Molly insisted on feeding him before he'd left that morning so he'd suffered through the familial bickering and the Twins staring while he quietly talked to the matriarch about her plans for redecorating the house and the limitations he had to stay within.
As he gathered his things to leave, Ron approached him and said, "Thank you. For everything."
Severus watched the boy bound off and saw the knowing look on Hermione's face as she nodded and followed her lover. Molly hugged him, hard, and he slipped through the floo to his mother's office with a smile on his face.
"Welcome back son. How was your visit?"
Severus hugged Minerva and placed a kiss on her cheek before answering, "Quite nice actually. They've settled and are planning some redecorating, within reason, and everyone seems to be okay with the move. How are things here?"
"Well, there have been a few things that I need to bring you up to date on. First, the wards on The Burrow have been attempted twice but they've held. I think whoever is poking at them is looking for a weakness to breach." Minerva put up a hand to halt the interruption before continuing, "They won't find one and I have had my own personal house elf, Andi, add to the wards."
Severus nodded, knowing that the house elf magic would make the wards damn near unbreakable. He'd need to update Molly as soon as he could get to the post.
"The other thing is that Draco is petitioning to bring Narcissa home so they can take care of her there."
This time, Severus ignored the raised hand and demanded, "Why in the name of Merlin would he do that. Has that boy lost all sense?"
"No Severus, he hasn't; we've just made some discoveries that made this step necessary," Harry said as he walked in with Poppy.
Minerva gestured for the new arrivals to sit and had Andi pour tea while Poppy explained. "Severus, Narcissa is attempting to throw off the stasis she's been in and we believe that she's been kept in this state against her will."
Harry explained what happened during his last visit and told Severus it wasn't the first time she'd done this.
Severus listened and then calmly said, "So you believe that this healer is going to risk her career to harm Cissa?"
"Severus we don't know for sure yet," Poppy began, "but Remus has been staying with her for the last two nights and the boys are there during the day. She's not been left alone. I've volunteered to help with her home care until the new school year begins and am going over there to check on her when we're done here."
"I'll be accompanying you."
"That's fine. I will be requiring your help with potions for her recovery so it's best that you get an idea for her condition now as well."
Severus turned toward Harry and said, "And how have you been doing son?"
Harry smiled at the endearment, as Molly always called him that as well, "Haven't blown anything up in a few days and I finished another journal. Remus brought us dinner the other night and we got a good laugh from watching Draco eat a piece of chocolate cake. That's about it."
Severus chuckled, "Did he hum while he ate it?"
Harry nodded with a smile.
Severus handed Harry a parcel, "From the family. I wouldn't be surprised if there was food in there as well as letters."
Poppy rose to leave and said, "Harry, can you take Severus' bag back to the Manor while he comes with me."
"Of course. Severus, I have something to talk to Minerva about but I'll be glad to take it back and have Dobby or Kreacher take care of it."
"Thank you Harry. I'll meet you there when we're done. Please let Remus know I'm back."
Severus and Poppy walked through the floo to St Mungo's and Minerva said, "You wanted to talk to me about something Harry?"
"Yes ma'am. I believe Narcissa is being drugged and that a potion is the cause of her condition. I need to know what legal grounds we may have to help her get the responsible parties punished."
"Well Harry, Andromeda Black, Narcissa's sister, happens to be an attorney and we could ask for her help. I'm not sure how willing she'd be to assist though, as she was disowned many, many years ago. Her familial status was renounced so it's as though she no longer exists."
"I'm not sure staying in the family is a good idea. Does the school have a solicitor I can talk with?"
"I do have someone you can talk with. When would you like to do this?"
"Soon, perhaps tomorrow."
"I'll arrange it and owl you the details. Is there anything else dear?"
"No ma'am."
"Well then, why don't you head back to the Manor and I'll get started on tomorrow."
Harry grabbed Severus' bag and flooed back to the Manor. He left the bag with Dobby before heading to the garden to spend some quiet time with his newest journal and his thoughts.
"No, I'm sorry you cannot 'just go in' and see Mrs. Malfoy. Her son is in there as is one of her therapists and I will not allow anyone else."
"Madame, I am her son's guardian and I will be going into that room regardless of what you believe."
"Uncle Severus, when did you get back? Come on in." Draco had heard the dulcet tones of his Godfather's voice and knew that he'd blast himself into the room if needed. That meant he'd talked to Harry already as well.
Poppy and Severus walked in and saw Healer Sunshine with her back towards them bending over Narcissa's torso.
"What exactly are you doing?" Poppy demanded as she walked over to the bed.
"I'm just finishing her therapy. And who are you folks?"
"I am Poppy Pomphrey, Medi-witch for Hogwarts and this is Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master and Hogwarts teacher. And you are?"
"I am one of the healing team that has been working on Mrs. Malfoy. I work on her physical needs, keeping her muscles from atrophying."
"And you name?"
"Oh, sorry, I thought I'd told you that. My name is Misti, pleasure to meet you both."
Severus had been watching the girl and saw her tuck something into her pocket. He couldn't see what but was suddenly concerned about what she'd really been doing.
"So Misti," Severus began as he walked forward, "why don't you show us what you were just doing."
"Okay, I was just tucking her arm back under the blanket now that her therapy is done. She's so tiny; I worry about her catching a chill, so I always make sure she's covered before I leave."
Severus was standing very close to Misti and no one noticed him slip the item out of her pocket and put it in his own. "I see, well, you may go then. We'd like some time alone with Mrs. Malfoy."
Misti quickly grabbed her stuff and left the room. Once the door closed, Severus placed strong locking and silencing charms on the room and said, "I took this from her pocket. Poppy, is this an injector of some sort?"
Poppy took the syringe from him and said, "Yes, it's a muggle device used to inject medication into a patient's veins. It's called a needle," pointing to the sharp end, "and syringe," pointing to the area filled with clear fluid.
Severus nodded once and looked at Draco, "She will not be alone until we can take her home. Remus and I will split the night shift and you and Harry the days. We do not leave this room regardless of who is requesting it. We also need to find out who this Misti is. She didn't give a surname."
Poppy took the syringe and put it in her pocket, "Severus I will work on who she is and what this liquid is. I'm also going to talk to Minerva about the situation and see what we can do to help. I'll be in touch."
Severus lifted the charms as the Medi-Witch left and turned and hugged his Godson, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out and make sure she's okay. Now, why don't you head on home and let the others know what's happening. I'll stay here until Remus comes tonight and we'll get the rotation going. Tell him to come and relieve me around midnight."
Draco hung on to the hug for a moment longer and said, "Yes sir. And Harry and I will be back in the morning. I'm so glad you're back." He walked to his mother's side and said, "Mum, I'll be back in the morning with Harry and we'll stay the day. Uncle Sev is here now and Remus will be back tonight. I love you." He kissed her cheek and left.
"In the matter of Narcissa Malfoy?"
Draco and Severus stood and walked toward the Administrator, hoping to hear they could take Narcissa home today.
It had been two weeks of watching and waiting for them while the St Mungo's review committee decided if Narcissa could be released to their care. They had expressed their concerns about her condition and the care she had been getting, even going so far as to point out that the hospital staff didn't want her there to begin with and if it hadn't been for Harry's insistence and paying of fees, she would have been somewhere else anyway.
Poppy had discovered the potion in the syringe was actually a variation on the Draught of the Living Dead. It put her into a deep sleep, but what they hadn't discovered yet, is it also kept her conscious enough that she could hear and feel everything around her.
With her round the clock watch guards, Misti had been unable to inject her again and Narcissa had slowly started to come out of her stasis. She'd been able to hold Draco's hand and had said Remus' name.
Harry was sitting with her while Draco and Severus went to find out if they could take her home and he was enjoying talking with her knowing that she was slowly waking. He was hoping that when she was fully awake, that she would not balk at Harry's attempt at friendship with her.
"I am Draco Malfoy and this is Potions Master Severus Snape."
"Please follow me gentlemen, I have a decision for you."
The pair followed the little administrator into his office and sat in front of the huge cherry wood desk watching the little man climb into his chair. He reminded Draco of the goblins at Gringotts. He was short and round with a large forehead and wide set eyes. His smile looked more like a grimace and his hair, what little he had, was slicked back on his head making his oblong face appear longer. He had a bulbous nose and a slight point to his ears. Draco didn't like him at all.
"Mr. Malfoy, the hospital board has reviewed your request and has decided to release Mrs. Malfoy into the care of Medi-Witch Poppy Pomphrey with the condition that this hospital is not responsible for any change in her condition. Also, with regard to your concerns about," he paused and looked through the paperwork in front of him before continuing, "Healer Misti Rowle, we have been unable to verify any of the suspicions you have expressed, and as she has left her employment with us, we will no longer be pursing the inquiry. Do you have any questions?"
Neither Draco nor Severus had questions so they signed the discharge papers and left the office. Once in the lift with the doors closed, Draco turned to Severus and said, "Misti Rowle? You don't think she's related to Thorfinn do you?"
Severus saw the concern in Draco's eyes and said, "I don't know but if she is, then we're going to have our hands full as she's likely following your father's orders. They were quite close in the ranks."
"Yes," Draco said as they walked into his mother's room, "I remember him coming to the manor a couple of times but she couldn't be his daughter, she's too young."
Severus saw Harry dosing in the chair while holding Narcissa's hand, his head resting on the edge of the bed. "Let's talk about this later." He motioned toward the bed and Draco smiled as he saw the pair.
Draco gently shook Harry's shoulder saying, "Harry, wake up. It's time to go."
Harry sat up and smiled, "Are we taking her with us"
Severus and Draco smiled brightly and nodded their heads.
"Good, she'll do so much better at home. I'll go back to the Manor and get everything ready. I'll floo Poppy and have her meet us there." Harry stood and bent down next to Narcissa's ear quietly saying, "I'll see you at home my lady. Your elegant chamber awaits your arrival." He gently kissed her cheek and headed out.
Draco and Severus looked at each other with surprise at Harry's words and Draco made a mental note to talk to him about it later.
"Dobby, Kreacher," Harry called as he came in the front door, "Mistress Malfoy will be returning within the hour and I want her chamber ready when she arrives. Please quickly get the rooms open and aired out. Is Mr. Lupin here?"
"Mister Harry Potter sir, Mister Lupin is sleeping in his rooms now," Dobby answered.
"Kreacher, can you please wake Mr. Lupin and ask him to come to the kitchen. You may tell him Mistress Malfoy will be arriving."
"Yes sir, Master Potter."
Both Kreacher and Dobby popped out to get to their assignments and Harry made his way to the kitchen to see about tea and lunch for Draco and Severus.
"Winky, Teensy, Mistress Malfoy will be home shortly and I would like to have some lunch and tea ready for Draco and Severus. What can we put together quickly?"
"Master Potter sir," Teensy said, "we is taking care of lunch sir. We is waiting to do it until you told us to."
"Yes sir," Winky chimed in, "If Mister Harry Potter is wanting lunch ready when Mistress returns, it will be so."
"Thank you ladies, that will be a great help," Harry said smiling at the elves as he headed into the Study to floo Poppy.
Once Harry made sure that Narcissa was comfortable, he shooed Draco and Severus into the dining room for lunch and left Poppy to see to the patient. "When you're ready Poppy, there will be food waiting for you."
"Thank you Harry, I'll be down in a bit. We're just going to have a little girl talk and then I'll be down."
Harry chuckled as he walked into the dining room.
"What's so funny?" Draco asked around a mouthful of sandwich.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Severus said before Harry could answer.
Harry sat next to Draco and nicked a chip from his plate, receiving a smack to his thieving hand for the act.
"Ouch, git," Harry said, popping the chip into his mouth.
"Don't steal, prat," Draco replied.
Severus watched the two nicking food from each other and joking with each other and couldn't help but feel relief at how well they'd settled into their friendship. They were completely comfortable with each other and after spending everyday at Narcissa's bedside together, they had discovered they had a lot more in common than they ever knew.
Harry hadn't had any problems with controlling his magic or had any nightmares in weeks and Draco's worry induced insomnia seemed to have subsided.
"Harry, what's with what you said to my mum at hospital before she came home?"
Harry smiled, "She reminds me of a muggle character, 'Sleeping Beauty.' She's a princess who's cursed by an evil witch and can only be awakened by the kiss of her true love. So I figured I'd treat her like the princess she is, so I call her My Lady and make sure that she wants for nothing."
Draco lunged at Harry and gave him a huge hug, "Thank you Harry. For everything. I owe you."
Harry rubbed his hand along Draco's back and said, "You owe me nothing. You've given me a place to stay and helped me through some hard things lately. We're even."
Remus walked in and said, "Did I miss something?"
Harry and Draco broke their hug and Severus explained the reason for it.
"Oh, here I thought maybe they've finally declared their undying love for each other."
"WHAT!" the boys in question yelled.
Remus and Severus laughed loud and long at the pair's reaction before finally settling in to wait for Poppy's report.
They didn't have to wait long, as Poppy walked in minutes later and sat at the table.
"Gentlemen, Narcissa is resting comfortably and is no worse for the travel. Her colour is good and her temperature is normal so now it's a waiting game. I've left Teensy to watch her for now, so you can all take your time eating and relax for a while. Severus, I've left some potions for you to use along with the instructions. As she comes out from under the effects of this, she may have some discomfort but otherwise, the worst we should face is some memory loss and muscle weakness."
Harry took Draco's hand under the table, when he saw the blonde shaking, out of the corner of his eye.
Draco squeezed a thank you for the support and didn't let go.
Seeing the fear on Draco's face, Poppy quickly said, "Draco, the memory loss would be around the event itself, the moment when she was first drugged. Otherwise, she should be just fine. I'd wager in a week or so, she'll be walking these halls again and terrorizing you boys with her perfectionism."
"Merlin I hope so," Remus said, "these boys are a bloody mess."
Laughter rang through the Manor and Teensy saw her Mistress smile as the melody reached her ears.