Chapter 5
“Thought you’d’ve taken a bit more of a weekend.” Ron dropped a bag on Harry’s desk before sitting down at his own.
“What for?” Harry joked and opened the bag to find a container of soup and a note from Mrs. Weasley. This was all he needed to get well, not meddling from certain old enemies.
“Weasley, Potter!” The Head auror barked and they both stood. “My office.”
They both walked into the office prepared for the long talk about proper paperwork.
“Shut the door.” Mr. Grimble commanded as he fell heavily into his chair. A cigar butt still smoked slightly in the ashtray on his desk and the smell stung Harry’s nose. Ron clicked the door closed and they both waited for the imminent boring lecture.
“I’ve just been informed that you’ll be out of the field this week-”
“What! Why?” Ron burst out. He was prone to saying the first thought in his mind as soon as it entered there. A habit he was scolded for constantly throughout school. Harry laughed to himself, Ron hadn’t changed much.
“Ask Harry.” Mr. Grimble lit a fresh cigar with pursed lips.
“What did I do?!” Harry stopped his reminiscing.
“I’ve just gotten a call from your personal physician informing me that you are recovering from multiple fractures and cannot return to the field this week.” Ron turned to Harry quizzically. ‘Personal physician’ he mouthed as a question. Harry had no answer. He felt his ears turn red and hot. Malfoy had lost his mind.
“The thing is,” Mr. Grimble continued “I checked your reports from your last mission and there was no infirmary report, in fact you haven’t had an infirmary report in nearly two years…And the other thing is, I remember these assignments, they were dangerous… there was damage, explosions, fighting….but no reports of injury to Harry at all…” He looked up at Harry with raised eyebrows. “Seems like the only way that could happen is if someone falsified their paperwork…”
“Or if they were really healthy.” Ron offered after an uncomfortable silence. Mr. Grimble leaned back in his chair.
“Perhaps.” Suddenly he threw himself forward, slammed his hands on his desk, and stood. “But still, just to be safe, Harry will have a full physical before returning to duty.” Harry opened his mouth to argue but didn’t get the chance. “If he fails it, it won’t be one week that he rides the desk, but forever.”
The conversation was over and the pair was dismissed with a hand wave. Harry felt as if steam was pouring from him. He could hardly remember a time he had been this angry. He blew right past his desk not even bothering to grab his robe and headed directly for the elevators. Ron trailed behind him.
“Harry, where are you going?”
“I’m going to kill him.” Was all Harry managed to mumble before the doors closed. The elevator sank slowly through the building. Harry unbuttoned the top of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves as he paced in aggravation. With a ding it finally released him.
Outside he snapped into the air instantly and appeared in a huff on the now familiar lawn of Malfoy Manor. His boots left distinct marks in the full grass as he stomped up to the door. Harry stopped himself from throwing the door open and managed to bang loudly instead. A shaking house elf opened the door.
“Oh, Mr. Potter it’s you. Come in sir.” She heaved a sigh of relief as Harry entered the foyer. “I’m afraid Madam Malfoy isn’t home, would you like to leave a note or-“
“I’m here to see Malfoy, that is Draco.” He ran a hand through his slightly still wet hair as he spoke.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Draco isn’t seeing any visitors.”
“He’ll see me. Please Let him know I’m here.” Harry said as evenly as he could manage.
“Im really not allowed to disturb him.” The house elf rang her hands together nervously.
“I understand.” Harry reassured her and she seemed to relax.
“Perhaps a note.” She suggested once more, but Harry was walking past her.
“MALFOY!” He shouted as he began searching through the rooms. The house elf must’ve fainted, Harry assumed, as she was no longer accompanying him. Room to room his voice echoed off of the walls without response.
“Draco goddamit get out here!” He yelled in frustration at the end of a hallway. Finally he heard a doorknob click behind him. Spinning on his heels he turned to face a disheveled Draco.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Draco fumed. Harry faltered in his anger for a second at the sight of Draco in a t-shirt. He was always so well buttoned, so refined. To see him like this - hair tousled, pajama pants hanging from his hips - made Harry’s ears red for a reason other than anger. A reason he had been ignoring since he was twelve. The faltering second ended and Harry’s rage returned.
“What am I doing? What are you doing!? You called my boss?”
“Of course I did, it’s my job.” Said Draco matter of factly. As if bored by the conversation he stretched and smoothed his hair.
“The fuck it is.” Harry was irritated by the calm. “You’re not my physician, at most you’re a trespasser!”
“Call the police.” Draco said sarcastically.
“I am the police.” Harry threatened back. They stood, eyes locked in a battle of wills, until Draco looked away and sighed.
“I examined you, I treated you. For this particular incident I am your physician whether or not it agrees with you. Just enjoy your week off and leave me alone.” Malfoy was quieter and, unless Harry was imagining things, maybe even sad.
“They’re making me do a full physical before I return to duty.”
“You’ll never pass that.” Draco said, finally seeming to understand Potter’s mood.
“You think!?” Harry leaned against the hallway wall and ran a hand through his hair. “This stupid job is all I have…”
Malfoy studied Harry with an unreadable expression. Harry couldn’t care. He had just admitted his biggest fear, the thing that had been eating him up inside for years now. He wasn’t sure who he was or what his purpose could possibly be. But as an Auror he didn’t have to wonder, he just had to show up and be told.
“Come on,” Draco spoke at last “you’re more than a job, you’re Harry Potter.” He threw up his hands and said Harry’s name in a mocking tone.
“You don’t know me any better than the tabloids do.” Harry started walking back the way he came, looking for the door. Malfoy followed him.
“What are you going to do, about the physical?” He asked as Harry opened the door.
“Why should you care?” Harry scoffed and slammed the door behind him. In a snap he was standing back in front of Grimmauld place. Instead of going inside Harry sat in the steps and let the rain seep into his hair and shirt.