her voice.
"Rosie could tell you." Draco suggested.
"Your house elf will tell us what ever you tell her to say."
"Ronald Weasley, would you even consider the possibility that Draco is sincere if in front of all of us, Draco only told Rosie to tell us what happened as she saw it?" Asked Hermione
"I don't think he will." Ginny said
"Enough all ready. Most importantly we need to find away to heal the wound on Draco's side. What if an infection has set in?"
"Oh…I feel so stupid…how could I have over looked…" Hermione muttered as she went back to the book, flung it open and started looking through it again.
"Her…" Ginny tailed off
"She's on to something. It's best to just let her be." Harry said quietly.
"Ah…ha. Here it is. Harry you're right. There's an infection. We have everything we need except a dash of leech juice. There are only two places I can think of to find it. Diagon Alley and Snape's personal stores of potion ingredients."
"Hey, Hermione is the potion safe yet? You know the one you making for Draco."
"What? Oh sorry. Yes it's safe." Hermione quickly filled a small flask with the potion and brought over to Draco.
Draco immediately lit up. He gladly accepted the potion. Once he finished the potion he looked over at Ginny, "Thank you for mentioning it."
"No problem. So, how are we going to get the leech juice?"
"We'll figure it out. For now Hermione please fill as many vials as you can for Draco. Now, we all need to get going. Draco and Dudley need to get to their common room before anyone notices that Draco is not there. Also the rest of us need to get to ours. The tricky part is doing this without anyone seeing that we've all been together. We don't want this to get back to Draco's father, there's the whole Gryffindor/Slytherin crap and us and Ginny. If we do get caught we all can't be together."
"What if we're asked where we've been?" Asked Ginny
"Think of something. Whatever the stories are, they don't have to match. Dudley and Draco can figure out their story. The rest of us need to be on the same page with the same story. Well, Ginny you can probably get away with your own unless the four us are caught together."
"Good luck with that." Muttered Ginny
"What time is" Asked Harry
"Dinner time." Replied Hermione
"This could actually work. No one will catch us together. Dobby, take Draco back to his dormitory, take Dudley to a bathroom near the Slytherin common room if no one is inside, Dudley's choice. The rest of us just need to get going. It's dinnertime, we will have an easy time getting to our common room without being seen. I'll let Dudley know when we have the leech juice and we'll make more of the pain relieving potion."
Dobby left with Dudley and Draco. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione left the room of requirement and quickly went through the halls and secret passageways and finally slipping into their common room. Ginny dashed up stairs to the second year's dormitory. Ron plopped down on the couch looking grumpy. Hermione and Harry were about to brainstorm about what they'll say if asked where they'd been when McGonagall walked in.
"Where have you three been? And where is Miss. Weasley?"
"She's not feeling well and in bed. We wanted to stay close by in case she needed anything." Hermione answered with the only thing that came to mind.
Harry nodded his head in agreement. When McGonagall looked over at Ron, Harry and Hermione were worried. A thought came to Harry and with McGonagall not paying any attention Harry was able to pull out his wand and gave it a swish.
"Mr. Weasley, is this true?"
"What? Yeah, of course it is."
By the time Friday arrived they were no closer to obtaining the leech juice. Dudley came up with a plan when he saw Goyle standing around alone. Dudley faked losing his balance and crashed into Goyle who clumsily fell over hitting his head and knocking himself out. Older Slytherins came over to help, they believed Dudley's story and took Goyle to the hospital wing.
Later that day Draco walked up to Dudley to let him know that he needs more pain-relieving potion. Crabbe showed up scowling at Dudley.
"Evans you better not be bothering Draco."
"But out."
"Excuse me. What did you say?"
"You heard me."
Crabbe shoved Dudley hard. Dudley quickly glanced over Crabbe's shoulder and saw Snape. Once Snape made eye contact with Dudley, Dudley pulled his arm back with his fist tightly closed and threw his whole body into it and connected with Crabbe's nose.
Draco was really shocked; he had not expected anything like that. He had to cover his mouth to hide the smile that was creeping on to his face as well as to hide the fact that he was about to laugh.
"Malfoy take Crabbe to the hospital wing. Evans you will be spending detention with me tonight at six."
Dudley nodded and followed Snape into the classroom. After class Dudley went into a bathroom, checked to be sure that no one else was there and then called Dobby.
"How may Dobby be of service?"
"Please let Harry know that Draco needs more potion."
"Dobby will give Harry the message right a way." With a 'crack' Dobby was gone.
Dobby spotted Ginny and told her the message. After thanking Dobby, Ginny quickly found Harry and gave him the message. Harry and Hermione took off and met Draco in the hall outside of the room of requirement. They quickly entered the room, Hermione ran over to where the vials were and grabbed a handful to give to Draco.
"That should hold you for a while. I'll come back tonight and make more. Before too much longer we'll be needing more ingredients for the pain relieving potion, we're getting pretty low."
"Oh, Harry your cousin busted Crabbe's nose, almost shattered it. Dudley has a great right hook. Professor Snape saw him do it so he has detention. I think he did it on purpose."
Harry grimaced knowing exactly how good of a right hook his cousin has. He then smiled and was proud of Dudley. Harry at that moment knew with out a doubt that Dudley did it on purpose. He knew he had to talk to Dudley before his detention.
"You two good here? I'm going to check on Ron. Make sure he doesn't do or say something stupid to anyone."
Draco and Hermione nodded. Harry was relieved that they bought his excuse to leave.
Harry raced through the halls and finally spotted Dudley alone.
"You punched Crabbe in front of Snape on purpose, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I think Snape knows it too. I'll get the leech juice."
"We also need ingredients for the pain relieving potion."
"I'll get it. See ya."
"See ya."
Harry and Dudley walked away in different direction.
That night Dudley went to his detention with his book bag. When he reached the door he knocked.
"Enter."
Dudley walked in and sat down in front of Snape's desk.
"So, Evans I get the feeling that you punched Crabbe when I was looking on purpose. I wonder why that is."
"I did do it on purpose when you were watching. It was the only way I could think of to get the opportunity to talk to you, privately."
"Do you have anything to tell me in regard to Malfoy?"
"Yes. His father beat him physically and magically. By magically I mean something called the cruciatus curse. He has a bad gash, it's infected."
Snape was furious. It took him an hour to be able to talk to Dudley without taking his anger out on him.
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes. We need leech juice to be able to fight off the infection. And we need more ingredients for a pain relieving potion."
Snape nodded and got up out of his seat. When he returned he had everything that they needed to help Draco. Snape set all of it down on his desk in front of Dudley.
"Good, you brought your book bag. Put all of this in it. If anyone asks you had to do lines for your detention."
Dudley nodded as he put everything in his bag.
"Evans, I'll let Potter know that you want to meet him tomorrow night at the usual place."
Dudley nodded and thanked Snape as he left the room.
"Is it just me or is it freezing in here?" Ginny asked through chattering teeth.
"Who would open a window at this time of year?" Hermione asked no one in particular. She got up to close the window.
Hermione reached her arm out to pull the window shut. She suddenly shrieked as an owl flew in. The owl flew over to Harry and landed on his knee and hooted to get his attention. Harry looked down and took the envelope. The owl flew off out of the window. Hermione quickly closed and locked the window.
"Did anyone recognize the owl? I don't think I have ever seen that owl before." Ginny asked.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all shook their heads from side to side.
"I don't even recognize the writing."
"Maybe it's from…you know."
Harry quickly tore open the envelope, unfolded the parchment and read,
Mr. Potter
Your cousin will meet you at the usual place. He has everything you need to help his friend recover from the injuries he sustained last week.
Harry handed the letter to Hermione, who handed it to Ginny who reluctantly handed it to Ron.
"Who do you think sent it?" Asked Hermione
I think Snape did. Dudley punched Crabbe in the nose on purpose; he made sure that Snape would see him do it. He had to find a way to talk to Snape." Harry whispered.
"Why do we have to whisper? Why is it that you are not saying his name? Why can't we be seen with him? I thought he was going to show others that he can be trusted…"
"Ronald Billius Weasley, it's obvious you git! It would get back to his father. His father would probably kill him. He hasn't even started to heal from what he suffered last week, it wouldn't do him any good to get beat up all the time in Slytherin House. Use your brain. You're only asking those questions because you believe he's making it up and think the whole thing is a trick. You're not even trying. Mum and dad would be disgusted with you. Don't even say that they wouldn't be. They would be disgusted of your refusal to try and give him a chance." Ginny whispered vehemently.
Ron rolled his eyes and stomped off to go to bed.
"I know he's being a git, but we should give him a little slack and not be attacking him all the time. Don't look at me like that. Ron is having difficulties getting past what Draco has said and done to us. Mainly Ron is stuck on the gold issue. Ron has a good idea as to how much gold the Malfoy's have. At least that they have a lot more gold than he does. All Ron can see is how different, how much better his life could be if he had the gold. Ron hates it that he can't go buy something just because he fancies to do so. I know Ron feels like he's always in someone else's shadow."
"You're defending him." Whined Ginny
"No I'm not defending him. I'm just trying to explain Ron's perspective. He just needs some time."
"It would be nice if he'd quit wallowing in what he doesn't or can't have and see what he does have and can have. You know what's right in front of him."
"Hermione has a point. He really should pay attention to who…I mean what's right in front of him before she's moved on… I mean before it's gone." Ginny stammered.
Hermione looked at Ginny with a horrified expression on her face. She thought to herself, 'Merlin's pants! She knows. But how could she? I don't think I've been obvious. I can't have been and am not now!'
Harry managed to tap into some reserve strength to prevent himself from laughing. Between what the girls said and that he was pretty sure that he saw the top of Ron's head at the top of the stairs attempting to eavesdrop.
Ginny stood up, walked over to Hermione and gave her a hug.
"Hermione, I'm sorry my brother is being a…being such a …a boy. But, seriously don't wait too long for him to come around. I'm sure he will eventually. Ron's not the only guy on the planet."
"Ginny…what…I don't…I didn't mean…I'm going to bed." Hermione sputtered as she grabbed her book bag and went to bed.
"What did I say?"
"You just put the hard, cold truth out there. Hermione doesn't think that anyone knows how she feels about Ron. You're right though. She shouldn't wait around for him. I do wonder what it will take to get Ron to perk up the courage to ask her out, to be more than friends."
"Ron likes Hermione?"
"Yep."
"Could have fooled me. He treats her like he treats you and me. What I mean is like a friend or relative."
"He doesn't see what Hermione could possibly see in him. He feels that he has nothing to offer her, no gold."
"If he keeps this shit up she won't care if he lives or dies."
"Ginny language." Harry teased
"Shove it! It is late, we should probably go to bed."
"I know. I just hope I'll make it to my bed. See you later."
"Night Harry."
"Night Ginny."
Saturday night Harry and Hermione met Dudley outside of the room of requirement. Once inside Dudley handed over everything Snape had given him.
"Well, I'm going to go. I'll let Draco know we have the leech juice. How long will it take to make the potion or whatever?"
"It's a paste. It will be ready by tomorrow night. I think it should only be Draco and only one other to met him to apply the paste. That way not that many are out of bed after hours.' Hermione said.
Dudley sprinted out of the room.
"Hermione would you mind being the one to meet Draco tomorrow?"
"But you know all the passageways."
"Yeah I do. But still if I get caught near the passageways or not, it will be hard to explain why I am there. If it were to be Snape then no problem I would be ale to explain it to him and I am sure he would let it go. But there is the rest of the staff to worry about especially Filtch and his damn cat. I'm no good with coming up with something on a moments notice with adults. It's not likely that you'd get caught. If you do you are clever enough to come up with something spectacular. You're the best student in our year, they won't do anything harsh to you. If you are taken to Snape just explain, no harm done. If you are taken to McGonagall or anyone else, request to talk to Dumbledore. Bottom line don't explain anything to anyone other than Snape and Dumbledore."
"I guess"
"Would it make you feel better to borrow my cloak? You know the one that belonged to my father, we used it to get Norbert out of the castle."
"Sorry I didn't catch on right away, but yes it would make me feel loads better to use it. I promise I won't loose it."
Once Hermione finished making the paste and more pain relieving potion both of them left the room and returned to Gryffindor Tower.
