Broken Without a Fix

3

"Yes Professor," Draco said dully. It was the sort of reaction that would come from a Gryffindor mouth before a Slytherin said it. He sank onto an Infirmary bed and Potter joined him on the white sheets.

"Well, I heard that you two got into a physical fight. No reason was provided to me when I heard and I intend to find out now. So who would like to start?" Dumbledore's deep blue eyes cut into Draco's like knives on flesh.

"Professor Dumbledore," Potter said. "Something terrible is going on. For the past month or so, we have been working on a Polyjuice Potion. We were paired up. He did a lot of the work and I slacked and I'm sorry for that. But that is not why we fought. Something went wrong. I am not Draco Malfoy. I am Harry Potter in Draco Malfoy. Something has gone terribly wrong. And that there is Draco. He said he did not do this and I believe him, but I do not know who else would have access to our potion in order to tamper with it."

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and his hands formed a steeple under his chin.

"Well, congratulations Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said, still looking at Harry. "I would have expected a better excuse for starting a fist fight, but it appears I have not received a sufficient answer."

Harry and Draco's mouths hung wide open.

"Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, turning to Draco. "What have you to say about this?"

"Exactly as Potter said."

Dumbledore let out a harrumph. "Well, there is but one solution to this."

Draco and Harry stared at him.

"Veritas charm," he explained as he pulled his wand from his cloak.

"Veritas," Dumbledore whispered as Harry collapsed on the bed at Draco's side. "Tell me, who are you?"

"Harry Potter," Harry said with Draco's mouth.

"And who is next to you?"

"Draco Malfoy," Harry said with a grimace.

"And who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't know."

"Finite Incantatum," Dumbledore whispered as Harry relaxed slightly and moved his hand to his ribs.

"Veritas," Dumbledore whispered and Draco fell to the floor in pain.

"Hurry. Please," Draco said from the ground. "It hurts."

"I know it does," Dumbledore said. "Who did this to you and Harry Potter?"

"I...don't...know."

"What would you do if you went back to Gryffindor common room tonight?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't know. Tear things into pieces. Ruin friendships. Cause little girls to cry. Evil things come from evil people," Draco said with a small smile.

"Finite Incantatum," Dumbledore said as Draco slackened. "Very well. You both shall be allowed to sleep here for the night. In the morning, Madame Pomfrey shall want to perform some tests and attempt some counter curses on you. Sleep well and please refrain from attempting to kill each other. I'm afraid I cannot allow you to your dormitories, so you'll have to sleep in Infirmary pajamas tonight. Tomorrow morning, you shall be allowed to go to the Prefects' Bathroom after it is emptied. Again, stay here. You are not to leave.

"Poppy!" Dumbledore called. "Misters Malfoy and Potter will be sleeping here tonight. They are not allowed to leave. In the morning, see me in my office and I will explain things. Please fetch them pajamas and extra blankets and put them in beds next to each other. I want them not to be disturbed by other pupils at this school, except for Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, or Ms. Parkinson. No exceptions unless with my permission. Have a lovely night, Poppy. Make sure they are asleep by midnight please."

Poppy nodded her head as Dumbledore went through the door. Once it closed, charms could be heard from the other side and a sharp click indicated that they had been locked inside.

"Well boys, I shall be back in a moment with blankets and pajamas," Madame Pomfrey said to them as she pointed to two beds next to each other. "Malfoy, you are there. Potter there."

Harry took the bed that Pomfrey had said was Malfoy's and Draco took Potter's. Madame Pomfrey walked away humming a tune and disappeared behind a door.

"Potter," Draco said, avoiding Harry's eyes. "I know never once in our lives have we ever gotten along, but we have to cut the shit for the time while we're in each other's bodies 'cause I can't look in the mirror and hate the person looking back. Oh wait. I already do."

Potter laughed quietly to himself then looked to Malfoy as if he had punched him in the face.

"Sorry, hard to resist."

"Thanks Potter. Love you too."

"Here you go boys," Madame Pomfrey said as she returned with large fluffy blankets and two sets of pajamas. "Thanks," they both muttered in unison as she swept away to her office.

"But why bother trying to fix things when we know that the second that we get out of this mess, we're going to go right back to hating each other?"

"I never, per se, hated you. I was, let's say jealous."

"Wha-?"

"Look at you," Draco said. "Everyone loves you. You're the cream of the crop. Look at me. Everyone loves me because of my father. And now that he's not around anymore, I'm a nobody."

"That's not true."

"Potter," Draco said slowly. "It is more true than anything I have ever said in my life."

"Then you must say a lot of bullshit most of the time."

Draco tossed him a sour look. It was true that he held almost nothing against Potter except for him being the most popular boy in the wizarding world. Yes, he had defeated Voldemort for the time being. Yes, he had thrown Draco's dad in Azkaban. But even that didn't make Draco angry. Draco's father was a dictator! He was terrible and it was rather nice just being around his mother now.

"I don't know Potter," Draco said as he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the pajama top over it.

"You don't know what?"

"Why I should be mad at you right now."

"Do you even need an excuse anymore?"

"What?"

"I put your dad in prison, Malfoy. Of course you have a reason to hate me."

"No, no," Draco said. "That was just luck that you managed to toss him in prison. Lucky for me. Lucky for my mum. He was the worst ever."

"Well my family isn't really a box of chocolates, but I still appreciate Sirius for everything he's done."

"Didn't he adopt you sixth year?"

"Yup it's been one year since he signed the papers."

"You're lucky."

"How so?"

"To have a father who wants you."