Chapter Seven
The next morning Harry woke up to find someone new sitting by his bed reading a book. This person had blonde hair and a pointed chin and looked up from the book and smirked at him.
"Well, look who's finally awake?" he drawled silkily.
Harry stared at this intruder and knew he should know this person, but for the life of him he couldn't seem to remember his name. Unless, of course, someone's name could be 'arsehole', can body parts also be proper names? However, Harry said nothing.
"I see Severus was right, you seem to have become mute in your old age. I suppose it must have something to do with living your life on your knees for so long. You must have damaged your vocal cords."
Still Harry said nothing.
"I told you I'd get you back for what you did too my father," Malfoy said nastily.
Harry shook his head and rolled over.
"I'm talking to you Potter," demanded Malfoy, "you will respond to me."
Harry snuggled back down into his scarlet blanket and pretended to go back to sleep. Even though he couldn't remember this person very well, pissing him off was enjoyable.
"Mister Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey said bruskly as she entered the ward. "I would thank you to not yell at my patients."
"I wasn't yelling Pomfrey," Malfoy lied smoothly. "I was informed that Potter wasn't speaking and I merely thought that his hearing might be impaired."
"I'm sure," she replied skeptically. "Mister Potter, since you are awake, please sit up so you can have your breakfast."
Harry ignored her, still in denial that this was real. He really didn't want this to be real. Now Snape told Malfoy… that's his name, Malfoy… wonder who else he told. Probably in the paper this morning, so all of the wizarding world could know his shame about what he had to do in order to eat.
"Mister Potter?"
"I told you he was deaf," snorted Malfoy.
What was old ferret face doing here anyway? Doesn't he have a life with a wife and some snot nosed little brat by now tucked away with seven or eight pureblood mistresses on the side? Shouldn't he be out poking one of them or whispering sweet nothings into the current Minister of Magic's ear?
Harry turned back over and looked at her.
"It's time to eat Mister Potter," she repeated.
"Yeah, maybe you'll get lucky and he'll trade you for it."
Harry flopped back into his pillow and pulled the covers back over his head.
"Mister Malfoy," barked the school nurse and even though Harry couldn't see it, she pointed towards the doors and continued, "I would thank you to remove your self from my infirmary this instant."
"Whatever."
x-x-x-x-x
Sometime later Harry felt a hand on his shoulder trying to wake him up again. Why were they constantly trying to wake him, didn't they know all he wanted to do was sleep? I mean come one, if Harry slept all the time then he could pretend he still thought this was all a delusion and not real.
"Harry you've got to wake up and eat something. You didn't eat your breakfast and Madame Pomfrey isn't too happy about it."
Harry shrugged the hand off and burrowed back under his covers and tried to sleep again.
"What are we going to do?" Harry heard someone ask. Was it Herman? Susie? Maybe that odd little house elf with the pink dress?
Harry felt the covers being pulled back and heard a man say, "Peek-a-boo, I see you." He popped an eye open and saw that it was the red haired man with freckles looking down at him. Merlin, he was really annoying right now, but somehow that seemed right about him.
"He's got one eye open, let's try for the other," the red haired man said with a grin.
"Ron," Herman admonished, "Don't pick on him."
"I'm not picking, just grinning."
"Please don't fight with Herman," Harry said blearily and speaking his first complete sentence since getting out of prison.
"Herman?" Ron asked. "Did you just call her Herman?"
Sitting on the bed she turned Harry to her causing him to pop his other eye open. Handing him his glasses she looks at him carefully said, "Harry my name is Hermione. HER-MY-OH-KNEE."
"Herman."
Ron snorted in laughter.
Not being able to keep from rolling her eyes, Herman said again, "No, Harry, Hermione. HER-MY-OH-KNEE."
"I think I like Herman better," Ron said with a grin.
She shot him a glare before returning to Harry. "Do you think you can say my name correctly?"
Harry nodded and said, "Herman"
Ron almost doubled over laughing.
"Well at least you've got the first four letters right," she muttered and then asked, "What's his name?"
"Won-won."
Hermione laughed as Ron scowled. Turn about was fair play.
"Alright it's time for you to eat."
Harry shook his head and lay back down. "Not hungry."
"Harry, you've got to eat," she said sternly.
Was she crazy? He didn't want to eat. Eating made him remember the trade and that made him remember being caught by that greasy haired man with the permanent smirk.
"Ferret."
Ron and Hermione shot a look to each other. Ron answered, "Yeah, mate, we heard about that. We had no idea that Malfoy had come to see you. We didn't even know he was in the castle until we saw him talking to Snape a little while ago."
"Did he say something to upset you Harry?" asked Herman tentatively.
Harry shook his head and somehow managed to get out of bed and walked to the window of the infirmary and sat down in the squishy chair that Dumbledore had conjured the day before. Taking a deep breath, Harry sighed and began to look out of the window.
"Harry?"
No answer.
"Harry?"
Getting angry Won-won said, "Mate if he did something too you, you just tell me and I'll go and find him."
"Ron! Don't be ridiculous. If he had done something to Harry, Madame Pomfrey would have known about it this morning."
"Hermione," Won-won whined.
"How long?" asked Harry effectively stopping both of his best friends immediately.
"Well it was this morning and you slept for another two or three hours," Won-won answered hoping that was what he meant.
Harry sighed again. Delusions were not as exhausting as real life. Maybe he should go back to them again.
"Azkaban."
"Well, you see Harry," Herman began, "It's like this …"
To Be Continued … Please Read and Review