Chapter 10
The annoying buzz in his ear had to be Potter. He could hear the grating sound of the Mud-blood as well. And where the Mud-blood was, there had to be a Weasel. Probably two, since the girl Weasel had taken to following them around between classes of late. There were two other voices as well, one he couldn't quite credit, and one he couldn't place, but they were also bothersome.
Draco wasn't sure why the Golden Trio (or Quartet if the Weasel girl was with them) were in his room, much less at the Manor, but he was going to order them gone, just as soon as his head stopped aching enough for him to lift it. Deuce it all, why was his head hurting as if he'd taken a bludger straight on?
"Stop trying to move, Mr. Malfoy, you're only going to hurt yourself more." It was Snape, and Draco was oddly relieved to have that confirmed; although he wasn't exactly sure why.
"And don't bother talking, either," that from Potter. "Open your eyes slowly, if you can though," Draco wasn't sure why he was listening to Potter, but something in the boys voice made him want to. So he slowly opened his eyes and was immediately sorry. The stabbing pain nearly caused him to cry out, he did gasp and that caused his whole body to erupt into fire. Potter gently placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him down. "Easy, Draco, I know it hurts but just breath easy…" he turned to face away asking Granger to lower the lights a little more. The lights were softened more and then a door opened and closed quickly and quietly. Draco took the opportunity to look around as much as he was able. Professor Snape was on his right and Potter on his left. He could vaguely make out another form in the corner of the room, but as it wasn't moving or talking he ignored it. Draco didn't recognize the room he was in, and realized suddenly that he wasn't in his room at the Manor. This was good, and he didn't know why it was good. He thought about being back at the Manor and his chest got tight, and he started having trouble breathing. This reaction both annoyed and frightened the 17-year-old blond.
Harry turned back to Draco when he felt he was more composed. Two hours working with Professor Snape had finally gotten Draco to wake up; it had also revealed more of his wounds. Hermione and Ginny had helped more than he was sure Draco would have liked, seen much more than he was sure Draco would have wanted as well. There had been no help for it. Without the girls helping with the healing, neither he nor Professor Snape would have had the strength to do it all; the internal bleeding alone was enough to wipe out Snape. Draco was looking around and Snape touched his arm; when Harry looked up Professor Snape motioned with his head to speak outside. Letting Draco and Dudley know they'd be back in a moment, he followed.
Severus sighed loudly when the door was closed behind them. He looked beyond exhausted, beyond drained.
"My Occlumency is going to come in truly handy now, Potter," the professor said resignedly. "Voldemort is going to have all his Death Eaters searching for Draco, their children included," the look he gave Harry spoke volumes, and Harry understood all too well.
"He can't go back to school at all, then," Harry said sadly. He'd known it of course, but some part of him had hoped that they'd be able to put him in the infirmary with Madam Pomfrey. "That leaves with the problem of where to keep him, Professor, and whom to leave him with, since he needs constant care right now."
Snape was glad that Potter understood the ramifications that Voldemort wanting Draco to be his very own sex toy were. Severus was also surprised, yet again; by how very grown up Potter was being. After losing Sirrius Black, Severus expected Potter to go into his classic temper and throw many tantrums. Instead, he seemed to be thinking things through, making decisions that many adults of Snapes acquaintance had trouble making. Severus knew it had to cost Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, considerably to have asked the professor he hated the most for help; and yet Potter seemed to think it the wisest course of action he could have taken.
"Why did you ask me for help, Harry? Why not Professor Dumbledore?" Snape heard himself asking. Harry seemed surprised by the question at first, and then he smiled. It was the saddest smile Snape had seen on any child's face.
"Professor Snape, you were the only adult I knew who wouldn't run straight to Dumbledore with the information, and since Dumbledore would find a way to use this to get Draco killed in an attempt to flush out Voldemort it was the best option." Harry's smile turned into a self-deprecating grin. "I also know that Malfoy is your favorite student, and although I am not truly sure you aren't a Death Eater, I know you wouldn't be able to let him suffer like that," Harry's look turned thoughtful. "At least, not until he was older anyway." Severus inhaled rather sharply at Harry's honesty. For once, admitting that he didn't completely trust the potions master and with such candor that Snape couldn't take offense. Snape found himself feeling more respect for this young man than he had felt for anyone, Dumbledore included, than he had in a long while.
"I never should have allowed my personal feelings to prevent me from teaching you to the best of my ability, Potter, and now you are in for it, because you are going to study with me in all the spare time you have," he looked at the young man before him and smiled most evilly. "You are more than your parents were, you are more than Voldemort made you and I will see to it you will have the necessary tools to be able to defeat the Mud-blooded bastard with your eyes closed."