Sanguinolentus- Blood stained
III-
"Where's Harry?" Hermione shook her head.
"I don't know, Ron."
"He hasn't come back from-" His voice was small, tight. Hermione put her hand on Ron's shoulder, shaking her head.
"I'm sure he'll be alright."
"No. He won't be." Neville came into the conversation, voice shaking. "They wouldn't let Harry Potter go! He's- he's... Harry Potter!"
"Neville..." Ginny sighed, lowering her head onto a pillow as she looked at Neville Longbottom. "He'll be fine. We'll be fine. All of us." She looked into each of their eyes. She was hurt. They could all tell. But her optimism gave them a glimmer of hope.
"Dumbledore's Army." Whispered Hermione, her hand extended.
"Dumbledore's Army." Ron agreed, his hand over hers. They all looked at each other.
"Dumbledore's Army!"
Harry's eyes widened. Draco Malfoy lay naked on a large bed. The room reeked with a foul odor, a mix of feces and vomit. Draco was curled tightly under a thin sheet, stained with blood and other things Harry's mind refused to identify. He was whispering something feverishly, shaking. What's wrong with him? Is he... dying? The thought surprisingly frightened him, his heart skipping a beat.
He slowly walked across the room, fingers extended towards the figure.
"It hurts... it hurts..." Draco groaned. Harry paused, eyes wide. All of a sudden Draco writhed, a scream escaping his thin lips. "It hurts!" Tears streamed down Draco's face freely. Harry covered his ears, closing his eyes from the loud screams, the banging, the pain... He slowly opened them, lifting his hands off his ears. Draco was sitting up, hand on his stomach, one eye shut tightly. He was panting. And he recognized his guest.
"Harry... Potter..." He chuckled. Falling back on his pillows, he groaned again. The look on his face was so miserable, it made Harry flinch. He'd wanted to see Draco in pain. Wanted to see him die even. They had loathed each other, hate and malice filling their eyes every time they saw each other. But this... this was different. It was... torture. It was painful to even see this. "Clean this." His hand waved feebly in the air. "Make it better!" He whispered, eyes shutting in pain. He grunted and turned over. "You're 'Harry Potter- the boy who lived'..." He gasped, voice mocking. "So where's the magic? Where's the great Potter now?" He cried out, twisting into a tight ball. Gasping for air, he managed to choke out, "Hiding beneath a robe. Hiding!" He groaned again, fist clenching. His voice was barely audible. "Better to be hiding from the devil than lie in his path." At this, Draco coughed, blood dribbling down his chin. He gasped and allowed himself to be taken by the pain, blacking out completely.
Harry stood in shocked silence, not knowing what to do. But the inferius was back, this time holding mops and brushes, soapy buckets and sponges. It dropped them outside the room before slowly tottering away, its arms swaying side to side as it walked. This is going to be my job... watching over Voldemort's 'pet'. This is his pet? Draco Malfoy. A deep sense of pity consumed Harry. He was overcome by the sensation and he crumbled to his knees, hand over his face.
It's not fair.
It was six days later. Draco had not yet woken from his last vain effort at consciousness. Harry sat at the edge of the room, still shaking, thoughts replaying through his mind. Finally, Draco stirred. He coughed, sitting up slowly. Harry stood cautiously and Draco smiled weakly.
"Don't be too armed, Potter. What... you think I'm going to..." He paused to catch his breath. "attack?" He raised an eyebrow as though the idea was highly amusing.
"Why are you here?" Harry whispered, eyes searching Draco's suspiciously. Draco snorted.
"Why are you? Why are we all? Dammit..." He moaned, bowing his head and clenching his sides. "I need something... to eat." He murmured. Harry cleared his throat, nodding slowly.
"I'll-"
"Don't bother." Draco reached over, grabbing a tiny silver bell. He rang it feebly. Harry waited. Yet he had heard no noise from the small bell. He looked at Draco questioningly, who simply stared back. Harry lowered his gaze.
A few minutes later, an inferius entered. It's scalp was bleeding, cheek torn. One eye was missing and the foul stench in the room intensified. It set down a bowl of food before ambling away, led by the spell it was under. Harry waited a few moments before picking up the bowl, hesitating. Draco waiting, patiently staring at the ceiling. He was counting backwards, trying to keep his mind off the throbbing sensation in his lower abdomen. Harry set down the food next to Draco, taking a seat near his bed. Draco ate slowly, pulling off the meat with his fingers first.
"You haven't eaten have you?" Harry didn't answer at first, but Draco's eyes were still on him. He slowly shook his head. "You'll have to wait until I'm done then Potter." But he didn't eat much. A few more hunks of bread, some meat... he was finished quickly. Harry however, ate ravenously. The entire bowl was emptied before long and they both sat in silence once more.
"You look scared." Draco commented, humor dancing in his voice. Harry's eyes hardened.
"Shouldn't I be? You're his pet. Disgusting." He commented, nose wrinkling. But the reaction he received from Draco wasn't like he pictured. Instead of a comeback, instead of a sly remark or witty comment, Draco simply lowered his head. The pity returned to Harry, realizing the full extent of his punishment.
After a moment, Harry whispered, "I'm sorry." Draco simply gave a bitter grunt before sliding down his pillows and turning his back from Harry.
