Chapter 14
The next week was silent. The house was still and quiet though more people occupied it since Harry had moved in. They moved like oil and water, ever shifting around one another.
Harry had received notice that Morrie had once again mailed her aunt. He was leaving tonight to intercept the package and examine its contents. If nothing criminal was found the case would be closed.
The thought of closing the case conflicted Harry. On one hand it meant that nothing was the matter and no real danger existed. On the other, Harry would no longer have an excuse to keep an eye on Lucius.
Harry finished packing his bag and headed to the stairs. He paused, wondering if he should tell Malfoy he was leaving. After a moment he walked to the end of the hall and climbed the stairs. When he knocked there was no answer. He knocked once more just to be sure.
“Come in.” He heard Malfoy’s irritated voice creep through the door. Harry opened it and saw Draco sitting at the desk. The bookcases were now filled with books, ingredients, and other potions instruments.
“I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving.” Harry called over.
“Why would I care about that?” Draco didn’t look up from his work.
“Just being polite. It’s what flatmates do.” Harry rolled his eyes.
“We’re flatmates now are we?”
“You seem to have moved in.” Harry gestured around to the room even though Malfoy wasn’t paying attention.
“I suppose.” Draco said with disinterest.
“Great chat. I’ll see you Friday.” Harry grabbed the door to close it.
“Wait,” Draco was looking at Harry now.
“Yes?”
“Friday? That’s two nights.” Anxiety crept into Draco’s voice and across his face. Harry let himself imagine for just a moment that Malfoy would miss him.
“Kreacher will be here.” Harry reminded him. “And you know how good he is at protecting the house.”
“Right.” Malfoy regained his tough exterior and went back to work. Harry shut the door behind him and went back downstairs.
“Kreacher?”
“Yes Master Harry?”
“I’m going now. Please look after Malfoy.”
“Master Malfoy will be most safe here.”
“Do not let anyone in the house who is not his mother. Understand?” Kreacher nodded yes to Harry in reply. He stepped outside and apparated.
Standing in front of the burrow he could hear Freda screaming and one of the twins crying. He knocked on the door loudly to be heard over the commotion. Molly let him in with a smile.
“Now, you be good for your grandfather and be helpful to Grandma, you hear?” Ron was talking to a sobbing Freda.
“But.. I …don’t …want …you …to…. go.” She said between sucking in large breaths. Ron pushed back wild orange curls from her face.
“I know sweetheart but it’s only for two sleeps and then I get to be home with you ALL WEEKEND.” He emphasized.
“Okay.” She pouted.
“That’s my little nougat. Now mommy will be here to pick you up before dinner.” Ron kissed her tear soaked face and stood. They said goodbyes to Arthur and Molly before stepping outside.
“I hate to leave when she’s like that.”
“I know.”
They apparated quickly to the countryside post office. The field agent was waiting for them.
“We’ve already charmed the clerk so we have free range of the place.” He said as they walked inside.
“So now we just wait for delivery?” Ron said, sinking into a wall against a pile of mail.
“Now we wait.” Harry answered, joining him.
The post office closed without any more deliveries that evening. The field agent went home while Harry and Ron stayed put just in case. Lounging against sacks of letters they ate the sandwiches Mrs. Weasley had packed them.
“So…” Ron started but didn’t finish his thought.
“Yes?”
“He lives with you now?”
“Yes.” Harry replied and the conversation halted, as it always did on the topic of Malfoy. He hadn’t been able to talk to his best friend much about the situation at all. They finished their dinners in silence before Ron spoke again.
“It’s weird isn’t it?”
“What?”
“For him to live with you.”
“A bit, yeah.”
“Well, I suppose I don’t mind it.” Ron decided at last.
“Really?” Harry didn’t quite believe him.
“Well, Mione said she thought he was a real tosser but she put him up for that job anyway because Luna forced her.” They both laughed at that and then Ron continued. “But she said his first day of work he came to her office and apologized, said he appreciated the recommendation but he didn’t want to work there if it would cause her grief.”
“She never told me that.”
“Well, I reckon it takes something honest to make a guy like Malfoy offer to bow out like that. Mione thought so too.”
“So you like him then?”
“Let’s not go too far.” Ron laughed. It was a nice surprise for Harry to hear Ron say anything pleasant about Malfoy.
“What do you think of the Harpies' new beater?” Ron changed the subject.
They fell asleep against the mail as they talked quidditch. Harry wondered, as he drifted off, if Malfoy would be able to sleep tonight all alone.
In the morning the field agent relieved Harry and Ron. They decided to take a walk through the small town while they waited for the morning post to arrive. It was a quaint place built from soft yellowish stones. A bakery was the only thing open so early. They bought some breakfast and Ron got an iced bun to take home for Freda.
“I like this place.” Harry said as they stopped on a tiny stone bridge. The ambling creek below sang to them as they ate.
“Hermione wants to move to a village like this. Thinks it’ll be better for the kids to have friends ‘round.”
“That would be nice.”
“I’m not so sure. Every place we visit she finds something wrong with.”
“She liked Godric’s Hollow, I remember.”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe you can see if there are any houses for sale there.” Harry shrugged and Ron nodded.
They returned to the post office slowly. Harry was setting the pace and he was too relaxed in the honey tinted air that rolled in from the hills. Eventually their feet landed back on the dingy linoleum of the post office. The morning delivery had just arrived and the field agent had secured the package in question. It was a small box wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. Harry was certain the looping script belonged to Morrie.
“We’ll open it back at the ministry.” Harry decided. He didn’t want grief from Grimble again about examining sensitive materials in insecure locations.
“Can we stop quick and drop off Freda’s treat?” Ron begged.
“Alright.” Harry gave in. Harry tucked the package into his satchel and they apparated.
Back at the burrow they were just sitting down to breakfast. Ron and Harry snuck in without alerting anyone except Ginny who managed to keep a straight face.
“Surprise!” Ron yelled and Freda jumped up in her chair.
“Daddy!” She squealed.
“I’ve brought you something but you have to tell me, were you good for your grandfather?” Ron raised an eyebrow.
“Yes!”
“And helpful to grandma?”
“Oh yes! I promise!”
“Alright then.” Ron smiled and gave her the iced bun. She stood in the chair and wrapped her arms around his neck. The best surprise to Freda wasn’t an iced bun, but to have Ron himself.
“Okay Bubs, I got to go back to work now.” He kissed the top of her head and set her down. Distracted by the iced bun she didn’t pout. They stepped into the living room and Arthur followed them.
“Harry,” Aurthur put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Be careful with whatever it is you’re carrying. I can sense it’s very strong.”
“Would you take a look at it?” Harry knew Mr. Weasley had a wealth of knowledge from his days at the ministry.
“I’m retired.” He looked over Ron’s shoulder to see if Molly was watching. Taking a hint Ron smoothly closed the door to the kitchen and winked at his dad.
“I suppose I could give it just a little look.” Arthur extended a hand. Harry pulled the package out of his bag but the twine around it got caught on the latch and the delicate bow unraveled.
In a flash of green light the string turned into a fizzling black snake. The creature coiled around Harry’s arm and a burning pain shot through his body. Hitting his knees he let out a scream. Ginny burst through the kitchen door and then locked it behind her to keep the kids away.
The snake continued to travel across Harry’s body leaving a trail of blood behind it. Ron tried to expel the snake but each spell made it wrap tighter. Arthur tried to loosen it from Harry’s chest with his hands but the snake bit him and he fell to the ground unconscious. Freda and Molly beat against the door.
“We have to get it out of here!” Ginny was bracing the door with her back as she spoke.
“Grab his legs, Gin.” Ron instructed as he heaved Harry up under the shoulders. They dragged him into the flugh and disappeared as Arthur stirred on the floor.
Harry’s screams filled the empty living room as they entered Grimmauld place.
“Let’s get him to his bed.” Ginny pulled Harry’s legs and dragged Ron up the stairs.
“MALFOY!” Ron screamed into the hallway.
“MALFOY! GET DOWN HERE AND BE USEFUL!” He screamed again.
“Master Malfoy is not here.” Kreacher appeared as they threw Harry onto the bed. The snake was wrapping itself around his legs.
“Get him! Now!” Ginny commanded. Kreacher obeyed, leaving Ron and Ginny to look helplessly at Harry who had passed out from the pain.
“Get off!” Draco barked as Kreacher clung to his ears. Kreacher jumped down.
“I’m sorry Master Malfoy but Kreacher had to bring you, and you were reluctant to come.” He bowed but Malfoy ignored him. He was consumed by the sight of Harry on the bed and looked with horror at the creature weaving back up his midsection.
“Do something!” Ginny yelled and grabbed his arm. It snapped Malfoy out of his trance. He looked curiously at Ginny and then ordered her to leave the house.
“I’m not going anywhere!”
“Go upstairs and run a bath then, as hot as you can stand it.” He wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. “Now!” He shouted and she left.
“On the count of three I’m going to grab it and rip it apart from Harry. When I do, you set it on fire immediately, even if it’s still in my hands, understand?”
“You can’t grab it, it’ll bite-“ Ron argued.
“Weasley!”
“Alright, alright.” Ron readied his wand.
“One.” Draco took a deep breath.
“Two.” He looked at Ron who nodded.
“Three!” He ripped the snake from Harry and threw it on the floor as it bit him.
“Incendio!” Ron cast fire upon the creature and it burst into the same thick green smoke from whence it came. Ron stood in shock. Draco lifted Harry from the bed and began the climb to his room upstairs. Ginny was waiting by a full tub. Draco gently laid Harry inside and sprinted across the room to the bookshelf.
“Did anyone else touch it?” He said climbing up the shelves and rooting through jars.
“My dad, it bit my dad.” Ron had collected himself and joined them.
“Here.” Draco tossed a small tin to Ron. “Put this on it.”
Ron caught the tin of salve but didn’t move. He was staring at Harry passed out in the tub. An anxious Ginny held his hand.
“Weasley!” Draco got his attention. “Now, go now. Put it on the bite immediately.”
Ron wrapped his fingers around the tin and apparated. Draco climbed higher, still searching for an elusive vial. At last he found it, a small purple bottle shaped like a teardrop. Holding it in his mouth he climbed back down. Draco pushed Harry down into the water until just his chin sat above it.
“Put his hand down.” He ordered Ginny softly. She set it down into the water, her own hands shaking.
“Back up please, this potion isn’t safe for someone in your condition.” Ginny stepped back hesitantly.
Draco carefully tilted the bottle and a single drop of black ink spilled into the water. It sat swirling for a minute before streaking through the water and attaching to Harry’s wounds like a sticky black scab. Harry woke up then, yelling and trying to climb out of the tub. Draco leaned over him and pressed him back into the water with his arms and chest.
“Let me go.” Harry strained against the other man and cried.
“Shhh,” Draco tried to calm him. Harry was too weak to fight him and once again lost consciousness. Malfoy moved one hand to support the back of Harry’s head as he sank back into the water.
“I’m sorry.” Malfoy whispered so Ginny couldn’t hear and stroked the back of Harry’s neck so she couldn’t see. When he was confident the black ink had covered all of Harry’s wounds he lifted him carefully from the bath and laid him on the bed, covering him with the blanket.
Ginny sat on the couch and wrung her hands together. If she noticed Draco’s soft words or lingering fingers, she didn’t comment. With Harry safely asleep Malfoy joined her.
“You should see a doctor as soon as possible.” He told her.
“Why?”
“Well dark magic like that can be very harmful to babies and you had a pretty prolonged exposure.”Ginny’s eyes went wide at Draco’s comment and then she shut them and shook her head.
“I’m sorry did you say babies?”
“Yes, a woman in your condition-“ Draco continued his speech.
“I’m pregnant?” Ginny’s hand spread across her stomach.
“You didn’t...” Draco couldn’t finish. She shook her head no. They sat in silence as Ginny assimilated the information.
“I’m sorry,” Draco broke in at last. “I’ve never had to tell someone that before.”
“You said the magic was bad for babies… Did I hurt it?” Ginny was scared now.
“I don’t know-“
“Check. You’re a doctor. You can check right?” Ginny stood and moved towards Draco.
“I’m sure you would probably be more comfortable with someone else-“
“Please.” She begged him. Nervously he stood and motioned her to sit back down. She complied and Draco joined her, wiping his sweaty palms against his pants. With a deep breath Draco laid a hand gently on her stomach and closed his eyes to concentrate. Warm magic flowed from beneath his fingers.
“About 14 weeks I’d say, you haven’t been feeling sick?”
“Last month I wasn’t feeling well but Freda had had the flu so I just thought…” Ginny was still shocked and found it hard to concentrate. Draco opened his eyes and removed his hand.
“So?” Ginny asked nervously.
“She seems fine.” Draco smiled nervously.
“She?” Ginny gasped.
“I’m sorry I’ve done it again haven’t I?” Draco realized he had said something too much.
“It’s fine, I’m happy… a girl…” She smiled.
“Well you’ll need to start taking vitamins, and no aparating, and absolutely no brooms.” Draco stood and pulled a script from his desk. He scribbled as he talked but Ginny only half listened.
“A girl.” She said again, still smiling and biting her lip.
“Yes,” Draco stopped his rambling to look at her. “If you have any questions, ask your mother. I only spent a short time on rotation in the maternity practice but I found that mothers usually have the best answers.”
“A girl.” Ginny repeated and laughed.
“Take this to the apothecary in the morning. For now you should go home and rest.” He handed her the script and she jumped up from the couch to hug him. The gesture startled Draco and he patted her back with uncertainty until she released him.
“A girl!” She shouted as she grabbed a handful of flugh powder.
“A girl.” Draco smiled at her as she threw down the dust and left.