Just Breathe

Chapter Twelve

It was a bleak morning and Draco was exhausted. He tried hard to concentrate on the words on the paper in front of him. The rain had been pouring when he left his apartment early that morning and he had been thoroughly soaked by the time he had gotten to his office. Jason had sent him an owl that morning telling him Janey was going to be bringing Mr. Thompson by for another check-up sometime that day. He had also brought a letter from Blaise, who was equally as shocked as he that Greg was working at Azkaban. Apparently, he had tried to send an owl to him but it was returned unopened.

He stacked his papers on the edge of his desk and drummed his fingers. He looked at the photo he had sitting on his desk of he and his parents. It was from some holiday they had taken years ago. They were out in the sun, smiling and happy. It made his stomach churn to think of them the way he had seen them days ago. He was glad to have done it, though. He was very thankful that Harry had been able to get it done.

Harry. What to do about Harry. Every night for the past few weeks all he could think of was him. His laugh, his smile, his enchanting eyes. And then that night at dinner when Harry had asked him what his type was... he had come dangerously close to telling him he like dark-haired guys with green eyes. And he was still close to that point. The only way to let him know was to just put it out there. He sighed and put his head in his hands. A knock on the door startled him and his elbow shifted, scattering papers on the floor.

"Come in," he called out, irritated at the disturbance. He bent down to grab the papers and when he came back up, Harry was standing in the doorway with Janey and Mr. Thompson. "Oh, hello."

"Good morning, Draco," Janey said, stepping in. "I know we're a little early but we wanted to get started as soon as possible." The look in her eyes told him something wasn't right. He looked at Harry and he shook his head slightly.

"Of course, let me just get my things. Potter, would you please lead Mr. Thompson into my exam room, through that door there. I'll be in in just a moment." Harry nodded and led him out of the room. Janey looked at him and shook her head. As soon as the door closed, her face fell.

"It's bad. It's like it manifested a completely new infection overnight. I went ahead and changed his medicines. I'm sorry I didn't wait for you to be there, but I didn't want to lose any time."

"No, that's perfectly understandable. Do you think we'll be able to reverse it like before?"

"I have no idea. It's... it seems like it's reaching out and around his body. Almost like blood poisoning. It's just a waiting game now." He nodded his head and led the way into the exam room. Harry had his hands in the pockets of his robe and he was intently studying the floor. Mr. Thompson's eyes were dark as he addressed him.

"I know it's bad, Malfoy. Dr. Talley already told me. Is there anything else you know about this curse? Have you seen this before?" He unbuttoned his shirt as Draco gloved his hands. Once he peeled back the bandages, his own heart sank. Not only was it back, but like Janey said, it looked like it was spreading outwards in all directions. He looked over at her and saw the desperation on her face. He caught Harry's eye too, and his face was extremely pale.

"The new medicine is extremely strong and potent, it should be coursing through his body now, making its way. What do you think, is there anything else we can do?" Janey put on gloves as well, coming forward.

"I don't know. I'll do some studying on it. I've never seen it this progressed." Not on someone alive but hew wasn't going to sat that now. He looked at it again. He was afraid they were just making it angrier... "How are you recording your findings? Photos?"

"Yes, as well as written and verbal recordings. Mr. Thompson, did you say that you noticed someone watching you leave work the other day?"

"Yes. I was telling Weasley and Potter about it this morning. It was a different face than we've seen, again, but it was the same robes."