Confisio Suprema

How to entertain an Auror

"Prepare to side-along apparition," Draco said commandingly.

Harry moved closer to him, but still too far to apparate. His hands were bound to his body by an elaborate construction of bandages. Draco had to pull him close, Harry wouldn't even think of resting his head on his shoulder when he was sober. The black hair smelled of disinfectant this time. Draco held him tightly, and in a moment, they were standing outside the main entrance of Malfoy Manor. Draco showed Harry his new bedroom. It was right next to his own, but it looked quite similar to the one Harry had slept in last visit. Slytherin colours!

Draco registered the displeasure with which his guest was surveying the room. He pointed his wand at the curtains, then at the sheets. The room began to change from silvery green to golden red.

"Thanks," Harry muttered. "I don't have to be in bed all day. Except for those hands, I don't feel sick."

Draco started to think. What if the armless Gryffindor breaks free from his chains here? How do you entertain an Auror who can neither sit on a broomstick nor practice defence against dark arts? Maybe by reading the sports column? Draco couldn't remember Potter ever enjoying anything other than Quidditch.

"Do you have any books here?"

Draco must have looked surprised because Harry's sarcastic reply was, "Yeah, I can read."

Draco chuckled.

"Sorry, I've never met you in the Hogwarts library."

"I didn't go there when I saw you there," snapped Harry. It was true, and how it was said sent chills down Draco's spine. Potter would never forget what he did to him. Draco suddenly found even his plan to bring Harry to Malfoy Manor to be stupid. He would be better off at Weasley's. They would at least have something to talk about. Draco will witness his incompetency, and Harry will hate him for it. Any hope of reconciliation will be buried in daily conflicts like this one.

"Will you show me your library? I would like to read something about wandless magic."

"Sure." Draco led Harry to a huge library that resembled Hogwarts library. Harry was clearly impressed by it. He ran his eyes over the titles and authors. When something caught his eye, he asked Draco to take out the book for him. Finally, he selected three titles and had them carried into the living room. Draco conjured a book stand for him, and Harry made himself comfortable on the couch and quickly started reading.

Draco expected Harry to need him to turn the pages. He was very surprised to see the pages in the book turning by themselves.

"You are good at wandless magic!"

"As an Auror, I use wandless magic quite often. More specifically, a wandless non-verbal magic," Harry sneered, relishing Malfoy's embarrassment. A magician must have a very strong magical core for this. He doubted that cocky Slytherin would be capable of such a thing. Certainly not to that extent.

"Fine, at least you won't need me so much," Draco said, but there wasn't a hint of irony in it. In fact, it would be nice if Potter could handle some of the personal hygiene tasks without his assistance. He hadn't figured out some things when he brought Harry here.

"Would you like something to drink, something to eat?"

"Do you have pumpkin juice?"

"What? Are you still drinking pumpkin juice? And wouldn't you like a lemon candy?'

"I'd rather have a chocolate bar. What if you had dementors in here?" Harry laughed.

In a moment, he had both in front of him. Draco watched with slightly mischievous anticipation as he would handle it wandless. Harry managed to lift the glass into the air but could not drink.

Draco jumped to hold the glass to his mouth, but Harry pushed him away. "Do you have a straw?"

"And I was looking forward to pouring it down your throat," growled Draco, handing him a silver-green straw.

Harry winced. "What about the colour?"

"True," Draco laughed, turning the orange juice into green.

"It's much more in tune now."

"Point for you, Malfoy." Harry finally took a drink. However, it was worse with the chocolate bar. Harry was not allowed to use magic in the hospital and was only on a liquid diet. Eating a bar was challenging for him both from a technical and health point of view.

Draco couldn't bear his embarrassment for long. He unwrapped the bar and let Harry take a bite. Then he took a bite himself, offered Harry again, and took another bite himself. It was cute in a weird way. He wiped the chocolate from the corner of Harry's mouth with his finger and mindlessly licked it. Harry looked at him in consternation but shrugged it off.

"Um... we need to sort out the communication between us."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. Hopefully, Malfoy doesn't want to deal with some psychological nonsense.

"I won't be behind your ass all the time, and you might need something. When Scorpius was smaller, he used to wear a pendant like this. He had to call to me when he wanted something, and I could hear him wherever he was."

"Well, great," Harry sighed. "Put the Trace on me, and it'll be perfect."

"Dammit, Potter, how are you going to solve this?"

Harry sighed. "It's actually not a bad idea. It's just humiliating."

"I know." Draco left and returned a moment later. He hung a silver locket with a dragon motif around Harry's neck.

"It's just to be safe," he tried to reassure Harry. "You can handle everything yourself anyway."

Harry gave a wry smile. "Go away. I don't want to delay you."

"I will come to see you in the evening. To hold your hands." Draco realised how that sounded and hurriedly left the room.