Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 18 - Cracks

***TRIGGER WARNING*** - for attempted sexual assault

18 - Cracks

Harry woke up, running to the toilet. He threw up the contents of his stomach, lasting remnants of the nice dinner he had with Malfoy. His hands were shaking as he cleaned himself and looked in the mirror. His face was shallow, thin... nothing like before. This summer, though it was his first without the nasty presence of his magic-hating relatives, was the worst on him. He couldn't fathom missing the abuse the Dursleys' dished out, but without anyone... he was so very much alone.

He showered quickly. Barely rinsing off, before he stepped out and drying himself off with magic. He found some clean clothes and walked down to the kitchen. He leaned his hands on the kitchen counter and realized that they were still shaking. He thought about it and discovered that his drinking had been a bigger part of him than he had realized. He was going through withdraw. He had a massive headache, his stomach was queasy and he couldn't stop shaking. All that and he couldn't stop looking at the liquor cabinet.

"Kreacher?" he called, wishing he wasn't resorting to this.

A small Pop! and the house elf appeared, "Master?"

"You don't have to call.... Kreacher, would you... could you get all the alcohol, the fire whiskey... out of the house?"

"Yes! I will do it now!" he said, with an extremely wide grin and vanishing immediately.

Harry went to the medicine cupboard and took a sip of a headache potion and a Pepperup Potion for good measure. He felt a little better. At least, ready to play with his godson. He Apparated to Andromeda's porch.

"Harry! Come in!" Andromeda said, holding the squirming child in her arms.

"Arry!" Teddy called to him.

"Andromeda!" he said, hugging them both. Teddy reached for his glasses, immediately.

"I've told you to call me Aunt Andy. Sirius always did, the little rascal."

"Aunt Andy, I think can manage that one. Sorry, I haven't had much luck with "aunts" in my life. Teddy, can I have my glasses back?" Harry said, looking blindly at his godson.

"Na-ope," the toddler giggled, his hair turning black and his eyes turned green. He put his glasses in his mouth.

"He does like you. Any time my husband's relatives stop by, he doesn't change for them. Good thing probably, being muggles. They did get use to Nymphadora... but it took awhile. But let's eat, lunch is ready. Right, Elsie?"

Andromeda's house elf appeared and bowed. "Of course, Mistress. Poached duck eggs with some asparagus and crumpets with peach spread are ready."

"Thank you, Elsie."

Harry followed her into her dining room, extracting his glasses from Teddy's . Being pureblood and married to a muggle, Andromeda's house was filled with both magical and muggle adornments. Harry understood that Ted Tonks senior had held a good job, which made up for his wife's lack of access to her ancestral accounts. Andromeda had a wonderful home.

He sat next to Teddy, spooning food into his reluctant mouth, while he tried to eat the rich food made by the house elf, without throwing it up. He didn't like that Elsie was a bound house elf either, but Aunt Andy was still a pureblood witch, accustomed to being waited on. He tried to keep his opinions civil as he was in Andromeda's house. He also didn't want to argue in front of Teddy.

"You need to eat your veggies, Teddy," Harry pleaded with the stubborn infant, trying get him to eat some mashed peas.

"I fight with him every meal. Like his father, I reckon. Perhaps the werewolf part of his genetics."