Blood Vengeance

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Published: 11/28/2021

Malfoy was staring away from him at the wall, his eyes wide open. He wasn't holding back his tremors nor his tears, anymore. Harry knew how much he hated him there, but Malfoy shouldn't be alone through this. The healers had strapped him to the bed earlier as Malfoy had tried to leave, regardless that his feet were not fully healed. Malfoy was constantly pulling on the bands, not really trying to escape but just wanting them off. The healers had locked them on. Harry probably could magic through them, but he also could be thrown out of the hospital for doing it.

Harry felt for him. Malfoy had been through so much and now was dealing with a long withdrawal. His reserve was something, though. Just like in the memory, when he was being tortured to death, he had accepted his fate and was silently enduring it. Harry supposed that withdrawal wasn't nearly as bad as what DEK did, but Malfoy was fighting his own body, his own memories and the darker side of his soul. It was just as much psychological torture as physical pain.

But Malfoy wasn't crying out for his potions, relief or his mum. He preserved. Harry had seen the desperate things addicts do when deprived of their stash and how their lives unravel. Of course, Harry didn't think that Malfoy was actually living his life. He was hiding in his room, leaving the house once a month, drinking illegal potions and retreating inward. Despite disagreeing with the hospital's decision to commit him, Malfoy needed help. His mother even thought he was suicidal.

Harry just wanted to help him. He wanted to ease Malfoy's suffering. He wanted him to live, again. He just couldn't bear to see Malfoy go back into the darkness and loneliness of his room. Malfoy needed to come back to life, to feel safe and connect with people. Harry didn't care if Malfoy still hated him or hated everyone. He needed a friend, and Harry was determined to at least offer it to him, even if Malfoy was trying to push him away.

A small sob came from the bed, and Harry stared, knowing he was headed into the worse bit. Harry slowly got up and conjured a chair closer to the bed. Malfoy registered his movement, but did not turn to make eye contact. Harry slowly put his hand on his bed and touched Malfoy's pale, clenched hand. Malfoy was no doubt damaging it more, but pain is a distraction for other worst pain. Harry slowly unraveled his hand and let Malfoy grab onto his hand.

Surprisingly, Malfoy immediately latched on, gripping his hand to the point of pain. Harry wouldn't tell him to let up. Malfoy needed the contact. He refused to meet his eyes, still looking at the wall, as though Harry might use Legilimency against him. An hour passed and more tears came out. Malfoy, finally, closed his eyes as though trying to shut down his emotions. He was trying to put up mental barriers to shield and hide from the pain.

"Draco... I'm here. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you while I'm here," Harry breathed.

Malfoy screwed up his eyes and let out another quiet sob. His hand still had a death grip on Harry's, but he refused to look at him.

"It's okay... you're going to be okay," Harry said, probably failing at reassuring a traumatized, severely tortured, sexual assault victim. But all Harry had was what little victim care counseling Auror school gave him and his instincts. Unfortunately, his instincts were telling him that he wasn't reassuring Malfoy at all. He needed to get Malfoy's mind off it... off what happened. He had to try to talk to him and open up.

"So... you were spot on yesterday," Harry began quietly, though Malfoy still wouldn't look at him. "After five fucking years of being an Auror, I'm still on probation. To the seniors, I'm still just an up-jump kid, who survived on luck alone. I've even wondered it, too, but I've solved every case I've been put on so far. Nearly caught that bastard, so I don't want you to think I'm incompetent or anything. But... I kinda got reamed for saving you."