Chapter Six: Draco
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Draco was at breakfast Sunday morning, ignoring his friends and using all of his willpower not to look over to the Gryffindor table. Draco had watched Potter walk into the Great Hall with his Gryffindor housemates, appreciating how well Potter wore a baggy Gryffindor Quidditch shirt and low-slung jeans. Blaise had interrupted Draco's ogling, asking him what hex he was daydreaming about hitting Potter with. Since then Draco had been making a painful effort not to look in Potter's direction again.
I'll see him soon. I just need to be patient.
The Malfoy family eagle owl landed in front of Draco at that moment, startling him slightly. Since his father was in Azkaban, Narcissa Malfoy had been writing Draco once or twice a week, keeping him updated with the goings on outside of Hogwarts. Draco suspected Narcissa was afraid of losing him after losing her husband, and this was her way of reminding him she was worried.
The letter was not good news. The words swam in front of Draco's eyes, not making sense the first time he read them.
Mr Malfoy,
I write on behalf of your mother, Narcissa Malfoy. Your mother has been admitted into St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Early Friday evening, while shopping in Diagon Alley, she was attacked by a variety of hexes and jinxes. As you can imagine, your mother requires near-constant day and night care from a healer.
I understand you are studying for your N. E. W. Ts at Hogwarts, if you wish to remain and see out your studies before you visit your mother, I would be honoured to send you daily updates on your mothers' recovery.
I have already owled your head of house informing them of the circumstances.
Sincerely,
Healer Audrey.
Draco scrunched the offending parchment in his fist, tears of anger threatening to spill. Blaise noticed Draco's reaction and gently wrestled the letter from him before quickly scanning it himself.
'Oh shit,' he said, and turned to Draco to try and soothe him. But Draco didn't want Blaise. No, Draco wanted Potter's arms around him.
Draco stood, taking a breath to steel himself for the walk to the Gryffindor table, when Professor Slughorn appeared next to him.
'Professor,' Draco said, his voice breaking.
'Come, m'boy. Dumbledore and I received the same owl as you did. Dumbledore has given me permission to Floo you from my office to St. Mungo's.' Slughorn said quietly, gesturing for Draco to follow him. Draco could feel Blaise behind him, getting ready to stand up and go with him. Draco knew that a year ago, even six months ago, he would've insisted that Blaise come with him. For moral support, of course.
But Draco barely looked at his Slytherin house mates as he followed Slughorn. He kept his head down, telling himself that he didn't want to make a scene with Potter just yet. He made it to the Great Hall's giant oak doors when his self-control failed him. His eyes flicked to the Gryffindor table and made direct contact with the green ones he was so desperately seeking reassurance from.
'Professor!' Draco said, barely allowing himself to slow down, 'Can you wait a moment, please?' Draco didn't bother to wait for Slughorn's response and walked on ahead to the Gryffindor's side of the hall.
Potter seemed to realise what Draco was doing and walked over to meet him at the end of the Gryffindor table. Draco was grateful, he needed Potter now, but he didn't need Weasel and Granger hanging around.
'What's wrong?' Potter asked immediately, his hands seeming to twitch towards Draco.
'It's Mother. She was attacked in Diagon Alley.' Draco said, his eyes filling with tears. 'She's in St Mungo's, but …' Draco trailed off as one rogue tear rolled down his cheek. Potter surprised Draco when he used his thumb to gently wipe the tear away and cup Draco's cheek, his hand sending soothing waves over Draco's face, down his neck and into his chest. As Draco sighed happily, Potter enveloped Draco in a tight hug, his hand moving from Draco's cheek to hold the back of Draco's head. Draco breathed deeply, letting Potter's earthy and faded lavender smell overwhelm him as he gripped Potter's shirt in his fists.
'I'll see you when you get back.' Harry murmured reassuringly into Draco's ear. 'But don't forget about me, Malfoy.'
'Don't you forget about me.' Draco whispered back, with more fear lacing his voice than he intended. There was a deafening silence around him, and it felt like there was no one else in the world except for him and Potter. Potter stepped back, a small smile on his perfect lips.
Merlin, I want to kiss him.
'I don't think I could if I tried.' Potter promised, using his strong hands to ever so gently nudge Draco back towards the exit. Draco nodded and gave the Gryffindor a small wave before turning and leaving with Slughorn.
Draco sat by his mother's bed for the remainder of the weekend. The healers had given her a strong sleeping draught while she recovered, and her lead Healer had told Draco that his mother had been hit with various spells, and not all of them were easy, or fast, to reverse.
'Mr Malfoy, your mother was with her sister when she was attacked by a group of people. From what we have been able to discern, your mother was hit by a stunning spell, a stinging hex, a knee reversal hex and a jelly brain jinx.' Healer Audrey had told him.
'We have successfully reversed the stinging hex and the knee reversal hex, but we don't know how long it will take for the jelly brain jinx to be reversed. We will do all we can, but we fear that the caster was quite the accomplished witch or wizard, so we cannot tell how long your mother will be here for.'
'Thank you,' Draco had murmured. 'Might I stay with her?' He'd asked, and Healer Audrey's hazel eyes had softened.
'Of course, Mr Malfoy. Anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask.' She said, leaving him alone with his mother.
Draco had held his mothers' hand and talked to her quietly. He told her how he wished his father wasn't in Azkaban, so that he could be here. Father would know what to do, what to say to the Healer's, what questions to ask them. He told his mother about Blaise – even though he was sure that she already knew. He even told her about Potter, without telling her who he was, of course. He told her he was confused, he knew Potter was a blood traitor, below his status, but he couldn't deny how safe Potter made him feel.
He couldn't understand the why's or the how's, but he needed to tell someone.
The sleeping draught kept his mother asleep.
Monday came and left, with Draco only speaking to the Healer's that came by to check on his mother and administer their treatments. Healer Audrey visited late Monday evening.
'Mr Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore has owled me, requesting to know if you would be returning to school this week. What should I tell him?' Healer Audrey asked gently, once she had finished her examination. Draco took his time to think over his response.
'Might I be able to stay one more night?' he finally asked. Healer Audrey nodded.
'Of course, Mr Malfoy. Shall I send an owl to Professor Dumbledore, or would you prefer to do it yourself?'
'If you could send it for me, please?'
'Of course, Mr Malfoy, I'll send it right away.' Healer Audrey said, giving Draco a warm smile before turning to leave the room.
'Healer Audrey?' Draco said, stopping the Healer as she was about to walk through the door.
'Yes, Mr Malfoy?'
'Can you ask Professor Dumbledore if my friend can keep me company tonight, before we go back to school tomorrow?' Draco asked.
'I can most certainly ask him for you, Mr Malfoy. Who is your friend?'
'Bla-' Draco stopped himself, glancing at his mother. She was asleep, and she would remain that way until he left tomorrow… and possibly longer. She would never know who kept him company, who kept him sane.
