Not His Problem
“What the hell was that?” Harry groaned as Ron helped him off the floor. Theo and Lavender had snuck off to some corner of the library and Hermione had quickly cast a spell to put all the knocked over books back on their shelves.
“I’m guessing, it was an explosion of uncontrolled magic” said Hermione calming as she banished away the ashes of the book that burst into flames in Draco’s hands.
“Wait a minute, I thought only kids had uncontrolled magic?” Harry still remember his aunt Petunia’s screams when he’d woken up one morning after she cut his hair into a hideous haircut only to find that it had grown back overnight.
“Draco is obviously losing it if he’s losing control of his magic. He ran off like a nutcase.” Ron leaned against the table Malfoy and Hermione had been using to study looking at all the sign language books.
“Why couldn’t you leave things alone for once?” Snapped Hermione snatching a book from Ron’s hand.
“Well I’m sorry that I don’t trust you to be safe around a death eater” said Ron sarcastically.
“Ron, he can barely control his own magic, what makes you think he could actually hurt me. Plus he’s on probation even if he did anything it would only land him back in prison.”
“Sorry, I just don’t want you to get hurt.” Hermione’s expression soften and she kissed Ron on the cheek. Harry quickly averted his eyes. It had been months since Hermione and Ron had become a couple and Harry still wasn’t used to it.
For the last seven years it had always been them together as a trio. It was taking some time for him to not see himself as a third wheel.
“Guys, just trust me please. Draco may be a prejudiced jerk but he’s not a threat. Especially in his condition.” Hermione had a dark look cross her face and Harry stopped himself from asking what she knew. If she could hide her use of a time turner all third year she could certainly hide whatever it was Draco was keeping secret.
“So he actually can’t talk, can he?”
“No he can make noises, it seems.” His screams earlier had come about as agonized groans. “I don’t know if he ever will.”
Harry looked down at the table where Draco’s notepad was flung open.
You’re one to talk about hurting people Potter. Or did you forget your foray into black magic?
Harry had never seen the scars on Draco’s chest. The result of their duel during their sixth year. As much as he and Draco hadn’t gotten along he’d never actually wanted to injure him.
They made their way out of library together and resumed their regular school schedules. All the eighth years we’re taking classes together and soon Draco’s absence became abundantly clear.
He was missing from every class for the rest of the day. He wasn’t seen during lunch or dinner and at times Harry would find himself looking for a pair of hateful grey eyes and long almost white hair. Night fell and after a game of quidich on the fields Ron and Harry returned to their Dorm. Getting ready for the night.
“Has anybody seen Draco?” Harry turned towards Draco’s bed that lay suspiciously untouched. It looked the same as it had that morning.
“How the hell shoukd I know” said Theo with an uninterested shrug.
“Aren’t you friends” asked Ron pulling his covers over himself letting out a loud yawn.
“We used to be. But we don’t really talk anymore. Well he doesn’t really talk to anyone anymore.”
Ron let out a laugh and Harry looked out the window. The sun had already set and there’s a tightening in his stomach. He knows he shouldn’t care. Draco wouldn’t give a damn if he suddenly went missing.
“I’ll be right back” Harry turned to walk out of the dorm. As Ron yelled after him.
Walking towards Mcgonagal’s office Harry stopped in his tracks. His heart tightened in his chest and he watched as Ginny pressed her lips against Dean Thomas’.
Quickly he turned away walking away from the scene of his almost girlfriend kissing his dorm mate. Harry hadn’t spoken to Ginny in months. Sure they would see each other at the borrow. When Mrs. Weasley would invite him to stay. They would always share awkward hello’s before Ginny ran off to do something or Ron dragged him away.
She had pushed him during the war. A goal that kept him moving in that year of running while looking from hocruxes. In his private moments he imagined giving their relationship a shot once the war was finally over. So when the war ended and she told him that her feelings had changed it had been like a dagger to the heart.
While he’d been on the run his feelings had grown while hers had faded. He knew he shouldn’t be hurt. She was never actually his girlfriend she was never his anything. Yet he couldn’t help feeling like something had been taken from him.
Walking back into the eighth year dorms he felt like a fool. He should be in bed focusing on getting through this final year. Whatever Draco Malfoy was doing it had nothing to do with him. He’d spent so much time worrying about everyone else he’d never taken time to focus on himself. With a loud sigh he walked towards the bedroom and closed the door loudly behind him.
Draco Malfoy was not his problem.
***
Opening his eyes Draco found himself in the school infirmary.
“You’re awake” Madam Pomfrey said looking at him with a critical eye. He looked into his eyes with her wand flashing a soft light.
“Draco, are you okay?” Hermione stood at the end of her bed and Draco nodded a yes in response.
“What happened” he signed.
“Hagrid found you” said Hermione. “He said you were wondering the forbidden forest. That you weren’t responsive.”
“I don’t understand,” Draco grabbed his head, feeling bandages. His pale hands were covered in cuts and bruises and he saw images of black eyes and lips against his own.
“Draco, do you remember what happened? Do you know what you were doing in the forbidden forest?” He shook his head and he gripped his blankets tightly.
“You hit you’re head pretty hard” said Madam Promfey. “Perhaps a concussion, let’s just let him rest and hopefully your memory will comeback in time.”
Granger gave him a long look as Draco leaned back in his bed.
“I’ll bring you the work you missed” she said as she signed goodbye.
“Thank you” he signed and she gave him a strange look. Then she walked out of the room and he closed his eyes quickly falling into a deep slumber