Disclaimer: Isn't it enough that I bother writing that D-word before anything else in almost anything? I mean, jeez, man…
A/N: (I like to think all my Author's Notes are important pieces of precious knowledge essential to life…yeah right!!! No, but really, I put these here for you guys to read, not to ignore…)
Okay…First stop: Thanks for reviewing, everyone. I'm glad I got a lot of responses that said this was a unique idea. Originally I was thinking of writing a Draco fic in a manner that would just let me drift from one subplot to another, but in the middle of writing it, the idea of making Draco-boy really a muggle came through, so there you have what resulted as my main plot. Hehe. And yeah, I'm pretty sure what I'm writing isn't slash. In fact Blondie-Boy Malfoy here doesn't have a love interest…I'm so sorry! Maybe next time, though. Please give me more constructive criticism; I appreciate your support
Chapter Five: Victory in the Wing
Fun. Yes, Harry supposed you could call it that. It was painful, but fun. Supported by Ron on his right, and Hermione on his left, he limped with a somewhat humble and friendly grin as a parade of Gryffindors flooded the corridor to the Hospital Wing. It was a bright, cheerful day, crowned by the fact that they had won the Quidditch match against the Hufflepuffs.
It was one of the smaller matches, but that made no difference at all. There was still a shower of candies and all sorts of sweets being passed around every person who had agreed to 'help' bring Harry to the Hospital Wing, and a chorus of joy that deafened almost everyone who did not join the small parade. However, the victory had not let Harry's leg escape pain. Sometime when he was diving for the snitch, he had let dangle his leg, and upon catching the golden little ball, had lost his balance and had landed painfully with all his weight on his right leg.
"Ow, Ron! Not too fast, jeez!" Harry continued to laugh, although he was still in pain. Beside him, Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron shrugged. "Well, the faster we get you to the Hospital Wing, the faster you'll heal, anyway."
"Not if you bring me in there dead!!!
"Hey, Ron," Lee shouted from somewhere at the back. "Don't kill our Seeker!"
"I don't plan to! But I could kill you if you wanted!!!"
Hermione shook her head. "Can we keep going now? I don't want Harry to suffer any more pain because of your carelessness, Ron."
"I AM NOT CARELESS!!!"
Harry laughed again. They were almost at the Hospital Wing now, and he braced himself, as the pain grew worse. Fred and George had offered to put him on one of those floating stretchers, but Harry had declined; he had been on those far too many times already. They rounded a corner, and soon reached the double doors that lead to the Wing. A couple of Gryffindors pushed it open, as Ron and Hermione supported Harry.
No sooner had they entered than Madam Pomfrey came bustling in.
"I just knew you were going to be in here!" She said as Harry flopped himself down gently on one of the beds. "Really, can't you be more careful! I can't remember anyone being here as often as you!"
"Nice to see you, too. And don't mind me, I love being in pain, anyway." Harry muttered under his breath, causing Hermione to sigh at him, though she had a small smile on her lips. Ron snickered.
"Well, pal, guess we'll come by later. Don't worry, we'll try not to finish all the sweets." Next came the rest of the Gryffindors, and a few other students from other Houses. They congratulated Harry and were soon on their way out. Soon The Boy Who Lived was left alone with Madam Pomfrey, though at the moment Harry felt quite justified in calling himself The Boy Who Was In Pain.
The next few moments were what he normally expected. Madam Pomfrey examined his leg, touching the area where it hurt, and applying a soothing balm over it. Next came the ghastly potion, which Harry soon found out he would have to take three times a day. However, he felt much better after, and was quite glad of being able to lie down, however much he was getting tired of staying in the Hospital Wing.
"Now you go on and rest, Mr. Potter. And when I say rest I mean no getting up from that bed at all till your leg heals. If you need help with anything, ask me for it, and don't expect me to allow your friends to visit any time today. You'll see them tomorrow, and then you can gorge yourself in those sweets." Madam Pomfrey stared at him with those stern eyes, as if expecting Harry to leap out the window any minute. As soon as she left Harry felt himself relax. Not that he disliked Madam Pomfrey, but it was much easier to relax when you didn't have a nurse who nagged at you and looked just about ready to tie you down one of the Hospital beds.
He looked around carefully before removing his glasses and adjusting his head on his pillow. The beds were lined on the east and west walls, and windows provided just enough sunlight to shower the room. It was quite lonely, and very silent. However, Harry shortly noticed a curtain separating a bed not far from his—in fact his bed was right next to the concealed one, and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before.
He shrugged. Well, whoever it was, Harry thought, he was surely sleeping, and he reminded himself he had to do the same. As if his body recalled all the strain he had put it through with all the practice and flight on his broom, Harry found himself drifting off to sleep.
Draco narrowed his eyes at the curtain that separated his bed from the rest of the Wing, something Snape had requested for him. So…famous Potter was there as well. Draco rolled his eyes and sighed.
Things couldn't get any worse…
When Harry woke up, it was already early afternoon. His stomach was growling, and it was a huge relief to spot a silver tray on the bedside table. Some soup, bread, some potatoes, and a glass of water. He was craving for some tea, but he knew better than to ask for other than that which Madam Pomfrey thought best for him to eat.
He could really use some of those chocolate frogs right now…
However, his stomach was still demanding for some food, and soon he was wolfing down the soup and the bread. He was halfway with his potatoes when he heard Madam Pomfrey screeching loudly at someone.
"Oh, you foolish boy! Trying to get up on your own! I tell you you've no business messing around with that fever of yours! When Professor Snape hears about this…"
And really, Harry could only groan at the next voice that was all too familiar to him.
"I DON'T NEED HELP GOING TO THE BATHROOM!!! I can do it by myself! I already did!!! I've been doing so successfully for more than a decade now!"
The voice drew nearer, and only then did Harry realize that the curtain that kept the bed beside him hidden had been opened. Soon Draco Malfoy walked unsteadily into the room, looker paler than usual.
Harry smiled slyly. "How was the potty, Malfoy?"
The Slytherin glared at him. "Why don't you find out for yourself, Potter? Or do YOU need Madam Pomfrey to help you?"
"No thank you, I'm quite comfortable where I am. Shall I tell Snape how you're faring next time I see him?"
"Like our Head of House would waste his time on some stupid, scar-faced yokel!"
"Well if he wastes his precious time on some spoiled cretin like you, surely he wouldn't mind paying some attention to the more civilized people around him—"
"And unfortunately you're not one of those people, Potter. So until then, stick to your lousy mudblood filled House, full of disgusting, spit-faced, obnoxious little idiots."
With that, and with notable (and freakishly weird, as Harry thought) grace Draco hopped onto his own bed and drew close the curtain.
Harry took a sip of his water. 'And good riddance…'
Professor Severus Snape walked with the usual self-confidence and long strides as he entered the Hospital Wing. It was early, but he wanted to know how Draco was doing before he picked the boy up later at night to bring him back to the Slytherin dormitory. No sooner had he entered, however, when Poppy, her hands on her hips, confronted him.
"Good grief, Poppy! Must you always appear out of nowhere to scare the shit out of people?"
"Only when those people are responsible for the stubborn, hard-headed patients I keep here, Severus, and mind your language."
Severus gritted his teeth, and as was usual when he was dealing with Minerva or any other female co-league clearly out of her incomprehensible mind, he sighed, and decided to change the subject. "Draco has been causing trouble?"
"You could say that. He and Potter have been bickering non-stop. I have half a mind to dose them with some Sleeping Draught to shut them up both, Severus."
Snape ignored her, only to walk past to the next room. His eyes observed the scene before him, and he nodded to himself: The curtains were drawn around Draco's bed, and next to it, Potter lay asleep. "Well, they aren't having a banter now…"
However, he could not shake the feeling that it would have been quite amusing to hear the two boys arguing. Looking behind him briefly and finding that Poppy had gone off somewhere else, he walked stealthily to Draco's bed. As he had guessed the boy was dozing. He touched the boy's forehead to check his temperature, and jumped back somewhat when the boy's eyes flew open.
"Boo," Draco said grimly, watching as the professor narrowed his eyes in frustration.
"Do you mind, Mr. Draco Malfoy? I am trying to figure out whether you are in good condition so I can take you back to your dormitory later," Snape hissed.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I have a slight migraine, thank you very much. However, the muscle pain has lessened considerably. I also believe my fever is not as fierce as it was a while back."
Snape nodded. "Here," He reached deep inside his robes and pulled out Draco's wand. "Try a spell quietly, we'll see if that part of your illness has improved."
Draco eyed the wand. Although he would never admit it to anyone else, he was really quite apprehensive. Trembling a bit, and hoping Snape would think it was because of his weak condition, he reached for his wand and murmured, "Lumos,"
And for the first in a long time, Draco felt relief wash over him as a dim light appeared at the tip of his wand. However, moments later, it wavered weakly and disappeared. He looked at the Potions Master, scowling.
"Don't look at me like that, young man." Snape's voice was a dangerous tone. "That was much better than I expected. I'll give Madam Pomfrey the potion to give you after supper, and you should be back to normal after then, more or less."
"More or less?" It was an effort for Draco not to shout. "What do you mean more or less? Can't you do something—something more solid?"
"Until you know how difficult my job is, and how much care I must exert upon handling this situation with regards to your safety and my sanity, Draco, I suggest you do not gripe about anything more."
The moment Draco's voice came out resigned and almost desperate, the boy felt angry with himself.
"Isn't there anyone you know who can help?"
It was so long before Snape replied that Draco had begun to think he wasn't going to answer.
"You know there is only one man capable of handling this situation better than I could. There is only one other man who can keep this secret safe, as he has done with all my own secrets. Only one very wise and powerful man, Draco."
Draco was chagrined. "I-AM-NOT-GOING-TO-LET-DUMBLEDORE-KNOW-ABOUT-THIS," His whisper was fierce, and clear.
Severus regarded him carefully. "You know there is no other way but to come to him."
It was a few more moments before Draco settled back to his pillows, shaking his head quietly. Severus Snape backed away from the scene, and with the usual flowing robes, exited the Hospital Wing.
Midnight was a perfectly wondrous time to have a cup of tea in Dumbledore's office.
Severus sipped his tea patiently, waiting for the Headmaster to speak.
"You should have told me this sooner, Severus."
The old man's voice was grim and low, his blue eyes shining sadly. Severus sighed. "I am well aware of that, Headmaster. But I could not bring myself to. As time passed by I had thought perhaps there was no need…but now…" He trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
"Severus…this will not be easy. If Mr. Malfoy's body has began to reject magic—"
"Not completely, sir. At least, I do not believe it to be so. The spell he tried at the Wing obviously states he is not as strong as he used to be, but be that as it may, it still signifies he has even the least bit of wizardry in him."
"It might not last forever, Severus."
The Slytherin Head of House gripped his cup tightly before putting it down. "I could keep giving him doses of the potion, that way he could hide it well. The ingredients have a tendency to leave permanent effects. One of those effects may just instill magic in him."
The Headmaster sighed. "The Magician's Serum has powerful ingredients, yes, and their effect on a wizard's body may strengthen his magical abilities. However, you have to remember that Mr. Malfoy is not a wizard. I am worried, Severus. The effects may as well kill him than help him."
"You know Lucius Malfoy would kill him if he found out the truth, Headmaster. Something needs to be done."
The elder man nodded, sighed, and stood to face the window behind his desk, overlooking the lake. "We know that, you and I both. So I assume you also know this: that by the symptoms you told me he had, Draco Malfoy is seriously ill. His body is confused, and does not know whether to function as a normal muggle's body would, or if it will accept the magic it has fed upon all these years. For now, however, the amount of magic has taken its toll on him. His body may start breaking down anytime."
Severus stood to leave. "Then I will make a cure."
"There is already a cure, Severus."
They both stood stock-still, not facing each other. "Then we must get it, Headmaster."
"It is no longer made anywhere, I'm afraid. And the last bottle of it is with only one wizard."
"Then I will find that wizard, Headmaster."
"You have found him already, Severus. You have met him many times. The Dark Lord Voldemort will not give the cure, not even to save the life of one of his faithful Death Eaters' surrogate son."
A/N:
Whew! Okay, I'm done. That thing with Voldemort just popped out of nowhere, I tell you! Please let me know of your opinions/ criticisms. No useless flames, please.