Huge hugs to InsaneOrange, 13 eleMENTAL 31, Maiden of Books for their ideas and beta skills!
After much coaxing on Lily's part, Draco found himself in Harry's room again. Except this time, instead of sitting beside Harry, he was sat directly in front of the patient – eye-to-eye. Lily stood off to the side, observing Harry's behavior. It was rather uncomfortable for Draco. He was staring at Harry with no exchange of words or expressions. Harry was blinking back at him, switching from looking through him to looking at him on occasion. Draco knew when Harry was lost in his thoughts; his pupils dilated and his eyes glazed over. When Harry was brought back to reality, his vision honed in on Draco. Draco wondered if Harry was as bored as he was. "Say something," Draco said sullenly.
Harry's eyes widened a bit. He seemed to be in awe of Draco. He looked down at his hands, blushing and shaking his head. Lily smiled at this display. "Just go with it," she told Draco.
"There's nothing here to go with. He's not saying a damned thing," Draco said in exasperation. "This is such a waste of time…" He glared at Harry. "Look, Potter. You may not have much to do with your life right now, but I do. Talk already. I don't have all the time in the world."
"Shut up," Harry muttered.
Draco blinked. "Huh?" he asked.
Harry looked up at Draco. "Shut. Up," he said slowly and deliberately.
Draco gaped at him, then at Lily who was trying her darnedest not to laugh. "Fine," he said, his tone testy. He stared at a scratch on the hardwood floor. He absently traced the scuff, wondering how long he was supposed to sit there. Another finger joined his.
He flicked his eyes up at Harry, who was following his hand reverently and copying the same pattern on the floor. Draco stopped his hand. Harry did the same, staring at the pale, slender finger for the next motion. Draco lifted his finger an inch. Harry picked his finger up without hesitance. Draco brought his hand up and scratched his chin. Harry mirrored Draco. Draco scowled. Harry scowled. Draco dropped his hand in exasperation. Harry dropped his hand, watching Draco. They went back to staring at each other.
"I have wonderful news!" Joseph announced to Hermione and Ron.
"What?" they asked, the Healer's excitement putting a smile on their lips.
"Harry spoke again!"
Hermione gasped while Ron's eyes bugged out. "He spoke?"
"He spoke, he laughed, he frowned, he can do nearly everything," Joseph said. "This is an amazing sign. His senses are intact and he hasn't regressed."
"B– but– but how?" Ron stammered.
"Apparently Mr. Malfoy's behavior is rather amusing to Harry. He laughed when Mr. Malfoy stormed out of his room. Then he started mimicking Mr. Malfoy's actions – facial expressions, body movements, speech. That was yesterday. And today, he told Mr. Malfoy to shut up."
"Oh god," Hermione breathed, near tears. She hid her face in her hands, trying to stop her hysterics. Ron wrapped an arm around her while a grin grew on his face that he was sure wouldn't go away for long time.
"So far, he only responds to Mr. Malfoy. But we have noticed an increase in social interactions with Lily and myself. He might even smile for you two," Joseph said, getting up. "Let's see, shall we?"
The couple stumbled after Healer Warren, shaking with anticipation. They spotted Harry on the floor. Except this time he was staring out the window. Joseph led them in. He sat down next to Harry and brought his hand up in front of Harry's eyes.
"Hello, Harry. I've brought Ron and Hermione with me today," he said softly. Harry blinked at the hand and looked at Joseph. Joseph gestured behind him at the couple. Harry flicked his eyes at Ron and Hermione. Then he went back to looking out the window. Joseph nodded at the couple. They shuffled closer and sat down next to Harry.
"Hey, Harry," Hermione said thickly, wiping away her tears. "I'm so glad to hear that you're doing better."
Ron chuckled and said, "We heard you told Malfoy to shut up. You're as sharp as ever, aren't you?"
Harry got up silently and moved towards the window. Ron and Hermione looked at Joseph. He waved them down. Harry pressed his hand against the glass, his eyes scanning the green field and blue sky rapidly. Then he turned around and slid down to the floor, his back to the window. He looked at Ron and Hermione carefully. Hermione had to hold in her happy sobs with a hand to her mouth. Ron was grinning.
Harry smiled uncertainly.
Hermione was a mess now, getting up and turning away as she felt relief course over her. Ron scrambled towards Harry and hugged him tight. He felt the man stiffen under him. He swore and let go. Harry moved away, his smile gone and his eyes expressing confusion. "Sorry, mate," Ron apologized, putting distance between him and his best friend. Harry blinked at him, then pulled his knees to his chest and hugged them close. He looked up at Hermione. Ron dragged his wife back down to the ground and held her. "He'll be okay now," Ron whispered giddily. Hermione let out a shaky breath while nodding and smiling.
"Now, I want you to place your right hand on his left shoulder," Lily said softly.
Draco balked at the thought. "Really?" he asked in reluctance.
"Yes. Really," Lily muttered, glaring at Draco. He brought his hand up and placed it on Harry's shoulder. Harry moved away and Draco retracted his arm. "As you can see, he doesn't respond well to touch," Lily explained.
"So?"
"So now, we get him to reflect you," she said. "Trace something on the floor with your finger." Draco did as he was told, drawing random loops. Harry's finger soon joined his. "Pick your finger up." Draco lifted his finger off the ground and Harry did the same. "Touch your finger to your nose."
"Are you trying to make me look mental?" Draco grumbled, doing as he was told nonetheless. Harry followed his suit, bringing his finger up to the tip of his nose.
"Now place your right hand on his left shoulder," Lily instructed. Draco touched Harry's shoulder with his hand. Harry slapped it away. Lily laughed. "Very good!" she exclaimed. "He is being aggressive with his methods now," she told Draco. "He usually doesn't pay much attention to the touch. He just moves away passively. Hitting your hand away means he is actively trying to stop you from touching him."
"You make me sound like a pervert," Draco drawled.
Harry laughed.
While all sound left Lily, Draco was just getting started. "See? He understands every single word you're saying to him! He's just a bloody good actor," he raved. "You just need to knock some sense into him. I'd be glad to do it for you." Harry placed his hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco slapped it away. "Don't touch me, you nutter!" he exclaimed, scooting away.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Lily admonished, moving to sit beside Harry.
Harry crawled towards Draco, causing Lily to pause. Draco stared at the advancing man with wide eyes. "What are you doing?" he asked, scrambling back. Harry kept moving towards him. "Stop." Harry didn't pay attention. "Potter, stop!" Draco's back hit the wall and he groaned. Harry stopped now, reaching out to touch Draco's shoulder. Draco hit his hand away. Harry tried again. Draco growled in frustration, pushing Harry's hand back.
Harry slapped Draco's cheek. Draco gasped in shock as his head snapped to the side.
"Harry!" Lily exclaimed.
Draco's eyes hardened and he brought them up to meet Harry's. His open palm blurred and a resounding slap caused Harry to flinch and nearly fall. The two men froze, as though time was still.
Then they sprung.
Draco pinned Harry to the ground. Harry punched up, catching Draco's jaw. He grunted, grabbing Harry's wrist and dealing a jab to Harry's nose with his other fist. Harry kneed Draco's leg sharply. Draco bunched Harry's collar and slammed him onto the ground. Harry wrapped his legs around Draco and whipped him to the ground with unbidden strength. Now Draco was trapped under Harry. He dealt an errant hit to Draco's nose.
That was as far as they got. They were pulled apart an instant later.
"You broke my nose, you bastard!" Draco shouted.
"You broke mine!" Harry roared, brushing the blood off of his lips.
"You deserved it," Draco spat out.
"Fuck you," Harry swore.
They were met with silence. They were suddenly aware of the five other people gathered in the room, all watching the exchange. Harry sighed and crumpled to the ground, hitting his head jarringly. That sprung the attendants into action.
"You fought with my patient?" Joseph thundered.
"He started it," Draco muttered morosely, touching his sore nose. It had been fixed, but it was tender and red now. "He hit me first. Lily saw it."
Joseph looked at Lily. She nodded hesitantly. "Harry hit Mr. Malfoy first."
"See?"
"If he hit you first, you don't respond with a hit," Joseph reprimanded. "He has a broken nose and concussion now."
"He broke my nose and jaw!" Draco exclaimed. "That doesn't matter?"
"You have all your senses and he doesn't. So don't–"
"He had enough sense to hit me and then cuss at me!" Draco interrupted.
Joseph breathed in sharply before letting it out in ten seconds. "I have half the mind to report this to the Minister," he muttered.
"Oh, you have got– are you– you aren't serious!" Draco said in disbelief. "I'm going to be sent to Azkaban for hitting that retard?"
Joseph's jaw clicked. "One more slip up and you will be reported. Understood? Assault on a patient is neither accepted nor tolerated."
Draco slumped against the chair, wincing as his sudden movement sent a pang of pain into his nose.
"Broke his nose?" Ron shouted, clenching his fist. "You couldn't stop him for breaking Harry's nose?" Hermione was as enraged at Ron, but she kept her lips sealed.
"Harry started the fight," Joseph added.
Ron clicked his mouth shut. "What? Harry… what?"
"Harry started it. It escalated from Harry's slap. Draco had a broken nose and fractured jaw too. So, to be fair, they are both to blame here," Joseph said, trying to keep the peace.
"How– both– Malfoy probably instigated it!"
"Draco was following our instructions."
"Where is Harry now?" Hermione asked.
"We have him sedated. He responded to Draco's rather vocal taunts. He even swore at the man. Then he fell unconscious. That's how he got the concussion. Until further tests are done, I am going to keep him sedated," Joseph said.
"You promised! You said nothing would happen to Harry," Hermione said.
"Just give me another week. That's all I ask," Joseph said, almost pleading.
"Do you understand how many ethical protocols you are breaking?" Ron snapped.
"Harry is getting better! Who knows what another week will do?"
Ron was about to retort sharply, but Hermione stopped him by clearing her throat. "One week. If Harry gets another scratch on him, your job is on the line, Healer Warren," she said. The couple glared at Joseph and stormed out of the room. Joseph sighed despondently.
Harry wouldn't look at Draco. "He's sulking," Lily said, smiling at her patient. Draco wasn't interested in explanations. He wanted out of the mental asylum. "If you apologize, he might look at you again."
"Like hell I'm apologizing," Draco said defensively. "He should be the one apologizing to me, that prick."
"No name calling," Lily scolded.
"I'm not a child!" Draco muttered.
"You are certainly acting like one," she said.
"Whatever." Draco got up, stretching out his numb legs. He had been sitting there for the better part of an hour while Lily tried to coax Harry into looking at him. He was tired and hungry. Here he was, stuck in this room with a lunatic and his sidekick. He shuddered, walking to the window. The grounds were always empty. He wondered why.
He pressed his head against the cold glass and closed his eyes. He had had the worst day. Just going to the bank had been an ordeal in itself. Every time he tried to withdraw money, he had to pass through multitudes of security and an almost interrogatory type questioning. He was only allowed to withdraw a certain allowance every month, which meant that he had to go through the humiliating ordeal every time he visited Gringotts. The goblins were hostile and the wizards and witches were antagonizing. On top of that, he would be wanded in lobby before he was allowed to enter the vaults. It was as though the world wasted no time in making Draco's life a living hell.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned. He staggered back when he met with Harry's doleful eyes. "I'm sorry," Harry murmured hoarsely.
"Huh?" Draco asked in astonishment, leaning against the window to put more distance between them. Harry didn't speak. He let go of Draco's shoulder and walked back to his bed. He sat down wordlessly, keeping his eyes on the ground.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Lily asked, placing a hand over Harry's. He moved away. Lily smiled sadly. "Okay," she said. "That was really sweet of you." She glared at Draco, who was looking like a deer caught in headlights. Harry pulled his legs up onto the bed and lay down on the covers, facing the wall.
"What's wrong with him?" Draco asked.
"He's just tired," Lily said, keeping the worry out of her voice. "I don't think he will be talking to you again today. You can go home."
"Oh…" Draco murmured. He straightened up and took a calming breath. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a soft gasp.
"Are you crying?" Lily asked, getting up and walking to the head of the bed to look at Harry. "Oh," she groaned, flicking her eyes at Draco. "I have to get the Healer," she said, rushing out of the room. "Stay here with him."
Draco stood where he was, watching Harry's back shiver at intervals. All he heard was irregular breathing. He moved towards the man, standing where Lily had been. Harry had his eyes squeezed shut and insistent tears dripping down to the pillow. His lips were stained red. Draco saw a hint of white against them. Harry was chewing on his lips. "Fuck," Draco swore, turning Harry onto his back. "Stop," he said forcibly. Harry didn't let out a sound, his teeth working into his lips to stifle his sobs. "Potter, stop," Draco said, placing hands on either side of Harry's jaw and forcing it open.
Harry screamed in anguish. Draco let go, alarmed. Harry's teeth clamped shut and he held in his screams. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Draco staggered to the side of Harry's bed and sat down, holding Harry's mouth open again. Harry screamed, but this time Draco didn't let go. Blood was dripping down faster now that Harry's mouth was open. "Don't bite your lips," Draco ordered loudly. "Don't bite your lips!" He let go of Harry's jaw. Harry went back to stopping his screams by gnawing on his mangled lips.
Draco forced Harry's mouth open, feeling desperate. "You're hurting yourself, Harry," Draco tried explaining. Harry's screams grew in fervor and his body was starting to tremble. Draco placed his hand inside Harry's mouth before letting go of his jaw. Harry bit down. Draco winced as the teeth broke his skin. Harry sobbed and opened his eyes, letting go of Draco's hand. He scrambled up and threw himself at Draco, wailing. His arms wound around Draco's neck and legs around Draco's waist. Draco hugged Harry close.
"I'm sorry," Draco whispered urgently. "I'm sorry too."
Harry nodded, crying into Draco's shoulder. His blood stained Draco's shirt and his tears mixed into it. Joseph and Lily approached now, having watched the two since Harry bit down on Draco's hand. The Healer pressed his wand on Harry, causing the man to fall limp. His head lolled to the side. Joseph then healed Harry's lips and Draco's hand. He helped Draco lay Harry on the bed.
Draco was shaking when he got up, nearly falling to his knees. Joseph held him up and escorted him out of the room. Draco felt bile rise up and he staggered towards the washroom. He threw the door open and knelt by the toilet, retching. Joseph cast another charm on Draco, settling his stomach. Draco sat down heavily, resting his head against the tiled wall. Joseph sat down next to him, casting assessment charms on the man who was clearly in shock.
"What's wrong with him?" Draco asked.
"Things are going right," Joseph corrected.
"He was hurting himself! He was trying to chew his lips off!" Draco exclaimed, tears of helplessness pooling in his eyes.
"He hasn't cried in five years, Draco," Joseph said quietly.
Draco pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes. "I can't do this," he breathed. "I can't do this anymore."
"He is getting better. I know you don't think so, but it's true. He is progressing exponentially. He is talking, for Merlin's sake!" Joseph said, trying to make Draco understand. "He is interacting with you. He is laughing, he is fighting, he is crying. You are giving him what he needs."
"I'm hurting him…"
"No, Draco. You are helping him."
"He's been talking in his sleep," Lily informed Joseph. "Most often, he has nightmares."
"What does he talk about?" the Healer asked.
"It's like he's trying to escape from something. Usually he says, 'Let me go.' He cries too. He calls out names sometimes – his friends and family. Occasionally, he's unaware that he is awake. Even after he gets out of bed, he has these… hallucinations."
"Good," Joseph murmured absently. "Next time he has one of these, please let me know."
"Of course."
Harry looked up the moment Lily and Draco entered. "Hi, Harry," Lily cooed, smiling at Harry. Draco walked sluggishly, wary of his every movement. "I brought Draco," she said, waving towards Draco.
Harry looked away, fingers fiddling with his shirt. Lily motioned for Draco to sit down in front of Harry. Harry kept his eyes on his hem. "Potter," Draco greeted.
"Hmm…" Harry murmured.
Draco blinked at Harry. "What?"
"Nothing," Harry said, touching his scar absently.
Draco frowned. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing."
Draco poked Harry's arm. Harry looked up. "What?" Draco asked again.
Harry looked at Draco's hand. "I bit you."
"It's healed now."
Harry glanced at Draco's face, searching his expression. "Aren't you angry?" he asked.
Draco frowned. "I guess not," he said carefully.
Harry nodded, going back to twisting his hem in his fingers. "Hmm…"
Lily let Joseph into the room. Harry was twitching in bed, using his hands to push away from the wall. "Let me go," he mumbled, sighing. "Just let me go."
"Have you tried waking him up?" Joseph asked.
"I wasn't sure if it was wise," Lily answered.
"Don't," Harry muttered. "Don't hurt them."
Joseph approached the bed and watched Harry's behavior. The man was shaking from either fear or anger. His face had a faint sheen of sweat on it. His legs were tangled against the covers and he was trying to get them free. His arms strained against the wall, trying to force it down. Joseph cast a simple charm on Harry, causing him to inhale sharply and open his eyes. Joseph noticed the dilated pupils and distant gaze. Harry was still trapped in his nightmare.
He sat up and frantically tried to push the covers off of him. "Let me go, let me go," he said breathlessly. He nearly fell out of bed. Joseph caught him. Harry pressed his back against the Healer's arm, staring at the wall. "Get away from me! Not yet. Not yet," he shouted in rage, balling his fists and bringing them up. Joseph held him steady. Harry blinked, a throaty rasp leaving him as he woke up. He felt hands on his arm and he turned around in fright.
"Just us, Harry," Joseph said warmly, letting go of his patient.
"Just a dream," Harry murmured, looking at the wall again.
"That's right," Joseph nodded encouragingly. "Just a dream. What was this dream about?"
Harry looked at Lily, then at Joseph. "Just a dream," he said, laying back down and turning away from them.
Ron and Hermione looked on helplessly as Harry curled into himself in the corner of the room and cried. Lily tried to calm down the sane couple. "You don't understand," she explained for the umpteenth time. "He is expressing what he is feeling. Instead of holding it in, he's letting it out."
"Why? Why is he so sad? Can't you– please, you need to–" Hermione broke off, her words choking her.
"It will be best to let him be. He will tire himself out. You guys came at the wrong time, that's all. He talks quite a bit now," Lily said, trying to reassure them.
"What does he say?" Ron asked, hoping for the best.
"He acknowledges me when I walk into the room, usually smiling or saying hi. He is moving around more. He talks about you two. He asks me how you guys are doing," Lily said.
"He does?" Hermione breathed, staring at Harry's defeated figure crouched on the floor.
"He does. He is getting better," Lily said firmly.
Draco entered the room, yawning. It had been a restless night and Joseph insisted that he meet Harry at eight in the morning. After spending an hour cursing the world while getting ready, Draco was dead tired and in no mood for exercising patience with Harry. So he was taken aback when he found Harry staring at him as he walked in. The patient had his legs outstretched, moving his feet to a silent rhythm. He was leaning against his hands, locking his elbows and hunching his shoulders. Draco narrowed his eyes when he spotted the slight smile on Harry's lips. He looked at Lily, who shrugged at him.
"What now?" Draco asked.
"You keep visiting. That's strange," Harry said.
"If I had a choice, think I'd come here?" Draco asked.
They were silent for the rest of two hours.
"It's been a week."
Joseph was at the end of his rope. Now he was doing everything he could to stay on. "His condition is improving. He is eating on his own, conversing with Lily, showing appropriate emotions–"
"Now you can proceed without Malfoy," Hermione said.
"He is the reason for Harry's progress."
"He's also the reason for Harry's injuries," Ron deadpanned.
"Yes, but–"
"I want Malfoy to be taken out of the treatment regiment and that's final," Hermione demanded.