Chapter 113

"No. No, I didn't. No." This couldn't be real.

It couldn't be real. Over and over again the sentence repeated in Harry's head, as though he could will it true. This couldn't be real. The shattered tiles, the bloody, flooded floor and the dyed strawberry blonde hair that floated in it all. He couldn't have done this; it had to be another bad dream.

Snape was still muttering over both of the twins' bodies, but his cloak blocked Harry from actually being able to see them. In a sick way it was a relief to not see them. Draco had been shaking and scrabbling at his injuries as though he were fighting to keep the blood in and Graces had laid motionless beside her brother, her head pivoted away from Harry so the only thing he could see was her hair and the blood that slowly crept away from her.

Harry didn't think he would ever forget the look on Draco's face when he realized Graces was lying next to him. All the efforts he had been making halted and the stillness that had replaced the frenzy was possibly one of the worst moments of his life.

"She's alive," Snape murmured, pausing his incantation for the very first time since he had shoved Harry away. A shaking breath he hadn't realized he had been holding escaped him and then he realized Snape wasn't speaking to him at all, but to Draco.

Harry heard some sort of faint whisper that must have been from Draco, but Snape ordered him silent.

"I-I tried to move her."

"She will be fine."

"I-I tried to—" Draco's words faded away and Harry suspected by the stillness that settled that he may have passed out.

"She will be fine," Snape reassured, to the silence.

Harry wanted to ask if Draco would be fine. If he would wake up, when he would wake up, if he had done any permanent damage, if he would have a scar, but he couldn't get his mouth or limbs to work. He just stood there trembling from a cold that didn't exist. Snape's hands moved away from Draco (who had indeed passed out) and turned Graces on her back. Harry had an idea of where she was injured, the dark dress mixed with dark blood made the scene a blur and he turned away before his eyes could adjust as Snape tore her dress open to begin healing her.

Snape again began his incantation, his monotone voice echoing through the chamber of the bathroom along with the sound of leaking water. Harry didn't dare move his eyes from Draco's chest, watching the other boy's chest as it slowly moved with each breath promising Harry that he was indeed alive. He stared at the closed up wounds, again reminding himself he had been the one to tear the other boy open. In that moment it no longer mattered to Harry that Draco had been about cruciate him. He would have given anything to go back and not have used that spell.

A sharp intake of breath tore him from his thoughts.

"Lie still," Snape ordered.

Harry craned his neck to see that Graces' eyes were open, but far from what seemed alert. She moved her head about, her hair matting in the water with the movement.

"Lie still," Snape repeated, a hand going to her forehead and steadying her. Graces did as instructed for a moment, her attention going to the blood all over the professor and then as though realizing what the red substance was she began to struggle to sit up.

Snape made more demands for her to lie still, but Graces ignored them, shoving him away as she gathered herself to her feet. Her gray eyes darted around the room frantically. Harry now saw the injury through her torn dress. A large gash going from the top of her right collar diagonally down reaching her ribs on the other side. Snape had managed to heal some of it and stop the bleeding, but it was clear he had not finished.

Snape hurriedly removed his cloak and draped it over Graces' shoulders. She swayed and stared at him and Harry slowly was realizing that she truly didn't seem to realize what was happening. It didn't seem to be any sort of forgetfulness, where she woke up and pieced together what had happened, it was almost as if she were out of her body. Her hands and torso were shaking so severely that Snape was holding the cloak closed with his hands. Snape was murmuring words to Graces, soft gentle words that he had never even known Snape to be capable of using, but Graces didn't seem to understand them. She moved to walk and when Snape refused to let her go she began to push him.

It was difficult to watch. Graces clearly wasn't well. She pathetically tried to fight the potions master, only landing one decent strike to Snape's face, which ordinarily Harry would have been thrilled to see, but it was awful seeing Snape trying so desperately to not injure her further. A few moments later Snape had one arm wrapped around her pinning both her arms to her side and with his other hand he brought his wand to her forehead. Graces went limp instantly, her eyes shutting to sleep.

Harry turned at an odd sloshing sound and saw Draco struggling in an attempt to stand. His head lolled down and his arms braced himself up slightly on his side before slipping under his weight, or the watered blood, it was hard to tell. Draco was still shaking and seemed barely able to hold up his head. Harry moved forward, aware that he was probably the last person Draco would want help from, but offering it all the same. At first the other boy weakly slapped him away, but after a few more attempts he seemed to realize he could not stand without the assistance.

Harry couldn't even look at Draco as the other boy reluctantly accepted his help. He adjusted the blonde's arm around his shoulder, pausing when he heard a sharp intake of breath as the movement probably stretched one of his injuries and then aided Draco in getting closer to where Snape was with his sister.

"I tried to move her," Draco rasped, his eyes watching in horror as Snape gently laid her down on the floor. "She fell really hard and—I—when I realized I—she was—did I hurt her head?"

Harry repositioned his legs, Draco was swaying slightly and he was worried he would slip.

"Sometimes," Snape began quietly. "After an injury people go into shock, they can get disorientated and even become violent. She is going to be perfectly fine."

"I pushed her hard." Draco whispered.

"You did not injure her. She has been bleeding, blood carries oxygen to the brain and her blood is mostly on the floor. Her mind is not working correctly," Snape lectured. Harry found it comforting in an odd way to hear him teaching at a time like this. "I imagine the room seems to be spinning for you, you also are having similar symptoms. But I treated you first as your injuries were more concerning. Unlike your sister you had less time."

Less time. He almost killed them. If Snape had not been—Harry didn't want to think of it. He held Draco closer in that moment to steady himself against the knowledge that he almost killed him. Draco was a little shit, but he never wanted him dead. And he certainly didn't want Graces dead.

Draco's gray eyes didn't move from where his sister was lying. Harry knew he should apologize or offer him some lame attempt of comfort, but his throat was still so tight he could barely breathe.

When Snape finished his incantations, Harry allowed himself to look at her. She was ghostly pale, the blood caked in areas of her collar, arms, cheek and chest. He didn't know why he thought her eyes would be open, maybe he thought since she was healed she would wake. Snape gathered her limp body in his arms, before standing.

He glared at Harry for a moment. "Follow me and do your best to not further injure Mr. Malfoy. He is hurt enough."

Harry gave a curt nod and looked away. Snape briskly brushed past with Graces at a speed that Harry had no way to match. Still he tried, holding Draco firmly as he trailed behind the Potions master.

Thankfully Draco really didn't seem to weigh much. Which, now that Harry was noticing, he realized was odd. Draco was always slim, but he was still quite tall. He should have weighed more. If he were helping Fred or someone else he knew, they would feel heavier. He noted how his frame felt against his arm. Far too thin.

Draco began to slump and suddenly the other boy did feel much heavier as the dead weight surprised Harry. He shifted him, trying to steady him, and Draco's foot slid against the stone, causing them both to stumble. Snape wheeled around at the sound, a look of fury directed towards Harry.

Harry clutched Draco closer to him, silently showing he was able to hold the other boy. Draco hissed at the contact and Harry winced, realizing that with his injuries the different pressure probably was very painful.

"Professor?"

Graham Montague stood within their path, his eyes wide as he took in what he was seeing.

Draco breathed out a curse that Harry was sure only he could hear and then Graham was striding over to them. There was a flurry of words. Graham was demanding explanations, Snape was insisting he go to the dungeons, Graham was absolutely refusing, then suddenly he was trying to pull Draco out of Harry's arms.

"Oh, Gods, Montague, get a hold of yourself," Draco scoffed.

Graham's fingers rushed to examine the injury on Draco's chest, moving the blood and water soaked shirt away with a familiarity Harry turned away from seeing.

"Who, Draco?"

Draco tried to slap his hand away, but his wrist fell before he could raise it that high. "Not like that," he slurred, his head dropping to the side.

"Draco, who?" Graham snarled, pulling the back of the other boy's hair forcing him to wake and look at him.

Harry tried to shove the other boy away, an angry noise escaping him on Draco's behalf, but the moment he tried he lost his hold on Draco and had to go back.

"Why you always gotta be so bloody rough with me, eh?" Draco groaned, his eyes barely fluttering open.

"Who?" Graham demanded again his teeth barred. There was almost this desperation in the other boy's face, not so much a promise of revenge, more like fear. And suddenly Harry realized that this boy was frightened. That he cared deeply for the one he was holding, the one he had hurt.

He always kind of saw Graham Montague as an arse. He was always yelling and seemed annoyed with everyone. Harry didn't even think he cared much for Graces based on the interactions he had seen between the two and a lot of times when he was around Draco he seemed annoyed. A few times over the years Graham had even snapped at Draco to stop in his theatrics and seemed to dislike him greatly. This year he didn't seem to snap as much, but it wasn't like he was ever laughing or joking around with him. Harry knew that Graham was friends with the two, but he always assumed that was because of status, not because of genuine feelings for them.

Draco stared for a moment at the intensity, before blinking rapidly. "You knew."

It was said with such betrayal that if Harry had not been the one to hurt Draco he would have thought Graham had.

Graham scowled. "What?" But Draco's eyes rolled back and he passed out before any more could be said. Harry—who was having difficulty with the dead weight to begin—quickly pivoted to catch Draco before they both toppled over. Graham, seeing this, moved to help compensate as well, bracing his arm behind Harry's to help.

"Thanks," Harry breathed.

Graham looked up at Harry briefly, before lifting Draco up himself. For all the problems Harry had holding onto Draco, Graham had none. The other boy lifted him as easily as he would a child. "I'm taking him to the hospital wing. Did you see anything?"

Harry nodded and Graham waited for an explanation. "I-I… it was an accident."

The other boy blinked, glancing down at Draco's injuries and then back at him in confusion. "An accident?" he whispered with no understanding.

"I—Graces and he wer—"

"Graces did this?" Graham asked, horrified.

"No! No! She—" Harry stopped and swallowed. "I did this," he admitted, his throat tight with shame.

Graham stared at him dumbfounded.

"You?"

"Mr Montague," Snape's cold voice pierced the silence, but Graham was still staring at Harry. Harry suddenly remembered all the times Graham had warned him to leave the twins alone. How defensive he had been of them. He may not have acted warm and affectionate, but he absolutely did care. And for some reason the look of genuine fear and concern on Graham was much more terrifying than the look of rage he was used to seeing.

"Graham!" Snape snapped, losing his temper. "Take Malfoy to the hospital ward. I just left his sister there and they are getting prepared for him."

Graham let out some shaking breath barely looking at Snape. "He—"

"Draco needs blood. Take him now."

"You take him!" Graham hissed moving over to Snape and pushing Draco into him. Snape did not offer his arms though, instead he moved and took Graham's wand from a chest pocket in his robes.

"You will take him," Snape whispered coldly. "And in that time you will get a hold of your temper."

The rage that overtook Graham's features was enough to make Harry's heart race. "Are you going to handle Potter?"

"I will remind you, Mr. Montague, that you are speaking to a professor at this school. And that—"

"What are you going to do?" Graham demanded.

Snape's eyes narrowed. "I will not be taking Draco to the infirmary. Now you can stand here and argue with me or you can get him the medical care he so desperately needs."

Graham's nostrils flared at the challenge, but he made no move to leave. Harry stood there in the stalemate and felt his own stomach drop with each passing second. He took a step forward.

"I'll take him," he offered, taking another step.

"You will not touch him," Graham snarled.

"I'm sorry," Harry pleaded. "Believe me I am sorry and I will come back, but let me take him."

"You will not touch him," Graham repeated coldly, returning his gaze to Snape who looked completely unmoved by both of their outbursts. "Take him," Graham demanded.

Snape scoffed. "What exactly is your plan, Mr Montague? Avenge your friend like some gallant knight? How do you think that will end up working out for you? Do you think I will allow it as a Professor at this school? Do you think Mr. Malfoy would appreciate your attempt over getting him the blood he so direly needs?"

"He can't get away with this. He—"

"Draco can't go much longer without blood," Snape reminded casually.

Graham's jaw clenched and he shot Harry a look of deep loathing. "This isn't over, Potter," he said quietly, before turning to leave. Harry watched him disappear with Draco his heart dropping even lower in his stomach as Snape turned to him.