Cheers to InsaneOrange!
"What happened to Weaslette?" Draco asked Hermione. They were seated on the bed beside Harry.
She rolled her eyes, holding back her smile. "Her name's Ginny. And Ginny is engaged now," she said.
"Oh?"
"She's been engaged for a year. An American she met at one of her Quidditch matches. Peter."
Draco nodded, wondering if Harry understood what the two were talking about. He hoped Harry did. "Why didn't she visit after the first year?" he asked.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "Ginny's… different. She's quite bright and lively. So… as you can imagine, having Harry here wasn't doing wonders to her life. I guess she was angry. Angry with everything and everyone for what happened to him. She tried to stay. She loves Harry." Hermione shook her head. "But… like I said, she's different. She can't be held down."
"Harry was holding her down?" Draco mumbled.
"That's the way she saw it. Sometimes, I see it that way too. I'm not proud of myself for thinking that. Being here makes me know it's worth it," Hermione said, smiling at Harry fondly. "You don't think so, Draco? You've been in and out of this place for months."
"It's not like I have anything better to do. Seeing Potter is the most exciting thing that happens to me," Draco drawled. But it was the truth.
"Then he's lucky to have you," she said earnestly.
"Want to see something?" Draco asked. Harry didn't answer. Draco took that as a yes. He rolled up his sleeve. "See that?" He pointed to the faint green Dark Mark. "Remember what that is?" Harry looked at the winding snake and skull. Draco pressed it gently. "Weird, huh?" He stared at it for a few more seconds then let his sleeve hide it again. "At the time, I kind of wanted it. It meant that... that I was part of something. And Father was in trouble. So, I sort of had to get it. It was actually quite easy. Painful, but quick." He laughed humorlessly. "I don't think the Dark Lord would have wanted to waste too much time tattooing his followers."
He tilted his head at the green wall. "I feel like grey today. What do you think?" he asked, flicking his wand. Grey paint gripped the wall. "Now we can be miserable together. Quite a party," he muttered sardonically.
He felt soft fingers against his wrist and he nearly pulled away. He whipped his head at Harry, whose eyes were downturned. Harry dragged his fingers up Draco's arm, disappearing under the undone cuff and resting on the inactive Dark Mark. His touch was cold, not warm like Draco had imagined it to be. Draco pulled his arm away from Harry. "You shouldn't do that," he said shakily.
Harry rested his hand on his lap. He looked at Draco's arm again. He touched his scar absently. He showed it to Draco, waiting. Draco was breathless. Harry traced the scar with his finger. He dropped his hand and leaned against Draco, shoulder-to-shoulder. Draco stiffened, exhaling slowly. Harry sought Draco's wrist again, dragging his fingers up to the Dark Mark. Draco didn't pull away this time. They sat in silence for a long while.
"I see he's taken quite a liking to you, Mr. Malfoy," Joseph said, nodding at Harry as he started on the check-up.
Upon hearing Draco's name, Harry looked up at the man who was leaning against the headboard, watching over him. "He has, hasn't he?" Draco murmured, smiling at Harry. Harry gave him a hesitant smile back. "He's different from last time though," Draco noted.
"How so?"
Draco shrugged. "It's like he's more coherent now. Calm," he said.
"Why do you think that is?" Joseph asked.
Harry seemed to be waiting for Draco's answer. "Because…" Draco started saying, turning his head to look at Harry straight, "he doesn't have to do anything anymore. He's done with helping the world. And now, he can take his own time."
"Hmm…"
Harry blinked away, studying his hands that were resting on his stomach.
Draco found Harry standing by the window, staring down at the ground. He walked over to the window too. "What are you looking at?" he asked. Harry didn't answer. Draco nodded to himself. The grounds and skies were empty. Light snow covered the grass, green showing through the melting white. It was cold. Draco shivered at the thought. He heard rustling beside him and looked at Harry.
Harry shuffled towards Draco, looking up at him with curious eyes. "What?" Draco asked, holding his ground. Harry pressed his ear against Draco's chest, closing his eyes. Draco stood still. Harry moved in closer. Draco brushed his trembling fingers over Harry's cheek. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. Harry opened his eyes, staring out the window while keeping warm against Draco.
Draco brought his arms up and hugged Harry to him. Harry didn't pull away. Draco smiled, resting his chin against the crown of Harry's head. "Guess I'm not the only cuddly type around here," he murmured, chuckling.
"Look who we brought?" Hermione said happily, holding the door for Ron and Rose. Harry looked up at Hermione, then at Ron, and finally at the girl in Ron's arms. His mouth formed a silent O as he got up.
Ron walked up to Harry. "Harry, Rose. Rose, Harry," he introduced importantly. The redhead grinned at Harry before hiding her face against Ron's shoulder. Harry shifted his weight nervously. "She's just shy," Ron whispered.
Harry walked around Ron and stood behind him, reaching up to touch Rose's short hair. The girl picked her head up and stared at Harry with deep blue eyes. Harry smiled, pressing a kiss on Rose's forehead. She giggled and blushed, hiding away against her father again. "Harry?" she whispered into Ron's ear.
Ron nodded. "Remember him? In those pictures? Uncle Harry? That's Uncle Harry," he said.
She glanced at Harry. "Hi, Harry," she said brightly.
Harry laughed. Hermione looked back at him in disbelief, hearing his happy chuckles. Ron smiled at his daughter. "Isn't she adorable?" he asked proudly. Harry brushed back Rose's hair again, sighing. Ron pressed his lips against her cheek and murmured, "I love you."
Rose wrapped her arms around Ron and giggled. "I love you," she replied.
Harry flicked his eyes between the two, enraptured.
"Gosh, you missed some game, Potter," Draco said, waltzing into the room. "Falcons won four hundred to thirty. I know, right?" He sat down next to Harry on the cold floor. Harry was gazing out the window again. "You should've seen the dive! Bloody brilliant! The Snitch didn't even know what hit it," he laughed. "That's what you should do when you get better! You should play professional Quidditch. Imagine the–"
"I love you."
Draco stilled, the next word stuck in his throat. Harry looked at him triumphantly, grinning. "Wh– what?" Draco stammered.
Harry closed his eyes and licked his lips, as though preparing. "I love you," he said, his words slurring as his voice tried to fight through to make itself heard. He opened his eyes, his grin growing wider. He waited for Draco's reaction expectantly.
"How did you– when did you– what are you– did you just– you can talk?"
Harry looked mildly exasperated, frowning and shifting his eyes to the ground. He mouthed 'I love you', feeling the words in his mouth. It seemed right. He looked up at Draco again. "I– I love you?" he said hesitantly, unsure if he was saying it correctly.
Draco sprang to his feet. "I have to get Lily," he breathed, staring at Harry in shock. "I really need to get Lily." He rushed out of the room, throwing the door open.
Harry bit his lip, staring at his lap. Had he made a mistake? He ran the words over in his head. It sounded right. Maybe he shouldn't have said it. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. Was Draco mad at him? He twisted the hem of his shirt as despair filled him.
He was spun around while still on the ground. He found himself looking at Draco again. His despair doubled itself. He shouldn't have said it. "I– I– I…" He didn't know what else to say. "I love you," he whispered thickly, looking away.
"I love you too," Draco murmured.
Harry jerked his eyes up in wonder. Draco pulled him close, burying his face against the crook of Harry's neck. Harry wound his arms around Draco. "Draco," Harry breathed, the R getting away from him. Draco laughed as he heard his name being mangled by Harry's inexperienced tongue. "I– I love you, Draco."
"You guys are going to make me cry," Lily said, pressing her fingers over her lips as she smiled giddily.
"Go cry in the hall," Draco grumbled.
"I probably will," Lily said, walking out of the room blindly and closing the door behind her.
Harry pulled away when he heard the slam. He stared at the door, blinking. Draco pressed a hand against Harry's cheek and made him turn his head. He looked at Draco now. "I love you, Harry," Draco said firmly, pressing chaste lips onto Harry's.
Harry breathed in sharply, scooting away. A surprised smile graced him as he touched his lips with his fingers. "I– you– you– um…" he stuttered.
"Can't you say anything else?" Draco chuckled, dragging Harry towards him again. Harry shook his head quickly, leaning away. "Fine by me," Draco said wickedly, pushing urgent lips against Harry's. Harry fell backwards with Draco on top of him. He closed his eyes, the smile refusing to leave as he felt Draco's soft breath against his cheek. Their lips locked smoothly as Draco ran his fingers over Harry's cheeks to the back of his neck, making him arch up. Harry didn't know what to do with his hands, so he clutched Draco's shirt. They pressed loving kisses on each other.
Harry opened his eyes to look at Draco. "Draco?" he whispered. Draco moaned at the uncertain way Harry said his name. He paused, breaking their kiss. Harry pushed Draco back and sat up. He tasted Draco against his lips and smacked them with his tongue. He leaned in, brushing the back of his hand against Draco's jaw. Draco felt euphoric at that moment. They blinked at each other. Harry rested his forehead against Draco's, closing his eyes. Draco tilted his face so their lips were an inch apart. Harry looped his arms around Draco's neck and sighed.
"What?" Draco asked.
"I love you."
"I know."
"No," Harry murmured, shifting so he looked could at Draco with conviction. "I love you."
Draco smiled. "Like the 'I'll do anything and everything for you' kind, right?" he asked. "That's the only kind of love you know…"
Harry made sure Draco understood before kissing him clumsily.
"How is he responding?" Joseph asked, taking hurried and detailed notes as he observed Harry through the window.
"Very well with Draco," Lily said. "I think yesterday tuckered him out. But he's… I've never seen him this happy," she laughed.
"I haven't either."
Harry was sitting on the bed, leaning his back against the wall. Draco was beside him, flicking through Quidditch Weekly. He would pause whenever Harry pointed to something. Sometimes, when he thought Draco wasn't looking, Harry would glance up at him. Draco didn't acknowledge it, blushing nonetheless when it happened.
"When you get out of here, we'll have to get you a new broom. Something nice. Did you want a Firebolt? They've started production on Silver Arrows too. It's quite expensive, though," Draco murmured absently, turning the page. Harry's hand reached up and pressed against his hand lightly. "Want me to go back?" Draco asked, flipping to the previous article. Harry's hand stayed on Draco's. "Hmm?" Draco asked, looking down at Harry. "Did you find something?"
Harry laid his head on Draco's shoulder and slid his fingers between Draco's. "Draco," he murmured, smiling. Draco smiled with him, putting the magazine down. Harry curled his legs and rested his knees on Draco's. Draco took that as a prompt to untangle his fingers from Harry and pull him into a hug. Harry shut his eyes, cradled against Draco.
Draco kissed Harry's jet-black hair. "Remember when you used to call me Malfoy?" he asked. Harry shook his head. "And I used to call you Potter…"
"Hmm," Harry mumbled, shaking his head again.
"I kind of liked that," Draco whispered. "A worthy adversary. Potter. I like you, Potter."
Harry laughed lightly. He stared at Draco's arm, tracing the thin white strips that ran down the sleeve. When he got to the rolled up cuffs that stopped just below the elbows, he didn't pause. He touched Draco's pale skin, fascinated. "Mmmaalffoy?" he said hesitantly, drawing circles on Draco's forearm.
"Mhm," Draco said, shivering as Harry's light touch tickled him.
"Mmmaalffoy… Draco…"
"Mhm."
Harry wriggled out of Draco's hug. He got on his knees and worked one of them on the other side of Draco, straddling him. Draco's eyes went wide. Harry placed his hands on Draco's cheeks. "Hi, Draco," he said, kissing Draco on the nose. He sat on Draco's thighs, moving his hands towards Draco's shoulder.
Draco cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Hi," he said hoarsely. "Um… this is… a rather compromising position, isn't it?" he asked.
Harry didn't know what Draco was talking about, so he didn't deign to answer. He was too entranced by Draco's moving lips. He leaned in, scrutinizing them. Draco leaned back in response. Harry pressed his fingers against those lips, gravitating towards it. His eyes accidentally flicked towards Draco's wide eyes. They held the gaze. Harry's fingers left Draco's lips. Draco was pressed against the wall now, nowhere to go. Harry ghosted his fingers over Draco's cheek while staring at the pale eyes. Draco blinked. Harry breathed in sharply. He brought his hand up and placed it about Draco's eyes. Draco closed them. Harry pulled his hand away, staring at Draco's closed lids.
Blond lashes fanned over high cheeks. Harry touched the lashes reverently. He pressed his lips against Draco's cheek. Draco opened his eyes at this. Harry kissed down to Draco's neck. "Mmm…" he murmured.
"What?" Draco breathed.
"Yum."
Draco pushed Harry off of him and scrambled to the other end of the bed. Harry was snickered at Draco's panic, holding his hands up in surrender. "Y– you… you… what?" Draco stammered. Harry shrugged, trying to hide his smile as he picked up the discarded magazine and flicked through it nonchalantly. Draco clutched his chest, falling on his back while trying to calm down. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Potter," he muttered.
As Harry handed over half of his dessert, Draco asked, "Are you always this generous?" Harry stilled, staring at the plate. He scowled, snatching the tart back and turning away from Draco. "Hey!" Draco exclaimed, affronted. "I wanted that…"
Harry dug his fork into the first half, licking the prongs clean. Then he took a piece out of the second half, eating it too. He glanced back at Draco with a smug smile. Draco forced Harry's chin up and kissed him thoroughly. Their tongues tangled so Draco could taste Harry. Harry pushed away, pulling a face. Draco licked his lips. "Yum," he whispered with a devilish smile.
Harry laughed, shoving Draco back and sliding the plate over.
Healer Warren reread the letter for the third time before crumbling it in his hand and chucking it across the room. He swore lowly, dropping his face in his hands.
"Where's Harry?" Draco asked, walking into Joseph's office. "He's not in his room." He stumbled to a halt when he saw the Healer looking grim and exhausted. "What happened?"
"The investigation into Mrs. Malfoy's trial… They took Harry for psych testing. And if they find his mental capacity unsatisfactory, they could– they could retract his testimony."
Draco's stomach churned. "What are you saying?" he asked, swallowing hard.
"If Harry doesn't prove to be reliable witness, Mrs. Malfoy could be sent back, Draco," Joseph said.
"Oh God," Draco gasped, stumbling out of the office and running to the Apparition Point. He needed to get home.
Harry James Potter, patient #497, is unresponsive during testing procedures. Unreliable source.
Draco stood close to his mother, clutching her hand tightly. She stroked his hair. "I'll be alright," she whispered. The Aurors were waiting to escort her back to Azkaban. "We still have a month to figure things out. We'll be alright." Her appeal was to be sent through court by the end of the four weeks. If the defendant, Narcissa, were unable to state her case by then, she would be placed back in Azkaban for the rest of her sentence. Until the court date, she was sent to the prison anyway.
Harry's testimony, since it was a third-party statement, held slightly less importance that it would have had, had he been to the court himself. While reviewing the case files, the members of Wizengamot deemed Harry's attestation unreliable. The hospital files that recorded Harry's mental state clearly noted that he was less than stable on the day he had given his statement. When asked to give his statement to the court psychiatrist, Harry was unable to speak or interact with the Healer. For these reasons, his testimony was withdrawn.
Draco hugged Narcissa tight, tears falling against his will. "I'll fight for you, Mother. And we'll win, okay?" he said brokenly.
Narcissa pressed a soft kiss on Draco's cheek. "Even if I we lose, I know that you love me. And you know I love you and that I'm sorry. Don't cry, Draco. I'll be fine even if I'm in Azkaban," she whispered.
"Don't say that," Draco sobbed.
"I love you…"
It seemed like all he did was blink. That was enough for his life to fall apart. He was alone again.
Hermione sighed, massaging her temple. She hazarded a glance at her husband, who was sitting across from her at the kitchen table. "You're okay with this?" she asked quietly. He nodded mutely. "This can go horribly wrong for us, Ron," she added.
"I know…"
"Prejudices still run high, no matter where we go," she murmured.
"I know…"
She held out her hand. He tangled his fingers against hers, nodding again. She nodded back.
"I want to represent your mother," Hermione said firmly.
Draco looked at her blankly. "Pardon?" he asked.
"I want to represent your mother."
"I– you– you do?" he stammered.
"Pro bono," Hermione added, smiling wanly.
"Oh…"
"Unless you're dead set on paying me, that is," she murmured, her smile growing.
Draco chuckled, bordering on hysterics. He closed his eyes and nodded. "Thank you," he said hoarsely.
It took them less than an hour to get started on notes. "Okay," Hermione said, sipping her coffee before picking up her quill with her cramping hand. "Let's go over this again."
Draco tried to stifle his sigh as he ran his hand over his eyes. "The reason she's in Azkaban is because all Dark Army members were sent there after the War."
"And the reason you weren't imprisoned was because of your age," Hermione added.
Draco nodded. "But she has never used the Cruciatus or Imperious Curses. Not that I know of, anyways. And she's not a Death Eater."
"Right," Hermione murmured. "Her memories could be taken and examined. But they require an added component from a reliable witness to confirm that her memory is true."
"Which would be Harry," Draco sighed loudly, too exhausted to hold it in any longer.
"Harry," Hermione sighed along with him. "He can't think straight. We can't use him."
"Ugh, no one's using him," Draco muttered in distaste. "We'll make do without him. He's done enough." He rubbed the kink out of his neck. "How about good behavior? That's got to count for something."
"Yes, it does. But not enough to get her out of prison. Maybe a reduced sentence."
They worked through the day in this manner, trying to find loopholes in the sentencing of Narcissa Malfoy.
Draco,
I know this may be the wrong time to ask you to do this, but could you drop in for a visit? Harry's noticed that you have stopped coming over. Just for a few minutes.
Thank you,
Lily Swade
Draco gritted his teeth and pulled himself together before walking into Harry's room. Lily looked up, immensely relieved when she recognized him. She got up from Harry's bed and motioned for Draco to talk to Harry who was lying down. Draco approached slowly, wondering what he was supposed to say. He sat down and touched Harry's shoulder, hoping to turn him over. Harry slapped his hand away. Draco tried again. Harry hit his hand away.
"Hey," Draco murmured, stroking Harry's hair.
Harry shot up, wrenching Draco's hand off of him. "Don't touch me!" he spat out. Draco's eyes widened. He reached out to Harry again. Harry scrambled away, kicking at Draco. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" he screamed, balling his hands into fists.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked, looking back at Lily. She ran out to get Joseph.
"GET OUT! GET OUT!" Harry shouted, pointing to the door.
"Why? What's wrong, Harry?"
"Don't call me that," Harry hissed, disgust in his eyes. "You– you are– just get out! I fucking hate you!"
Draco frowned in confusion. "I don't– it's– it's me."
"I know who you are," Harry muttered. "You're a manipulative bastard, Malfoy. I want nothing to do with you. Get out!"
"What are you–"
"I don't want your fucking love and I don't need your damned sympathy. Get out of my life."
Draco looked as though he had been struck. "Harry…"
"You have no right to call me that," Harry said breathlessly. "And you have no right to love me."
Draco froze, his emotions overwhelming him. "I– I didn't… I'm– I'm sorry," he stammered, not knowing what to say.
"GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK!"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Draco shouted back desperately.
Harry scrambled forward, furious. He shoved Draco off the bed. "GET OUT!"
Draco shoved Harry in turn. "Tell me why!" he exclaimed.
"What does it take to get it into your thick head?" Harry snapped. "I don't want you here. I can't stay sane when you're here. Understand? You're making me worse. Get out of my life! I'm done with solving your bloody problems. Stop. Using. Me."
Draco blinked at Harry, his stomach churning nauseatingly. "I– I'm helping you, Harry. I'm not… I'm not using you for anything," he said helplessly. "I love y–" His words were cut short by Harry's fist blurring towards him and hitting his cheek.
"See? I'm getting better already," Harry muttered tauntingly. "You're just as pathetic as you were then, you know that? Groveling so you could look out for yourself. Get out before I have to make you leave."
Draco stumbled out of the room, pushing past Joseph and Lily. He stopped in the corridor, blinded by tears and anger. He felt Lily's hesitant hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off, striding towards the Apparition Point.
They found Harry on the bed, fuming. "Harry," she murmured, running up to him. "What did you do?"
"I'm going to get better now," Harry said, taking calming breaths. "I'm going to get better."
"What did you do to Draco?" Lily asked.
"Malfoy can go die in a hole, for all I care," Harry said vehemently. "I just– I just need to get better. And I'll testify. And he'll– he'll be okay after I…" He broke off, wiping away his tears. "I hate him. That's all. He'll be okay."
Hermione noticed the resolute look on Lily's face as she gestured to Hermione to enter Harry's room. She frowned, walking in and closing the door behind her. Harry was sitting on his bed, face hidden away in his hands.
"Harry?" she asked hesitantly.
He looked up, dropping his hands. "Hi," he said tiredly, getting up. "I know you're busy. I just needed to talk to you."
She was stunned into silence. Harry approached her and hugged her close. "Oh God," she choked out, hugging him back furiously. "Harry!"
"I want to testify at Wizengamot. Can you arrange for that?" he asked.
"O– Of course," she said, trying to keep her sobs under check.
"Healer Warren said I should be recovered in a week. Is that alright?"
"Yes," she breathed. "Draco will–"
"I don't want to talk about Malfoy. I'm not doing this for Malfoy. This is for my own conscience. Okay?"
Hermione blinked in puzzlement, pulling away from Harry. "I– um… sorry, what?" she asked.
"What I said," Harry said unwaveringly.
Hermione saw the hard green eyes piercing her, sharper than ever. "Okay," she said, nodding quickly. "For you."
"For me."
Draco knocked on the room, his mind racing furiously. He didn't know what he was going to do. But he just had to see Harry again. To find out what was wrong. Harry opened the door. "What do you want?" he asked coldly.
Draco searched Harry's stony expression. "I– I want to know what's wrong," he said.
"Why would anything be wrong? And why would you care if anything's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Because I–" Draco stopped himself. "Because I want to know," he said instead.
"I thought I made myself clear when I said I don't ever want to see you again," Harry said, narrowing his eyes.
"But I thought we…"
"We what? You hurt my friends, ruin my life, and then come here? Looking for what?" Harry asked harshly. "What are you looking for? Because I have had enough of your shit and–"
"Then why are you testifying?"
"Because if I don't, it'll plague me for the rest of my life," Harry snapped. "You thought I was doing this for your? You owe me, Malfoy. You owe me your life. Do you understand? And as far as I'm concerned, I don't care what you do with that life." He slammed the door shut, causing Draco to stagger back. He swallowed down his helplessness, staring at the closed door. Not only did Harry not love him, the man didn't even want to bother with him. This wasn't Harry…
Harry was sitting opposite Joseph. Their session was an hour long and Joseph was thoroughly impressed with Harry's cohesive answers to the questions. He didn't stray from the topic and was able to hold a conversation quite well. But Joseph held the most important question for last.
"Why do you hate Draco Malfoy?" he asked. He saw a hint of surprise on Harry's face. He wasn't expecting the question.
"I've always hated him," he answered calmly.
"You didn't hate him a few days ago. What changed?" Joseph prodded.
"A few days ago, I was out of my mind," Harry said. "And now I'm back to my old self. And my old self hates Dra– Malfoy."
"I'd hazard a guess that a few days ago, you loved Draco."
Harry pursed his lips. "Like I said," he reiterated, "a few days ago, I was insane. And I can't be insane now. So I don't love him. I hate him. It's as simple as that."
"Hmm… So simple."
"Black and white," Harry said.
"Do you remember telling him that you hated him?" Joseph asked.
Harry nodded his head firmly.
"Do you remember telling him to never see you again?"
Harry nodded.
"Do you remember him telling you that he loves you?"
Harry shook his head, turning his gaze to the ground.
"Do you remember telling him you loved him?"
Harry shook his head violently.
"Do you remember what he looked like when you told him you hated him?"
Harry shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Do you remember what he said to you when you told him you hated him?"
Harry pressed his hands to his eyes. "I don't remember," he said firmly, taking a shuddering breath. "I don't remember."
"Okay. That is it for this session, Harry," Joseph said. "More tomorrow."
"How is he getting better so quickly?" Lily asked.
Joseph mulled over the question, wondering how to best answer that question. "He's not getting better, per se. He is… mimicking his memories from five years ago. He is pulling at the memories that he finds relatively stable and sane. He is using them to figure out how he is supposed to act around us."
"He's not getting better," Lily repeated, horrified.
"He needed to find something that separated his 'old self', as he calls it, to his mentally unstable mind. In his mind's eye, he is rational. The way he sees it, there is a clear distinction between his lives. And that is Draco. Five years ago, he hated Draco. Five days ago, he loved Draco. It helped him identify sane from insane. He latched onto it."
"But if he isn't getting better, he'll…"
"Yes, he might relapse," Joseph nodded. "Like before, once he finishes his responsibilities, as he sees it, he might revert back to his unstable mind."
"Then we should make him understand that it's not his responsibility," Lily said.
"He's lived his whole life with expectations. He doesn't know how to live without responsibilities," Joseph said, watching Harry sit at the desk and write studiously. "And if that means living obliviously, then so be it."