Chapter Thirteen
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Draco lay in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, staring into the darkness. It was quiet, which wasn't surprising considering the lateness (or was it earliness) of the hour, save for Potter's (Harry's) steady breathing from somewhere to his left.
The trip back to Hogwarts, through the forest, had seemed interminable. He had to be carried by Prof. Snape (who didn't seem to trust himself to perform any magic) due to his ankle. And in the eerily quiet of the forest he had felt despair like he'd never experienced it before.
Once his numb mind had comprehended that it was a very good possibility that he could be permanently blind Draco had been swamped by a myriad of emotions.
At first he was certain he was trapped in some incredibly vivid dream or the victim of some cruel yet spectacular prank. But the very real aches and pains put to rest the dream theory. And no one hated him enough to such an evil trick on him. Right? He wasn't that distasteful a person. Was he? Besides, no one would dare risk his wrath. Wouldn't they?
But once the chilling reality finally sunk in he started to pray to whatever god would listen. Something he'd never done before. Promising to give his substantial inheritance to orphans if that's what it took to get his sight back.
But that proved fruitless. He wasn't a religious person and pleading with unknown higher deities brought him little comfort.
Anger consumed him then. Powerful and almost frightening in it's intensity. It seemed to feed him strength. He was angry with everyone by that point. Everyone who would see the sunrise come morning while he was permanently exiled to a world of darkness.
He cursed his helplessness and wanted to strike out.
And at no one more than the man he had once held in such high regard.
Professor Snape whose pettiness and carelessness maimed him for life. All those childish humiliations he had thought of earlier as ways of revenge seemed more than pale in comparison to what Draco wanted to do to Snape now.
But his strength born from rage was fleeting and his exhaustion returned. With it came a potent sense of anguish and loss as he thought of what had been taken away from him. And he realized how he had taken his sight for granted.
He was in that state of mind when they had finally reached the school, the return trip free of any further altercation (which seemed to go against the theme of the evening).
Draco had been barely aware when they entered the building, lost in his own misery. Not realizing he'd been deposited in the Hospital Wing until he heard Madam Pomphrey's gently chastising voice. Her words barely registering through the fog of his mind.
"What have you boys gotten into this time?" She said as she fussed over him for a bit before moving off somewhere.
Her next words though brought Draco out of his stupor.
"I don't know how you two managed to do this. Robbing another of his senses is tricky business, but luckily for you I have just the thing to set you both right."
Her words were like a bucket of freezing water being dumped over him. Why would she think he and Potter were responsible for their respective conditions?
Of course, Snape.
Draco remembered that stupid deal they had made. Obviously the teacher had held them to their word. He wondered where the man was now. If only he had his wand. (Was he ever going to get it back?)
But his anger was short lived as the rest of her words finally sunk in.
The nurse was trying to explain herself to an unhearing Harry when Draco interrupted her.
"You'll be able to fix us?" He asked almost fearfully, hoping he hadn't misheard her.
"That's what I said Mr. Malfoy." Pomphrey responded somewhat curtly.
Relief coursed through Draco's body as though it were a physical entity. All he could think of was that he'd be healed. His sight would be returned to him. It looked like those orphans would be getting a fortune sometime in the near future.
He felt such a rush of gratitude towards Madam Pomphrey. Having the urge to propose marriage to the one who'll perform this miracle.
Both he and Harry had been fed some vile tasting medicine and were now waiting for it to work it's magic.
As he lay quietly on a hospital bed waiting for his sight to return and his ankle to fully heal Draco felt sleep beckoning. But he couldn't seem to drift off. The events of the night kept going over and over in his mind.
Foremost in his mind was Harry. The boy who he had always considered an enemy had saved Draco's life. Even though Draco couldn't say he would have done the same if the situation had been reversed, as he was certain Harry was more than well aware of. That coupled with the amazing show of power Harry had displayed earlier was enough to force Draco to reconsider his opinion of the other boy. One almost bordering on reverence.
But did that change everything or nothing? When they awoke in the morning would they be at each other's throats as usual or would they be able to hold a civil conversation.
Draco was fairly certain that they could never be the best of friends, they were just too different, but was the constant animosity over?
Suddenly he couldn't stand the silence anymore. He had to talk to Harry, whose hearing was hopefully returned enough to hear him. He had to find out where they stood.
"Pot - Harry?" He called out tentatively.
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Harry thought that he'd be able to sleep for a week after what he and Draco had endured but even as he lay safe and warm in the school's hospital wing he realized he was too restless to sleep. He was busy listening anxiously as sound slowly returned to him.
He barely remembered returning to Hogwarts. The trip back seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye and in a complete blur. Again the feeling of being trapped in a bizarre (and vivid) dream had returned to him.
But for the most part he'd been numb. His body running on autopilot while his mind was frozen with shock. He couldn't believe his deafness could be permanent. Even less believable was that the usually unflappable Prof. Snape could make such a grievous mistake. As much as Harry didn't like the man he did have a sort of begrudging respect for him and the things he'd done. But he never thought him capable of this.
Snape had disappeared once Harry and Draco had been delivered to the school nurse and Harry distantly wondered what the teacher had told Madam Pomphrey.
But he was brought back to earth when, after a few minutes of trying to comprehend with unhearing ears what Pomphrey was trying to tell him, that he deafness was curable.
So he chocked down the disgusting tasting stuff he was given and now he waited. His ears straining as sounds returned to him. It was like cotton was slowly being pulled from his ears.
He risked a glance towards Draco.
Or should he go back to calling him Malfoy? Was the camaraderie between them over now that they'd escaped from the forest?
Harry felt a twinge of sadness at that thought. He didn't want to go back to detesting each other. To the insults and the arguments. It was all just so tiring and repetitive.
While Harry didn't mind a little competition he despised the tension that always prevailed around them.
He wanted to speak to Draco, see how the other felt, but he hesitated.
He couldn't see the other boy's face in the darkened room so he didn't know whether he was awake. He knew what he wanted to say but he wasn't sure that he wanted hear the response.
Harry repressed a sigh of frustration. Maybe it would just be easier to let things go back to how they were. They would certainly have a hard time getting their other friends to understand any gracious feelings they had for each other.
He was about to put the matter to rest and give in to the now insistent pull of sleep when a voice cut through the silence.
It still sounded muffled to his ears and like it was coming from a great distance but Harry couldn't mistake the sound of his own name.
And since there was only one other person in the room, (Madam Pomphrey had disappeared shortly after administering that medicine), there was no mistaking who had spoken.
Encouraged somewhat by Draco's use of his first name Harry got up and went to him.
"Mal - Draco?" He said, still hesitant. Tripping a bit over the name.
This close Harry could see Draco's face. He noticed the other boy's eyes were returning to their normal grey.
Draco seemed to hesitate as he squinted up at him.
"Can you hear me?" Draco asked uncertainly.
Harry gave him was he hoped was a smile of reassurance as he nodded.
"Yes, it's not perfect yet but the medicine seems to be working."
They sunk into an awkward silence after that, looking everywhere but at each other. Each trying to figure out what to say.
Draco looked quite unnerved by the uncomfortable moment. He seemed almost to be struggling with something. But then it had passed, the classic Malfoy sneer marred Draco's features and Harry felt his heart sink.
"Are you just going to stand there all night Potter?" Draco spat, voice full of the venom Harry had come to expect from him.
Shaking his head in a mixture of disgust and regret Harry turned back to his own bed, deciding not to mention that Draco had been the one who spoke to him first. He was a fool to have expected anything different from a Malfoy.
"Wait!"
Harry paused, not turning around, wondering if his still dodgy hearing had cased him to mishear the plea in Draco's voice.
"I - I'm sorry." Another awkward pause. Harry was so shocked by the impromptu apology and change in tone he didn't think to ask what Draco was sorry for.
"I just - I want.. I mean.." Draco spluttered.
Harry had to turn and look at him. He could only stand there dumbly as Draco seemed to fumble for the right words.
The other boy took what Harry supposed was a calming breath and looked him right in the eye.
"Thank you." He stated simply.
It was so heartfelt and sincere Harry couldn't doubt him. Draco Malfoy was showing him honest gratitude and Harry was flabbergasted.
Paying no heed to Harry's stunned silence Draco plunged on.
"I know I've been really awful to you in the past and I wasn't very helpful tonight but you still wouldn't leave me behind. You saved my life Harry." Draco was a picture of rare humility. "And I'm grateful."
Harry could only gape at him like a fish out of water, at a total loss for words.
A flash of hurt passed over Draco's face before it was promptly hidden behind a cool indifference. He was about to turn away when Harry spoke.
"Don't mention it."
He mentally kicked himself, now that was lame. Okay, so he'd never had a way with words but Draco seemed appeased.
The other boy gave Harry a somewhat cheeky half smile.
"I guess it actually worked in my favour that you always have to be the hero." Draco chided playfully.
Harry shot back, just as playfully, "I just can't help myself. Even if the damsel-in-distress is you."
Draco pursed his lips at being referred to as a "damsel", but let loose a somewhat forced chuckle anyway.
Harry made his way back to bed and they both lay in companionable silence for a while.
Harry listened as his hearing became clearer and mused on the strange friendship developing between he and Draco.
He was a bit surprised when Draco spoke again.
"How'd you do it?" Came the whispered question from the bed next to his. "Kill those monsters I mean."
Harry explained to him what he did and Draco was fascinated.
Growing up surround by magic Draco must have taken for granted that it wasn't always there. And that there was non-conventional ways of using it.
They spent the rest of the night talking about almost everything. But it wasn't until dawn when the question that been bothering them both was finally asked.
"So what happens when we leave here?" Harry asked, "When we go back to our everyday lives?"
Draco sighed, sounded a bit defeated. "I don't know."
Harry turned towards him and met his intense gaze.
"But I know this," Draco continued, "I'll never forget this night. And what you did for me."
That would have to do Harry supposed.
There was one more issue Harry realized they hadn't addressed yet.
"What are we going to do about Snape?"
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A/N: Argh! Writer's block sucks! That's why this chapter took so long. That and I'm no good at writing dialogue. Only one more chapter to go though and hopefully it'll conclude everything nicely and answer any unanswered questions.
Thanks to: Talmahoy; monkee-maimer; venus4280; zeynel; Jess Scefing (thanks for pointing out that mistake!); Cypress The Faithfulness; Aenea; mystic- flower; S. Wing; simmysim
For your reviews and support :o)
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Draco lay in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, staring into the darkness. It was quiet, which wasn't surprising considering the lateness (or was it earliness) of the hour, save for Potter's (Harry's) steady breathing from somewhere to his left.
The trip back to Hogwarts, through the forest, had seemed interminable. He had to be carried by Prof. Snape (who didn't seem to trust himself to perform any magic) due to his ankle. And in the eerily quiet of the forest he had felt despair like he'd never experienced it before.
Once his numb mind had comprehended that it was a very good possibility that he could be permanently blind Draco had been swamped by a myriad of emotions.
At first he was certain he was trapped in some incredibly vivid dream or the victim of some cruel yet spectacular prank. But the very real aches and pains put to rest the dream theory. And no one hated him enough to such an evil trick on him. Right? He wasn't that distasteful a person. Was he? Besides, no one would dare risk his wrath. Wouldn't they?
But once the chilling reality finally sunk in he started to pray to whatever god would listen. Something he'd never done before. Promising to give his substantial inheritance to orphans if that's what it took to get his sight back.
But that proved fruitless. He wasn't a religious person and pleading with unknown higher deities brought him little comfort.
Anger consumed him then. Powerful and almost frightening in it's intensity. It seemed to feed him strength. He was angry with everyone by that point. Everyone who would see the sunrise come morning while he was permanently exiled to a world of darkness.
He cursed his helplessness and wanted to strike out.
And at no one more than the man he had once held in such high regard.
Professor Snape whose pettiness and carelessness maimed him for life. All those childish humiliations he had thought of earlier as ways of revenge seemed more than pale in comparison to what Draco wanted to do to Snape now.
But his strength born from rage was fleeting and his exhaustion returned. With it came a potent sense of anguish and loss as he thought of what had been taken away from him. And he realized how he had taken his sight for granted.
He was in that state of mind when they had finally reached the school, the return trip free of any further altercation (which seemed to go against the theme of the evening).
Draco had been barely aware when they entered the building, lost in his own misery. Not realizing he'd been deposited in the Hospital Wing until he heard Madam Pomphrey's gently chastising voice. Her words barely registering through the fog of his mind.
"What have you boys gotten into this time?" She said as she fussed over him for a bit before moving off somewhere.
Her next words though brought Draco out of his stupor.
"I don't know how you two managed to do this. Robbing another of his senses is tricky business, but luckily for you I have just the thing to set you both right."
Her words were like a bucket of freezing water being dumped over him. Why would she think he and Potter were responsible for their respective conditions?
Of course, Snape.
Draco remembered that stupid deal they had made. Obviously the teacher had held them to their word. He wondered where the man was now. If only he had his wand. (Was he ever going to get it back?)
But his anger was short lived as the rest of her words finally sunk in.
The nurse was trying to explain herself to an unhearing Harry when Draco interrupted her.
"You'll be able to fix us?" He asked almost fearfully, hoping he hadn't misheard her.
"That's what I said Mr. Malfoy." Pomphrey responded somewhat curtly.
Relief coursed through Draco's body as though it were a physical entity. All he could think of was that he'd be healed. His sight would be returned to him. It looked like those orphans would be getting a fortune sometime in the near future.
He felt such a rush of gratitude towards Madam Pomphrey. Having the urge to propose marriage to the one who'll perform this miracle.
Both he and Harry had been fed some vile tasting medicine and were now waiting for it to work it's magic.
As he lay quietly on a hospital bed waiting for his sight to return and his ankle to fully heal Draco felt sleep beckoning. But he couldn't seem to drift off. The events of the night kept going over and over in his mind.
Foremost in his mind was Harry. The boy who he had always considered an enemy had saved Draco's life. Even though Draco couldn't say he would have done the same if the situation had been reversed, as he was certain Harry was more than well aware of. That coupled with the amazing show of power Harry had displayed earlier was enough to force Draco to reconsider his opinion of the other boy. One almost bordering on reverence.
But did that change everything or nothing? When they awoke in the morning would they be at each other's throats as usual or would they be able to hold a civil conversation.
Draco was fairly certain that they could never be the best of friends, they were just too different, but was the constant animosity over?
Suddenly he couldn't stand the silence anymore. He had to talk to Harry, whose hearing was hopefully returned enough to hear him. He had to find out where they stood.
"Pot - Harry?" He called out tentatively.
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Harry thought that he'd be able to sleep for a week after what he and Draco had endured but even as he lay safe and warm in the school's hospital wing he realized he was too restless to sleep. He was busy listening anxiously as sound slowly returned to him.
He barely remembered returning to Hogwarts. The trip back seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye and in a complete blur. Again the feeling of being trapped in a bizarre (and vivid) dream had returned to him.
But for the most part he'd been numb. His body running on autopilot while his mind was frozen with shock. He couldn't believe his deafness could be permanent. Even less believable was that the usually unflappable Prof. Snape could make such a grievous mistake. As much as Harry didn't like the man he did have a sort of begrudging respect for him and the things he'd done. But he never thought him capable of this.
Snape had disappeared once Harry and Draco had been delivered to the school nurse and Harry distantly wondered what the teacher had told Madam Pomphrey.
But he was brought back to earth when, after a few minutes of trying to comprehend with unhearing ears what Pomphrey was trying to tell him, that he deafness was curable.
So he chocked down the disgusting tasting stuff he was given and now he waited. His ears straining as sounds returned to him. It was like cotton was slowly being pulled from his ears.
He risked a glance towards Draco.
Or should he go back to calling him Malfoy? Was the camaraderie between them over now that they'd escaped from the forest?
Harry felt a twinge of sadness at that thought. He didn't want to go back to detesting each other. To the insults and the arguments. It was all just so tiring and repetitive.
While Harry didn't mind a little competition he despised the tension that always prevailed around them.
He wanted to speak to Draco, see how the other felt, but he hesitated.
He couldn't see the other boy's face in the darkened room so he didn't know whether he was awake. He knew what he wanted to say but he wasn't sure that he wanted hear the response.
Harry repressed a sigh of frustration. Maybe it would just be easier to let things go back to how they were. They would certainly have a hard time getting their other friends to understand any gracious feelings they had for each other.
He was about to put the matter to rest and give in to the now insistent pull of sleep when a voice cut through the silence.
It still sounded muffled to his ears and like it was coming from a great distance but Harry couldn't mistake the sound of his own name.
And since there was only one other person in the room, (Madam Pomphrey had disappeared shortly after administering that medicine), there was no mistaking who had spoken.
Encouraged somewhat by Draco's use of his first name Harry got up and went to him.
"Mal - Draco?" He said, still hesitant. Tripping a bit over the name.
This close Harry could see Draco's face. He noticed the other boy's eyes were returning to their normal grey.
Draco seemed to hesitate as he squinted up at him.
"Can you hear me?" Draco asked uncertainly.
Harry gave him was he hoped was a smile of reassurance as he nodded.
"Yes, it's not perfect yet but the medicine seems to be working."
They sunk into an awkward silence after that, looking everywhere but at each other. Each trying to figure out what to say.
Draco looked quite unnerved by the uncomfortable moment. He seemed almost to be struggling with something. But then it had passed, the classic Malfoy sneer marred Draco's features and Harry felt his heart sink.
"Are you just going to stand there all night Potter?" Draco spat, voice full of the venom Harry had come to expect from him.
Shaking his head in a mixture of disgust and regret Harry turned back to his own bed, deciding not to mention that Draco had been the one who spoke to him first. He was a fool to have expected anything different from a Malfoy.
"Wait!"
Harry paused, not turning around, wondering if his still dodgy hearing had cased him to mishear the plea in Draco's voice.
"I - I'm sorry." Another awkward pause. Harry was so shocked by the impromptu apology and change in tone he didn't think to ask what Draco was sorry for.
"I just - I want.. I mean.." Draco spluttered.
Harry had to turn and look at him. He could only stand there dumbly as Draco seemed to fumble for the right words.
The other boy took what Harry supposed was a calming breath and looked him right in the eye.
"Thank you." He stated simply.
It was so heartfelt and sincere Harry couldn't doubt him. Draco Malfoy was showing him honest gratitude and Harry was flabbergasted.
Paying no heed to Harry's stunned silence Draco plunged on.
"I know I've been really awful to you in the past and I wasn't very helpful tonight but you still wouldn't leave me behind. You saved my life Harry." Draco was a picture of rare humility. "And I'm grateful."
Harry could only gape at him like a fish out of water, at a total loss for words.
A flash of hurt passed over Draco's face before it was promptly hidden behind a cool indifference. He was about to turn away when Harry spoke.
"Don't mention it."
He mentally kicked himself, now that was lame. Okay, so he'd never had a way with words but Draco seemed appeased.
The other boy gave Harry a somewhat cheeky half smile.
"I guess it actually worked in my favour that you always have to be the hero." Draco chided playfully.
Harry shot back, just as playfully, "I just can't help myself. Even if the damsel-in-distress is you."
Draco pursed his lips at being referred to as a "damsel", but let loose a somewhat forced chuckle anyway.
Harry made his way back to bed and they both lay in companionable silence for a while.
Harry listened as his hearing became clearer and mused on the strange friendship developing between he and Draco.
He was a bit surprised when Draco spoke again.
"How'd you do it?" Came the whispered question from the bed next to his. "Kill those monsters I mean."
Harry explained to him what he did and Draco was fascinated.
Growing up surround by magic Draco must have taken for granted that it wasn't always there. And that there was non-conventional ways of using it.
They spent the rest of the night talking about almost everything. But it wasn't until dawn when the question that been bothering them both was finally asked.
"So what happens when we leave here?" Harry asked, "When we go back to our everyday lives?"
Draco sighed, sounded a bit defeated. "I don't know."
Harry turned towards him and met his intense gaze.
"But I know this," Draco continued, "I'll never forget this night. And what you did for me."
That would have to do Harry supposed.
There was one more issue Harry realized they hadn't addressed yet.
"What are we going to do about Snape?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~
A/N: Argh! Writer's block sucks! That's why this chapter took so long. That and I'm no good at writing dialogue. Only one more chapter to go though and hopefully it'll conclude everything nicely and answer any unanswered questions.
Thanks to: Talmahoy; monkee-maimer; venus4280; zeynel; Jess Scefing (thanks for pointing out that mistake!); Cypress The Faithfulness; Aenea; mystic- flower; S. Wing; simmysim
For your reviews and support :o)