Blood Vengeance

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Narcissa Malfoy came with Ron and Hermione in the morning and cooed over her son, happy he was alive. She didn't try to wake him up, as Draco drifted back off almost immediately whenever his eyes did open. She eventually came over hugged Harry, too.

"Thank you! Thank you!" she cried into his chest, as her eyes filled with tears.

"It wasn't just me," Harry murmured, awkwardly patted her on the back.

"Yeah, it was," Ron muttered.

She lifted off Harry and stared at him, critically. "You didn't drag your feet or just do some token investigating, Auror Potter. I can't thank you enough. He is all I really have."

"I know. I'm sorry it took so long to remember to tell you."

"I don't care about that! He's safe and that is what matters," she said and looked at her son. "The healer said that he'll be fine, though?"

"Healing-wise, yes. They're concerned about his mental health."

"Oh..." she said, pausing. She then looked back at Harry. "Draco's stronger than he looks, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't worried. He's been so closed off, but he's... resilient."

Harry thought of asking her what had happened to Draco over the years, where the healers had no idea who caused the injuries and cursed him. But he held his tongue, he shouldn't know what he knows, and Draco deserved his privacy. Narcissa turned back to her son, taking his hand, and Harry went out into the hallways with Ron and Hermione to eat the breakfast they brought.

"Unbelievable, mate. You found him... quick, too. A snatch from Diagon is nearly impossible to trace. I did go back to Twilfit's and got the memory. Terry's cleared the Jugson scene and is still working on Malfoy's, but there's nothing different about it. 'Cept, maybe the healing potion. That's a first."

"The healer said that there was a Lung-Filling Curse on him, too. It was slow... painfully slow. That's why we thought he was dead. Have Terry check the other victims for it. Maybe we missed it because we just said they died of "natural causes" and not magic. That might not be true."

"Bloody hell... drowning is a rough way to go."

"Agony," Harry muttered. "Malfoy lived longer than all the others, and we need to figure out why."

"Agreed. After we take Mrs. Malfoy home, we'll come back and relieve you," Hermione said.

"No, I'll be fine."

"You're staying here? Again? You need to sleep, Harry!" she huffed, annoyed at his behavior.

"I'll do... just another night, okay? I have a feeling Draco'll wake up...."

"If that DEK had any sense... he would have already fled the country, once we get the name and picture out of Malfoy," Ron snorted.

"That's if Malfoy knows who he is and if we can ID him," Hermione added.

"It's not that hard, Hermione," Ron scoffed.

"You'd be surprised," Harry said, then looked at Hermione. "I'm sure you need to get working on something. Stay here and I'll try to convince her to go home now with you."

Hermione nodded and Ron sighed. Harry went back in, and Narcissa was still at Draco's side.

"He hasn't woken," she said, quietly.

"I'm sure his body is just recovering, but I really think that you should return home. My friends need to report to work, and I don't want you traveling alone."

She nodded and stood up. "Are you staying with him?"

"Yes, I won't leave him alone either. I'm sure Hermione told you, but both of you are in great danger from this man. Can I ask what wards you have? I mean, I Apparated to your front door."

"Warning ones."

"Can you change them or make them stronger? DEK had your son for nearly a whole day, and I don't know what DEK did to him."

"You think DEK made him talk?" she asked, shocked.

"I don't. He was still alive, but...."

"My son is the strongest person I know. He's a master Occlumens, now."

"It's probably why he's alive, but please... take some precautions. And would you allow Ron and Hermione to search your home when you go back? For intruders, of course."

"If it will make you feel better," she said.

"It will," Harry said and looked back to Draco. He knew that Draco loved his mother and would die for her if need be. Harry wanted to make sure that nothing happened to her.

"He's important to you," she declared, and Harry looked back to her, confused. "I don't mean that he can help you solve your case. You were very distressed when you came to see me, and your friends said that you haven't left his side."

"We've known each other for a long time, and I never would wish this on him."

She stared at him and nodded. "I think it more than that, but thank you, again, Auror Potter. Please send me a Patronus when he wakes. I promise I won't come until you send an escort. It will ease my apprehension."

"I will. Send me an owl at daybreak, and I'll write about his condition."

"Thank you," she said and opened the door and left with Ron and Hermione.

Harry sat down and was ready to pass out, but took a slug of Stay-Awake Potion. Maybe he should have gone home to sleep, but he set Caterwailing Charms in the room and other protective wards. He might fall asleep, but he'll know immediately if anyone tried to enter. DEK was not a ward-breaker by all appearances. All the victims were taken outside of their homes and wards.

The healer showed up after dinner potions were given to Draco. She reported that his vitals were a lot better, and there was brain activity, so she didn't think that there was permanent damage. Harry thanked her, but she handed him another file for Malfoy's folder. It was the notes about Malfoy's condition, injuries and prognosis. She thought he'd want the most recent information. This file was almost as big as the other combined.

DEK had severely injured his body in a variety of ways. Healers were a lot more thorough than the mortician. They hadn't had a surviving victim to really tell what they had all gone through. DEK hadn't taken any breaks from torturing Draco in the twenty-three hours plus that DEK had him. Nearly a full day of constant abuse. Harry didn't think he could do it. If Draco withstood whatever DEK wanted... he was tougher than anyone.

He turned to the entry on bloodwork and grimaced at the results. The healing potion was there... but there were also remnants of black-market sleep and pain potions. Neither was taken within the time DEK had him. Malfoy was a potion-abuser. The healer already administered detox and cleanser potions to help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Harry hadn't bothered to ask the healer earlier about what they gave him. He just assumed it was healing draughts.

The notes of mind healer assessed Draco at high-risk for suicide, and they had already submitted recommendations to commit him, even without him being awake. Harry grimaced at the file and thought that was underhanded. Draco wasn't awake to contest it.

Harry sighed, feeling a bit upset, and looked up from the file at Malfoy. As he scanned him, his eyes fell on his face and found grey eyes staring back at him.