Chapter Nine: Harry

'Come, Harry, we have much to discuss.' Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and guided him away from Draco towards his desk at the far end of the room.

Harry found himself pacing in front of Dumbledore's desk while they waited for Draco to re-emerge from the Pensieve. Dumbledore had taken his seat and was patiently waiting with his fingertips pressed together in a pyramid in front of his nose.

To Harry, it had felt as though he'd waited eons before he heard Draco's voice again.

'It was Healer Audrey! Professor, I need to Floo back to St Mungo's, Healer Audrey was the one to attack Mother!' Draco was panicked, and Harry could only watch as Draco ran around the office in a frenzy, finally settling towards the fireplace and reaching towards Dumbledore's Floo Powder. Dumbledore had risen from his seat and stopped Draco from throwing the powder into the fireplace. Harry was hot on his heels, reaching for Draco so he might reassure him.

'Tell me what you saw, Draco.' Dumbledore said calmly, 'And then I shall go to St Mungo's myself.'

Draco hesitated. Harry stood by his side and comfortingly put one hand on Draco's shoulder, and used his other hand to link their fingers together, rubbing his thumb against the back of Draco's hand. It seemed to be the reassurance that Draco needed.

'I don't know how many witches or wizards there were who attacked her, but there were four spells. Stupefy, Aculeus and Genu recurvatum were the ones I recognised, but Healer Audrey used one I didn't recognise…' Draco tried hard to remember.

'Do you remember any part of the spell, Draco?' Dumbledore asked encouragingly.

'It sounded like Gelat-' Draco couldn't remember the rest, but having the worlds Greatest Wizard on his side meant he didn't need to.

'Gelatacerebrum?' Dumbledore asked softly, sounding almost strained. Draco nodded in recognition.

'Stay here please, gentlemen. I will personally attend to Healer Audrey, and to the care of your Mother, Draco. Feel free to wait here, but under no circumstances are you follow. Is that clear to both of you?' Dumbledore asked, waiting for a nod from both the young men before he Floo'd himself away.

Harry sighed deeply and sat at one of the two chairs opposite Dumbledore's desk. He was exhausted, but he knew he couldn't be anywhere near as tired as Draco, who hadn't slept in two nights.

'Are you going to sit?' Harry asked Draco, who hadn't moved away from where Dumbledore had left him.

'No,' Draco said, his eyes not wavering from the fireplace. Harry sat back in the chair, watching Draco for a few moments.

Draco is so much calmer than I would be if I were in his shoes.

'If anything happened to Molly-'

'Who?' Draco interrupted, still not looking at Harry.

'Mrs Weasley. Ron and Ginny's mum.' Harry waited for Draco to nod in acknowledgement before he continued. 'If anything like this happened to her, I wouldn't be nearly as calm as you. I'd be following Dumbledore and demanding answers.' Harry said casually. Draco snickered.

'And that's why you're in Gryffindor. You're … occasionally reckless.' Draco said, smirking.

'Am not!' Harry said hotly, which only caused Draco to snigger.

'If you weren't, you wouldn't be with me right now, Blaise would be.' Draco pointed out, half turning his face so he could look at Harry out the corner of his eye but still look at the fireplace.

'You can't say I don't admire your occasional recklessness, but if I followed Dumbledore, I would only be in the way. I don't want to risk putting my Mother in more potential danger by slowing Dumbledore down.' Draco turned his face back to the fireplace. Harry didn't know what to say, he knew Draco was right but didn't really want to admit it, so he stayed silent.

Bloody hell.

Harry lost track of how much time had passed, but at some point, he placed his arms on Dumbledore's desk, and rested his head on them. He was just drifting off to sleep when Draco spoke up.

'What about your Aunt and Uncle?'

'What about them?' Harry asked sleepily.

'You said if anything like this happened to the Weasel mother you'd be on a rampage. What about your Aunt and Uncle? Didn't you live with them?' Draco asked, seemingly genuinely curious. Vernon and Petunia's faces swam into Harry's minds eyes, tinted with anger and hurt from his memories.

'Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia never wanted me, and they let me know it. They were relieved when I told them I could move out after Voldemort died.' Harry shrugged, wanting to change the subject.

'I thought anyone would've jumped at the opportunity to raise Harry Potter.' Draco said.

'You do know that the Muggles have no idea who I am, don't you? Besides, my Aunt and Uncle hated magic and so they hated me.' Harry said without emotion. 'I moved into the Burrow-'

'The Burrow?' Draco tried very hard not to sneer, and almost succeeded.

'Yes, the Burrow,' Harry said, bristling. 'The Weasley's house, and the only home, except for Hogwarts, I've ever had.' Neither boy spoke after that, the silence seeming to echo in their ears. Harry's heart was pounding in hurt from Draco's snide comment.

'I'm sorry, I didn't know.' Draco finally said quietly.

'How could you have?' Harry said simply, rising from his chair to stand next to Draco and rest his head on the Slytherin's shoulder. He didn't want to stay mad, not when Draco needed him.

'The Weasley's and my Godfather, Sirius Black, saved me and they took care of me when my Aunt and Uncle didn't. I owe them so much.' Harry told Draco.

'Your Aunt and Uncle didn't take care of you?' Draco demanded. His anger barely controlled. Harry only shrugged, not really answering.

'That's in the past. Molly and Arthur are like my parents. I live with them when Sirius is sent away for work.'

'Sent away?'

'Yeah, he's been in Australia since August. Before that he was in Switzerland for six months. He loves being an Auror though, says it's his calling. Although I think he enjoys meeting women around the world more than his work.' Harry snickered.

Draco was about to respond when the fireplace lit up green, and Dumbledore stepped forward. Harry lifted his head off Draco's shoulder when Draco stepped forward towards Dumbledore expectantly.

'All has been sorted, Draco. Healer Audrey has been collected by the Ministry, and your mother is in safe hands.' Dumbledore looked quite pleased with himself, Harry noticed.

'Is she though?' Draco demanded. 'Healer Audrey was the only person in Mother's memory I saw. I have no idea who cast the other spells!'

Merlin's balls. How many people attacked Mrs Malfoy?!

'With your permission, Draco, I will access your Mother's memory and find the other witches and wizards responsible. I will alert the Ministry and make sure they are found.' Dumbledore said gravely, his gaze unwavering.

Draco glanced at Harry, who nodded reassuringly. Harry trusted Dumbledore to help Draco – he'd always helped Harry, after all, and had never led him astray.

'Alright, Professor.' Draco allowed. 'But you'll keep me updated?' Draco had a slight air of his aristocrat upbringing, a near command instead of a question.

'I wouldn't have it any other way. As soon as I have found all those responsible, I promise to return your mother's memory to you- to do with as you wish. In the meantime, I think it best that you both get some sleep.'

Harry and Draco nodded, and Dumbledore turned to the Pensieve, silently excusing the boys. Harry took Draco's hand and gently led him out of the Headmaster's office.