Chapter 3- Draco Has A Bad Day
Harry was finally allowed out of bed and it took him about two seconds to dress and run out the door.
Madame Pomfrey was allowing him to roam the halls, as long as he told her exactly where he was going, and he was to check in with her each hour.
She gave him a medic alert badge that he could talk into so he didn't have to actually return to the infirmary each hour. It was a neat device that worked like a mix between a muggle cam-corder and a walkie-talkie. Madame Pomfrey could talk to him and he could talk to her at any time. She could also request that he hold it up, and move it around to verify he was where he was supposed to be. She often used this devise when working with patients who might have medical problems that could worsen or pop up at inconvenient times. Rather than isolating them to the infirmary, she allowed them a bit of freedom.
Harry also had to wear a portkey ring. If at any time Madame Pomfrey decided to call him home to the infirmary all she had to do was activate this portkey and he would appear instantly on the portkey bed. He could also activate it by tapping it with his wand.
He was not allowed to go out on the grounds yet and he was to attend all meals. If he missed even one meal Poppy would put him back into bed with her famous "sticking charm".
It had been several days and he was still feeling a bit sore. He didn't think he would ever become accustom to the speed of magical healing. A muggle would still be in the hospital with tubes sticking out of them and painkillers ingested every hour. Yet, here he was walking around, wondering if he had the courage to ask Madame Pomfrey if he could go flying tomorrow. He knew the answer to that question, but he would keep asking. Perhaps in a few days Madame Pomfrey would allow him an hour or two in the air.
Actually Harry was very worried. He was not sure what was going to happen to him. No one seemed to be sharing any information, at least not with him. The adults talked about him, and around him, but seldom to him. This was one of the reasons that his curiosity was so strong and usually ended up getting him in trouble. Harry never felt like he was in control of any part of his life, or the decisions that went into directing his life. He always felt the need to secure information any way he could so that he felt like he had some semblance of control.
Harry had not even thought about dealing with what his Uncle had done to him. Every time he thought about it his stomach would churn and he would feel like he was going to lose his lunch. It was easier right now just to avoid dwelling on it.
He had just returned from a trip to the kitchens, pilfering goodies, when Madame Pomfrey told him that Professor Dumbledore wanted to talk to him so he was to go to the Headmasters office.
His insides churned with excitement and concern at the same time as he made his way to THAT staircase that nobody wanted an invitation to. Going to the Headmaster's office always seemed to mean trouble, at least according to Fred and George, who had barely survived many trips there.
Harry was approaching a bend in the hallway where you could choose to go in the direction of the dungeon and snake headquarters or to the great hall. As he moved closer he heard loud voices. Not wanting to walk into an uncomfortable situation, he slowed his approach. He stopped at the corner near an indent in the wall. Taking a deep breath he knew he had to choose between going back to the infirmary and checking out the situation in front of him.
Hiding behind a statue he peeked around the corner and almost stopped breathing when he saw Lucius Malfoy, Dobby and Draco Malfoy standing in the hallway having a heated conversation. Lucius was doing most of the talking, while Dobby pulled on his ears and Draco was standing very rigid with tears welling up in his eyes.
"I have important business to take care of this summer and you will spend the summer with your Godfather. Now I don't want to hear anymore about it Draco" said Mr. Malfoy.
"But Father, I am old enough to go with you, I won't cause you any trouble and I can probably help you, please, don't leave me alone this summer."
Lucius moved fast as he clobbered Draco with his cane. He hit him hard enough to knock him to the ground.
"I will have none of your lip!" "You will do as you are told, when you are told to do it, with no backtalk, no whining and no attitude".
Lucius Malfoy had his foot in the middle of Draco's back, holding him to the floor. He was striking Dracos' bottom with his cane as he spoke each word of his lecture. Lucius was holding nothing back and Harry could emotionally feel each blow.
Draco tried to hold back the cries but the pain became too much and he finally cried out. "Please Father, don't", Please, quit, I won't say another word, I will respect you, please stop. Father, please, it hurts so bad!"
Harry could not handle it any longer. With each blow of the cane his memories revisited the pain and the humiliation that Vernon had inflicted on him. He couldn't just let it happen, and do nothing, even if it was Draco. He started to come out of hiding and see if he could stop the beating or at least distract Lucius.
At the same time Dobby sensed Harrys' presence and seemed to sense that he was going to walk into a very bad situation. Harry was slammed back against the wall and a small squeaky voice whispered in his ear, "If you go out there he will hurt your very badly Master Harry. He is a very, very bad wizard who hates the Great Master Harry Potter. Do not even think you can stop him because you cannot Master Harry Potter Sir, you cannot". Harry realized that it was Dobby holding him against the wall, and Dobby's words seemed to freeze his heart and actions.
Then Harry heard another voice, a voice he knew very well, a voice he hated, a voice he feared..
"Having another family discussion are we Lucius?" asked Severus with a very sarcastic voice. "You do know that there are numerous teachers here this summer who might witness your method of correcting Draco. They would assume that your son is not made of the same metal as his father and you don't want that do you? We both know how hard it is to train up a proper son but I am sure you don't want to make yourself or your son a topic of common gossip".
Severus knew not to plead for Draco, he had to strike at Lucius' weak spots, one of which was his ego. It worked as Lucius stopped hitting Draco and visibly pulled himself together. After a few deep breaths he seemed to have his emotions under control and Severus knew that the situation had been nipped in the bud.
"Rise Draco," said Lucius.
Draco struggled to stand and Harry could tell that he was in a great deal of pain. But Draco put on the Malfoy face and finally stood facing his Father.
"Tuck your shirt in Draco and straighten up your clothing, you look like a common Muggle" said Lucius.
Draco did as he was told, never once rubbing his backside as Harry knew he must want to do. It had to hurt a lot and the inclination to rub it must be great. Harry had to give it to the Snake, he was tough. Harry also realized that Draco is not living the life of luxury that Harry and his friends thought he was. Harry also knew that the real pain was not in Draco's bottom but in his heart and it was called 'rejection'.
Harry noticed Dobby standing beside Lucius, "How did he get back over there without me noticing,?" Harry asked himself. This Dobby needed further looking into.
Harry also watched as Severus stood silent after his initial dialogue. He seemed to know that nothing further was needed and in fact he needed to allow Lucius to retain a sense of dignity or Draco would pay an even higher price. Harry respected how Snape handled the situation but it didn't change his opinion of the King Snake at all. He knew that Draco was his Godson, and Snape would do whatever it took to help out a snake, especially his Godson.
There was another uncomfortable emotion bubbling inside of Harry. He wondered what it might feel like to have someone in his life that stood up for him like that? He used to dream about a Parent coming to save him, holding him and loving him. He gave up on the dream because the longer it did not happen the more painful the dream became so he quit dreaming. The emotion bubbling inside was a remnant of that dream and he shut it down quickly.
"Well Severus, are we all set? Did Dracos' trunk arrive?" asked Lucius.
"Yes Lucius, everything is ready and his things arrived this morning. When do you plan on returning?" Severus didn't really care when he would return but he wanted to know how long he would have to work with his young Dragon. Draco wanted his fathers approval so badly that Severus was afraid that he might already be lost to the Dark Lord and he was going to do everything he could to stop it.
"I am not sure Severus, but I do know it will not be until the end of Summer and perhaps even later. I think Draco and I now have come to an understanding and he shouldn't cause any further problems, isn't that right Draco?"
"Yes, Father". Draco answered with a forced breath.
"Good, then I am off, come Dobby. Walk with me to the door Severus?". The look he gave Snape indicated this was more of a command than a request.
Severus felt like socking the idiot in the nose but then he knew his Godson would end up paying for that expression of temper. Giving Lucius a crooked smirk he stated, "Of course Lucius, I would love to."
Harry watched as Lucius and Severus left and when they were out of sight he watched as Draco lost his fake strength and slumped to his knees. Harry came out of hiding and walked over to Draco intending to help him up.
Drako took one look at Harry and said "Get your hands off me Scar Head, I don't need your help!"
"Get over yourself Draco. I know you're embarrassed. I am just coming out of the infirmary because my Uncle liked to do the same thing to me. So swallow your pride and let me help you to Severus' office before someone comes by and sees you like this. I will tell you from experience, you won't like the pity trip they will lay on you".
Those last words seemed to do the trick. Draco said nothing but he did put around Harrys' neck and pull himself up. Harry grabbed his waist and they began the long trip down the hall to Snape's office. When they arrived Draco gave the password and went in not uttering even one word of thanks. Harry just shook his head and turned around and walked away.
Harry was in shock! Ron had a favorite phrase for this type of situation, "too much information". He was not sure what he had witnessed, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to know what he now knew. It was so much easier to see his nemesis through eyes of anger rather than empathy. Leave it to Draco and Severus to mess up his world once again. "I just get things figured out and they pull the rug out from under me again...UG!"
When he was halfway down the hallway he looked up and turned pale. Snape was walking down the hallway toward him and the look he had on his face was not a nice one.
"What are you doing out of the infirmary Potter and what business does the Golden Boy have in this hallway?"
Harry was tongue tied and could not seem to find his voice. The one person in the whole world he did not want to meet in a dark alley had him cornered in a dim hallway.
"Speak Mr. Potter, I am waiting to hear what flimsy excuse you can come up with!"
"I was just helping Draco to your office Sir, nothing more"
Snape shared with Harry his famous smirk and said "Likely story, you're probably snooping again, sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, isn't that what your famous for? Now I will give you one more chance to answer me, what are you doing down here?"
"He is telling the truth Professor", said Draco, "He was helping me".
Drako did not want to thank Harry for helping him because he was already embarrassed and just couldn't find the courage to utter the words. He thought about it and changed his mind. When he opened the door to speak to the Pot Head, he heard his Godfather harassing Potter. As much as he hated Potter, he owed him and felt obligated to step in.
Severus looked at Harry then back at Draco. Then with a weird look on his face he walked away from Harry, helped Draco back into the office and slammed the door.
Harry felt like he had dodged a bullet and started breathing again. Then remembering that he was on a mission and was now probably very late, he took off at a trot.
He said "zero bar", as instructed by Madame Pomfrey, when he reached the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office, and the staircase began to turn. They say that greatness borders on insanity and Harry felt that perhaps he was beginning to understand that saying. The greatest wizard in the world using a candy bar to safeguard the entrance to his office. Harry wondered if there was such a thing as a wizard dentist?
Before he could dwell very long on the subject of rotting teeth and crazy wizards he had reached the doorway to the inner sanctum that housed the Head Master.
He began to knock on the door when the voice of Professor Dumbledore bid him enter even before he finished knocking. It was as if the door was a one way mirror and Professor Dumbledore could see everyone coming to his office. Harry had felt this before but had not mentioned it to anyone but Ron and Hermione.
Dumbledore looked deeply at him for a moment with one of those looks that Harry felt went right through you. It was not a bad look, just one that made you feel uncomfortable.
"Harry, it is so good to see you up and around, please have a seat. I hope you are feeling better my boy?"
"I am feeling much better, thank you" replied Harry, with a slight edge to his voice.
Dumbledore probably noticed his tone of voice but didn't show any indication through his body language or expression.
"Would you like a piece of Zero bar?," asked Dumbledore, "it is the flavor of the week". "Professor McGonagall tends to think I am going through my third childhood but I figure you have to make the mundane fun at times or we would all die of boredom."
"No thanks," replied Harry.
"Harry, I want to apologize to you for what you had to go through with your relatives. I know that words really don't ease the pain but they are all I can offer you for your past. I am an old man and I have made many mistakes. I wish with all my heart that I had handled your situation differently."
Harry said nothing. He felt that if he replied right now he would not be able to stop the anger and the words that would come with the emotion. No, it was better to just stay quiet right now and see what the Old Man was up to. He didn't trust Dumbledore anymore. But, as luck would have it, he was not old enough to do much about controlling his own life. So, he just sat and listened.
"Albus noticed the anger in Harry's eyes and sensed the restraint that the boy was imposing on himself. Harry had all the right in the world to be angry and Albus had hoped that Harry would have exploded and gotten it out of his system so that they could move on. NO, that was not the whole truth. Albus wanted Harry to explode so that he could feel less guilt about what he had done. Once Harry expressed his anger then they could make up and move on with life. As long as Harry held it in there was no forgiveness and Albus was left feeling rotten inside.
He couldn't force the situation so he decided to continue with the next order of business.
"Harry, you cannot go back to your relatives and you will be released from the infirmary in a couple days. While we try to figure out what to do about your guardianship you will be provided with housing within the castle. You will continue to be on a monitor and you will report to the professor on duty for that day."
"You will be provided with a schedule so you know who to report to each morning. Each weekday between nine and noon will be study time for you. After lunch you may have free time until dinner and then you will complete any homework assignments assigned by the professor of the day."
"You are not to enter the forbidden forest under any circumstances and you are not to leave the castle when it is dark. You will not leave the grounds of Hogwarts unless you are accompanied by an adult."
Albus was not finished as he wanted to end this on a more positive note but suddenly the fireplace erupted and the head of Molly Weasley appeared. She started yelling, "Albus, the Burrow is under attack, please send help" and then she was gone but not before a curse came flying through, hitting one of Dumbledores' tables and blowing it into toothpicks.