FOUGHT IN A WAR
by Sa1boy
Additional material and beta work: Evil Auntie Snape
Chapter 2
The Elfin Scrolls
Sleep was one of the things Draco Malfoy found hardest to do. Every time he tried, he had visions of the battle.
He wasn't particularly fond of his father. Lucius Malfoy was a sadistic and cruel man. Neither did he blame Harry for killing him. If all the madness in the wizarding world was to end, Voldemort and his followers had to be stopped by what ever means necessary.
Each time the vision was the same. Harry Potter casting a widely-dispersing Avada Kedavra spell, which killed his Aunty Bella, five of her fellow Death Eaters, Lord Voldemort, and Lucius, Draco's father.
Draco was sure that in his last moment of life, Lucius had mouthed "I'm sorry" to him. The vision was a lasting reminder of his father.
When he awoke from his dream, he would see the same familiar scene that he had become accustomed to over the last six weeks. Lying on a bed, staring at him with beautiful green eyes, was his saviour, Harry Potter.
Two weeks after regaining consciousness, Harry had been moved from the hospital wing into a private suite of rooms just off the main corridor. This suite had two bedrooms, a bathroom and a sitting room. The bathroom had an adjustable bath seat, and two toilets, one of them having a guard rail on either side. The other was like what could be seen in any bathroom.
All corners and sharp edges in the room had been removed or rounded. Where all self respecting bathrooms in the wizarding world would have copious amounts of marble and gold, this had cushioned effect rubberised polymer, enchanted to appear just like the real thing. However, anything dropped on the cushioned surface would never break.
The bedroom Harry lay in had the same elimination of sharp edges and came complete with a couple of hand rails on the walls, as there was a concern that he may fall and do himself harm.
Although Harry was very much bed bound, it was hoped that once the use of his limbs returned, he would be able to walk around the room with the aid of a frame and would be able to attend to his own ablutions. It was decided by Dumbledore that it was better to be cautious, and that there was a need for plenty of protection from the things Harry would normally pass off as unimportant. Until his full magic returned, Harry was as vulnerable as any other Muggle.
It was ironic that, in the final battle, the weapon that nearly killed Harry was from the side he was fighting with, the side of light. An arrow fired by a centaur fighting on his side had nearly been fatal, and the quick actions of Draco saved his life.
Ron had not been able to function since the last battle. His lover and soul mate, Hermione Granger, had fallen. His mother, mortally wounded in the battle, lost her fight for life, dying two days later. His best friend, lying almost dead in a hospital bed, had sent him over the edge, forcing his father to have him confined to St Mungo's psychiatric ward for his own protection.
Once Harry had regained consciousness eight weeks ago, there had been many visitors. Dumbledore, an almost constant companion of Draco's, now he seemed to visit only briefly once a day. The Weasley family, what was left of them, visited as much as anyone, but like all visitors, resigned themselves to the "fact" that Harry was not going to recover. This seemed the general opinion of every one 'the boy who lived' on this occasion perhaps shouldn't have.
It was on one of these occasions that George, obviously still grieving the loss of one of his parents, asked Harry, "Why is it that you are alive, yet my mother is dead?"
Draco demanded that he leave the room Harry was in, never to return. He followed this up by asking Dumbledore to limit any other visitors to medical staff and school personnel. He wasn't angry at George, as he strangely felt an unfamiliar sympathy towards him and his family. He had also lost a parent in that battle he knew how it felt.
Draco became the only constant in Harry's life. Once his biggest enemy, it now seemed he was the only person who truly believed that Harry would make a full and total recovery.
Draco stopped his studies, deciding that they weren't as important as being with Harry. He chose instead to study on his own, in his new home. He didn't even realise that nobody had bothered to question his decisions.
He was now Lord Malfoy, a fact that it seemed to have passed him by. If he didn't want to be schooled further, he was rich enough for this to not affect his life after school. Dumbledore understood that it would take a very powerful wizard indeed, and one not scared to lose his own life, to remove Draco Malfoy, from the guardianship of Harry Potter. Truth be known, he preferred that Harry had a friend who seemed totally dedicated to him.
Severus Snape had been forbidden to visit Harry, his untimely comments whilst in the hospital tent proving too much for Draco, who refused to ever speak with his godfather again. This hurt Severus deeply, as he loved Draco greatly, and he regretted ever speaking as carelessly as he had that day.
He had, on numerous occasions, used his own invisibility cloak to observe his godson with Harry Potter. Seeing how much Draco cared for Harry just made Severus feel worse. He wished that he had someone in his life to love unconditionally.
After the final battle, Harry's own magic was all that kept him alive. The poison that found its way into his brain had damaged his nerve system. Conventional and highly unconventional treatments were used to try and bring him out of the 'Colpo' - the name given by Madame Pomfrey for Harry's condition.
He was alive and appeared healthy but his brain had seemed to have stopped talking to his limbs and his speech had gone. He could only move his eyes, and his head could turn slightly to the left, and then back again. Although he could open his mouth and swallow, no noise could come out, and he was paralysed from the neck down. He had had what we Muggles would call a stroke. Patience and time were the only realistic remedy for his condition. If Harry was to recover fully, it was Harry that would have to do the recovering himself. Nothing else that was known could be done for him.
Madame Pomfrey had originally 'popped in' as she called it, twice a day, and at other times when the wards that she set up to notify her of any change in Harry's condition went off.
It seemed that the wizarding world was twenty years behind the Muggles when it came to basic supplemental bed care. Every time Harry's body had to dispel its waste, Madame Pomfrey turned up with a timely Scourgify Spell to take care of it. Eventually, after many angry exchanges Draco took over the daily care of his friend. From the second week on, only he saw Harry without any clothes, and every time Draco did see Harry naked, his heart would melt. He wished that this 'god' before him would just move, or reach out to him. In all this time that Draco took care of Harry, he was the epitome of a gentleman, never once stepping over the boundaries of decency.
Draco had also taken on the duties of feeding and bathing Harry, at first finding it embarrassing. He thanked the gods that he was not in Harry's position. He knew that if he were, the only person he would want to be doing the 'taking care' of him would be Harry.
Meal times were quite a ritual now for Draco, who would prop Harry up in between the large expensive looking cushions on either side of him. Then, flicking his wand, the dining tray would just hover in front of them both. He'd stopped requesting separate cutlery and different meals for Harry and himself. Now, he asked simply for "a meal for the two to share," choosing broth or pureed vegetables and meat soufflés over traditional solid foods. It was advised by Madame Pomfrey that it would safer to avoid solids until he could feed himself again.
Using the same spoon for them both, he would alternate between offering Harry a spoonful and taking one himself, dabbing at the side of Harry's mouth tenderly when any food managed to escape, at times fighting off the urge to talk in baby speak. He did occasionally feel like he was feeding a baby.
At the end of every meal Draco would give Harry some water and kiss him softly on the nose. Then, sitting next to him on the bed and pulling Harry close, so that his head was on Draco's chest, he would tell him, "Not long now Harry, you'll be better soon I promise you." He would encourage Harry to take a nap with soothing words of love as he ran his fingers through his hair. Draco's routine had become one of the few comforts that he had, and sticking to it made the days seem a little more bearable.
8am: Open curtains and massage feet watching him open his eyes and wake up
9am: Carry Harry to the bathroom and sit him in the bath, safely propped up of course, and wash them both in the combined bath shower
9:30am: Get Harry's breakfast and feed him
10:00am: Receive the owl post
10:30am: Have a visit from Madame Pomfrey
11.30am: Read all the newspapers to Harry (Draco decided early on that he would skip the stories about either of them, saving them for when Harry recovered)
1:00pm: Lunch time
1:45pm: Naptime with Harry on his shoulder
3:30pm: Visit from Dumbledore
4:00pm: Strip Harry and massage his muscles fully as instructed by Madame Pomfrey (Warming Spell cast so Harry wouldn't feel cold)
5.00pm: Afternoon snack time, play some Muggle music for Harry, and watch as he falls asleep
7:00pm: Carry Harry to the bathroom and again wash them both in the combined bath shower
7:30pm: Place Harry back on bed and exercise his arms and legs making sure to pay special attention to his fingers and toes
8:30pm: Supper and some more music
9:30pm too whenever: Read aloud or talk to Harry as he drops off and Draco, completely exhausted, drops off in the chair next to him, until his nightmare wakes him up
Whilst Harry slept, Draco would sit in the now exquisitely comfortable chair he had had Dobby the house-elf bring from his own dormitory in the Slytherin dungeons. Piece by piece, Draco's possessions had filtered to the second of the two bedrooms.
Each time Dobby would appear with more of requested items, he would linger and offer to try and help 'brave Harry Potter,' before remembering that he was forbidden to do that. He would scream and start to beat himself, remember he was forbidden to do that as well, scream again, and then with a 'POP,' disappear out of the room.
Draco found this to be one of the only amusing things that he had to enjoy. Sometimes, whilst talking to Harry, he would request the house-elf just to see the performance played out: Dobby approaching the bed Harry was in, screaming and offering to help, scream and because he wasn't supposed to help hit himself, then scream, and disappear. Draco was sure that Harry, although not able to be vocal about it, would approve of this unknowing teasing. Draco always knew Harry was too cunning to be solely Gryffindor.
On one such occasion Draco's world seemed to get brighter. He decided he and Harry needed some cheering up, so Dobby was called, and then excused, five times in succession. Each time he went through the same circus show. It was just after the last occasion when Draco, looking at Harry, saw what could only be described as a smile on Harry face. Granted it wasn't a beaming, ear to ear type of smile, but it was something he hadn't seen in nearly nine weeks. It was a facial expression and told him that Harry was on his way back.
The progress from then on was just as slow as it had always been - a few more smiles in the tenth week; always greeted with great enthusiasm by Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore. They even managed to convince Draco to leave Harry's side and take a short walk, promising to sit with Harry for the whole duration.
Draco had forgotten how fresh air felt against his face. Although he felt a little relieved to be in its presence one more time, at the same time he felt strangely guilty, and overwhelmingly lonely.
He had fallen head over heels in love with Harry a long time ago. Well before their last year here at Hogwarts. He'd had every intention of asking Harry for a date the same day that his father and father's master paid their fateful visit, putting a firm halt to his plans.
Harry's had been the face Draco saw when he closed his eyes for so long now, it would have felt like a loss if he wasn't there, looking after him 24 hours a day. Harry being the only constant presence in his life felt strangely lacking in something. He loved Harry - there was no doubt in his mind.
But as much as he hated himself for thinking it, he also sometimes hated Harry; for being unable to return his love and unable to make him laugh or to make love to him. And for the simplest of all pleasures, Draco resented that Harry could not talk to him. And of all the things that Draco wanted right now, a conversation was at the top of the list - his first real conversation with Harry.
He mounted the broom he had fetched with him and decided he would fly 'til all those negative feelings left him. Taking to the air, he flew as fast as he could, upwards and onwards, higher and higher, until the air around him was icy, and the thoughts that had been plaguing his mind disappeared.
Turning in the opposite direction, he let his broom fall freely to earth, unaware of the speed at which he was descending. The air rushing past his ears was biting in its intensity, and the scarf he was wearing flapped in the wind.
Suddenly, a different thought jumped into his head. He had been so preoccupied with sympathetic thoughts for Harry and himself these past 11 weeks, he had not done what any true friend would have done. He hadn't tried to solve this.
There was one who kept trying to help, but due to a life time pledge to not save Harry's life, or attempt to help save it by other means, had been forced to keep quiet. Draco, quickly levelling his broom ten feet from the ground and thankful for his return to clear thought, landed and immediately summoned the house-elf to him.
"Dobby, I require your assistance immediately," Draco shouted in a Malfoy-style, matter of fact way. The distinctive sound of a house-elf's 'pop' was followed by a cowering Dobby in front of Draco
"Dobby is sorry, Dobby didn't mean to do it, please don't beat poor Dobby."
From his time in the service to the Malfoy family, Dobby automatically presumed that he was in trouble, and headed for severe punishment, whenever a lone Malfoy would call him. Draco remembered back to when his father, and indeed he, had done that very thing. He sat on the grass, pulling his legs into a crossed position and softening his tone somewhat.
"Dobby, you are not in any trouble. Stop screaming, please, and sit down."
The house-elf's ears jumped up and his face changed in an instant from scared to curious and mildly concerned
"Dobby, you said when you visited Harry that you wanted to help him. Do you know how you can help him – no, stop! Please! Don't hit your head against that – DOBBY! I said STOP!" Draco used a mix of command and pleading in his voice, but it had the desired effect as Dobby immediately stopped. Whimpering slightly, he moved closer to Draco.
"Dobby isn't allowed to be helping the great and brave Harry Potter. Dobby has given a promise, and Dobby cannot break the promise, not unless Harry Potter frees Dobby from the promise Dobby made to him, Master Malfoy, and Dobby wants to save Harry Potter! Dobby does, but Dobby can't…,"
And with that, he started crying uncontrollably, banging his head against the floor until Draco shouted at him to stop.
"Dobby, I am asking as someone who loves Harry very much. Please, if you know of a way to cure Harry, you must tell me. I promise on the four founders that I will not tell Harry. Please Dobby, tell me. Or, if you can't tell me everything, point me in the right direction"
Dobby looked at Draco with huge, tear filled sad eyes, and shook his head. He was a house-elf, and he had a bond to Harry that couldn't be broken. He could not state that he knew how to save Harry Potter or that he had seen this happen over a thousand years ago, to another great wizard. Wizards rarely asked questions about the history of a house-elf. They were rather like the forgotten peoples of the magic realm. Nobody seemed to know that they lived so long they could almost be classed as immortal. The only way to kill one was to behead it. Dobby knew that if he spoke against the promise to save Harry Potter's life, he would have to forfeit his own. Luckily for him, Draco's next statement saved him that anguish
"Dobby, you made a promise never to participate in the saving of Harry's life and never attempt to save his life yourself. Is this true?"
"Dobby did, yes sir"
"Well as Harry isn't in mortal danger and isn't going to die-" Draco was rather floored when an excited elf jumped into his arms and, putting his big eyes against Draco's, screamed in delight.
"Harry Potter is not going to die? Harry Potter is going to live?"
"Yes Dobby, Harry is just very poorly but will recover in time; we just don't know how to make that sooner than later. Do you know anything that might help me? I want Harry to move again and speak and laugh and cry and …."
Draco, for the first time since he was at Harry's bedside on the day of battle, let all of his emotions come out of him, and he cried inconsolably. The house-elf patted the top of his head, unsure as to why, except that he had seen it done by wizards to others who's eyes 'leaked'.
"Master Malfoy sir, the great and good Harry Potter has had his magic-"
Dobby put his hand over his mouth, not sure if speaking what he knew would be breaking his promise. Instead, he looked at Draco with a smile now firmly planted on his face. He clicked his fingers and a parchment landed in Draco's lap
Draco opened the parchment and saw that there was a passage written in a language he couldn't read. He asked Dobby if the symbols were elfin. When Dobby nodded in agreement Draco tried to read it.
i>Peri i'r llygad weld popeth. Peri i'r meddwl hiraethu am yr hyn y mae'r llygad yn ei weld. Peri i'r corff ddyheu am y teimlad yn llygad y meddwl. Gorfodi'r hud sydd ar y tu mewn i ymestyn allan a chyffwrdd â'r hyn y mae'r meddwl yn hiraethu amdano. Am mai dim ond awydd gwir gariad i ffurfio cwlwm agosrwydd a fydd yn gorfodi'r hud i gynnau ei hun unwaith eto. Ond cymerwch ofal, a pheidiwch byth â chyffwrdd â'r hyn rydych yn ymdrechu i'w hachub, rhaid i ewyllys yr un fod yn fuddugoliaethus /i>
"Dobby I don't understand what this means, I can't read elfin. What has Harry's magic got to do with this script?" Draco pleaded.
"Harry Potter needs to have his magic turned back on again, Master Malfoy. If you find a way to turn his magic on, Harry Potter will come back to us." With a familiar 'pop' Dobby was gone.
Draco gathered his thoughts and returned to their room, determined to research what Dobby had said but wanting for now, to keep secret the plans he made with the house-elf.
He now had a mystery to unravel. Although he wouldn't get any further help from Dobby, he thanked him silently for giving him hope. He needed to translate the script. The answer obviously lay there.
He knew he would have twenty more minutes before he was due back with Harry. He made the decision to seek out someone who was very adept at all types of languages. He was going to see his Uncle Severus.
Rushing to the Potions master's room, he knocked and the door and waited for the reply.