Pulling Him Up

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CHAPTER SEVEN: READY OR NOT
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There were tall figures in dark green robes around him. They wore no masks, but all that Harry could see were dark, almost black, holes. Harry heard them chant in low voices and then they started to walk around him. Harry turned with them and tried to focus his eyes on just one figure. He failed, however. They were drawing back, and Harry was still walking in circles.

It finally reached the point where he felt nauseous and the ground suddenly disappeared from beneath his feet. Harry sensed the slight tug at his navel and he awoke with a start.

"You all right, mate?" Ron was shaking him gently.

"Yeah," Harry replied and sat up. "I just had a weird dream."

"Weird or wet dream?" someone asked cynically.

"Bloody hell! Hermione!" Ron appeared shocked.

Harry stared fiercely at the blurry figure before plucking his glasses from the bedside table. "I can't believe you actually said that," he muttered and raked his fingers through his thick hair.

"That's a natural occurrence in boys so you don't have to be embarrassed about it," Hermione replied calmly.

"Whatever." However, Harry made no move to push off the blanket that covered him from the waist down. He took a second glance at Ron and Hermione, and frowned slightly. It's Saturday. Why are they dressed up?

"We're allowed to go to Hogsmeade today, Harry. Didn't anyone inform you?"

"No," Harry replied. Then he watched as Ron exchanged an odd look with Hermione.

"So, Harry." Ron looked nervously at him. "Can you go with us?"

"But we'd understand if you want to be with Draco," Hermione interjected.

Harry gaped at her in astonishment.

"Wait, that sounds wrong," Hermione muttered. "What I mean to say is, we'd understand if you want to go out with Draco."

"That doesn't sound right, either, Hermione," Ron said in a strained voice.

Harry could only smile weakly at his friends. "Why don't you guys go ahead and save a seat for me? I'm not sure whether Draco is ready to go out, into crowded places, but I'll ask him anyway."

"Sure." Ron nodded his agreement.

"I'm amazed you're being good-natured about this," Harry said.

"Malfoy deserves a break," Ron shrugged and looked away.

"Get out of bed and get ready, Harry. We'll wait for you at the courtyard."

"All right. If I'm not there in an hour, go without me."

Harry washed quickly and put on new robes while he pondered about Ron's generous nature that morning. He did not spend too much time dealing with his hair and fifteen minutes after Ron and Hermione left the dormitory, Harry made his way to Draco's room.

The castle was alive with excited students but fortunately, the corridors of the hospital wing and Draco's haven were deserted. He saw the opened doorway of Draco's room and he walked up to it slowly.

"... out with Harry," he heard Severus say.

"I can't," Draco said softly. "People ... they'll stare."

"They will always stare at you, Draco."

"I'm not ready, Severus."

Harry moved so that he stood at the center of the doorway and in a position where Severus and Draco could see him clearly. However, Draco and Severus had their backs to him - both were facing the window. Harry cleared his throat loudly.

Severus reacted quicker than Draco. Harry saw the brief flicker of annoyance in the pair of coal-black eyes. Severus inclined his head in greeting, which Harry returned. Green eyes shifted slightly to watch Draco.

Draco stood by the window with confidence that did not seem feigned to Harry. The expression on Draco's face was not one he was familiar with.

No. That's untrue, Harry said to himself. I've seen that look before. Harry remembered how Draco had looked just before Slytherin fought with Ravenclaw during the Quidditch semifinals. All set and stubborn.

"I think you know why I'm here, Severus," Harry began. The Potions Master nodded gravely. "Draco, do you want to go to Hogsmeade?"

"No." Draco looked at him in the eye for several seconds before turning away.

"Why?" Harry inquired. I bloody know why.

"You know the reason why!" Draco hissed. "I can't, all right! Not now."

"You still should go out for a walk," Severus insisted.

"Shut up, Severus!"

"I guess you're not ready after all," Harry muttered softly to himself.

<>Draco clenched his fingers tightly and looked blankly at the trees below. They're not trying. They aren't trying hard enough. He wanted them to bring him out. He wanted them to be with him when others shunned him. He wanted someone to give him support and a place to turn to, when the stares and whispers become too much for him to bear. They aren't trying hard enough.


Severus left the room before Harry could stop him. Great. Now what in the hell do I do? He studied Draco's tensed figure. "Draco, tell me why you can't go out like the rest of us," he said quietly.

"Because everyone knows why I'm here. Thanks to Dumbledore. Thanks to Severus."

"You know that they were just trying to help you, Draco," Harry said wearily.

"You're not the one whose body had been raped and your soul broken!" Draco shouted angrily. The silver-haired wizard spun around and stormy gray eyes flashed dangerously at Harry.

"For Merlin's sake, Draco! Do you think Dumbledore would announce that to the whole world? And how could you think that Severus would do something like that to you?" Harry walked around the bed and placed his hand on Draco's shoulder. He looked intently at the Slytherin. "Severus cares for you too much, and he is careful when it comes to you. People around here only thought you had a bad encounter with Dementors. Even Hermione believed that."

Draco stared back at him with incomprehension clear on his aquiline face.

Harry shook his head in disappointment. "I assure you, Draco. Severus may be evil, but he won't do anything that would have a detrimental effect on you."

When Draco dropped his eyes and head, Harry lifted Draco's face by pressing the tips of his fingers under the pointed chin. "We don't have to go anywhere that is crowded." Harry paused for a moment. "Actually, it's good if we go into crowded places. You'll blend right in."

"With this hair of mine?" Draco raised his eyebrow.

Harry pulled his fingers away and smiled gently. "So, you want to go?"

Draco looked at him uncertainly.

"It'll be all right. I'll be with you." Harry wore a hopeful expression. "Just don't go off exploring without telling me first."

"You're not my keeper, Harry."

"Strange. I feel as though I am."

<>Harry held out the chocolate ice cream but just as Draco reached for it, he pulled his arm back. "Are you sure you can eat this?"

Draco made a noise. "Just give me the damned ice cream."

"Are you sure you're not addicted to chocolate?" Harry asked dubiously.

"I'm not," Draco grated. "Can we at least get out of direct sunlight?" The Slytherin squinted. "I'm melting."

Harry chuckled and gave Draco the ice cream. "Come on. Let's get under that sunshade." The two wizards sauntered over to the dark green shelter. There were others like them, standing and eating their dessert. Harry ate his with a thoughtful expression.

"What?"

"What?" Harry cast a puzzled glance at Draco.

"Just say it, Potter," Draco growled.

"Well ... no more ice cream or chocolate for you today," Harry said to Draco in a diffident tone. "Let's not annoy Severus too much."

"Hmmmm."

"Draco, I mean it," Harry told Draco, glaring slightly.

"Why are you so concerned about his mood, Harry?"

"Are you trying to insinuate something, Draco?"

Draco gave him a half-smirk. "It is just that Severus is my Head and I know when not to overstep the boundaries. You're just a Gryffindor, and an insolent one I might add."

Well, yes. That's true. But I've been working with Severus on terms that we treat each other as equals. So I can't help the need to be considerate to him, Harry thought to himself. "Well, Severus is not used to be in a caring role. Just let him do his duties without you planting ideas in his head, that you're going to make yourself sick."

"You think I want his attention?" Draco asked with a small frown.

"Don't you want attention?" Harry countered, and Draco blushed. Then Harry sighed wearily. "Finish the ice cream. Then we'll go to that shop that has recently opened."

"Don't expect me to enter a shop that's filled with junk, Harry," Draco mumbled.

"I don't think a shop selling crystals and gems is a junk shop, Draco." Harry nearly pouted.

"Oh ... is that Harry?"

Harry blinked as he heard a girl mention his name.

"Malfoy? What is he doing with Harry?" another girl whispered urgently.

'No idea. But what is Harry thinking? Befriending a Slytherin?"

"Beats me. He's changed. Believe me."

"And you know ... can't help but pity Malfoy. I still don't understand why Harry wants to help the git though."

Harry stared at the group of gossiping witches grimly. "I think we've stayed in this spot long enough, Draco. Come."

"All right."

<>He could not understand why the ancient wizard had acted as though Draco was fully healed. Severus was frustrated as well, because Dumbledore seemed to have the impression that Draco was rude to him all the time. That was incorrect.

"Sir, I will not allow anyone to give Draco sweets, chocolates or whatever that might appease his sweet tooth," Severus said firmly.

"Why, Severus?" Dumbledore finally looked at him, his brows creasing with weariness.

"Because eating them gives him energy that may be used negatively," Severus replied quickly.

The Headmaster peered at him from under a pair of tinted lenses.

He still doesn't understand? Severus nearly threw his hands up in defeat. "If he's exhausted, he won't be able to spend much time brooding about what he had experienced! If he's exhausted, at least he won't be able to do any destruction upon himself!" By all the Gods above, make this ancient wizard understand!

Dumbledore stared at him with mild surprise. "Are you certain?"

"I am, Headmaster." Severus started to swear in his mind.

<>Harry walked past the shelf for the fourth time. Draco was examining a box of crystals ten feet away from him. He decided to head back to the Slytherin, but something held him rooted to the spot. He groaned, took several steps back, and studied the rune set that had caught his eye the moment he entered the shop.

"Is there anything I can help you with, sir?" a witch, probably the shop assistant, inquired politely.

"Can you tell me what is special about this?" Harry indicated the stones with a jerk of his chin.

The witch looked at him with surprise but it quickly changed into an expression that Hermione always wore when he felt cluesless. So, either she's trying to appear mysterious, or she's trying to hoodwink me.

"They're healing runes," she said softly. "Works with people who have troubled souls or emotions."

"Bloody coincidence," Harry muttered to himself. "How much do they cost me?"

"Twenty Galleons, sir."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened at the price.

"They're special," the witch said simply. She took the box of runes from the shelf and beckoned at Harry to follow her. The witch led him to a niche in one corner. Harry raised his eyebrow at the crystal balls and tarot cards on the table.

"Please sit."

Harry seated himself on a red-cushioned stool and watched as the witch placed the rune stones into a bag. Then she handed it to Harry.

"Focus a question in your mind."

He stared at the witch across him for several moments before forming a query. How can I be of help to Draco?

"If you're ready, you can draw a rune stone from the bag."

Harry reached into the heavy pouch and selected a stone, which tingled peculiarly. Then he looked at it.

"I am the Rune of Faith," the stone spoke. "Have faith in yourself. Have faith that you may make a difference."

Is my question answered? Harry wondered. Blind faith? He set the stone on the table. But how can I ... I don't want to hurt him, even by accident. Without being conscious about it, Harry dipped his fingers into the bag and drew out another rune stone.

"I am the Rune of Love. Listen to your heart. Listen to those whom you love and listen to your inner voice. With love, you will heal yourself and others."

Harry stared at the rune engraved with a sign that looked like a collar in total disbelief. His hands started to shake and he quickly set it down. He studied his hands for several minutes. Finally, he spoke, but in a small voice,

"Can you wrap this up? I'm going to give it to someone."

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To Be Continued On Chapter Eight