Chapter 10: Chocolate Has Many Uses
The next few days continued in much the same way. Harry woke, made a few slits in his arm, ribs, hips, and ankles. He laid in his bed, thinking about Draco, what kinds of awful things were happening to him, and how frustrated he was that he couldn't do anything. Eventually, he pulled himself up and worked on homework until he grew too bored to focus. He returned to his bed and bunched up the covers and cuddled with them, pretending that Draco was just beneath them. Finally, he drifted to sleep, simply to begin the process over again.
Severus went about life as he usually did. He woke, had coffee, worked on lesson plans, ate lunch, brewed potions, and had dinner. At the end of the day, he sat in his library, read, and drank some firewhiskey until he grew tired and retried to his room. He tried to stay busy to not think about Draco, but the thoughts managed to come to mind at some time or another. Severus reassured himself that Lucius wouldn't do anything too drastic for Draco would be missed in school and with the Dark Lord. He shivered at the thought of everything the man could still do to his son.
As Severus was sitting down to lunch, he remembered something. Potter is still here. Shit! He hasn't eaten in three days. Dammit, what was I thinking? He chastised himself until he reached the boy's door. Snape knocked, but received no answer. He pushed the door open, slowly and found Harry curled up in around his blankets. HE was talking in his sleep, Severus inched closer to try to make out the words.
"…Draco… no… He didn't do it. I did. I'm sorry… Don't hurt him…. Me… hit me… please… instead… me instead… no! NO!" Harry screamed. Severus ran closer to him and sat beside him on the bed. He rubbed Harry's back and stroked his hair, murmuring kind words to him. The boy relaxed slightly. Severus stood, preparing to retreat before Harry woke and realized who had calmed him. He was too slow. The emerald eyes opened sleepily and stared into the onyx. "He was hurting him, Sev-Snape," Harry corrected lazily. His voice was scratchy and deep, dark circles hung below his eyes, and his mind was still clouded from sleep.
"Who was hurting whom?" He asked softly.
"Voldemort was hurting Draco… His father was too. Mr. Malfoy told him that Draco did something bad—I don't know what it was… We have to help him!" He was waking quickly as reality set in. Voldemort could kill Draco.
"Do you recall where you were in this… vision?" Severus asked slowly.
"No, I've never been there before… there were books and the floor was faded like there was a rug there but it was gone. There was blood…. A lot of it... And—" Severus stopped listening. He was sifting through all the possible locations that had books and rugs. One place came to mind.
"Malfoy Manor," He whispered, causing Harry to cease speaking immediately.
"Please, Severus, let me go. I have to help him," he pleaded.
"You're in no state to fight anyone."
"I've fought him before," Harry said determinedly.
"And you'd had a proper meal prior to that fight." Harry paled at the realization that Snape knew he wasn't eating. "Yes, I noticed," he commented, noticing the boy's revelation. "He won't kill Draco." Harry looked up with shimmering eyes. "I've been punished by the Dark Lord. He doesn't kill followers unless they deliberately disobey him." Severus knew he was lying, but he also knew that Lucius wouldn't let his only son die by someone else's hand. The thought, though an awful one, almost made him smirk. Voldemort is safer for Draco than Lucius.
"Can't we help him somehow?"
"Not until the school year," Severus said solemnly.
"But that's a month away!" Harry cried. It killed Snape to be unable to help his godson, but it almost hurt more that he couldn't help Harry. Severus had always accepted that there were some things out of his control and he just had to wait until he could help to do so. Harry on the other hand, Snape thought to himself, is so damned determined to help him now. There's nothing we can do now. We? When did it become 'we'? He shook his head sadly, both at his silent question, and at Harry's statement. Before Snape could open his mouth to shoot Harry down again, a woosh echoed through his chambers. He left Harry's room and walked to the fireplace. What he found shocked him.
Draco lay on his floor, bloody and mangled, but alive. There was a note in a bloodstained envelope, laying on Draco's back. Severus set it on the end table before levitating the blonde to the spare room by Harry's. "Potter," Snape called as he passed the room. The boy stuck his head out and saw his love broken and floating through the air. He followed Severus into the room and watched as the man lowered the boy to the bed. Snape waved his wand, performing several medical tests on Draco. An extremely long sheet of parchment appeared in Harry's hand. It listed every ailment, who administered it, how, and the age Draco was when it happened. Harry scanned it, skimming over the childhood injuries. He stopped when he came across some things that shook him to the core.
Lack of food 8 days, Draco Malfoy, personal choice, age 13
He continued reading, looking for more "Draco Malfoy" entries. Harry tried to avoid looking at the "Lucius Malfoy" ones that made up 90% of the list.
Severe cut to ribcage, Draco Malfoy, Knife, age 15
Severe cut to ribcage, Draco Malfoy, Knife, age 15
Severe cut to ribcage, Draco Malfoy, Knife, age 15
Severe cut to the ankle, Draco Malfoy, knife, age 15
Lack of Food 12 days, Draco Malfoy, Personal choice, age 15
…..
Severe cut to the wrist, Draco Malfoy, Knife, age 16
Severe cut to the hip, Draco Malfoy, Knife, age 16
Sectumsempra to the chest, Lucius Malfoy, Wand, age 16
Broken ribs, Lucius Malfoy, Kick, age 16
Concussion, Lucius Malfoy, kick, age 16
…..
The list of self-inflicted injuries continued until the last day they were in Snape's chambers. After that, the curses and injuries from Lucius and Voldemort took over. "Hand me the list, Harry," Severus said softly.
"It starts here," he said, folding the parchment so Snape could only see where Lucius started beating his son.
"Thank you," Snape chocked as he read through the curses. He regretted teaching the Death Eaters 'Sectumsempra' more than ever in that moment.
Sectumsempra, Lucius Malfoy, Wand, age 16
Sectumsempra, Voldemort, Wand, age 16
Sectumsempra, Bellatrix Lestrange, Wand, age 16
Sectumsempra, Voldemort, Wand, age 16
Sectumsempra, Bellatrix Lestrange, Wand, age 16
Sectumsempra, Lucius Malfoy, Wand, age 16
Crucio, Voldemort, Wand, Age 16
Severus had to look away as bile rose in his throat. He ran a hand through his hair as he raised his wand and began murmuring the counter-curse. Harry watched as cuts healed, and clean blood went back into Draco's body before his eyes. Snape's hands started shaking and he had to stop the spell. His Godson was hardly healed, but his magic was running low. "Teach me," Harry whispered to him, "Please." Severus looked sadly into the glistening eyes before him. He nodded and told Harry what to do. Harry did as instructed and was amazed to see Draco healing by his hand. After a few minutes, he felt as though 1000 pounds was on his chest, threatening to stop his heart. He looked panickedly at Severus.
"Stop!" He commanded. Harry lowered his wand and stopped the spell. He staggered backwards into Snape, who caught him.
"What happened?"
"You nearly used all your magic," he said softly, handing Harry a bit of chocolate.
"I thought this only worked for Dementor attacks?" He inquired as he nibbled the chocolate.
"Chocolate has many uses," Severus said, almost to himself. Harry nodded and reclined against the wall, staring at his love until he fell asleep. Severus sat beside him and listened to him sleep-talk until he too gave in to slumber.