Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR and anyone she legally lets use them. Not me.

A/N: Ah, my fantastic reviewers, I do love you so. I really wish I could sit down and respond to every single one :( Actually, I'm afraid if I do, I'll end up revealing too much of my planned plot xD But thank you for reviewing and for all the fave/alert adds. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 20

Draco woke up the next morning with his mind finally at rest after hours of pouring over books in search of Potter's curse. Late last night, after Severus and Potter both were asleep, Draco had finally stumbled upon a curse that fit the description of Potter's injuries. Dressed and ready for the day, Draco was climbing the stairs to give Potter his potion and inform him of the details of the curse, when he heard loud voices coming from Potter's room.

"Justin, Draco is my healer now. I'm fine. I have perfectly good care available on a 24 hour basis. Draco's staying here to keep watch on me."

"I don't trust that blasted Slytherin and neither should you!"

"Justin, don't you think if Draco was out to kill me he'd have buried me and escaped already?"

"Oh, it's Draco now? Do you make a habit of sleeping with all your Healers? I wonder what Snape has to say about all of this!"

Draco blinked. What?

Opening the door, Draco drawled, "What is going on here?"

Potter and Finch-Fletchley froze and turned towards the door. My my my, thought Draco, Potter does have one very fine body. Fit from years of Auror training, Potter was not lean and sinewy like Severus, nor pale and slender like Draco. Instead, he was well muscled, the defining lines of Potter's abdominal muscles simply making Draco's mouth water, and his skin a soft tan. I may be taken, but I can still enjoy eye candy, can't I? And it would be a crime not to enjoy this tasty sight.

Potter was the first to recover, "Nothing, Justin was just leaving, isn't that right Justin?"

"No!" The healer crossed his arms, a petulant look on his face. "Frankly Malfoy, I don't trust you with Potter's care."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "And who are you to decide if I am competent or not? I do believe that's Harry's choice." Draco smirked at the dark look that passed over the other healer's face as Draco used Potter's first name. Enjoying tormenting the Hufflepuff far too much, Draco sauntered over to where Potter stood and put his arm around Potter's waist, stroking his side, and purred "Harry, did this substandard healer get you out of bed when you should be resting?" Draco gave Potter a seductive smile.

Potter blinked in surprise before glaring at him and stepping out of Draco's embrace, "Justin, I said I wanted Draco to be my healer didn't I?"

Finch-Fletchley rolled his eyes, "He's going to murder you in your sleep! He's a dirty, filthy, no good Slytherin!"

Potter narrowed his eyes, "That is enough Justin. I don't know where this is coming from but I will have none of it. Nobody insults Draco or Severus with me around. Apparently, you aren't as much of my friend as I thought you were."

A pained look crossed the Hufflepuff's face as he whispered, "Harry…you know you're much more than that to me."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows as Potter frowned. "That is enough Justin. We agreed to never speak of that again. Now, I suggest you leave."

Finch-Fletchley's face adopted a cruel look, "I see how it is. I'm not good enough for you is it Potter? I wonder, does Snape know how close you are with Malfoy? Does he approve? Maybe they share you. You're just their little whore aren't you?" Finch-Fletchley was sneering, which was not an attractive look for him at all.

Draco gaped, seriously worried about the Hufflepuff's wellbeing. Did he not realize that the look on Potter's face was slowly descending into dangerous territory?

Finch-Fletchley clenched his jaw, "I would have given up everything—"

Potter cut him off, "Don't even Justin. You didn't. You lied. I forgave you that once. I've forgotten it. You would be better off not bringing it up again. I will not be as kind."

Finch-Fletchley clenched his fingers together into fists, "Fine Potter. I see how it is. Defending this lowly, disgusting, murderous, nasty Slytherin of a Death Eater. Taking his side instead of mine. Next thing you'll know, you'll be out persecuting muggleborns. Or would you rather call them mudbloods?"

Potter shook with anger, "I officially relieve you of your duties as my Healer. Get out. Now."

"I will." Finch-Fletchley threw Draco one last nasty glare, or at least his attempt at one, and then left.

Draco turned to a fuming Potter, raising an eyebrow. "What the hell was that?"

Potter clenched his jaw, now unlike Finch-Fletchley. "Nothing."

Draco crossed his arms, giving Potter a disbelieving look, "Nothing? Didn't look like nothing. Didn't sound like nothing. In fact, it seemed like your Healer was being overly-personal with you."

Potter rolled his eyes, "I don't owe you any explanations Malfoy."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "Actually, you do. If interacting with Healer Finch-Fletchley is going to cause a daily magical outburst, for your health, I do in fact, need to know."

"That's nonsense," Potter growled.

Draco smirked, "Actually, it's not. I can, in fact, get permission to Body Bind you, tie you to your bed and dose you with Veritaserum and ask you all the questions I want. For your wellbeing, of course."

It was then that Severus glided in with their breakfast. "Indeed. What a wonderful idea Draco! I can think of a number of questions I would like answered by Mr. Potter here," there was a hint of steel in Severus's voice and Potter threw him a glare.

Draco glanced between the two before filing the moment away for later analysis. For now, he wanted to know what was up with Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Man Who Refused to Bloody Die.

"You could try," Potter hissed.

Draco smiled, "Or, you know, I could simply not tell you all about the curse Vela put you under."

Potter's eyes widened, "You wouldn't."

Draco smirked, leaning forward a bit, a mischievous, evil glint in his eyes, "Try me."

Potter crossed his arms and scowled at the Slytherin, "Fine." Draco was sure he heard a "bastard Slytherin gossipmongers" muttered under Potter's breath. "It's not really of much interest." Potter popped a piece of bacon in his mouth, "Nine months ago, I met Justin at the hospital and we hit it off. A few days later we went out for drinks, then lunch, and one thing led to another. We then a slight disagreement and we broke up and that was that."

Draco narrowed his eyes, "Oh no you don't Potter. I need details."

Potter rolled his eyes, "Why?"

Draco smirked, "In case Healer Finch-Fletchley decides to provoke you. I need to know when and how that might occur so as to prevent it." Feeling decidedly sinister, Draco summoned Potter's file and conjured a quill, "And I'm taking notes."

Potter scowled and seemed to contemplate the request for a moment longer.

Deciding that a little more persuasion may be necessary, Draco said casually, "Of course, if I know that there is past…personal relations that may be cause for worry in terms of Finch-Fletchley's care of you, I can also file for his removal as your Healer. It'll also give me more legal rights in terms of being your Healer. Since you've previously stated that I cannot be your Healer." Draco narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Potter, still a bit angry about that stipulation.

Potter rolled his eyes before muttering, "Justin failed to inform me that he was concurrently engaged to Hannah Abbot."

Severus choked on his coffee while Draco looked up and gave Potter a disbelieving stare, "No!"

Potter startled and looked at the two in surprise. "Um…yes?"

Draco folded his arms, "Bastard."

Potter looked between the two, "Uh…"

Severus dabbed his mouth with his napkin, "Adultery, especially during an engagement, is highly…frowned upon in Wizarding society."

Potter widened his eyes, "Oh." With a sigh, he mumbled, "Yet another thing that I don't know about Wizarding society."

Harry shifted uncomfortably on his bed. For some reason both Snape and Malfoy were in his room, eating breakfast calmly, and making casual conversation with him, like it was an everyday thing. It was mindboggling.

Now Malfoy, terribly vulnerable to gossip and who obviously couldn't help himself, asked, "Does Abbot know?"

Harry paused and shifted again, "Well…we didn't really do much, Justin and I. I found out before it got too…serious. So I told him that we were never to speak of it. Besides, if anyone had noticed we simply seemed to be a couple of good friends."

Malfoy sniffed, "Well, frankly Potter, if a man cheats on his fiancé once, he's likely to do it again. Especially if he cheats with the opposite sex."

Harry shrugged.

Malfoy took a sip of coffee, "Besides, now you'll never know if a threesome with Abbot and Finch-Fletchley. Though, he's doesn't look like he'd be all that great in bed."

Harry choked on his coffee, "Excuse me?"

Malfoy looked up from his mug, giving Harry a look that clearly stated that he should know what Malfoy was talking about, "A threesome Potter. You know, three people, one bed…"

Harry blinked, "Ah. Oh. Yea." Inwardly Harry was wrestling with Malfoy's easy suggestion of threesomes.

You are not helping matters at all Draco.

Harry shrugged again, "Well, I did let it drop to her friends that he was interested in more than just her…but for some reason they didn't seem surprised. I'm pretty sure she knows and either doesn't care, or doesn't believe it."

Malfoy sighed and shook his head, "Women." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Are the two of you done gossiping about Potter's love life?" Snape snarked, folding his arms over his knees and giving them a quite put upon look. "We do have more important things to discuss."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and threw Harry an exasperated look, to which Harry replied with a smirk. It was at that moment that the three men froze, realizing the casualness of their conversation. The camaraderie in their words was obvious, and Malfoy seemed to visibly cringe at his own behavior while Harry quickly wrapped himself up in his concealing attitude, weaving his Auror-persona about him once again.

Coughing slightly, Harry said, "So, you, uh, figured out what curse Vela used?"

Malfoy cleared his throat, reverting back to his normal attitude. "Yes. Or at least what it seems like. It's Vulnus Dominus. Master the wounds." Malfoy scowled, "She's twisted the original intent actually. It was supposed to bind a Healer and his patient together in the worst of situations so that the patient's pain was in the Healer's hands. For example, in situations where a cure was not imminent, it stopped the patient's pain, giving them momentary peace. It didn't prevent the effects of whatever curse they were under, and in many situations simply amplified the condition the next time the Healer 'released' the patient, but in situations where it was clear the patient was going to die, it gave them enough time to say goodbye to loved ones without being in dire pain." Harry and Snape nodded, though both wondered how this spell had morphed into the curse that Vela had cast on Harry. "I suspect that Vela, being the Dark Witch that she is, distorted the intent of the spell. Most spells can turn dark if a negative intention is used, and the book does say that there was a history of the misuse of the spell, which caused it to go out of fashion. And a witch as well versed in the Dark Arts as Vela would know how to twist the spell into the malignant curse that we see on Potter. Problem is, we do not know if she used the exact spell and her intentions changed its effects, or if she altered the spell itself."

Harry swallowed, "Is there any way to stop it?"

Malfoy paused, "That's where it gets tricky. The Healers would release their patients, so there was no reason for the patients to forcefully remove themselves from the spell. There's very little literature regarding the Dark uses of the spell."

Harry groaned, "So, basically, I'm fucked?"

Malfoy snorted, "Depends. We could attempt to remove you from the bond using various bond severing potions, all of which are Dark and probably highly illegal…"

Harry sighed, "If she dies?"

Malfoy nodded, "Then the spell is invalid."

Draco and Severus left Potter with his thoughts and retreated to their bedroom.

"I'm going to go to the hospital today."

Severus nodded, "I should probably work on some of my commissioned potions. I would like to read that book though, with the spell in it."

Draco nodded, giving Severus an odd look, "What are you preoccupied with now?"

Severus gave Draco a look, "Why would someone be in the infirmary for a month?"

Draco furrowed his eyebrow, "Long term injury. Long term recovery. Perhaps a coma, like me."

Severus cocked his head, "A coma? Like you?"

Draco gave Severus a funny look, "What do you mean 'like you', Severus? Remember, I was in a coma for a month, summer before seventh year. You told me all about how I was attacked and then went into a coma, remember?"

Severus nodded, although he couldn't remember the scene which Draco described. He adopted a contemplative look. "Oh, yes," he murmured, a faraway look in his eyes.

Draco frowned, "Severus?"

Severus turned to Draco, "Draco, your memory, it was right after you left the infirmary, yes?"

Draco nodded, confusion plain on his face.

"I need to see this memory."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows, "Severus, you were there…"

Severus nodded, "Yes, yes, but your memory will be tinged with your feelings at the time. I have a theory…but I need your memory."

Draco frowned, "What? A theory about what?"

Severus nodded, "Yes…yes...it all makes sense! Draco, the memory, I need the memory!"

Draco looked at Severus incomprehensibly, "What?"

Severus gave Draco a withering look, "Draco, you are being purposefully obtuse. The memory! Quickly!"

Draco shook his head and raised his wand to gently extract the memory. Placing it in a vial, Draco handed it to Severus. "Yes, yes, Draco, this will solve everything!" And, pecking his lover quickly on the cheek, Severus left for his lab, muttering to himself.

Draco rolled his eyes and returned to getting dressed. There was no reasoning with Severus once his brain had caught onto an idea. At that point the thoughts in the man's brain were going too fast for lowly mortals like Draco to comprehend.

Severus paused in the corridor and leaned towards the bedroom to listen for Draco. When the bathroom shower began to run, Severus smirked, The Mad Scientist Act. Works every time.

Shutting himself up in his lab, Severus drew out his Pensieve and placed Draco's memory within the runic stone bowl. With a deep breath, Severus entered the memory…

Severus and Draco sat in his sitting room at Hogwarts, Draco blinking slightly as he awoke on Severus's couch.

"Draco?"

Draco turned his head, "Severus? Is…what happened?"

Severus gave him a small smile, "Your mind is still recovering. You were in a coma. After you got the Dark Mark, you went on a raid. Someone hit you with a curse that you've been recovering from for the last month."

Draco's eyebrows shot up, "A month?"

Severus nodded.

Present day Severus walked around his sitting room, taking in the scene. Draco and he were at the coffee table; he in the armchair and Draco on the sofa. Glancing up, Severus followed his memory self's quick glance towards the door to his darkened private lab where he was surprised to see a shadow in the sliver of the open doorway. And that was when his eye caught on the Pensieve sitting on his desk. It was full of silvery wisps of memories. But the most important thing was that although it wasn't his, he recognized the Pensieve.

Severus gasped as he withdrew from the memory, his mind racing.

It was the Pensieve he had used to watch Vela's graveyard attack on Potter.

Which meant that Potter had this Pensieve.

He began to pace the length of his lab.

Draco's memory of the last month before this scene had been blurred, indistinct…

Then those memories in the Pensieve had been Draco's.

And if Potter had that Pensieve, then Potter must have Draco's memories.

Ah, so Severus figured it out. But like someone said, he's a bloody spy. I'd be very disappointed in him if it took him much longer. (He's already been a bit distracted…)

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