The Human Stain

By Anna Kate

In loving memory of my Grandfather Albert

? 1923- August 30th 2005

Thank you Granddad, for everything.

Chapter Eight- A Smile On Her Face

"I'm afraid it's not looking good." Luna held the chart to her chest, her vivid eyes looking across the room to where Harry and Emma sat and Draco stood. They were back in Frimley Park Hospital, where Harry had spent his coma and where Claudia now spent hers.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked softly, his eyes red from hours of being awake, trying to force any news of Claudia from any poor, unsuspecting nurse or doctor that happened to talk into the Relatives Room. Draco didn't look much better, but Emma looked like she had just stepped out of a hair advert, so fresh and full of life was her appearance. Next to her, the two men looked to be the walking dead.

Luna sighed and ran and hand through her hair, and then sat in the chair next to her.

"Honestly? I have no idea. She isn't responding to anything, but her vital signs suggest that she's going to live a very healthy life."

"Except for the fact that she's in a coma." Emma added. Both men looked at her with very wide eyes and Luna narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Yes, that is a minor drawback." She agreed. Draco straightened where he stood.

"Could I wake her?" he asked, and Luna shook her head.

"This isn't the type of coma you're used to. She isn't trapped in her own mind; she's not even in her own mind!"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked again. Luna sighed.

"She isn't there, Mr. Evans. She's alive, but she's not…" Luna paused to think, and then turned to Emma.

"Could you excuse us for a moment?" Emma frowned but rose from her chair.

"Coming, Draco?" Draco moved to go as well, but Harry grabbed his shirt and shook his head at him.

"Mr. Malfoy's presence is required, Ms. Stockdale. I'm sorry, but you'll be by yourself." Luna said kindly, and Emma nodded stiffly and left. Both men relaxed once she had gone, and Draco fell into a chair next to Harry, resting his head on Harry's shoulder. Luna smiled to herself, and then looked at them.

"There is really only one person I know who could at least attempt to wake her."

"Who!" Harry asked, rather desperately. Luna looked pained and then ran a hand through her hair (which was down and flowing over her shoulders, probably against hospital rules.)

"You won't like it, Harry." Luna whispered and Harry looked her up and down.

"I'll have to go back, won't I?" he asked and Luna nodded. He groaned. "Please, not that. I can't go back, Luna, I just can't!"

"Harry, I know, honestly, I know, but there's no other alternative." Luna said softly and Harry put a hand over his eyes. Draco lifted his head off Harry's shoulder and then, placing a hand on the back of Harry's neck, pressed their foreheads together. He whispered something Luna couldn't make out, but what seemed to be,

"I'll be there…"

Harry nodded and smiled sadly, then pulled away and sat up. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.

"When do we go?"

Luna smiled at him sadly.

"Tonight."

00

Claudia had been placed on a stretcher and Emma had been notified that Harry, Draco and Claudia were going to visit a specialist in Scotland. She wasn't to know where they were really going. Harry had left their keys with her and packed some bags of clothes for Claudia and himself. Draco had done his own bags. Then they returned to Frimley Park.

Luna arrived shortly after midnight, dressed in entirely black and with the hood on her coat up. She smiled at both men and only Draco managed to smile back; Harry grimaced. She held out a tattered book.

"Ready?"

"No." Harry croaked and Draco looked at him with sad eyes. He reached over and held Harry's hand and Harry smiled slightly at him. Then they put their joined hands on the portkey, and Harry reached over and grabbed the bar of Claudia's stretcher, while Luna grabbed the other end and Draco held onto the middle.

Closing his eyes, Harry felt the familiar tug on his navel and then he disappeared along with Luna, Draco and a still unconscious Claudia.

00

Staggering back away from the Portkey, Harry closed his eyes to try to stop the awful spinning feeling, still holding onto Claudia's stretcher.

"I hate those things." He mumbled and Luna laughed delicately. She patted him on the shoulder, almost making him topple over. "I'll never get used to them." He continued, and she laughed even more. Harry opened his eyes and noticed that Draco had gone a funny green colour. Draco spotted him looking and raised a hand as if to say 'I'm good'. Harry gave him a small smile, and then looked around.

They were standing in a large clearing in the middle of what was probably the Forbidden Forest. Except, a large amount of trees around them were just ash, being held together by some magical force. Luna looked around sadly, and noticed Harry's questioning look.

"Death Eaters. They attacked here after a large party of Aurors arrived here one night. Poor thing." She murmured, looking around at the blackened trees. Harry felt the pit of his stomach drop away at the thought of how close to Hogwarts they were. It hurt.

Draco stood up from where he had knelt with his head between his legs and pulled his wand out of his sleeve. Waving it once, Claudia's stretcher began to float and he, Luna and Harry set off towards the large castle, silhouetted in the distance.

00

They arrived shortly before 2 in the morning, the large oak doors standing between them and the warmth of the halls. Luna placed her hands against the door, a blue light radiated from the panel, and she pushed the door open.

"Come on." She motioned for them to come in and Draco did so. Harry had to pause for a moment. He felt sick, he was going to throw up, he knew it, he knew it. Sitting down heavily on a stone stair, Harry ran a hand through his hair and let out a harsh sob.

He was back home. He was back at the only place where he had ever felt accepted, yet this place had caused him so much pain and suffering. How can something so loved, be so hurtful. It was beginning to rain and Harry tilted his head up towards the sky, feeling the small drops caress his face. A cool hand was placed on his forehead and he opened his eyes to see Draco standing over him, concerned.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked softly. Harry shook his head and Draco gave a small laugh. "Don't worry, Luna and I are here." Harry smiled and closed his eyes again, revelling in the feel of Draco's hands through his hair again. He felt Draco's lips press hesitantly against his cheek, and then Draco was gone, disappearing inside the building. Harry stood and looked at the large oak door.

"Time to face your fear, Potter." Harry said to himself, and he walked over to the door and pushed it open.

00

When Harry entered the large stone hallway, the entire room fell silent. There he was, an impressive figure over 6 feet tall, with curly black hair, haunted green eyes, glasses, soaking wet against the dark of the night. The torches either side of him cast an eerie glow on his skin, and he looked around suspiciously.

As he walked past, the entire room parted like the Red Sea to let him through. He made his way over to Draco, Luna and Claudia, and he leant over the girl and brushed her hair away, whispering to her. The hall broke out in whispers as to who she was and why she was in a stretcher, unconscious. Harry straightened and glared at a young Asian girl, who scuttled away.

He began to head up to the Hospital Wing, with Draco and Luna on his heels. He opened the door to the large hall hesitantly, and looked around. Nothing had changed, if only for a few new cabinets of medicine.

"I'll be with you in a moment-… HARRY POTTER!" Harry looked up and saw Madam Pomfrey, old and wizened but still Madam Pomfrey.

"Hullo." He said quietly and she gave a little squeak before practically throwing herself at him. Harry held her back, glad for someone who was happy to see him. Poppy Pomfrey, even though she had nagged him constantly about Quidditch Injuries, had been there for him the day the Scandal broke out… And the week during which Harry had not slept at all for worrying about a missing Draco. "It's good to see you Poppy." He whispered, feeling a lump in his throat. Madam Pomfrey pulled away and he was shocked to see she was crying.

"Oh, you stupid boy!" she tutted, and then she noticed Luna and Draco in the background, carrying Claudia. "What is this?" she bustled past Harry over to Claudia. "Oh my word, she looks just like you Harry."

"She's my daughter, Claudia." He said and Madam Pomfrey gasped. "She's been in a coma for days now. I want to know if you can help her."

"Of course I can. MR. WEASLEY!" Harry stiffened and whipped around, but then noticed a tall, lean boy, probably about 18-years-old, with a shock of red hair and large brown eyes standing in front of him. He wasn't Ron. "Can you take Ms. Potter into a cubicle please, and set her up to the Magiscope?" The boy nodded and walked past Harry, muttering 'Excuse me'. He greeted Draco warmly with a grin and a muttered 'hello'.

"Hullo John." Draco replied in return and John smiled.

"Can you follow me, Draco?" John asked and Draco smiled, and followed him to the nearest cubicle. Harry watched them go, with sad eyes. Pomfrey pulled up a chair for him and pushed him into it. She bustled about, mumbling to herself and gathering bottles of potions, before she rounded on Harry.

"The Headmaster will want to know about this." She snapped and then she stalked over to Claudia's cubicle and disappeared behind the curtains. Harry could still hear her cursing him, and he put his head in his hands to block out the sounds. It was better than hearing it.

After several minutes of cursing, Pomfrey grew quiet and Draco appeared next to Harry.

"She's hooked up to the Magiscope, but only time will tell if she's well enough for the magic." Draco said softly. Harry looked up at him.

"Couldn't we try the magic now?" he asked and Draco shook his head.

"No… Did you know Claudia's a squib?" he said and Harry looked shocked for a moment.

"N-n-no… The thought crossed my mind, but I just thought… I thought she probably didn't have enough magic for Hogwarts, not that she didn't have any at all…" Harry mumbled and Draco looked at him sympathetically before sitting down next to him.

"There are two types of squibs. The first, and most common, is the squib born to a pureblood family with no magic at all due to some genetic problem. The other is a squib because their body rejects the magic put into it, again due to genetics. Claudia's the second type of squib. Something is wrong in her genetics and so she won't accept magic into her blood stream or just generally into her body." Draco explained and Harry looked completely stunned.

"So, my daughter can't be cured by magic?" Draco shook his head vehemently.

"I didn't say that. It's worth a try."

"But Claudia could reject it?" Harry asked, and Draco hesitated before nodding slowly.

"She could. If she rejects it, she could become very ill." Harry looked at him sceptically and Draco avoided his eyes. "You should get some rest. I'll take you to my rooms." Draco rose to go and Harry rose as well. He followed Draco blindly through the corridors of Hogwarts until they reached a large portrait of a girl sitting at a table, reading a book. She took one look and Draco and giggled.

"Password?" she said rather breathlessly and Draco smiled at her.

"Miserere." He said and she nodded vigorously before the portrait swung open to reveal a hallway. Draco guided Harry down it until they reached a large, tastefully decorated living room. Harry had to admire the room.

"Why is your password Misery?" Harry asked, assuming that's what the password meant. Draco smiled and shook his head, walking towards an open plan kitchen.

"Honestly! Miserere actually means Mercy." He said exasperatedly. Harry gave a small 'oh' and looked around awkwardly.

"You live here?" he asked after a few moments. Draco nodded from the kitchen, holding a glass of water. He placed two pills on his tongue and downed the water, while Harry watched with wide eyes. "What was that?" he walked over to Draco and grabbed the little bottle of pills, looking for the label. Draco laughed.

"Oh, Harry! It's just some aspirin. I have an allergy to an ingredient in the magical equivalent so I take the muggle stuff instead."

"I know," Harry said softly, and then he smiled at Draco. "You used to make me go out in the middle of the night to get you the stuff if you had a cold." Draco laughed again, throwing his head back.

"I had forgotten about that!" he laughed, his grey eyes shining brightly and Harry gave a small laugh in return. They stood in comfortable silence for a moment or two, looking at each other before Harry headed back out into the living room. He yawned as he went to stand in front of the fire place. Draco looked at him again, but this time he was concerned.

"You should get some sleep. Follow me." He turned on his heel and headed up a staircase that wound up around the walls to another floor.

"Where is this place?" Harry asked, following him.

"It's in one of the towers. Not sure which one though." Draco told him, looking at him from across the tower. Harry nodded and began climbing the stairs again, taking in the ornate iron railing and marble flooring of the entire tower.

"You really went all out for this place, huh?" he said and Draco shrugged.

"Actually, I just imagined what I wanted it to look like and it was like that." The blond smiled at Harry and Harry smiled back weakly. Draco reached the first floor landing and Harry joined him soon after. Draco motioned to a large oak door.

"This will be your room. Claudia can have the one down the hall. Mine is up on the second floor. There are bathrooms all over the place, it's not hard to find one," Harry nodded. "Now, what do you want your room to look like? Just think, and then walk in."

Harry thought for a second then pushed open the doors. The room was long and big. A fireplace and study were at the front of the room; the furniture was all upholstered in dark blue material and made of mahogany. Two large, comfortable looking armchairs stood facing the fireplace with a small table in between them. A desk stood pushed against a large window and a bookshelf stood against the wall next to it.

Behind the main room, there was a grand archway and in that section there was a four-poster bed pushed against a dark blue wall that had maroon highlights. The blue drapes were fluttering slightly from the breeze coming from a large window that had a seat next to it. A wardrobe stood either side of the window and another desk was opposite the bed.

Harry smiled and Draco looked around appreciatively.

"Nice. How did you think this up?" Harry shrugged in reply.

"I read it somewhere. I think it was from Blackwood Farm by Anne Rice. It's a good book." Harry replied casually. Draco nodded and backed away towards the door.

"There should be some clothes around here for you all ready. You just have to find them," he paused at the door to the landing and looked at Harry sadly for a moment. "Good night." He then left.

"Good night Draco." Harry whispered softly to the empty room.

00

Draco was sitting up in bed reading when there was a knock on his door. He put a bookmark in his book and called,

"Come in!"

The door opened cautiously and Harry poked his head around it. Draco raised an eyebrow at him and Harry walked in meekly, shutting the door and sitting down on the end of the bed.

"Yes?" Draco asked imperiously and Harry cracked a grin, bringing his knees up to his chest.

"I can't sleep." Harry told him quietly and Draco had to bite back a laugh.

"You came in here to tell me you couldn't sleep?" Draco said and Harry nodded. Sighing, the blond man stood up and went over to a cupboard on the opposite wall of his room, which was painted a warm gold with green upholstery and rosewood furniture.

Once the cupboard was open, Harry could see it was a muggle radio… And it was working!

"Muggle things aren't supposed to work in Hogwarts." Draco shrugged and hit the play button.

"I changed it to work on magic." He said as the song started to play. Harry laughed at the opening music.

"Jesus, I remember this!"

'My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.'

Draco motioned for Harry to join him on the floor and Harry did so. He smiled down at Draco and pulled the shorter man towards him, his arms around Draco's waist and Draco's arms around his neck. They began to dance to the music, just gently swaying, their heads pressed together.

'She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Fucking high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.'

Harry reached up and tilted Draco's chin upwards, looking down into slightly sleepy grey eyes.

'You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.'

As the song finished, Harry leant down and placed a soft kiss on Draco's lips.

There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.

000

A/N: This was completely two days after the death of my maternal grandfather, Albert. He was a great person, and even though I never saw a lot of him, I will miss him dearly. He is survived by his four children, Sandra, Elladan, Elhrohir and Arwen, his 9 step-children, his three ex-wives Hermione, Adele and Clarice and his partner Jenny. He died of conditions relating to a heart attack he suffered on Friday night.

He will be missed.

In other news, this could be my last update for a long time. As of the 4th of September, I'm at boarding school in England, starting my first year of GCSE examinations. Wish me luck.

Song is "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. It's so very fitting, I think.