Shattered Castle

7

I'm watching Buzzfeed unsolved as I write this

Harry wakes up with a burning pain in his shoulder and the realization that there are more people in the Hospital Wing than there should be.

Hermione is in the bed next to his. There's a bruise on her cheek and several more on her arms. Her lip is split, and she winces as she tries to eat. Anger flares in Harry.

Blaise is in the next bed over with similar wounds, although it looks like he got punched in the eye too. He looks eerily similar to the last time he was here, but without the cast.

Dean is on a chair, asleep, next to a bed with Seamus laying on it. Seamus doesn't have any visible wounds that Harry can see, and that just worries Harry more.

And in the bed across from Harry, Draco is laying there, eyes closed. He looks almost... dead.

"Draco," Harry whispers hoarsely. He sits up, and horrible pain spikes through his shoulder. He bites his lip hard enough to draw blood in an effort not to scream.

Hermione turns to face him, and relief floods her face. "Harry."

"What happened? Is Draco- is he okay?"

Hermione studies him for a long moment before answering. "He's okay. He got some lighter, less horrible version of the Cruciatus. He's alive."

Harry relaxes at that. "What happened, Hermione?" His voice is miserable to his own ears, but he can't pretend to be happy at a time like this.

Hermione sighs and sets down her fork. "Ron tried to out you, although I'm sure you remember that part. I called him an asshole and that set him off, I'm sorry-"

"It's not your fault," Harry responds automatically, because he just knows Hermione has to have been beating herself up about it since it happened.

"He hit you with a Sectumsempra and Dean pulled you out of harm's way, and I tried to disarm Ron, but I missed. And Malfoy sprinted over from the Slytherin table with Zabini right behind him and crouched over you. Zabini tried to stop Ron from doing anything else, but Ron punched him in the face and Zabini fell. I think... Seamus caught him? Yeah, I think Seamus caught him and laid him down all careful, and then he started shouting at Ron, and Malfoy was still just crouched over you holding your face and begging you not to die. And Ron hit Seamus in the stomach really hard and then got him with a Stupefy. Zabini got back up but he was kinda messed up, and he and I tried to hold Ron back but he was..." she trails off, hand coming up to touch her split lip. "He was furious. He fought back like a demon, and he hit me, and McGonagall and Flitwick came over and tried to stop him and Ron shouted a curse and hit Malfoy, and Flitwick finally got his wand away from him, and McGonagall cast a partial Petrificus on him and Ron called you a..." She stops talking, voice caught in her throat.

"A faggot," Harry adds helpfully. She nods, curly hair bouncing.

"Yes. And then Dean knocked you out because you wouldn't stop screaming Malfoy's name, and Flitwick and Slughorn dragged Ron off and he wouldn't stop screaming it." Her voice breaks. "He wouldn't stop screaming faggot like it was a chant, even when the doors shut we could hear his voice echoing down the halls."

Harry feels sick.

"And McGonagall sent a Patronus for Madame Pomfrey and they brought you and Malfoy in first, and then Zabini and Seamus, then Dean and me. That was all yesterday."

"Is everyone going to be okay?"

She nods. Harry sighs in relief. "Good."

"That's why you couldn't tell anyone you remembered, could you? Ron knew."

Harry explains everything to Hermione in the same way he had with Blaise. He notices Dean and Seamus have woken and are listening to the story intently. Dean's eyes are lighting up as he puts bits and pieces together, and he abruptly starts laughing when Harry finishes.

"Dean!" Seamus hisses.

"I told you!" Dean laughs, and Harry can't help but break into a grin when he realizes what Dean is talking about. "I told you Malfoy might be your poem boy, and you already fucking knew!" He dissolves into giggles. "I was fucking right!"

Harry laughs with him, ignoring the sharp pain in his shoulder, and Madame Pomfrey comes into the room.

"Well, I'm glad you're all awake and having a good time. Have Mr. Zabini or Mr. Malfoy awoken yet?"

"Yes," Blaise grumbles as he sits up, wincing. "Mr. Zabini has awoken."

"Mr. Malfoy awoke ten minutes ago, he was just enjoying hearing the story," Draco says, eyes still closed. A smile ghosts over his lips.

"Draco," Harry breathes.

"Hiya, Harry. How are you feeling?" Draco opens his eyes slowly, meeting Harry's.

"Like shit."

Draco laughs softly, wincing a bit through it, but Harry grins. 

"I'd like you all to take some medication for your muscles and bruising and pain," Madame Pomfrey says, very businesslike. Harry doesn't miss the slight smile she has, though. "Mr. Potter, you'll also be taking some medication to close up the wound on your shoulder."

"I always have to take extra medication," Harry grumbles, reaching out and taking the vial she hands him. "Unfair."

"Stop getting hurt then."

Draco snorts. "Like that'll ever happen."

That's met with sharp, surprised laughter from Hermione, and Harry looks at her in mild surprise as she covers her mouth to stop the laughter.

Draco's eyes catch on Hermione and he grins. "You feeling alright, Granger? Finnegan? Blaise?"

"We have first names," Seamus sighs. "Also, good to know you don't give a shit about Dean."

"Dean's not in a hospital bed, asshat."

"Oh, so you say his first name?"

"He helped me drag Harry to the Hospital Wing. He gets first-name basis."

"And Harry?"

"Once you've seen someone naked, you kind of have to be on a first-name basis," Draco replies dryly, much to the surprised laughter of Dean and Hermione.

Seamus flashes him a grin. "All you had to do was ask, Malfoy."

The whole room bursts into laughter at that, and Madame Pomfrey has to wait several minutes for them to calm down enough to take their potions. She then instructs them to rest and goes back to her office.

"So, Malfoy, do tell. We have a running bet in the Gryffindor house. Is Harry a top or a bottom?" Seamus leans forward, awaiting the answer.

Draco laughs sharply. "That is personal information, Finnegan."

"Indeed it is. So spill."

Draco glances at Harry, who just shrugs with a grin. Draco returns his smile to Finnegan.

"You think with a couple as competitive as us, there would be a definite top or bottom, Finnegan? I'm insulted."

"Switch?" Seamus groans. Dean laughs brightly, and shouts "You owe me five Galleons!" 

"Damn it, Harry, why couldn't you be a top?" Seamus sighs heavily, draping his arm over his eyes. "You have such a commanding energy! Besides, Malfoy has bratty bottom energy!"

"I'm insulted," Draco says dryly.

Harry only grins. "Just because you want me to top you, Seamus, that doesn't make me a top."

The room bursts into laughter at that again, and Seamus' cheeks flush.

"Offer still stands, Harry," he replies with a wink, and they crack up again.

"Rest!" Pomfrey shouts from her office, and that's the end of the conversation.