Thank you, InsaneOrange! This is one of my favorite chapters!

Draco knocked on Healer Warren's door. "Come in," the muffled voice called out from inside. Draco let himself in. Joseph looked startled when he saw Draco. "Oh… Hello," he said uncertainly.

"Long time," Draco said, smiling.

Joseph was taken aback by the smile. "Y– yes. Long time indeed. What can I do for you, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco sat down with a stifled sigh. "I know this is probably too much to ask, but I was wondering if I could see Potter…"

Joseph's eyes grew in shock. "You want to see Harry?" he asked in disbelief.

"Well, in reality, Mother does. But she's not allowed out of the house. She wanted me to thank him. I'll be out in a minute. I just wanted him to know that… that she's grateful," Draco said.

"I'm sorry," Joseph said, shaking his head. "It's just that Harry is– well, you see, he's… deteriorated."

Draco's heart dropped. "Deteriorated? How?" he asked.

Joseph toyed with his quill. "After you left, he– he was back to being unresponsive. He's not the same man you talked to, Mr. Malfoy. He won't understand."

Draco blinked at the desk. "After I left…" he echoed.

Joseph saw the guilt on Draco's face. "No, don't blame yourself. Harry getting better was improbable at best. The fact that he talked to you just goes to show that he is capable of doing so. It is normal for psych patients to get better before falling back into regular patterns." Joseph noticed the unchanging expression on Draco and he sighed. "You helped us realize his potential. You are not to blame here."

"I have to see him," Draco said, getting up.

"It wouldn't be wise to–" before Joseph could finish, Draco had exited the room and was striding down to Harry's room. Lily was inside with him. Draco entered without warning, startling Lily out of her words.

She looked surprised by his appearance. "Oh… You can't be here," she said.

"What's wrong with him?" Draco asked, rushing to Harry and kneeling in front of the man. Harry blinked as his view of the wall was obstructed. "What's wrong with you?" Draco asked Harry, grabbing his shoulders.

Harry blinked at Draco blankly. He let go of Harry, his own terror causing his chest to ache. "You have to leave, Draco," Lily said gently.

"No, I– he– why isn't– he needs to see me," Draco stammered. Joseph was in the room now, trying to pull Draco up. He shrugged off the hands. "Potter. Look at me," he said.

"Mr. Malfoy, you're going to agitate him," Joseph said.

"Good. I want him to be agitated," Draco muttered, bringing his hand up to touch Harry's shoulder. Harry inched away. Draco stopped him with the other hand. Lily tried to pry Harry out of Draco's grip while Joseph tried dragging him up. "Look at me," Draco ordered. Harry was looking through him.

Joseph couldn't risk casting a spell, lest he hit his patient. He called for security. Draco squeezed Harry's shoulders painfully. "Fuck it, Potter. I'm right here! Don't ignore me!" he swore, trying to shake Harry out of his trance. Draco forced Harry to keep his eyes from straying by placing hands on either side of his face. The security wizards grabbed Draco by his shirt, hoisting him up. "Look at me!" he said frantically, pushing at the guards. Harry hadn't even flinched when Draco was dragged away, kicking and screaming. "LOOK AT ME!"

Harry placed his chin on his knees and stared at his wall that was now free of obstructions. Lily wiped her tears, following Joseph out of the room. Draco was pushed onto the chair in the corridor with wands pointed at him menacingly. He didn't notice the wands because he had hidden his face in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees, silent. Joseph waited for a few minutes. Draco didn't show any other signs of aggression. He hesitantly waved the guards back. He stood in front of Draco. "He has changed," he said softly. "He's not the same person you saw a month ago."

"I shouldn't have left."

"He was getting better because he wanted to. Now he doesn't want to. It has nothing to do with you," the Healer explained.

"Why wouldn't he want to?"

Joseph glanced at the security wizards, nodding at them to leave. He only spoke after they were out of earshot. "He doesn't want to because he doesn't have to get better. He thinks he's done everything now and he can die," Joseph murmured. "Do you remember how he said he couldn't die before because he had forgotten to tell the world about Narcissa? Now that he's told the world…"

"He's waiting to die?" Draco breathed.

Lily was by the window, watching over Harry. Joseph sat down on the chair beside Draco, weary. "I shouldn't be talking to you," he said, sighing. "If Mr. Weasley finds out…" He stared at the painting in front of him. The morose sea was rolling waves against the dark cliff with no end in sight; forever crashing into the rocks. "He's tried already."

Draco pressed his hands to his ears, not wanting to hear anything else. "No," he said stubbornly.

"He tried to suffocate himself. He was holding his breath. Most of our spells couldn't make him breathe. Do you understand how strong his will to die is?"

Tears slipped out of Draco. "This can't be happening. Not to him," he said hoarsely, brushing his cheeks with the back of his hand. "He was never like this."

"Like I said, this isn't the same person. Maybe the person you know is dead already. You can't expect him to be the same. That would be asking too much of him," said Joseph, leaning back on his chair.

"Isn't there anything I can do?" Draco asked, trying to ease the tightening in his throat.

Joseph glanced the man beside him. "I'm afraid not. You aren't allowed near Harry. Not without permission."

"If I were?"

"Anything and everything is worth a shot," Joseph answered.

Draco nodded, swallowing his desperation.

Before Joseph could speak, Ron said, "We've been thinking about Harry's treatment and… we want to try Malfoy again."

Joseph closed his mouth, his teeth clicking. "We are willing to try anything we can," Hermione murmured, pale and drawn.

"Oh…"

"Even if it means having Harry go through some shit. If Malfoy helps, then… who are we to deny treatment?" Ron asked helplessly.

"Oh…" The couple waited while Joseph looked from one to the other in blatant confusion. "So… you want to use Mr. Malfoy?" he reiterated, wanting to make sure he hadn't misheard.

Hermione massaged her temple, closing her eyes. "I know it will be difficult to convince him. But we'll talk with him and work everything out," she said.

"Actually," Joseph murmured, "that won't be necessary."

Ron frowned. "What? Why?" he asked.

Joseph rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the stress leave him. "He's already agreed," he said, smiling vaguely.

"Already… huh?"

"He was here yesterday. And he wants to work with Harry," the Healer explained.

Ron and Hermione gaped. "What was he– why did– he was here? He saw… he saw Harry?" Ron stammered.

"Yes, he was here. Yes, he saw Harry. And now he wants to help Harry get better."

The couple was speechless.

The doorbell rang in the Weasley residence. Ron opened it and gawked at Draco who was shifting his weight nervously on the landing. "Wh– you– um… I– how– er… Hello," Ron stuttered out.

"Hello," Draco answered.

They blinked at each other for a long while. It took Hermione walking into the foyer to break the trance. "Oh, Malfoy," she said, stopping in her tracks.

Draco looked over Ron's shoulder at Hermione. "Granger," he nodded.

"It's Weasley now," Hermione murmured with a soft smile. Draco nodded in response. "Um… come on in," she said, pulling Ron out of the way.

Draco stepped in hesitantly, wondering why he wasn't being chased away with pitchforks. Before they could move any further from the foyer, he blurted out, "I wanted to talk to you about Potter."

Hermione nodded slowly. "We deduced as much," she said.

"Look, I know you don't have a high opinion of me," Draco said stiffly. "But I was able to make Potter better last time and I wanted to ask that you let me do the same this time."

Ron's brows went up. "Oh, we already talked to Joseph about that," he said.

"I'm sorry?" Draco asked.

"We already talked to Joseph about letting you be part of the treatment," Hermione explained. "We were there yesterday. I thought he… I guess he didn't tell you."

Draco flicked his narrowed eyes at the two. "So… you will let me visit him?" he asked.

"As long as you don't break his nose again, I guess we will," Ron said, scowling at Draco.

"Oh… okay," Draco murmured. "That was easier than I thought it would be."

Hermione allowed herself a wry smile. "Why, exactly, do you want to help him?" she asked.

"Damned if I know," Draco said, shrugging.

"We won't be able to try the same methods as before because Harry isn't responding to my prompts anymore," Lily said. "It will be very slow progress."

"Okay," Draco said.

"He doesn't even acknowledge me when I show him my hand. That puts us back three years, understand?"

"Yes."

Lily led Draco into the room. They sat beside Harry like they used to. Lily held her hand out in front of Harry's eyes. He didn't focus in on it. "Hi, Harry," she said quietly. "How are you today?" She wasn't receiving a response. "I brought Draco in as well. Remember him?" He stared at the wall. "When you're ready to talk, we'll listen to every word. You know that, right?" Lily asked.

"People still need you, Potter," Draco said, lost in thought. "You've spent five years thinking, haven't you? How awful must Weaslette be doing right now? Ever thought of that?" Harry stayed as he was. Draco smiled wanly, "She probably dumped your sorry arse though."

"Hmm… yes, wonder what became of Ginny," Lily pondered. Draco looked at her questioningly. "Well," she said, "She used to visit quite often for the first year. Then she just stopped coming."

"It's quite hard holding a conversation with a catatonic boyfriend, I'd imagine," Draco said in mild sarcasm. "You could at least try to fake it, Potter."

"Were they close?" Lily asked.

Draco shrugged. "By the way they were snogging, I would have thought so," he drawled.

Lily laughed. "Oh, really?"

"Strange couple, though. Dating his best friend's sister isn't always the best idea," Draco noted.

"Strange," Lily echoed, smiling.

"What was he like?" Lily asked, pacing by the window while Draco sat with Harry.

"In school?"

"Yes. In school. What was Harry Potter like? I've always wondered," she murmured.

Draco flicked his eyes at Harry, smiling slyly. "Let's just say he wasn't all he was cracked up to be. Stunk at everything except Quidditch. Couldn't get a girl until sixth year. Lousy at punching straight. Had no personality to speak of."

Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm asking the wrong person, aren't I?"

"No," Draco answered. "I'm the perfect person to ask. Weasel would just toot Harry's horn for him. Besides, you know what they say. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He smirked. Then he raised his brows as another thought popped into his head. "He nearly killed me, you know?"

Lily looked unimpressed. "I will never know what I should believe when it comes to you," she said.

"It's the truth," Draco said sincerely. "I've even got scars to prove it."

"How's it going with Potter?" Narcissa asked, looking at Draco quizzically.

Draco sighed loudly. "Like Lily said, we're back to square one. It's going nowhere with Potter," he said, searching for sympathy.

Narcissa sat next to Draco, wrapping a comforting arm around him. "Then it sounds like all it takes is time. Once he gets used to you, maybe he'll remember how you had helped him," she said.

"I don't care if he remembers," Draco muttered, glaring at his shoes.

Narcissa smiled. "Of course you don't."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked warily.

"Nothing, dear."

Draco was bored out of his mind. He was staring at the wall with Harry. "I really don't understand what you find so exciting about watching white walls, Potter. At least add some color to it," he muttered, flicking his wand. The white turned to green. "Much better," he said. "Mother made me learn that spell last week because she's redecorating. Which really means that I'm doing all the grunt work."

Harry tilted his head towards Draco, narrowing his eyes that were still searching the wall. Draco didn't notice as he was brushing invisible lint from his slacks. Harry's gaze flicked from the seam of the wall and the ceiling to the dark wood floors where the wall ended. He got up unsteadily. Draco tsked, getting up with him. "What are you doing?" he asked, shaking his numb legs. Harry shuffled towards the wall, stopping a meter from it and sitting down again. Draco ran his eyes over the wall. "You like green?" he murmured, kneeling beside Harry. "I should probably get Lily." He was too lazy to get up again. "Or I could just keep you entertained." He waved his wand at the wall again, coloring it red.

Harry blinked at the new paint. He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingertips on the wall. "There's still life in you yet," Draco said, smiling. He changed the color to blue. Harry scooted forward, pressing his palm against the blue. "Ugh, you're determined to make me get up again, aren't you?" Draco complained, standing upright and stretching. "Don't do anything until I get back," he added, walking to the door and sounding the charm for the Apprentice.

Lily arrived in the corridor a minute later, looking immensely concerned. "He's fine," Draco said before Lily could freak out. She was looking unconvinced as she walked into the room after Draco. She blinked at the blue wall, staggering back.

"What did you do?" she asked accusingly. Draco huffed, pointing at Harry. Lily seemed to have noticed just then. "Oh…" she breathed. The man was moving his head along the wall, scanning the entire expanse of blue that he had discovered. "Wow."

"You always assume the worst of me," Draco groused. "You and Mother would get along quite well."

Draco was reading the Daily Prophet as he walked into Harry's room. "Hey, Potter, you won't believe what… happened," he trailed off, staring at Luna, Neville, Ron, and Hermione. "Oh… shit," he walked backwards, closing the door once he was out in the corridor. He blushed in mortification, raking his fingers through his hair. The door opened, revealing Hermione who was trying quite hard to hide her smile. "I'll wait," Draco stammered, waving to the chairs vaguely.

"No, it's fine," she said, moving aside to let him in. He stepped in awkwardly, trying to keep up his Malfoy appearances. He nodded at the other occupants of the room, moving towards the desk and leaning against it. He supposed he would just have to wait there until Harry's posse was gone. Neville glowered unpleasantly while Luna looked distant as ever. Ron shrugged at Hermione. She sat back down next to Harry, who was in the midst of them and staring at his beloved wall.

"Anyway," Luna said, jumping right back into her conversation, "I was in the rainforest, surrounded by bugs and leaves, and what do I find? A Fwooper! Isn't that exciting?" She clapped her hands in excitement. Draco rolled his eyes. "It was so beautiful! It had pink feathers and an orange tail. And its song! Wow!" She stared off into space. Then she shook herself out of her thoughts. "But listening to its song for too long will drive you insane. We had to shut it up. Such a pity," she murmured, shaking her head. Neville looked horrified while Ron was trying not to burst out into heaving laughs.

"Shut it up?" Hermione asked in revulsion.

Luna nodded sorrowfully. "I know. And the first Silencing Charm didn't quite hold. So we had to use two more," she explained. Draco bit his cheek to keep from snickering as Neville and Hermione looked relieved. Ron was laughing obnoxiously now. Draco looked at Harry, his smile failing when he realized that Harry's eyes were on him. Luna glanced at Draco. "Did you want to talk to him, Harry?" she asked.

"He doesn't talk," Draco murmured, folding his arms against his chest defensively. "So, no. He doesn't want to talk to me."

"What do you do here?" Ron asked bluntly.

Draco fidgeted under the pairs of eyes on him. "I don't do anything," he said.

"I doubt that," Hermione said.

Draco shrugged. "I guess I just… talk. With Lily," he said.

"Hmm…" Neville murmured.

Hermione looked at the green wall. "I like what you've done with the room," she said.

"Doesn't look as depressing now, I guess," Draco said.

Hermione flicked her eyes at Draco. "It doesn't. Thank you," she said sincerely.

Draco looked startled. "You're welcome," he said in response. Harry stared at him for a beat longer before going back to watching his wall.

Draco slumped on the bed. Harry was refusing to get up. "Are you going to keep sleeping?" Draco asked, knowing that Harry was only pretending to sleep. He didn't get a response. Harry was facing away from Draco, his back moving gently as he breathed. "You're so boring," Draco muttered, pulling his legs up onto the bed and leaning against the headboard. He floated a book over. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Really, Potter?" He scanned the worn and ripped front cover. Harry's name was scrawled on it, loud and proud. "Then again, never took you to be a person who owned books."

He opened the cover. And blinked. He brought the book close. And snickered. There was an entire conversation written in ink on the page.

THIS BOOK BELONGS TO
Harry Potter

Then it read,

shared by Ron Weasley because his fell apart
why don't you buy a new one then?
write on your own book, Hermione
you bought all those dungbombs on Saturday. You could have bought a new book instead
Dungbombs rule

Draco flipped the page. He was chuckling to himself as he read the notes Harry and Ron had written.

WHAT IS A BEAST?
a big hairy thing with too many legs

Draco had to bite his cheek to keep from snorting. His jaw dropped when he read,

Rumours that a colony of Acromantula has been established in Scotland are unconfirmed.

'unconfirmed' was crossed out and replaced with,

confirmed by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley

"Why am I surprised?" Draco murmured shakily, laughing. He sifted to another random page. It was a brief explanation on Hippogriffs.

It can be tamed, though this should be attempted only by experts.
has Hagrid read this book?

"Something I've always wondered…" Draco smiled, shifting to sit more comfortably. It was a mellow read, punctuated with funny comments by the two owners of the book. He wasn't sure how many pages he had read, searching for the snide remarks.

His gaze slipped from the book to Harry. Harry was staring at him intently. "What?" Draco asked, frowning. Harry kept his eyes steady. Draco looked at the book again, trying not to be fazed by Harry. He stared at the page, not really reading the words. He kept his eyes on the print, stubbornly ignoring Harry. Apparently Harry wasn't taking kindly to being ignored. Draco started when he felt a warm hand on his wrist. Harry pulled down. Draco frowned in confusion. "What?" he asked. "Just say what you want."

"Read…"

Draco gaped. "Huh?"

"Read."

"I– I was," Draco stuttered. Harry smiled, pulling Draco's wrist down more forcefully. When that didn't do anything, Harry let go and sat up. He grabbed Draco's waist and pulled. Draco slapped Harry's hands away. "Stop molesting me! What, you want me to… lie down?" he asked.

"Lie down, Malfoy," Harry echoed, glaring.

Draco pursed his lips and moved lower onto the bed against his better judgment. Harry lay down, resting his head against Draco's shoulder. "Whoa," Draco said, trying to move away. "What are you doing?"

"Reading with you," Harry murmured, grabbing the book from Draco's hand and holding it up. Draco felt like he was about to have a spontaneous bout of nausea and maniacal laughter. Neither would be good. The feeling intensified when Harry got a hold of his arm.

"What now?" Draco asked, utterly lost.

"I'm not comfortable," Harry complained, bringing Draco's arm around so he was wedged between it and Draco's chest. Draco's eyes threatened to pop out. He was lying in bed with his arm around Harry's shoulder. He tried to untangle himself. Harry held him in place. "Lay still," Harry whispered, placing his hand on Draco's chest. "I kind of like you, Malfoy…" He reached up and kissed Draco gently. "A lot," he breathed as his hand ran down Draco's shirt, snagging buttons. Draco hummed, wrapping his arms around Harry. Harry smiled against Draco's lips, tangling his legs in the sheets.

Draco gasped, jerking awake and throwing his arms out. The book fluttered to the ground. He panted, staring at the wall. He whipped around to Harry. His back was turned towards Draco, rising and falling. Draco scampered out of bed, feeling his shirt with trembling hands. He laughed nervously, rubbing his fists over his drowsy eyes and feeling his lips. "I'm one sick fuck," he muttered.

Lily and Joseph stood at the observation window. The day was waning, bringing in a calm breeze. Harry was lying down on the floor, staring up at the ceiling with his knees bent and his socked feet planted on the floor. Draco was mirroring him with the tops of their heads touching. His wand was raised, drawing strands of white light. Harry was tracing it with his outstretched hand.

"You know what I think?" Lily asked.

"What do you think?" Joseph murmured.

"Draco's in love."

Joseph laughed, looking down at his Apprentice. "Really?" he asked.

"Hmm…"

They moved on to the next patient.

Draco let his wand arm drop, aching. Harry waited for a few seconds, his fingers reaching up. When he realized that the waves of light had stopped, he pulled his arm back as well. Draco rolled over onto his stomach and propped himself up by the elbows. "We've been at this for months, Potter. The least you could do is smile at me," he groused, blinking down at Harry's upside-down face. Harry looked up at him, going cross-eyed from the proximity. Draco laughed, shaking his head and lying back down.

He didn't notice the soft smile that grew on Harry's lips an instant later.

Thanks for the multitude of FANTASTIC reviews! I haven't heard one bad thing out of you! Hugs for all the favorites and alerts! Didn't think this fic would be that popular. And apparently most of you can read minds because you've already started figuring out the plot for the coming chapters.