Disclaimer: Not mine. All JK's.
Draco woke with a groan and rolled over to check the clock. 3:45 pm. "Shit."
"Good Morning." Blaise said, entering the room.
"I hate you." Draco griped without much feeling.
"I deserve it. I forgot I can't mix Hangover Potions, Cheering Charms, and your potion. That is my fault."
"I hate you." Draco repeated, sitting up on his elbows.
"Yes, I heard you the first time." Blaise said.
"What did I do? I can't remember anything."
"I'm not entirely sure. I found you talking to Granger and Weasel."
"Damn it!" Draco cursed and flopped back down.
"I don't think it's too bad. You didn't mess up anywhere on your rounds." Blaise said.
"Good-dy." Draco said dryly. "That doesn't help."
"I said I was sorry!" Blaise exclaimed, angry and guilty. Draco sighed.
"I know. It's alright. Or it will be." Draco sat up, back against his head board and sighed. "This week sucks."
"Completely?" Blaise said with a sly grin.
"Well, no." Draco said with a smirk.
"Well, you should get back to work soon. I'd shower before you go."
"Didn't I shower this morning?" Draco asked confused.
"Yeah, but you had a fever and basically sweated half your body weight out."
"Gross." Draco said, sitting up with a wrinkled nose.
"So I'll see you Saturday right? Pansy is dieing to see you, and brag about the baby." Blaise said walking to the door.
"Of course." Draco genuinely smiled. It fell when Blaise reached the door. "Hey, Blaise?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm…I'm sorry….you know that, right?… I'm a grown man, I shouldn't need a Keeper…. And Pansy needs you now more than ever…"
"Dray, it's okay. Pans understands. She wants you well too, ya'know." Blaise smiled, and left. Draco stayed where he was until he heard the Floo, then quickly showered.
When he Flooed back to his office, Head Healer Young was waiting for him. "I had two frantic relatives in my office, saying you've lost your mind. Care to explain?"
Draco sighed. "You know of my prescribed potion right?"
"Yes, considering I prescribed it."
"Well, it doesn't combine well with Cheering Charms, and my friend hit me with two. It creates an effect similar to being high under Veritaserum." Draco explained. "I actually don't remember much, but my friend found me, and I slept it off."
"Draco…are you alright? Do you need your vacation now? The Potter case might be-"
"No!" Draco yelped. "I-I mean…I want this case. I owe it to him. I need to do it."
Young looked at him for a long time. "Just don't drive yourself crazy. Keep yourself healthy, that's most important." the man said finally, suddenly looking his age. He was an old man.
"Thank you. I will be more diligent. I…also need a cleansing."
"Draco!" Young snapped, eyes flashing angrily. "I thought you beat that…" He finished sadly.
Draco snorted. "You never beat it. You just contain it. It escaped."
"How much of what?"
"Six or seven. Firewhiskey." Draco said, sounding ashamed. Young sighed and cast a spell at Draco's abdomen. Draco winced in discomfort, before rushing to his bathroom. He came back, looking pale, but feeling better. He suddenly found himself in a hug with Young. He hugged his mentor back just as hard.
Finally, Young pulled back and asked, "Do you need more potions?"
"No, but I would like the recipe." Draco said.
"Why? Don't trust my brewing?" Young teased.
"No, I do, but… I'm going on vacation soon. I need to know how to make it."
"Draco, you'll only be gone a week or two. You can pack enough potions. You don't have to take out time to brew. What's really going on?"
Draco bit his lip, and look away. "I…I've been thinking of going back to England." Draco said finally.
Young blinked in shock. "Well, I can't say I was expecting that. Why?"
"Well, my best mate is having a baby with my other best mate… my dad is in jail and hasn't seen me for 6 years…And my mother…" Draco said feebly. Then, he exploded. "It's just so easy here! You can buy anything you want, no regulation! Who needs seven bottles of Firewhiskey? Who lets someone else buy seven bottles of Firewhiskey? I can't…I thought I was better. But last night proved that I'm not. Not anywhere close." Draco ended, sounding defeated. "I wanna go home." he sniffed.
"You knew it wasn't going to be an over night cure. Even with magic, we can't fix everything." Young said.
"I know… I thought if… I left…and never thought about it… I'd be okay…but now… I can't run anymore. I won't run anymore." Draco said determinedly.
"Well… if you feel like going back is best, how can I stop you? Just promise you'll come back and visit an old man once in a while."
"I will. Thank you, Andrew. For everything. Healing my stupid arse, knocking sense into me, training me, giving me back my life. I can't ever repay you."
"Because there's no need." They hugged once more, as the door opened and Ron came in.
"Err.. Harry's awake. Are you back to normal Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"More normal than you ever will be, Weasel." Draco drawled, calmly pulling away from Young. "Well, come on then. I think I found the spell affecting Potter's too-small brain."
"Good day to you, Potter." Draco greeted formally once he entered the room.
"Malfoy. Are…you alright?"
"Sadly, never better. The good news is, I may have found the spell affecting your inflated head. Bad news, it is going to hurt like hell." Draco said with a cool smile. "After that, it's just a matter of getting you used to living blind and you're off home to Jolly Ol' England." Draco said in a horrible American accent. Ron let out a startled laugh that Draco ignored.
"I think I'm used to being blind. And can't you fix my eyes?" Harry almost pleaded…almost.
Draco sighed. "Unfortunately, no. Too much time has passed." Draco smiled ironically. "Even with magic, we can't fix everything. How about a seeing eye dog?"
Harry flinched. "I…don't think I can handle being around a dog all the time. Sirius…"
"Well, you're a Parselmouth, aren't you? How about a seeing eye snake?" Draco smirked even though Harry couldn't see it. He laughed anyway, as if he could feel it.
"Not a bad idea. The hard part will be finding a snake willing to do it. Prideful and temperamental, snakes are. Like you."
"Well, I was born and raised a snake. Slytherin, remember, Gryffindork?" Draco teased.
"Slythergit." Harry teased right back.
"Are they…flirting?" Ron asked incredulously. They two didn't seem to hear him.
"Maybe. Subconsciously." Hermione whispered.
"B-but…Harry's not gay!…Is he?" Ron protested, albeit in a whisper as well, the once-rivals still oblivious.
"And if he is?"" Hermione snapped. "What does that mean to you?"
Ron flinched, knowing that he couldn't escape this discussion without talking about his feelings. "Well…I'd be angry he waited all this time to tell me… Hurt that he didn't actually tell me himself, and told you first... Sad the he felt he had to do that…And concerned because he's flirting with Malfoy."
"In his defense, he didn't tell me. I figured it out years ago. His last hallucination, I told him I knew, but I don't think he remembers. We'll tell him we know once he's home. And as for Malfoy…he's doesn't seem so bad now."
"Aww…thank you Granger…Weasley." Draco corrected quickly."So, are we ready to test for the curse?"
"I-I guess…that was awfully fast." Hermione said.
"What can I say? I am the best." Draco said smugly.
"Y-you said this was gonna hurt?" Harry asked shakily.
"The test? No. The cure? Oh, yes. If it is what I think it is, the cure is a potion. It will expel the taint in your brain. Ready?"
"As ever." Harry said, resigned to his fate. He felt the magic settle over him, like a powder, before it was absorbed into his skin. He heard Draco laugh.
"I love my job." Draco sighed happily. "I will begin brewing the cure, and in roughly 3 weeks, you'll be home."
"Great!" Harry said. "What about the moon?"
"I still plan to be there. Pot-Harry… just because you're going home, doesn't mean you're done healing, just that you are semi-functional and no longer a threat."
"Harry is never a threat!" Ron stuck up for his friend loyally.
"Oh, please Weasel. A hallucinating werewolf, running around un-supervised without Wolfsbane. Yes, that's very non-threatening." Draco snapped nastily. He breathed deeply, eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "I apologize. That was insensitive." Draco said when he was calm. No one said anything, so Draco continued. "This has not been the best of weeks and my temper is short."
"I can't imagine." Harry said dryly. "I don't have any idea what a bad week is like."
"I'm trying to 'make nice' Potter!" Draco snapped, eyes flashing with pain only noticed by Hermione. "I'm going through shit ,brought up by your arrival, and am still trying to do my job while avoiding-" Draco cut himself of. "You know what, never mind. I'm going to brew." Draco said tiredly, and left, closing the door just slightly harder than necessary.
"What did Harry do to him?" Ron asked.
"I…don't know. We were getting on fine, then he snaps." Harry said confused.
"Unfortunately, he's regressing." Head Healer Young's voice made the three jump.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked politely, even if it was a bit sharp.
"Now, I'm only telling you because I'm worried. He's leaving, and I won't be able to check up on him." Young started. "I'm going to tell you his story, but you can't let him know you know. He's just as prideful as ever."
"I've realized that." Harry said with a grin. Young smiled back.
"Now listen…"
And cut. I'm evil. So, this story is almost over. The good news is, I'm doing a sequel where they are back in England. I don't know when it'll be out. It depends on when I get this finished, cuz now I'm typing of the top of my head, which is also why it's taking so long to get chapters out.
Story Alerts
Knyghtshade
Miu The Princess of Nature
PotterMalfoygirl
NatureSauvage
Cool-girl027
GoldenRoya
RosesAreForever23
MeEksiNd
4everDraco's misstress
Favorite Authors
Miu the Princess of Nature
tawnyeyes10
Favorite Story
Maryjblige4ever
Ryoga the Lost Boy
Chochowilliams
GoldenRoya
RosesAreForever23
Reviewers!
Knightvanilla- thanks? Glad someone liked it. You'll find out next chapter.
bohemian dreams- I think I answered your questions in the chapter. If not, ask again, I'll try to explain. Draco got his hug though! And why does he need a reality check? Reality sucks! Thank 4 the stuff. I've been trying to convey Draco when he's stopped compartmentalizing and suppressing himself, and 'turned on' his compassion. Thanks!
Tawnyeyes10- Thanks for the kind words. Warriors is about clans of wild cats. I'd recommend it for younger teens. It's a low reading level and most adults don't like it. I've been reading it for years though. I depends on your age/ maturity level, and your interests, but you should at least check it out! The first one is called "Into the Wild," by Erin Hunter.
Chochowilliams- he wasn't exactly in his right mind. Frankly, he was on autopilot, and Harry has been part of his routine for a short while. He'd gotten there eventually, and it's not like Harry needed him at that moment.
GoldenRoya- Next installment! Thank you.
Catindahat- No, no he's not. Here's more, thanks for the love.
RosesAreForever- thank you. You'll find out about the potion next chapter. He's not so bummed as mad, but you'll find out more like I said. I might stretch out there problems though…I'm sadistic like that.