Chapter 11

It had been two weeks since the IV incident took place. Harry had been given all of his medication via injection. Dr. Benson had long since stopped playing games with Harry. He was no longer the guy that had tried to be Harry's friend in the beginning. Another thing that frustrated the staff was Harry would only speak to Evan when the two were alone. In his therapy sessions he just stared at the guy, he'd told Harry to call him Sam. Harry wasn't buying into any of it. He knew the only thing they wanted was to pick him apart and leave him as an empty shell with only a façade of happiness.

Evan didn't understand why Harry was fighting so hard. Nothing seemed to faze him. No matter how hard the staff pushed, Harry pushed back just as hard. There was a light in Harry's eyes that refused to go out, the spark of defiance, as Evan had started to call it.

"Kid, why are you fighting this so hard?"

"I won't let them take my soul. Bastards like these guys did that once already. I swore to myself it would never happen again. If I let them break me, I'm nothing."

Evan sighed, "you're not nothing, kid. You are the strongest person I know, I couldn't even last as long as you."

Tears ran down Harry's cheeks, "if I'm not nothing, then why won't Draco come see me. Two weeks I've been in this hell hole, and nothing. Gabe has his own life a couple hours from here, and he still manages to visit. I hate when he comes, I feel like he's screwing with my mind. He's worse than the drugs they pump into my body here."

"Maybe if you told Remus and Sirius how you feel they could get Draco to come."

Harry shook his head, "no. To depend on someone else is a sign of weakness."

"No, Harry, it's a sign of trust. You're showing that person you care about them enough to let them take care of you."

"Draco doesn't care, so why should I?"

Evan looked at Harry. He seemed so lost, like a child that had been separated from his mother at a fair. Evan couldn't just sit there and let Harry continue on the path of no return. Harry was a good kid who didn't deserve what was happening to him.

"I'm sure he does care, Harry. You just have to believe. You have to get better, otherwise you'll never know for sure. You'll waste away, always asking 'what if' questions. You can beat this thing, Harry. You have to."

Harry said nothing, choosing to turn on his side and burrow under his blankets, having long since been untied. He closed his eyes and refused to emerge from his cocoon. Nurses and doctors were in and out all day. When it was time for his meds, Harry merely stuck his arm out from under the blanket and

allowed the nurse to inject him. This shocked the elderly nurse as she was expecting a fight of epic proportions, as had been their routine. She wasn't sure if it was a move of apathy, or if Harry was truly submitting to their rigorous treatments. The nurse turned and walked out of the room, choosing not to think on it too much for the time being.

When Harry found himself in his therapy session later that day the doctor gave him a look. Harry just stared back. He wasn't sure what to expect.

"So, Harry, I heard you willingly received your medication today. Is this a sign you are making progress, or are you just having an off day? I hope you know that we are not keeping you here to torture you, but to help you. Don't you want to get better?"

Harry looked at him for a second, "no."

The doctor hid his shock at hearing Harry's voice, "why not?"

"Because the one person I want to care doesn't. I don't want to get better if he's not going to be in my life."

"Ah. And who, may I ask, is this person? Your boyfriend?"

Harry slowly shook his head, "no. He's not my boyfriend, but I'd like him to be. I haven't known him that long, but I think I love him."

"And does he know that?"

"No. I haven't seen him since my guardians had me admitted. He walked out on me that night because he saw me with another guy; one who claims to be my boyfriend."

"Is he?"

"I don't think so. I remember thinking I broke up with him before moving, but when I went back to visit that night I ran into him. He told me we were never broken up. I wasn't sure if I should believe him. Draco got so mad. He just stormed out of the house. Sam, I think I need him."

Sam nodded, "maybe we should bring him in. It seems like seeing him would speed up your healing. What do you think?"

"He won't come. Otherwise he would have already. He hates me."

"I'm not sure that he does. Maybe he was just confused and hurt that night."

Harry nodded. Sam was right, maybe Draco had just been confused. Harry sat in silent contemplation for the rest of the session. Sam was just glad to have finally gotten Harry to open up, if only a little. He had a feeling they were going to start making some good progress. Harry just had to believe him when he said that they were only trying to help. It seemed to Sam that Harry was losing steam, and wanted nothing more than to be loved and understood. Yes, they would get through this.

The next time Harry saw Sam, there was someone else there. It was Draco, there was no doubt about that. He sat with his back ramrod straight, not meeting Harry's gaze. Harry took the seat opposite Draco and Sam. Biting his lip, Harry tried not to show the hurt that threatened to bubble forth at Draco's lack of eye contact. Sam cleared his throat after he was certain neither of the boys were going to start.

"Harry, I've asked Draco to come today. Maybe it's time you told him some of the things you told me last time you were here?"

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but found he could not form any words. His throat was dry and his hands clammy. Tears burned behind his eyes. Harry hated himself for not being able to say something, anything. Not even his sarcastic side emerged. Draco shifted in his seat, obviously irritated.

"Look, Sam, maybe this was a bad idea. He clearly has nothing to say. I don't know why I bothered wasting my time by coming here today."

Harry's eyes widened at the coldness of Draco's voice, and his tears spilled over, "don't go. Please, Draco, please don't go."

"Why should I stay, Harry?"

"Because I need you," Harry said with a voice thick with emotion.

Draco looked at Harry, "you don't need me. You've never needed anyone as far as I can tell. Why now? You have strength some of us only dream of having. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"I'm not strong. I depend on people way too much. You've made me see that. I know we haven't known each other long, but you made me a better person. I'm nothing without you. Every day I've spent in here without seeing your face, hearing your voice, has made me realize that."

"Harry, you don't need me. This is all in your head. I can just stand by and allow you to depend on me. I'm not strong enough of a person to support two sets of emotions. I can barely handle mine. You don't need me."

Harry's heart broke as Draco stood and walked away from him for a second time. He wasn't sure he could recover this time; he wasn't sure he even wanted to. Draco did not want him. He had made that known. Harry's chest constricted and the blissful darkness consumed him. Sam watched in horror as Harry collapsed in front of him. This did not bode well for Harry's recovery. They were going to have to start from scratch, maybe with a different approach this time.