Chapter 7
“It sounds perfect.” Harry said, taking another bite of his meat pie.
“I’m going to reiterate the part where you could die-“ Draco started from across the table but Harry cut him off.
“Yeah no I got that. But it could fix everything.”
“But you could die.” Draco emphasized.
“A reasonable risk.” Harry ignored him again. “When can we do it?”
“I had the potion sent to me this morning.”
“Great, we'll do it now.” Harry clapped his hands together and stood.
“Now?!” Malfoy looked overwhelmed.
“We’re on a schedule.” Harry reminded him.
“Potter, this is an experimental potion, never been used in a trial before, and could kill you.”
“You’re the one who suggested it. I trust you.” Harry said, setting his plate in the sink.
“You… trust me.” Malfoy said hesitantly.
“We both know you were smarter than anyone in potions and your mother says you’ve been training at the best infirmary in Europe.” Harry turned to see a surprised expression on Draco’s face. “If you think it’ll work, then it probably will work…. And if not you get the pleasure of killing me, that’s always been a dream of yours right?”
“Right.” Malfoy concluded.
“I’ll meet you upstairs… when you’re ready.” Harry left the kitchen and bounded up the stairs two at a time. He was really about to let Malfoy experiment on him. If it worked, all of Harry’s old injuries would heal without any trace of them ever having happened, if it didn’t then he might lose his job… or die. Harry decided that no matter the outcome at least there would be some kind of resolution for his future, that is if there was a future to worry about.
“You should change into something more comfortable.” Malfoy said, walking into the bedroom behind Harry. He had shed his suit jacket and was rolling up the sleeves on his button down shirt. The sight of Draco in his tight pinstripe vest and pants made Harry feel warm. He grabbed an armful of clothes from his dresser and went into the bathroom. He doubted anything he changed into could make him comfortable now.
Harry put on a long t-shirt and soft running shorts. He opened the door and looked to Malfoy who motioned him to the bed. Harry sat on the edge of the mattress and waited while Draco prepared the potion.
“Now,” Malfoy turned to Harry nervously. “It’s probably going to hurt.” Harry nodded and took the heated glass from his hand but paused.
“Wait a minute.” He got up and went to the office. When he returned a moment later he handed a sealed envelope to Malfoy.
“Just in case..” Harry trailed off.
“We shouldn’t do this.” Malfoy decided, but Harry was quick to swallow the sludge and lay down on the bed.
“Too late.”
In an instant Harry felt a sharp breaking pain in his shoulder, and what’s more he heard it in his ears. Involuntarily he let out a scream. Then the pain subsided and was replaced with relief. Harry breathed, okay that wasn’t so bad.
But then another breaking pain in his side. And again in his ankle, toes, wrist, knee and every other place he had ever injured. He felt each injury break and reheal itself over and over. Suddenly a deep burning pain split through his head. He reached up, grabbing over his eyes and screaming in a way he had never heard himself do so. Then everything went black.
His eyes slid open and he felt his body heavy with sweat. He saw Malfoy, for just an instant sitting in a chair he had dragged in from the office. He was wringing his hands together. Harry faded back out.
It was night when Harry woke again. He rubbed his face roughly and sat up. Asleep in the chair across from him was Malfoy. Quietly, as not to disturb him, Harry crawled from the bed to the bathroom. He was so weak he felt he could barely stand. In the shower he sat fully clothed on the floor and let the water wash over him. It felt wonderfully chilling and soon he regained enough strength to take his clothes off.
After he was finished he stood and brushed his teeth with one hand on the counter for support. He looked in the mirror and noticed for the first time he wasn’t wearing his glasses. Harry looked around the room and saw everything in perfect clarity. Hurriedly he wrapped a towel around his waist and moved as quickly as he could to the office on the other end of the hall.
He picked a book off the shelf and opened it. He could see every letter with crisp perfection. He laughed and dropped it to the ground as he reached for another one. Book after book he could read the words and sentences. Malfoy appeared in the doorway, tired and puzzled.
“I can read.” Harry grinned.
“What?”
“Without my glasses, I can see everything!” Harry brushed back his hair and held his head in disbelief. He heard Malfoy gasp. He looked and saw Draco’s stunned face.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s gone.” Draco blurted out.
“What?” Harry looked down and around at his body.
“Your….” Draco touched his own forehead as he trailed off. Harry darted back to the bathroom, ignoring the deep pain in his legs. He faced the mirror once more and saw what Malfoy was talking about. He rubbed the spot where the familiar little lightning bolt had lived all his life. It had vanished. Harry couldn’t believe it.
“Get dressed.” Draco barked from the bedroom. “I need to examine you.”
"Amazing... There's no trace of your injuries having ever occurred." Draco lifted Harry's arm.
Harry complied in slow motion. His brain trying to assimilate the information he just received. His glasses, his scar, all the markings of who he was were gone. He pulled on track pants under the towel and then a shirt over his head. He sat on the bed without saying a word. Malfoy studied him for a moment, then lifted his wrist to take his pulse. Harry stared off while he worked. Usually he would be embarrassed and fidgety at Malfoy’s touches but he was distracted deep in his own mind.
“How do you feel?” Malfoy said, breaking the silence around them.
“I don’t know.” Harry mumbled.
“You’d better lay back down and sleep some more.” Draco pushed lightly on Harry’s shoulder to ease him towards the bed. Too overwhelmed to do anything else, Harry lay back down and closed his eyes.