Title: legatum de maladie
Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst
Pairing: HP/DM
Rating: M
Summary: AU. There was never a boy who lived, only a boy who died.
Draco Malfoy is ill. Harry Potter is a Healer. Lucius Malfoy is desperate. Slash.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. It's all the property of J.K Rowling, and this story is being written for entertainment purposes only. Not a dime is being made.
Credit must be given to the absolutely wonderful Dana for helping me fix my title. Thanks again, Dana!
xxxx
7
"Now, Mr. Nott, what kind of ruckus did you get yourself into to wind up here at this hour, and with a broken nose to boot?" Poppy Pomfrey had been tending wounds and maladies at Hogwarts for almost half a century, and it never ceased to amaze her how many boys came wandering into her office with bloody noses. In Nott's case, the bloody nose was the result of an all out break. Normally, she wouldn't bother herself with the details of a scuffle. Boys would be boys, after all, but when there was a break, as in this case, she felt it necessary to warn the head of house so that they could keep an eye out. "Who did this to you, my boy?" Nott remained curiously silent. Normally, the Slytherins were among the first to point out their attackers, but considering the hour, it was likely that it was a member from the boys own house that had given him the beating and snakes never ratted out their own. "Come now, Mr. Nott, I haven't got all day. If you want that nose of yours healed properly, you'll tell me who laid into you."
"Malfoy!" Nott spat, his eyes narrowing in distaste. "Bloody pouf."
Poppy stepped back. "Draco Malfoy, Mr. Nott?"
The surly boy nodded. "I was trying to talk to him about Potter. Everyone knows the faggot has a crush on him, and he hit me."
Poppy shook her head. "I'll not have that kind of language in my infirmary young man." She waved her wand and spoke what appeared to be a simple charm. Nott's nose mended immediately. "You might be a bit tender for the next few days. I recommend seeing the House Elves for some ice. Nothing works better for helping the swelling." Nott nodded and made to hop off the examination table. "Not to fast, Mr. Nott." Poppy eyed the student gravely. "I will speak to Professor Snape over this incident. If you wish to press formal charges, you may speak to the Head Master. Otherwise, Mr. Malfoy will receive detention."
Nott rolled his eyes. "That's fine. Like I'm going to press charges against that creep. Do you know who his father is?" He charged out of the infirmary at top speed, presumably in search of ice.
Poppy nodded to herself. Oh yes, she knew who Draco Malfoy's father was. Sitting at her desk, she frowned as she recalled her star patient. No one spent more time in the infirmary than Draco Malfoy.
And knowing that, she also knew that there was no way Draco could possibly throw a punch hard enough to break anyone's nose.
xxxx
"What do you mean, I've got detention!" Draco cried, his pale features rapidly disappearing behind a mask of angry red. "I haven't bloody done anything!"
Severus Snape sighed, and called on his wells of greatly-used patience. "You've been charged with breaking Alexander Nott's nose. I've reviewed the rule book, and since he doesn't want to press formal charges, this punishment will be used to deter you form such acts in the future. You have a months detention, starting tonight. You will report to Mr. Filch's office tonight at eight o'clock, and you will not be late."
Draco's jaw dropped in confusion and awe. "I didn't break Nott's nose! I never even touched him!"
Severus knew this of course. He'd already discussed it with Poppy Pomfrey. If Draco had perchance, socked Nott in the nose, his wrist would have been shattered, and here Draco stood with a perfectly serviceable wrist. However, unless Draco was willing to name the real attacker, he would indeed be forced to pay the price for the crime. "I don't suppose you know who did break Mr. Nott's nose, do you Draco?"
Draco paled. There was no way he could rat out Olli. "No-no sir." He hung his head. His father was going to be furious.
"Then report to Mr. Filch's office at eight o'clock."
xxxx
"Okay class. As you should already know, my name is Harry Potter, and I'll be teaching Defense classes for the remainder of the school year." Harry shuffled nervously, grateful that his desk covered the motion. It wouldn't do for anyone to see. "I've been reviewing Professor Nazareth's curriculum, and some of you may be disappointed to hear that we will not be continuing with the unit on Ministry Protocol in the Auror Department. If you wish to pursue that line of study, you are encouraged to do so on your own time, but with the recent outbreak of fang virus in Germany last year, I think it would be more socially relevant to jump straight into vampires, so if you'd please turn to page one hundred and eighteen…"
Harry slumped in his desk and watched as his last class of the day filed out of the room. This work was exhausting. How did the other professor's do it? He suddenly knew why a two month long vacation was necessary. He looked up when he heard the clack of women's footwear on the floor and smiled. "Hello, Kate."
"Hello dear brother." She immediately made herself at home on the desktop. "And how was your first day at school?" She cooed.
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head tiredly. "I suppose it went well enough. It really is a lot of work though."
"Well, you just wait until they ask you to chaperone the Halloween Party that we want to have."
"I've already been exempt. I have too much work to do already, but I am stuck here over the winter holidays. Professor Nazareth volunteered to stay behind with the children who won't be going home, and I got stuck with the duty when I took up his contract."
"You're not coming home for Christmas!"
"No, unfortunately. You'll have to be extra sweet to mum to make up for my absence."
Kate didn't miss the bitterness in his tone, but she refused to comment on it. They'd had enough fights over their respective relationships with their parents to last a lifetime. "Anyhow, I'd better go, I have some studying to do before dinner. I'll see you then?"
"Of course." He watched her leave and made to collect his own things when yet another set of footsteps invaded the silence of the classroom.
"Professor Potter, I was hoping I would catch you." Harry looked up at Minerva McGonagall. "I have a favor to ask, and I do hope it won't be too much trouble, I know you're just settling in…"
Harry smiled. "Well, you did give me the best bottle of scotch I've ever had, so I suppose I could help you out. What can I do for you?"
Minerva smiled, her heart aching to see the hint of Lily and James that came out in Harry every so often. Harry may have been a Slytherin, but he would always be a Potter first. "Well, we seem to have a scheduling conflict with regards to Mr. Filch." She glanced at the clock. "I have a meeting with Albus in five, so if we could discuss it on the way?"
"Of course." Harry gathered his supplies and followed the elderly witch down the hall.
xxxx
"What a shitty bloody day!" Draco threw his book bag on his bed and followed after it miserably. He wasn't feeling very well at all, and the mornings combined events hadn't served to make him feel any better. He suddenly recalled that he hadn't taken his potions last night before bed, and that was probably why he was suffering now. "Olli! Are you around!"
"Yeah?"
"Go and find Rainwater for me, will you?" He winced as the shouting made his head spin even more.
"Sure thing. What'cha need her for?"
"Just go find her!"
He waited what felt like an eon before he heard the delicate shuffle that was unmistakably Rhoswen Rainwater across the dorm. "Malfoy, are you alright! Oh my goodness, I'm terribly sorry! I tried to find you last evening, but the boys wouldn't let me up!"
Draco groaned as he sat up and looked at the tiny girl. Her eyes were wide with fright, and he couldn't blame her. The wrath of his father was mighty indeed. "Don't worry, I won't tell him, just don't let it happen again. Can I have them now though?" Inwardly he was furious. He was damned well old enough to remember to take his medication on his own, but his father insisted that a little girl be the one to watch over him. It was embarrassing.
Rhoswen shook. "I'm sorry Malfoy, but my instructions are very detailed. In the event that either of us forgets the potion, you're to see the healer immediately. Madam Pomfrey has further instructions after that.
"Then why didn't you come for me this morning!"
"I tried, but you were in a meeting with Professor Snape. I even tried to get a message to him so he could tell you, but I guess it didn't get through. I've been looking for you all morning, I swear!"
"I'm going to miss my afternoon classes because you screwed up." Draco growled while pulling himself up off the bed and stumbling when his head decided it didn't like the jarring motion.
"I'm sorry! I tried though! Alexander Nott wouldn't let me up, and he's much bigger than I, what was I supposed to do?" She shouted angrily. "It's not my fault that your father doesn't think you're responsible enough to take your own medication!" Her hands flew over her mouth as she realized what she'd said. "Oh, Merlin."
Draco sighed. There really wasn't anything for it. If he were normal, he'd be able to intimidate the girl into never speaking out of turn to a Malfoy, and she sure as hell wouldn't have dared to yell at him. As it was, they were the same height, and Draco wouldn't doubt it for a second if she outweighed him. Plus, while she wasn't a Malfoy, her family wasn't one to sneeze at either. "Fuck it, Rainwater. Just help me to the infirmary so I don't crack my head open on the stairs."
xxxx
Argus Filch was thrilled. The Conference on Medieval Torture Mechanisms and Their Modern Counterparts was only twelve hours away. Filch hadn't had anything resembling a vacation since he'd joined the Hogwarts staff decades prior, but he'd casually mentioned that the Conference was coming up while talking to Albus Dumbledore last month, and the very next day, he'd found an envelope on his desk with VIP tickets, arrangements for accommodation, and an International Portkey to Las Vegas. His Portkey was set to activate in minutes, and then he and Mrs. Norris, who was safely tucked away in a carpet bag, would be on their way. He had a friend with secret connections in the Muggle World who would be meeting him in Nevada. He caressed his recently acquired state map lovingly. One whole week. All to himself. The best part of the conference? It was an adults only affair, and there would be no screaming brats around to muck up his fun.
Maybe he wouldn't come back.
xxxx