Two Houses (HarryxDraco)

Chapter 11

Draco still felt unsure as to whether or not he was going to stick it out at Hogwarts, but whoever had sent him the bubotuber pus was pushing him dangerously close to packing his trunk and getting as far away from the school as possible. The only thing that was stopping him from leaving right now (apart from being in desperate need of medical assistance) was the thought of whoever who had done this to him seeing him run out of the Great Hall, never to return. No, he didn't want to give his haters the satisfaction of watching him be run out of Hogwarts with his tail between his legs. It was going to take more than a lame prank to get rid of Draco Malfoy. He'd survived Voldemort; this would be a walk in the park by comparison...

A very slow, torturous walk through a park situated in the centre of the Forbidden Forest, perhaps.

Unable to use his hands, Draco pushed the swing door entrance to the Hospital Wing open with his back only to be met with a shrill voice crying, "CLOSE THE DOOR! QUICKLY!"

Draco ducked as three bright yellow canaries flew over his head and out of the Hospital Wing, disappearing down the corridor and out of sight. A very flustered looking witch in nurses robes rushed forward and slammed the door shut behind Draco just as several more canaries attempted to make their break for freedom. They flapped and twittered angrily around the matron's head before flying off in all directions around the ward, perching on the window ledges and medical cabinets.

"Bugger," she growled, bumping her head against the door in frustration. Her peaked hat was sitting off-kilter atop her head and her grey hair was sticking out in odd directions. "If I ever cross paths with George Weasley again, he will rue the day he invented those blasted Canary Creams..."

"Um...Madam Pomfrey?"

"Yes?" she sighed, lifting her head off of the door and straightening her hat. "Ah, Mr Malfoy. What seems to be the problem?" Draco lifted his hands and she grimaced. "Bubotuber pus?"

Draco nodded. She carefully turned his hands over and inspected the damage. "My first thought would be that you had a slight mishap in Potions class, but the day's lessons haven't even started yet. Did someone do this to you?"

"Yes, but I don't know who," he said quietly. "It was sent to me in the owl post."

The corners of Madam Pomfrey's mouth turned downward in disgust. "First students are receiving hate mail and now this! I don't suppose whoever sent you the letter left a note?"

"Not that I could see."

Madam Pomfrey shook her head in disgust and ushered Draco over to one of the hospital beds. "Only a coward attacks defenceless schoolchildren. This cannot continue. I'll need to speak to the Headmistress about this."

Draco resisted the temptation to insist that he wasn't a defenceless child. Instead, he allowed Madam Pomfrey to peel off his sodden school robes, shirt and tie so that she could treat his wounds.

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to burst the boils before I can treat them with murtlap essence, but this potion will relieve you from any pain. Drink every last drop."

She held a goblet full of potion up to his lips and he drank it all in two large gulps. It tasted as bad as the bubotuber pus smelled, but Draco would have happily drank pureed flobberworms if it relieved the pain in his hands and arms. Within seconds, the pain began to lessen considerably and he let out a sigh of relief. Madam Pomfrey nodded approvingly.

"Excellent. Now that's taken effect, I'll have to—oh for Merlin's sake, will you lot please quieten down? I will see to you soon enough!" Madam Pomfrey shouted at the canaries but her protests fell on deaf ears. Draco watched as the little birds continued to twitter loudly as they circled the infirmary.