A/N: As always, a special thanks to Sansa who is a selfless beta and wonderful friend.
Pesky legal disclaimer: The wonderful world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R., her assigns, agents, licensees and all others to whom she grants her wonderful dispensation. Sadly, I am not on that list, nor do ever expect to be. I write this purely for fun and guilty pleasure and make no money from this.
CHAPTER 7: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
It was late in the evening before Narcissa returned. She found a half-done puzzle on the table and Severus napping on the couch, surrounded by papers, books and journals.
"Severus," she whispered as she shook his shoulder.
Severus woke with a start. He peered up at Narcissa before struggling to right himself. "Oh. It's you. Finally come home, have you?" he grumbled as he sat up and slumped against the arm of the couch.
"I'm so sorry. You know Bella. Things are always so emotional with her."
"Hmm," Severus began, "seems your son has inherited her quirky traits."
"Oh, no. What's happened?" Narcissa asked as she sat in the small arm chair to the left of the couch.
"Nothing that probably shouldn't have happened six months ago. Draco's little friend, Harry I believe, finally got tired of being treated like a little doll—told Draco off proper for it. He can be surprisingly fierce."
Narcissa chuckled. "Good. Draco needed that. I daresay Harry did to. I was worried about how passive he is. I wonder what finally set him off?"
"It was probably the fever and the head-pounding sniffles he's had for the last two days."
Narcissa shot to her feet. "He's sick? Why didn't you tell me straight away? Where is he? Did Petunia leave instructions? Medicine? Doctor information?"
"What's the problem? He's a little boy with the sniffles. Though, that horse-faced she-devil tried to pass it off as allergies."
Narcissa shot Severus a glare as she made her way to the stairs. "Now at least I know where Draco gets it from."
Severus lips quirked in a sardonic smile. "I don't know what you mean."
Narcissa rolled her eyes and started up the stairs. "Is he in with Draco?"
Severus snorted as he stood and stumbled after Narcissa. "No. Guest room. Quarantine."
Narcissa entered the guest bedroom quietly and switched on a small table lamp. Harry was huddled in the center of the bed, wrapped in blankets with Draco's Leo the Lion plushy tucked in the crook of his arm. Narcissa heard the faint sounds of music coming from the corner. A dark blanket had been flung across the top of the drapery rods as if to hide the window. Draco's work, all of it, Narcissa was sure. Though, the window thing was strange. Narcissa moved to the bed and sat on the edge closest to Harry.
"Harry, love," she whispered as she shook him lightly. He didn't wake right away. She shook him again. "Harry, love. Come on now, I need you to wake up."
"Aunt Petunia?" he muttered in a sleep-thick voice.
"No, love, it's Draco's mum. Come on now, I need you to wake up for me."
Harry's eyes fluttered open. He struggled to get free of his cotton cocoon. "Mrs. Malfoy?" he asked.
"Shh, shh, shh. I just need to ask you a few questions," she said as she felt his forehead. He felt hot. She glanced back at Severus. He nodded and left to get the thermometer, child's aspirin and water. "Harry? Where's your bag? Is your medicine in there?"
Still sleepy, Harry was confused by the question. What medicine? "I—I don't know," he said honestly.
"Is your bag in Draco's room?"
Harry nodded.
"Stay right here. I'll be back in few minutes."
Narcissa left just as Severus returned. "Open up," he said as he thrust the thermometer at Harry.
Harry sat, huddled in his blankets, the thermometer in his mouth, watching what was going on around him. He looked over to the window and saw the blanket, looking as though someone very short had flung it there. If he could have, he would have sighed. Draco must have remembered his ridiculous lie about not liking windows and had taken it to heart. His gaze snapped to the doorway as Mrs. Malfoy entered with his little overnight bag. He watched as she and Mr. Snape dug through, whispering back and forth as they did so. Mrs. Malfoy was asking something of Mr. Snape, and he was getting angry, Harry thought. He heard him say, "No. Nothing. She said nothing." The thermometer beeped. Mrs. Malfoy and Mr. Snape stopped talking and turned. They exchanged glances before Mrs. Malfoy smiled and came over.
"Let's have a look," Narcissa said, tsking just as Severus had as she read the results. "Harry, there's no medicine in your bag. Who's your doctor? I need to know what to give you."
Harry didn't know what to say. Aunt Petunia had never told him what to say to something like this. No one had ever asked him these questions before. "I—I," he struggled. "I don't remember," he said, hoping that would be enough.
Severus huffed. Narcissa shot him a sharp glance. She turned back to Harry. "It's okay, love. Tell me, where is your family staying? I'll just ring them and get the information."
Harry didn't know this either. "I don't know," he said, frustration edging into his voice.
Narcissa hesitated before turning to Severus. "Are you sure she didn't give you any information? She didn't say anything about where they were staying?"
"I told you, Narcissa, she was just happy to get rid of the boy. She said nothing except that he was suffering from allergies."
Narcissa turned back to Harry. "Harry? I didn't know you had allergies? What kinds? What are you allergic too? Are you allergic to any kinds of medicines?"
Harry was starting to panic at all the questions. And there was that allergy word again. Did it have something to do with being sick? What did it mean? "I don't know!" he cried, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.
"Oh, it's okay, love. It's okay. Here's what we'll do. We'll figure this out together, yes?"
Harry nodded.
"Does your head hurt?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said in a small voice.
"And, you've got the sniffles, right?"
Harry nodded.
"How about your tummy? Does your tummy hurt?"
Harry hesitated before shaking his head no.
"Okay. How about your throat? Does that hurt? Are you coughing?"
Harry nodded yes. This was easy. He could do this without getting into trouble.
"Good, Harry, good. Are you tired?"
He nodded again.
"Headache?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Feel all stuffy?"
Harry nodded.
"Sounds like a cold. We'll keep you bundled up and give you some medicine. Does your Aunt give you red liquid that tastes like cherries when you're sick?"
Harry had no idea what Mrs. Malfoy was talking about, but 'yes' seemed to be the right answer. He nodded his head. When she relaxed, Harry knew he'd answered the right way.
"Chew these and drink this glass of water. Then I'll give you the cold syrup."
Harry took the child's aspirin from Mr. Snape's outstretched hand while Mrs. Malfoy left the room. He'd just finished his glass of water when she came back with a small plastic cup filled with red liquid.
"Here you go. Drink it all."
Harry took the cup and drank the liquid. Ugh! It tasted awful and burned his throat. He coughed and his eyes watered.
"I know, I know. But it makes you feel better, doesn't it?"
Harry didn't say anything.
"Let's get you back under the covers," she said as she tucked the blankets around him and kissed him on the forehead.
Harry gasped at the kiss to his forehead. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy. Sorry for the trouble," he said.
"Don't worry, love, you'll be fine. You'll see."
After kissing Harry goodnight, Narcissa made her way down the stairs, trailed by Severus.
"Very odd, don't you think," he drawled.
Narcissa tensed. She knew exactly where this conversation was headed and she wanted no part of it. She shrugged. "He gets sick a lot. Probably old hat to him."
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Severus growled.
Narcissa whirled around. "No. I don't know what you mean. Spell it out for me," she snapped.
Startled by her response, Severus took a step back. "Something is not right with that family, and you know it," he said.
Narcissa's face drained of color. "I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. This was not his family. Not his problem. He'd known Harry for all of two days. Who was he to say that something odd was going on? And, even if there was, who was he to get involved? "I don't have time for this," he said, shaking his head. He gathered his papers and packed them in his valise. "I'll say this, though, thank god that awful woman isn't my aunt. Give my best to Draco." Severus turned and walked towards the door. He hesitated. "And to Harry as well," he said before leaving.
"It's none of my business," Narcissa hissed at the closed door. "He's just an odd little boy. So what if his relatives aren't perfect? That doesn't mean anything," she murmured, willing herself to believe it.
Narcissa kept Harry in bed for two more days until she was sure that he was feeling better. True to his word, Draco played quietly with Harry and let him sleep when he wanted. Twice she'd tried to remove the blanket from the window, but both times Draco had stopped her, claiming that it made Harry feel better to have it there. Narcissa chalked it up to yet another of Harry's odd quirks. He had far too many, a little voice told her.
She stood at the kitchen window watching the goings on outside. Harry and Draco were running around in the backyard playing tag. Narcissa smiled at their open faces, their laughter, and their true affection for each other. She'd detected a subtle shift in their relationship over the last few days. The boys were on more equal footing now. Harry was more inclined to make his feelings known and Draco, for the most part, respected them.
A sharp rap at the front door startled her. She glanced at the clock and frowned. Checking to make sure the boys were still playing, she went to greet her guest.
"Narcissa. How lovely to see you," Petunia said as Narcissa opened the door.
Narcissa sighed. She tried to quell her unease. This was not a conversation she'd ever had to have. She wasn't even sure where to begin. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Won't you come in, Petunia. I was hoping we could have a chat before the boys come in."
Petunia's smile faltered. "Of course." She followed Narcissa into the living room. "I do hope Harry didn't cause any trouble."
"Harry became ill while you were away," Narcissa said, cutting right to it.
Petunia paled. "Oh?" she said. "Are you sure, Narcissa? The boy has terrible allergies."
"I think the fever dispelled that theory," Narcissa said flatly.
"I see," Petunia said. "Well, I do apologize. As you know, Harry has many problems--"
"I'd like to talk with you about that, actually," Narcissa snapped. "You see, I'm very concerned about a number of things. Why is it that Harry who is supposed to be so ill all of the time, had no idea who his doctor is? What he's allergic to? What medicines he takes? Why didn't you take Harry with you on holiday? Why didn't you leave information so that we could contact you in case something like what happened, happened? And why, Petunia, do I get the distinct impression that you abhor that sweet child?"
Petunia pursed her lips and squared her shoulders. Looking Narcissa Malfoy right in the eye—as if to say, "how dare you?"—Petunia whispered, "Just what are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything," Narcissa said. "I'm telling you that something is going on in the Dursley house—something that involves Harry—and I don't like it. Not one bit."
Petunia continued to stare at Narcissa for a few moments before her pursed lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "You know," she began lightly, "it's funny what rumors can do."
Narcissa frowned, not understanding where Petunia was going.
Petunia chuckled and readjusted the sweater on her shoulders. "I think rumors are just awful, awful things. Don't you? A nasty business, they are. And, they can do such devastation—even when they aren't true," she said, while staring directly at Narcissa.
"What?" Narcissa began.
"You see," Petunia interrupted, as if Narcissa had said nothing, "Vernon heard a particularly nasty rumor about your late husband. Would you like to know what he heard?"
Narcissa's face drained of color. "I don't care for rumors," she sniffed, while her stomach churned.
"Yes, yes. I agree," Petunia said, sidling a bit closer. "That's why I bring this up, you see. I mean, if I actually believed that your husband was involved in illegal activities, had mob connections or some such other thing, why in the world would I allow my nephew over to play?"
Narcissa felt as though she might faint. "That's a lie," she whispered. "Lucius wasn't involved in anything like that," she said, wishing desperately that she could believe it.
"Oh, I believe you," Petunia said, her hand over her heart. "But there are so many others who just lie in wait for such vicious untruths, who glory in someone else's ruin. All because appearances seem . . . off. It's a shame when things like that happen. Don't you think?"
Narcissa nodded, still frozen.
"For instance, it would be a shame for that ridiculous rumor to spread about your late husband. Can you imagine the effect of something like that on Draco?" Petunia tsked at the notion. "Or, if someone were to suggest that Harry wasn't being treated well . . . why, that's just as ludicrous, don't you agree?"
"Don't try to blackmail me," Narcissa hissed in a show of bravado, but she felt out of her depth. This was the kind of thing that Lucius handled. But, then again, Lucius was the reason she was in this mess.
Petunia's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Where ever would you get such a silly notion? I was merely commiserating with you, Narcissa. I know what it's like to be unfairly accused of ridiculous things. Harry is an odd little boy. We've tried our best with him, but at some point we just have to let him be himself. I had hoped he'd come with us on holiday, but he's deathly afraid of car travel. It's all I can do to get him to school in the mornings. You see, his parents died in a smash-up when he was a small child. He was with them. He's even got a scar across his forehead from it. But, we can't always accommodate him. Dudley deserves a life as well."
"Then why the threats? And, don't pretend that they're anything but," Narcissa said.
"I know what it looks like. I've been through this before. Harry is . . . well, Harry. And that creates problems sometimes. Why the heavy handedness? I'd do anything to protect my family, Narcissa. Wouldn't you?"
Narcissa didn't say anything, but inside she was nodding. She would, in fact, do almost anything to protect her family. She felt her resolve crumble as her vague suspicions were knocked down one by one. And, was it worth hurting Draco to voice suspicions? "But, that doesn't explain the doctor, the medicine, the lack of information about where you were staying," she pressed, desperately clinging to her good intentions.
Before Petunia could answer, the backdoor slammed and the thunderous sound of little boy feet echoed into the living room.
"Mum!" Draco called. "We need juice," he said as he and Harry barreled into the living room. Both stopped short at the sight of Draco's mum and Harry's aunt sitting on the couch.
"Hello, Harry," Petunia said.
"Hullo," Harry murmured as his gaze darted between his aunt and Mrs. Malfoy.
"Harry, Mrs. Malfoy was just telling me something awful. She said that there was no doctor or contact information in your bag. What did you do with the piece of paper I gave you with all of that information?" she asked, her eyes telling Harry that he'd better go along with this or else.
Harry dropped his head. He took a deep breath. "I must have lost it," he lied.
"Harry," Petunia said with a put-upon sigh. "How many times must we go through this? Am I going to have to start pinning these things to your jumpers?" she asked with a small chuckle.
Harry's face colored in embarrassment. He shot a glance at Mrs. Malfoy and over to Draco before focusing on Petunia. "No, ma'am," he mumbled. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"And, why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well? You said it was just your allergies. There's no need to be embarrassed about getting sick, Harry. I daresay you caused Mrs. Malfoy quite a bit of panic," Petunia admonished.
Harry shot another glance at Mrs. Malfoy. His face colored even more. "Sorry," he said again. "I should have said something," he murmured.
"Yes, you should have."
"No harm done," Mrs. Malfoy interjected. She hated seeing Harry so forlorn. "Really, it's okay. Perhaps the best thing to do, Petunia, is for you to give me the information so that I can always have it on hand. That way Harry won't have to remember to bring it over."
Petunia sniffed. "Yes, of course," she said. "I'll get that to you soon." Petunia turned to Harry. "Go and pack your things. I think you need to spend the rest of the day in bed. Don't want a relapse, now do we?"
Harry shook his head back and forth. "No," he whispered.
"Good boy," Petunia said.
"Thanks for letting me stay. Sorry for the trouble," Harry said to Narcissa and Draco. "I'll see you in school, Draco."
Draco nodded, not understanding what was happening.
"Well, Narcissa. Lovely chatting with you," Petunia said as she stood and walked towards the door.
"Yes," Narcissa said absently.
Harry came back down the stairs with his little bag slung over his shoulder. "Bye," he said as he and Petunia left.
The door closed silently behind them. Narcissa stood there, staring at the door, and wondered if she was doing the right thing by letting this go. It didn't escape her that she was at the proverbial fork and had chosen the easier path, hoping that it was also the right one.
"Mum?" Draco asked.
"Yes, dragon?" she replied as she pulled him to her and cuddled him close, despite his protests.
"Why are we staring at a closed door?" he asked.
Narcissa hesitated, not knowing how to answer.