Draco paused outside Harry's door and pressed one ear to the cool surface, listening closely. It appeared that the Gryffindor had tired himself out and was no longer screaming obscenities at Draco - and at the world in general.
Draco deposited his wand into the glass cylinder attached to the wall. He was taking every precaution with Harry; no wands in the same room, a magical dampening spell surrounding Harry's room at all times that was keyed into Harry's magical signature, as well as a magical alarm that would sound if any physical harm came to his patient. That last one was imperative once Harry was allowed to be in the room unbound and able to inflict bodily harm on himself.
Draco knocked on the door and then turned the knob.
Harry was still lying tied up on the bed, his head turned towards the window.
Draco walked over to his usual chair and sat down. "Hungry yet Potter?"
Harry's gaze flicked to his face, considering. "Yes," he replied after a moment.
"Good." Draco nodded in satisfaction and opened the covered dish he had brought with him. Inside was a steaming mound of rice and vegetable korma with cashews and creamy coconut milk sauce.
"Now," Draco said as he picked up the plastic utensils. "I am going to untie your wrists so that you may feed yourself. I hope I can trust you to not do anything stupid Potter."
Harry merely nodded in understanding and licked his lips at the heavenly aroma wafting his way.
Draco lifted one hand and the leather straps binding Harry's wrists fell away.
Harry cautiously pushed himself up into a sitting position, eyes trained on the delicious looking meal in Draco's hand. It had been some time since he had eaten anything, considering that he'd sabotaged his breakfast this morning.
Draco placed the cardboard carton into Harry's outstretched hands and sat back, watching as Harry eagerly dug into the food. He knew this calm cooperative act of Harry's was just for show, he knew that beneath that cool exterior lay a very desperate and angry addict, but he would enjoy this "eye of the hurricane" moment while it lasted.
"How are you feeling?" Draco enquired.
Harry swallowed and looked up. "Much better."
Draco forced a small smile and nodded. "No cravings then?"
"Not really," Harry said around a mouthful of food. "Just hungry."
Draco pressed his lips together and gazed at Harry thoughtfully.
"Another day or two of this and I think I could manage on my own," he continued confidently.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep you a bit longer than that."
Harry swirled his plastic fork in the rice and sauce, eyes on his plate. "How long?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Twelve months."
Harry's head shot up; eyes wide and face paling. "Twelve… A year? You want to keep me here for a year?!"
"Depends entirely on you and your progress, but yes, generally I keep patients here for about one year."
Harry gaped open-mouthed. "But… How can you do this? This isn't legal Malfoy! You can't fucking kidnap me and hold me hostage for a fucking year!"
"And there's that delightful language again," Draco observed derisively.
"Fuck you!" Harry picked up his meal and threw it towards Draco's haughty face.
Draco didn't move as the meal flew through the air before suddenly hitting an invisible barrier surrounding him and rebounded back towards Harry, splattering the remainder of the food all over him.
Harry looked up, furious.
"Did you really think that I would untie you and just let you have free access to me?" Draco asked calmly. "Give me a little credit Potter. You've hated me for a very long time, and now that I've 'kidnapped you,' that hate must be intensified a thousand times over. I know part of that emotion is just whatever drug cocktail you've ingested leaving your system, but I also know that this situation must make you furious beyond belief. And for what it's worth," he continued sincerely. "I am sorry that it has to be like this, and that it's me that has to do it."
"Let. Me. Go," Harry seethed through clenched teeth.
"I'm afraid not."
Harry visibly attempted to regain control of his emotions. "What if I'm cooperative and do everything you ask of me?"
Draco sighed and linked his hands together in his lap. "It must be a true recovery Potter. There's no lying and there's no 'faking it.' For you to truly get better and get back on the right track then it must be real."
"I won't fucking heal with you around Malfoy," Harry spat.
"There's no other choice," Draco replied simply. "I waited for one of your friends to step in but it turns out you don't have any."
Harry took a steadying breath. "You know, you're a lousy fucking therapist Malfoy. Do you insult all of your patients?"
Draco smirked. "No, just you Potter."
Harry fisted the sheets in his hands, and Draco could see the anger returning. "Isn't there some other hospital or program you could send me to so that you don't have to deal with me?"
"There isn't one as thorough as I am," Draco answered frankly. "Most only last a few weeks and the patients end up back on the street and using."
"But why the fuck do you care? Are you doing this just to prove how much better your life turned out?"
Draco raised a brow. "Your words, not mine."
Harry's mouth gaped with outrage and Draco knew it was time to leave before the next string of profanities.
"Well, I shall leave you to consider everything I've said," Draco said as he stood and smoothed his trousers.
"Don't…" Harry bit off his panicked reaction and clamped his lips together.
Draco paused, he recognized that look. The Gryffindor was, for all intents and purposes, angry and indifferent on the outside but scared on the inside; scared of being alone with his own thoughts, scared of dealing with this reality that he hasn't had to deal with for so long.
"If you'd like for me to stay then I will," he offered.
Harry's eyes narrowed, the panic instantly buried beneath his resentment. "Fuck you Malfoy. I don't need your pity."
"Don't you?" Draco questioned. "I would think that at this stage you would actually welcome some pity Potter. Pity is what compels people to help you, pity is what will allow people to see past the pathetic drug-addicted man who made poor choices and ruined a perfect life that was handed to him on a golden platter."
Harry gazed at him icily. "What perfect life Malfoy? The life that started with murdered parents and a psychotic mad man who hunted him for all of his young life?"
Draco cocked his head to one side considering. "And yet, it wasn't until after you'd killed him that your life fell apart. Why? When you made it through the childhood that you've described only to lose it when you were finally free?"
Harry smirked. "You are not my therapist Malfoy. I didn't hire you so I don't actually have to tell you shit."
Draco matched his smirk. "Have it your way Potter." He strode to the door and turned. "See you tomorrow, sleep well."
Draco shut the door on Harry's horrified expression with no small amount of satisfaction. As he walked to his office he berated himself a little for his childishness, he normally wasn't so petulant with his patients but he couldn't help it, Potter brought out this other side in him, just like when they were children.
Draco worked in his office until late. He finally leaned back in his desk chair and stretched his stiff neck, bones cracking from being in the one position for so long. With a weary sigh, he shut his books and stood up.
He made one last trip to Harry's room to check on him before he headed off to bed. He touched his hand to the smooth surface of the metal door and the material instantly shimmered and shifted into a two-way mirror. He had no wish to disturb his patient by opening the door if Harry had indeed managed to fall asleep.
Draco quickly assessed Harry at a glance and noted the extremely pale skin shining with perspiration, black hair damp around his face, thick strands sticking to his forehead and temples. Harry's eyes were open and staring blankly at the window which was too dark to actually see through at this time of the night. He could also detect the subtle shiver of Harry's body beneath the sheet. He looked like someone suffering from an intense bout of the flu but Draco knew better. This was Harry's drug-riddled body going into shock; the last remnant of the toxic substances leaving his system with no replacement in sight.
He knew this wasn't the hardest part of recovery but it felt like it. It was pure torture and he didn't take any pleasure in seeing Harry go through such hell now.
Draco removed his hand from the door and walked away after checking that all his security was still in place. There was nothing he could do to ease the pain for him right now, he just had to let it take its course and, hopefully, the next day would be easier on Potter.
. . . .
Draco woke suddenly in the middle of the night. A red light was flashing in his room and the obnoxious sound of his warning alarm was echoing through the house. The alarm only sounded when of his patient's health was in jeopardy.
Since his only patient at the time was Harry, he leapt out of bed and sprinted straight for Potter's room.
He burst through the door to see Harry convulsing on the bed. He rushed over, releasing the binds on Harry's wrists and ankles as he went. He could see the problem as soon as he was close; Harry had vomited during the night and was choking as a result of his immobilisation. Draco instantly thrust his arms under Harry's back and turned him over so that his head was hanging over the side of the bed.
He patted Harry firmly on the back with one hand as he withdrew his wand and quickly uttered a spell that would force everything out of Harry's throat and mouth, clearing his airways.
Harry spluttered and choked as he tried desperately to take a breath in between heaving, large tears rolling down his cheeks at a steady stream and dripping onto the floor.
Draco remained holding onto him as the choking sounds slowly gave way to ragged breathing. Harry hung limply in his arms, too tired to hold himself up or to even protest Draco's close proximity.
Draco finally whispered a spell to clean up the mess at his feet before gently lifting Harry up and over onto his back. The brunette felt appallingly light, a sure sign that the young man had not been taking care of himself for quite some time.
Draco sat on the edge of the bed and watched his charge. Harry had his eyes closed and his chest was rising and falling quickly with shallow breaths that were slowly easing back to normal. He still had tears squeezing out from under those long black lashes and Draco felt sorry for him in that moment. Going through this was hard enough without having someone you hated seeing you at your worst.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Draco offered quietly, knowing that an honest approach was the right one in that moment.
Harry made no move to respond, his eyes still closed to the world.
"I know you probably don't feel like talking right now, but I just want to make sure that you're alright before I leave." Draco paused. "I have an alarm set up that will go off if you are in trouble, that's how I knew you were unwell, so there's no need to worry."
Harry's eyes flickered open and Draco winced at the pain reflected there. "Please…"
Draco leaned closer; trying to make out Harry's raspy whispering.
"…please….just…."
Draco sat back. He knew what Harry was asking for. "I'm sorry but I won't do it Potter."
Harry's eyes fell shut once more as he turned his head away despondently.
Draco's brows pulled together in concern. He'd treated so many wizards, and each and every one of them had gone through this stage of not wanting to go on, not willing to go through the pain and struggle of healing, but this one was different. This was the first person that he knew on a personal level. Knowing someone's past personality, before the drugs, definitely made it more difficult to remain detached. He knew this was not the real Harry Potter; he knew the real Potter was vivacious and loyal and kind. Knowing this and watching him now was affecting him in a way that he wasn't accustomed to. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he felt emotionally involved.
Draco took a deep breath and released it. "I know it's hard, I know giving up and just letting go of it all seems like the only solution right now but it's not. I can't promise you a perfect life when you make it through, or even an easy one, but I can promise you that it will be better than it was and that it will be better than today."
Harry made no response but Draco knew he was listening when a fresh tear made its way down one pale cheek and disappeared into his pillow.
"And I can promise you that I will not give up on you Potter," he continued steadfastly. "No matter what happens and no matter how much you curse and throw things at me, I will still be here."