Chapter Three
It had been almost three days since Harry had sealed himself away. Dumbledore had done everything he could, but his magic was rejected no matter how powerful the spell. He needed Harry and by this point was desperate to get him back. He'd figure out what was happening in that boy's head at later time. Right now, they needed to get Harry out of that blasted cocoon or soon he'd die from dehydration or magical exhaustion. There was no telling how draining such an impenetrable barrier was. So he did the only thing he could. He sent Severus for Draco Malfoy.
It was close to five o'clock when Severus brought back a sneering Draco. The blonde was obviously miffed about being kidnapped by his godfather. He was in mid-rant, demanding to know what was going on, when they reached the basement door. Severus opened it, not saying a word to his godson. Draco stopped in mid threat and stared into the filthy, dark room.
"You are sorely mistaken if you think I will go down there!" Draco sneered and backed away.
"You will go down there this instant!" Severus yelled, almost hysterically. The past few days had been very hard on the man and he was at the very end if his mental rope. Draco gulped and hurried down the rickety steps, muttering under his breath that he was amazed they didn't collapse under his meager weight.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore rumbled tiredly.
"Headmaster." Draco returned with a frown. He would have stopped at the last step, but Severus pushed him the rest of the way until he was standing before the ancient wizard. "My father knows of this?"
"He does not." Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid, I need your help."
"And you brought me here to ask for a favor?" Draco drawled, stuffing his hands deep into his school robes.
"I did, indeed. It seems you hold some weight with someone who has barricaded themselves into an earth sphere. I fear only you will be able to coax him out."
"An earth elemental?" Draco asked, suddenly intrigued. It was well known that he was very interested in the rare wizard elementals born.
"Yes." Dumbledore gestured behind him and Draco saw it.
He strode forward. His hair was short, bangs just brushing his slender eyebrows. His face was shaved and he stood at an impressive six foot for a sixteen year old. He was slender and muscled, but not bulky. A warrior and an aristocrat. His blue eyes were sharp and intelligent, his bottom lip was easily given to pouting, but it was doing nothing of the sort now. He stalked around the barrier. It felt strangely familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. He tapped a few times, but it didn't give an inch.
"Who's in there?"
Dumbledore hesitated, "… Harry Potter."
"Harry Potter?" Draco froze, certain a joke was being played, but the adults were very serious. "And why the bloody hell do you think I can convince him to come out? If he even is the real Harry Potter and not an old man's wishful thinking."
Dumbledore didn't react to the jab, but Severus opened his mouth to reprimand his godson. Dumbledore stopped him with a gesture and instead spoke to the blonde. "He asked for you by name."
Draco felt like sputtering, but kept himself in control. Great. Just bloody great. The mystery of the wizarding world and their one possible savior, mostly believed to be a myth, and he suddenly reappears, calling for him of all people. He took a deep breath and placed both hands on the earth sphere.
"Harry?" He called, feeling moronic, and as he was want to do, hid his uncertainty in sarcasm. "This is Draco Malfoy. You called?"
…
Harry was unaware of the time passing, but Guardian wasn't as ignorant. He knew well enough that Harry would soon drain himself into an empty corpse, and to add to his frustration, Harry wouldn't fall into a sleep where he could pull Draco to them. No. Harry floated in a half-aware state. Not even up for conversation from his Guardian. But all that changed when he felt a familiar touch at the earth shield Harry had erected. Draco Malfoy was here. Finally, he seethed. Now to drag his host back to the world of the living and kick his ass into motion.
Harry, I know you can hear me. You have to get up. The pup is here. No response. Well, guess I have to bring in the big guns, Guardian thought and immediately grimaced. He was spending way too much time allowing himself to be influenced by these pathetic muggles. Harry, if you don't wake up. I will die and never come back. The memories of your parents will go with me and you will be all alone.
"Wha…" Harry croaked through a too dry throat.
I'm sorry, Harry. I can't help you anymore. Thank you for being my friend. I will never forget you. Remember me.
"No!" The boy struggled to uncurl, to get his body working again. "No…wait…Guardian!"
I'm still here. He assured his panicking host. He hated to do it, but it was the only thing that would get the boy moving.
"Good." Harry sighed. "Stay."
Harry, you have to let go of the earth or I will die.
"But, Guardian. The pain…"
Is gone. Pup is right out side. Waiting to meet you.
"Really?" Harry asked, suddenly excited. The earth began to crumble away. "Thank you, Guardian!"
…
"Well, that didn't work." Draco turned an annoyed look on the adults.
"Try again." Dumbledore ordered.
Draco hated to be ordered around in the best of times, and he wasn't in the best of moods, having been drug from Hogwarts dorms without being given an explanation and brought to a place completely foreign to him. He spun around and kicked the shield hard. "Come out, come out, wherever you are, Harry! These imbeciles want you."
He almost screamed like girl when the earth began to crumble and part. As it was, he choked on some spit and scrambled back. Dumbledore stood straighter and Severus tensed up like a coiled spring. And suddenly Draco appreciated that they really believed they were dealing with the real Harry Potter. He swallowed hard and watched in horror as the child that had saved them all, and was needed to do so again, stood up out of his crouched position. He was covered in dirt, was small and starved and scarred. His hair was wild and so tangled several birds must surely live there. He was a very sad sight indeed.
"I don't see him, Guardian." A hoarse, but promisingly beautiful voice rasped suspiciously.
The boy cocked his head as if he heard an answer and turned to look behind him and up into Draco's eyes. Draco loudly gasped. Those eyes were so bright and excited, so very beautiful and heartbreakingly familiar. He knew those eyes. He knew them from his dreams. They were in the face of a young magnificent stallion, and Draco now knew where Harry Potter knew him from. He felt a smile stretch his face almost unwillingly before he gave in and gave the boy before him a toothy grin. Harry squealed with joy and jumped into the blonde's arms. Dumbledore and Severus watched with awe.
"I can't believe you're really here!" Harry cried and began jumping up and down, bouncing around the Slytherin.
"You're shocked! How bout me! You never told me who you were!"
"Couldn't!" Harry laughed joyfully. "You know that. Guardian said no outside information!"
"He should be a mother hen." Draco laughed and spun the boy. "I was about to think I'd made you up all these years."
"Oh, no!" Harry laughed and stilled, allowing the blonde to hold him in a tight hung. "I'm real. You look just how I thought you would." He pulled his head back and wrinkled his nose. "Well, you are a bit taller than I guessed."
"Well, you look nothing like how I pictured!" Draco mock scolded. "Harry Potter, you need a bath!"
"Ahem." Dumbledore cleared his throat.
Harry reacted immediately. He jumped in fright and dove behind the blonde, the earth trembling with his sudden terror. Draco reacted before he could think about it and snarled at the adults. But he quickly reigned in his reaction and cleared his own throat.
"Um, Harry? Why are you afraid?"
"Bad, bad, bad." Harry told him, still huddled at his back and trembling. "They want to take me away from my safe basement. Old one hurt me. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt. I hid and didn't come out till Guardian told me you were here."
Draco frowned at this speech. How did Harry go from being intelligent, to this mad ramble? He looked to the adults for answers; his blue eyes were even more guarded than before.
"It seems Harry has been locked down here for four years, never once stepping outside. As you can see there is no shower or toilet. I assume the earth drags away his waste as it does not smell." Dumbledore explained. "The people he lived with were very abusive and something even worse happened that made them move here. That is why we couldn't find them. That and Harry's soul is no longer his own, and thus is immune to tracking or finding spells."
"What do you mean?" Draco demanded, pulling Harry to his side protectively as he heard what his only true friend had gone through.
"It seems Voldemort lives on in Harry." Dumbledore said gravely.
Draco gasped and spun to face Harry, his hands gripping tightly to the teen's bony shoulders. "Is that true?"
"I don't know." Harry shook his head, eye wide. "Guardian? Are you this Voldemort person?"
I don't know either, Harry. I can't remember anything before I came to you.
"He can't remember anything before he came to me, Draco. I had to name him and everything. Sometimes he'll just know stuff, like a spell or a game like chess, but nothing of himself really. He helps me remember being a baby. I have all that really clear, but I guess he can't do the same for himself."
"You mean they think Guardian is Voldemort?" Draco frowned.
"Yeah. But I don't think they like this Voldemort."
Draco turned back to the adults. "Look, I know Harry's Guardian. He watched over both of us. If he had once been the Dark Lord, he no longer is anything of that person."
Though, I like that title. Guardian said slyly. I think I will have you call me that from now on.
"Shut up." Harry giggled. "Now's not the time for jokes. Draco's having a serious conversation."
"Harry." Draco turned blue eyes on his friend. "I can hear you."
"Then you know I'm on your side." Harry smiled.
Draco shook his head with a smile.
"We need to get Harry to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "Can you manage that?"
"I don't want to go. Stay here with me and Guardian, Draco. I don't like them. No, no, no."
"I'm taking it that you do that repetitive thing when you're upset, huh?" Draco sighed. "We're going to have to get you out of that habit. It's disturbing to say the least."
"So you'll stay?" Harry perked up happily.
You'll be fine. Pup's with you. Don't be difficult, Harry.
"Sorry to say, but you need to come." Draco answered. "The bad old man won't hurt you again while I'm around. I swear. You trust me, don't you, Harry?"
"Yes. But you have to swear you won't leave me. Not even once!" Harry demanded. "I'm scared of them. They hurt me and they're taking me away."
"I won't leave you, Harry." Draco promised, running a thumb down Harry's dirty cheek. "Come with me?"
"Okay."
Have him carry you. You'll panic otherwise. The open sky will terrify you.
"But I've seen it in my dreams lots of times!" Harry protested.
It's not the same, Harry.
"Oh, alright. Carry me, Draco."
Draco laughed. "Already giving me commands?"
"Guardian said you have to." Harry explained.
"Well, in that case." Draco smirked and carefully bent to pick the teenager up bridal style. "Harry, no offense, but you need to eat more. You are way too light."
"Okay." Harry agreed easily and snuggled into Draco's chest until he was comfortable. "I like you like this. Human, I mean."
"I'll like you better after a bath." Draco chuckled and it made Harry giggle as he felt Draco's deep voice through his wide chest.
The Guardian turned out to be correct. As soon as Draco apperated to the edge of Hogwart's property, Harry jerked and whined in fear. The dirt swirled around them and arched above them, trying to form a shield or walls to give the boy some bearings, but Draco calmed him with words and touch and they made their way up to the school. Guardian helped too and soon Harry was in a warm fuzzy place where hysteria couldn't touch him.
"Oh, very nice." He murmured as they entered the school. "It's a real castle inside as well as outside."
"Of course, Harry." Draco scoffed gently. "It wasn't putting on a show for you."
"Maybe later then." Harry shrugged.
"I think I'll put you two in a guest room with a private bath." Dumbledore spoke up while he motioned the other adults away. "I don't want Harry in Slytherin dorms, or any dorm for that matter."
"That will be fine." Draco agreed and nodded for the old man to lead the way.
I need to talk to the pup, Harry. We need to work something out to where other people can hear me too.
"This place is magic, so it can't be too hard." Harry reassured, even petting thin air as if it were his friend. Draco looked down at him with an eyebrow cocked curiously. "Guardian's pouting that you can't hear him. He wants something to be done for that."
"We'll have to work on it." Draco frowned. "Don't know if it's possible or even if I want to. He can be quite pushy."
You'll think I'm pushy when I bite your tail off, you little…
"Now, now." Harry laughed. "That wouldn't be very nice."
"I don't want to know." Draco groaned.
"Here we are." Dumbledore said and the painting he gestured to swung open.
It revealed a very nice sitting room. The floor carpeted in a dark green, the walls cream, with a marble fireplace. The furniture was a light, golden color. Draco put a squirming Harry down and followed his friend into a bedroom. There were two beds. Both were an identical midnight blue with stone walls and cream carpeting. Harry went to bounce on his bed, but Draco caught him easily by the waist.
"Oh no you don't. Bath first." Draco carried the laughing Harry into the bathroom.
It was beautiful. The large marble tub was a soft pink and white and the tiles on the floor and walls was the color inside of a shell. There was a shower and a toilet. Draco was impressed. Harry began shedding his outgrown rags and got in the tub. Draco waited, but the teen didn't do anything else.
"You do remember how to take a bath?"
Really need to talk to pup. Guardian grumbled.
"Nope. Dursley's always drew them for me when I was little and then I was in my basement."
"Okaaaay." Draco drawled and turned on the water.
He let Harry feel it and tell him when it was a temperature he liked. The black haired teen cupped his hands and drank several mouthfuls and after each one telling Draco whether it was still too hot or cold. When Harry found a temperature he liked and was no longer thirty, Draco let the tub fill. He used his wand to make cherry bubbles appear. Harry laughed with delight and kept trying to talk Draco into getting in with him. The blonde laughed and said he might another day. Harry let him off the hook in favor of trying the many shampoos and soaps.
"This feels good." Harry cooed.
"Good." Draco smiled and then grew stern. "Make sure he is completely clean, Guardian."
I will…. Oh, heaven. He purred, thoroughly enjoying the experience as much as Harry.
Harry burst into peals of laughter.
"I don't want to know." Draco shook his head and stood.
"Where are you going?" Hale demanded, instantly tense.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore, make sure he leaves us alone for a bit." Draco explained. "You'll be fine. I'll be right back. Nothing can get to you in here. First they'd have to go through the sitting room and then the bedroom, and I'll be in the way."
It's fine, Harry. You can defend yourself, you know. Besides we can surprise the pup on how well you clean up. If he watches, it won't be the same.
"If you say so." Harry murmured unsure.
"I do." Draco grinned a wolfish grin. "I'll be right back."
The blonde left the bathroom door open and the bedroom door. Dumbledore was standing by the fireplace, a small fire now burning contentedly. The old man turned to face the young Slytherin.
"He's doing well. But I think he'll need a day or two to get use to this." Draco said before the Headmaster could question.
"I understand. But know, young Malfoy, that Harry is important to us all and not just you. We will want full reports of his progress and all of the past history you glean from him. We need to know how best to help him. I've already made a mistake with him. We can't make any more. His sanity is a fragile thing right now."
"I know." Draco said seriously. "I will tell you what I can."
"About Voldemort, if it is as he says and he doesn't remember anything of his existence before he possessed Harry, I'm sure no action will be taken against him. But you must understand we have to be sure. We are facing a great darkness. We can't have another add to that."
"Can you make it so we can hear him?"
"Maybe. Try and find out as much as you can about his relationship with Harry."
"Thank you for the rooms. They are beautiful."
"You are free from classes, training, and the war until further notice. Harry is your first and only priority now."
Draco nodded stiffly. He hated it. His house looked to him for leadership, though he wasn't the only Slytherin leader. They would survive without him, but he'd still worry. But Harry needed him, and he had to tend to his friend. The boy had kept him sane during the hell life had become. He was the only light spot, the only hope, the only refuge. He couldn't turn his back on the debt. Harry had saved him from committing suicide and he could never repay that.
"Sleep well and contact me soon." Dumbledore said as he left.
Draco sighed and went back to the bathroom. He stopped halfway there. From the now open window, a thick line of dirt trailed across the room. Draco followed it and found a fairly large pile sitting in the middle of the bathroom. Harry was oblivious, humming and splashing, covered in suds.
"What's this?" Draco asked.
Green eyes found his and they brightened with a smile, "Earth. I like it near me. I feel safe and happy."
Draco sighed a long suffering sigh and rolled up his shirt sleeves, "You about done?"
"Yep. Guardian says I just need to rinse off." Harry dunked himself a few times until the soap was gone and Draco magically drained the tub. "Do I clean up nice?"
Draco laughed and wrapped his friend up in a large fluffy towel. "Let me brush out your hair and I'll let you know."
The blonde led the teen into the bedroom and sat Harry down on one of the beds. The dirt didn't follow them and Harry explained that the bathroom pile would always stay in the bathroom. They didn't need any in the bedroom because of the window, but another would find its way into the sitting room. Draco refrained from forbidding this, but it was hard. Instead, he got on the bed and had Harry turn his back to him. It took almost two hours to get all the tangles out of the teen's hair, but it was worth it. It lay in a shimmering curtain to Harry's waist.
"You clean up beautifully." Draco whispered.
Harry's pale face, angular, almost gaunt, smiled up at him with full lips, a button nose, and arched eye brows. Not to mention the emerald eyes. Add the long hair and Harry really was a sight, like a dryad. Draco imagined green leaves and a butterfly costume for the boy and it was more than fitting.
Shaking free of his thoughts, he braided Harry's hair gently, so it wouldn't get tangled while Harry slept. Harry was half-asleep by this point and had decided he very much liked his hair to be brushed. Draco told the drowsy boy to wait and went into the sitting room. He called for Dobby.
"Yes, sir?"
"A large plate of soft foods for someone who has been sick and a bed tray." Draco ordered. "Return here and not the bedroom. No house elf is allowed to enter the bedroom or bath."
"Yes, sir." And the elf was gone.
A minute later he reappeared with what Draco had asked for. Draco went back into the bedroom and woke the dozing teen. He made Harry eat as much as he could, but allowed him to stop when he began to feel nauseous. It would take a while for his stomach to stretch back out. He set the tray aside and tucked Harry in.
"Sleep with me?" Harry asked softly.
"Only for tonight." Draco relented as those emerald eyes pleaded with him.
"Night, Draco."
"Goodnight."
Draco fell asleep and was shortly grabbed up by Guardian. Somehow Guardian left Harry to sleep and only occupied the blonde. There, Guardian showed the pup all Harry had been through so Draco knew what he was dealing with when it came to Harry's mind and fears. Draco ranted and raved, and made Guardian promise to let him in on the revenge. And he even cried. Guardian curled up around him and apologized, but said he had to know.
"I know. And I'm glad you showed me." The wolf pup said, blue eyes glinting up at the huge snake. "I'll help you make him stronger. We'll get through this."
Chapter end.