Thank you to ALL my reviewers and to ALL my readers!
Disclaimer: see previous chapter.
Thank you to Merlin, GoldenSunnyGrl, and Malombra for being such great BETA'S.
THERE ARE SPOLIERS ATT HE END OF THE CHAPTER!
ENJOY!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Draco found himself outside of the infirmary, pressed up against the cold wall. He wanted nothing more than to go back in there and...and...hell and damn nation he wanted Harry. He always had and this damn bond thing was making it worse, and better, for him. Harry looked tired, and sad, and pale and...just plain lovely. Draco knew that if something wasn't done, and quick, he wouldn't have to worry about what Harry looked like, because he would be in a nice padded, white room with no one to hug but himself.
Sometimes he wondered if he shouldn't be in that room, babbling at the walls, drooling on himself, and having sharp objects taken away from him. This thing with Harry was messing with his carefully planned out life that he had made up for himself after the war. He had gotten rid of that leech that called itself human, he had lost his unborn son, and he had survived.
The accident had 360'd his life and now he had Harry Potter bonded to him without his consent and he could feel the bloody bastard at the back of his head.
Draco knew, when he started cursing about Harry, that it was time to make his way to his room and drink from the nice blue vial that Madam Pomfrey had been kind enough to leave for him. He stepped from the wall just as he heard Harry's loud voice demanding to know what was going on. 'Oh SHIT!', he thought as he walked hurriedly away. He didn't want to be caught outside that door if the Man-Who-Lived-To-Spread-Evil-Dark-Lords-Smoking-Body-Parts-Halfway-Around-the-World came crashing through it.
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Harry stamped down on the feelings he was getting from the bond as he concentrated on Hagrid and what he had found. It was only by sheer force of will that he was able to push Draco from his mind and concentrate on the problem before him. He really wasn't that angry, he just wanted to know what was going on. Hagrids knee was hurt, yes, there was no denying that. But what he had found on his examination was a large amount of Dihydrogen Monoxide that was commonly used in pesticide production and distribution. Of course, it was commonly used by MUGGLES! What Harry wanted to know was why was it in Hagrids system and how did it get there.
He waited, arms crossed angrily, wand held loosely in his left hand for someone to answer his low voiced question.
"'arry?" Hagrid asked with a confused look on his face.
Harry snorted and turned to Pom, he knew that Hagrid would tell him nothing. He probably didn't even know what was going on. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know what was going on either.
"Pom?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and a scowl that would have done Draco proud, "care to tell me why Hagrid has Dihydrogen Monoxide in his system?"
Pom's face showed her confusion, "Harry I don't know what that is?" She drew her wand and went to perform her own test when Harry reached out and laid a shaking hand on her wand to stop her.
"You will not find it unless you know what test to run, besides, you can not run it as it is a level six test." Harry's voice was soft again and he hadn't taken his eyes off of her. He had the grace not to comment on her flush that one so much younger than her knew so much more.
He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair and left it in a mess, as usual. "I can not give you anything right now Hagrid, all you will do is vomit it right back up."
Hagrid's face turned a little green and he nodded. "What's wrong?"
"You have a high concentration of Dihydrogen Monoxide in your bloodstream. We have to find out where you are getting it. Only the fact that you are a half-giant is what is keeping you alive."
Pom gasped and she asked, "where?"
Harry shook his head as he tried to think where he could be getting this high a concentration of Dihydrogen Monoxide, it was not normally found except as an additive in some medications. "I do not know. I need to send off a few owls and I will need my books from my apartment. Also, we need to have everyone tested to see if anyone else has this in them."
Pom nodded as she made her way to the fire to call the Headmaster. Harry heard her explain what he had found and the concerned look on Snape's face told Harry that he would do what it took to get to the bottom of this.
"It might also account for why your leg is resisting healing." Harry pointed out absently, already lost in thought about what he needed to do.
"Me leg, 'arry?"
"Yes," Harry turned to Pom, "I will need a room to put my books and research." She nodded and he turned back to Hagrid. "We will need a vial of your blood," he turned back to Pom, "plasma too," he turned back to Hagrid, "you will need to be quarantined until I find out what is happening."
Hagrids face dropped and he stuttered, "but me animals?"
"Quarantined." Harry said firmly, "I am sure we can get someone to look after your precious babies." Harry softened his tone with a small grin.
Hagrid sighed and Harry thought he muttered something that sounded close to "damn stupid plan" but he ignored it. "Hagrid you may go to your house and get a change of clothes, bring nothing else."
Hagrid nodded and left.
"What is it, Harry?" Pom's voice was heavy with worry for her charges.
"Dihydrogen Monoxide, or DHMO, is a colorless and odorless chemical compound and is used in pesticide production and distribution. That is only one of the uses for this chemical and the one that Hagrid would be using it for. Muggles use it as a food and produce 'decontaminant.' It is harmful, for Muggles, in large amounts but in Wizards, a thimble full could kill. Hagrid has enough in his system to kill three men half his size."
"Oh, Merlin!" Pom breathed.
"Exactly. We need to find when he has it stored and what he has used it for."
"I will inform the Headmaster. I am sure he would want to take care of it on his own."
"I am sure." Harry said dryly but all she gave in response was one of her 'LOOKS'. "I am going to the owlrey to send off some letters and then contact the American Ministry to send someone to my apartment to get the books I will need."
Harry turned to Pom and they shared a worried look. "When I get back I will show you what I need you to do. It is actually very simple and two of us will make it go faster. I do not want cause a panic so we will tell them it is just a checkup or something."
Pom watched as he seemed to get even more tired and sad if front of her, "Harry, what happens if someone else has it too?"
Harry sighed as he sat down on the side of the bed that Hagrid had been sitting on, "I think that they would be dead." He sighed again at her gasp of shock, "I don't mean to be so blunt, Pom, but if anyone else has that high, or even a fourth of it, concentration in their system than they would be dead. Lower amounts will cause fatigue, blackouts, vomiting, have you had any cases like that?"
Pom shook her head, "just the regular stuff, Harry. Pranks, fevers, colds, and miscast spells."
He smiled at her gently, "that is a good sign as it means that it just might be contained to Hagrid." He stood and hugged her tight, "we will find out what is going on. I promise."
He let her go and walked out saying, "when Hagrid gets here scorgify the clothes he brings and have him put them on. Burn what he takes off. Everything."
Pom nodded but didn't respond as he was already gone. They had wanted Harry to come back for Draco and now it seemed he had come back at just the right time. She prayed that none of her kids would have even the tiniest traces of this Dihydrogen Monoxide in their systems.
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Deciding not to use the owlery, that this was too important to waste time on, Harry went back to his room and contacted who he needed to by firecall. True to their word, the American Ministry sent someone around for his books and Snape sent a house elf to tell them they had arrived by floo in his office and that they would be set up in the room next to the infirmary where he had been the last time. Harry nodded and thanked him and then got back to his firecall with Orion that the Headmaster's messenger had interrupted.
Orion, the Headmaster of St. Maladies of World Medicine, the premier school for all Medi to go to, promised three helpers within the hour and another Medi if there was need of one.
Harry thanked the old man profusely and told him that Madam Pomfrey had said that there had been no report of the symptoms he had asked her about so there was a possibility that this was an isolated case.
"Nevertheless, I will send Gault, if needed." He stated firmly with a pointed look.
Harry flinched. Gault, a Medi-wizard that had protested Harry getting his Ninth level, was also the specialist on blood poisons. Harry didn't like him and he didn't like Harry, though the way he acted you couldn't tell.
"I understand, Sir." Harry said softly. "Professionally, he is the best. Personality wise, I think he has none."
Orion grinned at Harry's comment, "I will agree with you, young man, but he is the best and if this is an epidemic, you will need him. Just...stay out of his way."
Harry blushed, "I am not the one with the problem, Sir." He said with a blush on his cheeks.
Orion was silent for a moment, "yes, I seem to remember that. I will 'explain' to him that this is purely professional."
"As if that will work", Harry muttered before thanking the Headmaster again for his help.
"Keep me informed, Harry." The Headmaster said as he signed off.
"I will , Sir."
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Draco woke up at dinner time, at first confused as to why he was asleep. As he made to stand the memory of Harry, standing in the infirmary staring at him with his mouth open, slammed into him with an eye opening force. He groaned as his erection made itself known as he replayed the image of Harry as he had seen him the night he arrived.
"Damn it!" He groaned as he made his way to the bathroom to take care of his not so little problem.
As he got undressed he thought about what it would be like to kiss and hold Harry. He had been with countless, now faceless, woman, but he had never been with a man before. He had wanted too, but the opportunity had never arisen. Harry had been the one to awaken those thoughts in him and he had thought he would never have a chance with the Gryffindor Golden Boy so he had pushed those thoughts down and they had only come out during his dreams. And what lovely dreams they were. Those dreams had been more and more vivid the last few months and had been what had gotten him through everything.
Draco wanted Harry forever, and this blasted 'Plan' of Severus' was taking too long. He did agree that Harry had to come to him on his own and if Draco forced him it would only cause problems in the long run. Harry had bound HIMSELF to Draco, not the other way around. Draco was staying away from Harry only by the force of his will, how the HELL was Harry staying away from Draco?
That little white jacket didn't seem so scary now. And crayons, Draco did so like to draw.
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Harry was in the infirmary when the first students started coming in after dinner. He had wanted to waste no time but the Headmaster had refused to let the students come before that, so, they had used the time to set everything up so that this could run smooth and fast. He had set up his things in the same room he had used just months before and he was waiting for Pom to explain to the students what to do. She would perform a simple check for fatigue and then send the students one by one in to see Harry.
The cover story was that the Headmaster was taking advantage of having a level nine Medi-wizard here for general checkups on all the students. To make matters more believable for the students she also took a half a vial of blood from each one. One of the helpers that had arrived a mere twenty minutes ago wrote down the students information and then sent them to Harry.
The spell he had put over the door, a complicated but simple spell, would scan each student and tell him who needed to stay for further testing and who didn't. He didn't mind examining the children, in fact, Harry loved children and wished he had a litter of them himself. He managed to push those longing thoughts down to the same place he had thoughts of Draco as the first student came in.
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Draco had heard the announcement at dinner and wanted to help so he made his way to the infirmary and offered his services up Madam Pomfrey.
With a careful glance at the door a student had just walked into she drew Draco aside and whispered to him. "He is going to run himself ragged. What did Ron give Hagrid? I need to know if that is what caused this."
Draco shook his head, "not from what I gathered from what the Headmaster said at dinner. Is he okay?"
Pom studied him for a moment before a sly grin lit up her face, "it took him at least 3 minutes to recover when you left earlier."
Draco felt himself blush at that. Damn it all again, Malfoy's don't blush! "Really?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
Pom chuckled, "come on LoverBoy, get those vials over there and take them into him."
"What? No, I can't do that." Draco protested vehemently. He wanted to see Harry and seeing him working in his natural environment was a real turn-on for him but this was not the time to push the bond.
Pom said softly so that only he could hear and said knowingly, "he needs to know you are here Draco. Push the bond now, it will do you both good."
"I don't want to distract him, Pom." Draco and Pom had gotten close over the last few months and he considered her one of his closest friends.
"A little distraction now won't hurt him." She sighed, "he needs it right now Draco. Something is off about him and I am worried."
"Alright, alright, I'll go." Draco huffed. "Give me the vials." He held out a hand and pointedly ignored her knowing grin. He hated that she could manipulate him so easily.
Pom handed him the box of vials without saying a word. Draco walked to the door and stood there for a minute so that he could get his emotions and raging hormones under control. Hell, he was an adult and his body was acting as if he was 15 again. Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly and pushed open the door.
He barely managed to suppress a moan at his first glance of Harry. How the hell could someone look THAT good, sitting behind a desk, in an awful white labcoat, with a scowl of concentration on his face, was beyond anything he knew. Harry was beautiful. Draco only wished he could tell him he thought so.
"Put them over there." Harry said without looking up from the paper he was writing on.
Draco silently walked over to the table that he had been pointed to and set the box down carefully. He bit his lip in indecision before he quickly made up his mind. Harry had put this on BOTH of them. And Draco was a Slytherin in each and every cell of his body. He silently walked over to stand behind Harry and felt for the bond between them.
He saw Harry stiffen a second before he lightly placed his hands on Harry's shoulders. He made himself stay still and breath slow and deep as he let Harry get used to him touching him. Draco could feel shock through their bond but he refused to back down from the decision he had made to initiate this contact. Harry was in emotional turmoil. He knew the person behind him was Draco. What he didn't know, and needed to know so desperately, was why he was touching him. He thought Draco hated him. Did you touch someone you hated with such gentleness?
Draco stepped up and pressed his chest against the back of the chair and leaned in so that Harry couldn't turn his head and look at him. He knew, instinctively, that that was not something that they needed to do right now. Touch yes, but looking no, not yet. Draco didn't say a word as he breathed in the soft woodsy scent of the man sitting before him. He let himself rub gently against the soft fabric of Harry's labcoat as he sent the most calming thoughts he could muster down the bond.
Harry drew in a deep shuddering breath when he felt Draco's hand start to caress his shoulders. He calmed instantly when the bond shivered with the feelings that Draco was sending down it. 'What was going on?' he thought in panic.
Not able to resist Harry for another minute, Draco knew he had to leave. He leaned down and pressed a kiss onto the top of Harry's head and without looking at the stunned man behind him, he left the room as silently as he had entered. Not a word had been spoken between the two but the healing had begun. Both of them sensed it and both of them welcomed it.
Harry watched the man he loved walk away after he had done something that he had never in a million years thought he would do. He couldn't keep the grin from breaking out on his face and the twinkle, that had been missing for months, came back to his eyes. Draco quietly shut the door behind and turned to lean against it. The grin that lit his face was a sight to see, if only the one who had put it there could see it. He ignored Pom's raised eyebrow as he walked over to help her.
"Nice work, Mr. Malfoy, nice work." Was all she said before she started ordering him around. Draco grinned at her and went to carry out her orders.
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Oh yes, crayons. Brightly colored ones. He thought he should get used to them as soon, they would be the only thing left for him to write with. What had possessed him to do that he had no idea, but Draco knew that it had worked. Harry was calmer now, he could feel it. Draco felt it was a job well done and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't need the crayons and that tight white jacket.
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It was the next day before every student and teacher had been tested. There were 23 cases in all with Hagrid being the sickest. The Headmaster had found the container that Hagrid had used to try and get rid of the Blue-winged Centipede that had been eating the cabbages in Sprout's garden.
Harry sat in the room he had been using with his head in his hands, mentally preparing himself for telling 23 people that they had lethal doses of a chemical in their body that could potentially kill them. And not only that, that the treatment was painful, long, and could have lasting effects if the levels in their bodies didn't lower fast enough.
He had sent off the owl to Orion and expected his reply soon. Harry really wasn't looking forward to the confrontation that was going to take place. The door to his office opened and Harry stiffened and couldn't stop the flash of discomfort traveling down the bond as the silky and seductive voice registered.
"Hello, Harry, my dear."
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I must apologize for the lateness of this chapter.
Honestly, people, we writers here are all writing out of character. Yes, Harry did seem obsessed with Malfoy but he is with Ginny too until the very end when he told he couldn't see her anymore.
But everything that we write is AU. EVERYTHING. The only one who can write canon is JKR herself and the last time I checked I wasn't her.
So, my theory is this: this story is for me to write and for you to read. That's it. End of story. No big deal.
I DO want everyone to read my story and I DO want everyone to like it. Just like JKR does. Though I didn't make 36 million dollars in less than 24 hours, I do love to write.
MY STORY IS AU. KAPEESH!
Please, just ENJOY.
LMG
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SPOILERS
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SPOILERS
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I just finished Book 6 and I am sitting here in complete shock. I want to say that I believe that Dumbledore will come back but I do think he is truly dead. I felt pity for Draco and my anger at Snape is boundless.
I think Dumbledore was showing Harry all those things so that Harry would know what was needed. I also think that Dumbledore knew he was going to die. He knew and he wanted to give Harry as much information as was possible.
Harry not returning to Hogwarts and going to Godric's Hollow was a surprise. I have no thoughts about who R.A.B. is and can only think that it is an ally that Harry needs to find. After all, the note did say that he knew Voldemort's secret.
I sit here in shock and wonder what the hell am I doing? I am not sure if I am going to be writing anymore after this. I just seems...GOD! wrong somehow. I plan to spend the next few days reading my stories in the hopes that it will give me the incentive I need to continue. I love writing. I don't want to give up what I have started and I am sure many other authors are feeling the same way.
The one saving grace for me about all of this is Draco's obvious reluctance to kill Dumbledore. He was being forced to so that he could save his own life and that of his mother's. It is possible that he can be redeemed and there was something fishy about when Harry confronted Snape at the gates. He didn't WANT to curse Harry. In fact, he kept Harry from cursing him.
Dumbledore may well have been wrong about Snape, but then again maybe this was all part of the plan.
ARG! My head hurts just thinking about it so I am just going to stop. Please, take my ramblings as nothing and just remember, Harry has knowledge that Voldemort doesn't know that he has. We saw a glimpse into what made Voldemort like he is, and therein lies his defeat.
ENJOY!
LMG