Bonds of Pain

Bonds of Pain

Chapter 4

In which aid is received

Severus followed his two students to the end of Privet Drive, not even bothering to clean up at Number Four. He'd tell Albus as soon as they got to Hogwarts, and the Ministry would be at the house in a flash. Wizarding children were scarce enough that no one got away with child abuse in England. Malfoy Manor would soon be swarming with Aurors as well.

At the end of the street, Severus reached forward to grab Draco's shoulder. The boy stopped, and Severus pulled a Portkey from his pocket. Making sure the stone disc touched both boys as he held it, he recited the activation charm before declaring a destination.

"Hogwarts, Hospital Wing." He felt the familiar tug behind his navel, and they left Surrey.

They arrived in the pristine ward with only slight stumbles, surprising Poppy, who--despite the hour, nearly one in the morning--was bustling about with an armful of linens. The plump little matron promptly shrieked and abandoned the sheets on a bed before rushing to attend to the boys.

"Dear Lord in heaven! What have you two done to yourselves? To think you both left here three weeks ago perfectly healthy." Severus stayed long enough to see the little witch take pictures of the teens' conditions before he slipped out the door. He thought it was an excellent time to tell Albus what he had found.

"It's not like either of us has had proper care in the last three weeks, Madam Pomfrey," Harry could hear Draco saying. "Just treat Harry before we lose him to shock." Touching that the blond cared about him so. Not that he really deserved it, but he couldn't remember the last time someone treated him as if they really cared about him. Draco had made such a change from the boy that Hermione and the Weasleys had hexed on the train. He liked the new Draco much better.

{Glad you approve,} a voice spoke dryly in his mind. {Don't fall asleep on us. I don't want to lose you before I even get to know you.}

~What the hell? Did I just hear Draco Malfoy in my head?~ Harry opened his eyes just as he was being laid on a soft, clean surface. There, standing over him, was the young blond from his visions. He didn't know how long he'd been at the Dursleys', but Harry knew his school rival had refused his father, refused to join Voldemort and his cruel Death Eaters.

The other boy smiled wryly at him. "It seems our similar experiences have forged a mind-bond between us. I can hear you, too." Now that was a shock.

"Why...?" Harry tried to ask. The words send shards of pain into his throat, and his eyes teared up. ~Why'd you come for me? Why would you want to save me, after what we've done to each other for the past four years?~ Draco, now sitting beside the bed as Madam Pomfrey took pictures and healed Harry, closed his eyes and took a deep breath before answering.

{Because I was wrong. I was wrong to judge you and your friends without getting to know you first. And I was wrong about Lucius Malfoy.}

~I... understand. I guess I was wrong about you, too. Shall we start over?~ Draco nodded in response and reached over to take Harry's hand.

"Draco Malfoy. Not Lucius's son, not anymore."

{Harry Potter. Ignore the scar, it's nothing but trouble.} Draco smiled at the frank denial of the famous scar's importance. It was one of the first honest smiles to grace his face since he was a small child, and it felt oddly natural.

"You know, the way I've been acting lately, I may need to be Resorted. I almost feel..."

{Gryffindor. I can almost feel it. We're not as bad as you might think. Our common room is certainly warmer and more comfortable than Slytherin's.} An image of a round room, full of cozy red and gold couches and chairs with a fire blazing in the hearth, popped into Draco's mind. That certainly did look cozier... Wait.

~How do you know what the Slytherin common room is like?~ Harry chuckled from the bed, wincing as his arm was set.

{Remember Christmas second year, that day Crabbe and Goyle were acting weird?} Draco frowned in thought for a moment before recalling the conversation that had taken place. {That was me and Ron. Polyjuice Potion. Nasty stuff.} A grimace crossed the other boy's face, and Draco could almost taste it himself. Nasty, indeed. Then Harry's jaw creaked with a yawn.

"is it all right for him to sleep now, Madam Pomfrey?" Draco's brow wrinkled. Harry obviously needed sleep, and he could feel the exhaustion through the bond. It almost felt like he hadn't had an hour's sleep in days, perhaps even weeks.

{Could... could I get a Dreamless Sleep potion, first?} Harry begged. {I don't want to go through the Third Task again.}

"He'd like a Dreamless Sleep potion, please, Madam Pomfrey." When he saw the matron's nod, he turned back to the raven-haired boy. "If you want to talk about it sometime, I'm here for you. Maybe getting it off your chest will help." Madam Pomfrey brought over a few vials, and Harry relaxed.

After Pomfrey made sure Harry was asleep, she moved to minister to Draco, making him take the next bed. She made appropriately shocked noises as she photographed the bruises and gashes, but Lucius had spared Draco's head and hands and refrained from breaking bones, unlike Harry's Muggle jailers. They weren't fit to be called his relatives, not after how they'd treated him.

Wrapped in bandages and medicated, Draco drifted into sleep, his eyes still locked on the battered Boy Who Lived.

Like it? Review it! Will Harry be able to talk again? Will Draco find out what Harry's done over the years? Find out Monday!

Beth Weasley