Indago:Reborn

Betad by deathangelgw.

There is one more chapter after this. *sob*

Chapter Thirty-two

It was nearly an entire day before Severus allowed Draco to regain consciousness. The Malfoy family healer pronounced him well and only then was Draco allowed to wake, which was an excellent precaution in that Draco stumbled out of bed calling for Harry almost immediately upon waking.

"Where is he? Where are those bastards? How the bloody hell did I get here?"

"Draco, calm down," Lucius answered soothingly. "They are looking for him now. As for the ones responsible, I assure you they were handled."

"How? Did you find Harry? Was he hurt?" Draco stalked around his childhood bedroom towards his wardrobe. He would make some sort of clothing out of something. Then he needed to find Harry.

"The entire facility was burned down. It's unfortunate since some of the occupants may have still been technically alive," Lucius informed him without any hint of remorse or regret. "We believe the ring leader, that Muroch savage, was dead long before we got there."

"You believe?" Draco hissed.

"Yes, well, we accounted for all the werewolves. The only thing left was a quite unrecognisable heap of skinned flesh. Not all of it was in one piece." Lucius raised an eyebrow at Draco's expression. "Guessing from your surprise, I assume that it was not you responsible for his evisceration?"

"No." Draco paused as he stared at an old Quidditch poster. "Gods, Harry…"

"I underestimated him," Lucius murmured. His voice seemed to shake Draco out of his thoughts and the younger Malfoy quickly threw on one of his old robes. A quick spell and it fit fine, if no longer in fashion.

"You don't understand, Father. Harry was not himself. He had taken a potion and must have still been under its influence while exacting his revenge. If Harry has come down off of it, I can't imagine what he is feeling right now."

"Certainly not the need to come home." Lucius moved to his son in an effort to show that he had not meant the words to be nasty. "Draco, we are looking for him. No stone is being left unturned. He was injured. We will find him quickly." Draco nodded and both men went downstairs to meet with Snape who was organizing the new search parties.

But by morning Harry was still not found.

"He swallowed an entire bottle?" Snape asked again. Draco nodded but continued pacing. "And the submission pheromone was being filtered into the air at all times?" Again, Draco nodded. Snape frowned. "Draco, I don't think Harry is merely hurt. That amount of interference… I fear for his mental state. On top of all that, he is dealing with what was done to him and his injuries."

"Gods, Severus! Must you remind me?!" Draco snapped, but then he stopped his pacing. "What do you mean his mental state?"

"His mind was constantly being pulled back and forth for weeks. It could not have been healthy. You say he battled the constant influence of the Supero power to get to that bottle. He then downed it, ingesting probably six times as much as he had ever been given by the elf. It could have caused significant damage to his mental stability."

"You're saying he has gone mad?" Lucius asked from his corner by the bookshelf, the owl he had just tied a response for a search party to flying out of the room.

"No, I am guessing he has reverted to a state of basic self, of pure animal, losing all his human veneer. It would be easier for his injured mind to operate with." Snape looked at both men. "If that is the case, judging by normal animal behaviour when injured, Harry would go home."

"He's not there," Lucius pointed out in a voice that clearly showed how stupid he thought the suggestion.

"Harry never saw that place as his home," Draco countered, his brow creased in concentration. "It wouldn't be home as in a 'safe place', as I am assuming you mean, Sev."

"Yes. He would go to a safe place to lick his wounds." Snape stared into Draco's eyes. "There is possibly only one place he would feel safe at." Draco nodded.

"Hogwarts," both men answered.

Albus Dumbledore led the search and helped turn the entire school inside-out to find Harry. Every crevice was looked into, every hiding spot and dark place had a light shined into it. Every person, living and dead, was questioned. But not a trace of Harry was found.

"I was sure he would be here!" Draco hissed in frustration. "There is no where else!"

"Perhaps Harry was afraid of all the people," Albus suggested as he sat at his desk. "He could be in the area, but not in the school. I will send Hagrid out to look." With a small word, a golden bird missive was sent out to find the half-giant. Draco and Snape were not far behind.

The Shrieking Shack was searched, all of the buildings in Hogsmeade were investigated, but everything came back empty.

"There's a lot of caves in the hills here," Hagrid rumbled, a worried frown on his face. "Good places ta hide."

"He could be anywhere," Snape answered. "With the warm weather, he could be in a tree or under bushes. If Harry doesn't wish to be found, it may be impossible for us to find him."

"Then… we need to drive him into a cave or building where he can be found," Draco announced as he surveyed the vast countryside from the small hillock they stood on.

"Do you suggest we set fire to the brush?" Snape asked dryly.

"No, I suggest we make it uncomfortable to be out."

Snape stared dumbfounded at the younger man. Then his eyes began to glow with comprehension. "Ah."

Hagrid and Albus walked down the slope to give the two men a bit of room. Draco and Snape clasped each other's forearms and closed their eyes. Within moments, the wiry hairs on Hagrid's knuckles lifted straight up as the magic danced on the breeze. The forces swirled around and around, becoming faster and tighter as it seemed to funnel straight up from the ground and into the sky. The breeze became a squall, but not one hair stirred on the two men on the hill.

"Hagrid, my boy, I do believe we may need your umbrella, if you'd be so kind."

"Ah, right, Perfessor." Hagrid pulled out his pink umbrella and opened it, using it mainly to cover his employer.

The wind grew stronger, making the trees tilt and the lake churn. The sky began to darken and soon the white clouds were swallowed by grey and the world became gloomy. The first crack of thunder had Fang trying to wedge himself between Hagrid's legs while the lightening lit up the two men still standing in the centre of the storm. A roaring sound came before huge fat droplets began to fall in earnest, saturating the ground quickly and causing large puddles to form. Finally, Draco and Snape seemed to regain their wits and nearly fell against each other in exhaustion. But within a moment, both had gathered themselves and came down to join the others, their silver markings fading from their faces.

"Now, we search the caves," Draco announced.

It was Lupin who sent up the flare. Draco was the next to arrive and within seconds the other members of the search party were clustered about the mouth of a cave that was within sight of Hogwarts' towers. The rocks created a small triangular entrance, but the very blackness of the interior foretold of something deep.

"I only caught a glimpse of him," Lupin shouted over the roar of the rain pounding on the rocks all around them. Everyone was damp from the first deluge, but now kept from drowning by their Stay-Dry charms. "I stuck my light in and saw him for just a moment. He pulled back and was quite adamant that I not get any closer." Lupin showed his wand hand that sported a fresh gash across the back of it.

Draco moved to the opening and was relieved that it was big enough for him to slide through. Snape was right behind him, wand out. It was almost completely black inside, but it definitely opened up once past the rock entrance. They were able to stand almost completely straight. Snape's wand tip lit up and illuminated quite a bit. Draco's eyes quickly adjusted and he realised that the sounds from outside were muffled due to the earthen walls which were not rock as he had supposed. "Harry?" he called softly. Snape moved forward and pushed his wand toward the very back of the cave.

"He's there," Snape murmured. Harry was on the ground, his knees brought to his chest. The moment the light fell on him, he tightened even further on himself. "Harry."

"Harry, love," Draco called again, relief at finding his husband evident in his voice. He moved to the subicio, but the moment he was within a meter of him, Harry sprang to life. He kicked out and clawed, snarling and hissing. Draco's quick reflexes prevented him from getting hit and he pulled back. Harry pulled himself back into a ball, but both men had seen the blood covering him from head to foot, some of it still fresh in indication that there were wounds still bleeding.

"He's hurt. He won't let you near him," Snape stated calmly. Draco frowned and shook his head.

"Even in this state he should know who we are!"

"Not anymore!" Snape grabbed Draco before he went charging after Harry again. "If what you told me is true, he has been cut from any ties of pack. Muroch made sure of it. Harry may recognize us, but I doubt that this creature will." Gentling his voice and grip, Snape explained. "We walk a fine line between human and beast. Finer than we can ever understand."

"Then what do we do?" Draco demanded.

"We will need to stun him and pull him out of here, of course. He will not go with us willingly."

Draco grimaced, hating the thought of using magic against his husband and forcing him to do something against his will. Harry had had enough of that already. Draco nodded curtly. "Fine, I'll do it."

Harry was Stupefied and levitated gently out of the cave. Dumbledore created a portkey and Harry was transferred to St. Mungo's in his husband's arms.

*-*-*

The healers could not explain what had happened and had had to defer to the only leading expert, Professor Severus Snape, who explained that it was because Harry's mind had been ripped apart and was most likely healing itself the only way it knew how. But even then, Professor Snape admitted that it was purely conjecture based upon an educated guess. Regardless, Harry Potter-Malfoy did not regain consciousness within two weeks of his stay at St. Mungo's. No potions or spells could wake him.

By the third week, his husband had him transferred to their home.

By week six, Snape had moved back in indefinitely.

By week eight, no one sent get well cards anymore.

"It's a good day, love. I think you might want to feel the sun on your face." Draco laid Harry back down on the pillows and pulled the fresh shirt the rest of the way down. "You're looking sickly pale...doesn't suit you. If Maia didn't look like me, people would think she was adopted."

"She actually looks more like me, but I'll spare your ego and refrain from reminding you," Snape commented from the doorway.

"Nice of you, but I don't think anyone will agree with that fiction of yours," Draco replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Hmm," was the non-committal rejoinder. "I'll be gone for most of the day. I suppose if I have the time I could get something you may require."

"I am quite capable of purchasing anything I need. But Maia needs a birthday gift for her Dad."

"Ah, well I shall keep my eye out then." With that dry response, the Potions Master left the house. Draco went back to getting Harry ready for the day. When he was finished with combing Harry's hair, Draco set the new pair of spectacles on his husband's face and then carried him downstairs into the sunroom. He made sure all the shades were open and placed Harry on one of the lounges.

"I'm going to go get Maia and then we'll set about tanning you both up a bit, yeah? It'd be nice if you joined in the conversation today, by the way. Between the three of us, I seem to be carrying the entire dialog. Though Maia does make some sound points occasionally."

Draco had taken over the majority of the care of Harry. He hadn't been able to stand the impersonality of the healer's aides that had come to the house and moved Harry about, dancing him around at the end of their wands. One of them had even had the audacity to steal one of Harry's shirts as a celebrity memento. Draco had made sure the bitch would never work with people again.

So now Draco took care of his husband. When he couldn't, Severus did. But it was Draco that moved him, bathed him, and fed him the nutrition potion once a day. And Draco made sure to continue talking to his husband, endearments and insults alike. He wasn't going to talk to Harry as if he were an idiot as the healer's aides had done. Draco knew that one day, Harry was going to open his eyes and everything would be fine. They would go on with their lives, stronger than ever before. Draco would whisper those words to Harry every night as he held him. And Snape, who also slept holding Harry, would call Draco a fool for "coddling the boy". Snape also stated that it was purely for Harry's benefit that he slept with them, so that Harry could be re-indoctrinated to their scent. Draco, in an uncommonly polite gesture, refrained from commenting on the potion-stained fingers that often ran through Harry's locks at night.

After their Saturday morning in the sun, Harry was again in bed, waiting for his healer. Draco wasn't able to handle the sessions in which Harry's inert body had to be manipulated to keep the muscle tone. He left that to Severus and the professionals. Something about watching Harry moved about without his knowledge bothered Draco. It was why he was tense when the doorbell rang a half hour earlier than their scheduled appointment time. Bastard eager healer...

"Draco, are you in here?"

"Father?" Draco stood from the chair next to the bed. "Please, come in." Lucius pushed the partially closed door wider and stepped into the bedroom. "I thought you were the healer," Draco confessed.

"Sorry to disappoint," Lucius drawled.

Draco chuckled. "Not at all. Come in. I'm sorry I didn't greet you at the door." Lucius wasn't exactly comfortable with having a social visit in a person's bedroom, but he supposed compromises had to be made in times such as these.

"The elf showed me the way, no worries," he replied as he pulled his summer gloves from his hands. "I received your owl this morning requesting a meeting and I believed there was no time like the present. Although, I had wished you were not so formal in your letter, my son."

"The matter I need to discuss is somewhat formal," Draco answered while straightening his shoulders.

"Oh?"

The younger man took a breath and nodded. "Yes. Father, I must impose upon you and request that my allowance be reinstated. I hope that you will consider the increased expenditures I now have as a husband and father and generously adjust the amount to cover them. I will, of course, continue to work as I can, but I will no longer be able to support my family on that income alone."

Lucius was able to control his features only because of decades of practice. But, it was no small fact that he was more shocked than he could remember ever being. His son wanted to be back in his pocket again? His grossly overly independent son was willing to subject himself to an allowance? An allowance he had spurned the moment he had become engaged to the Potter boy? "May I ask why?" Lucius asked calmly. "There have been no issues at the Ministry, have there? Nothing wrong in your department, I hope?"

"No, none at all. But I feel I need to spend more time at home, so I will be requesting a less time-intensive position...possibly a clerking position in which I can do a majority of the work from here."

"That is ridiculous!" Lucius snapped. "You are a highly trained and skilful solicitor! To become a clerk is beyond insulting! I will, of course, provide for you and your family. But I will not have you in such a lowered position!"

Draco nodded once. "Very well, Father. Thank you." The door bell chimed again and Draco stepped toward the hall. "I must speak to the healer for a moment. We will be right in."

Lucius watched his son go, no doubt to inform the healer where the bill would be sent from then on. With an agitated sigh, Lucius turned to the bed and stalked to its side, gracefully lowering himself into the chair his son had vacated. With a glare, he addressed the bed's occupant in a low undertone.

"You, boy, had better wake up soon. I am quite tired of watching your puppet strings jerk my son about. You have been a thorn in my side since the very moment I laid eyes on you. No, the very moment you were born! It is more than highly disturbing to watch as you unravel what I created, not only during the war but my own son." He leaned forward, closer to the still face. "My very son you went after. And I confess that I have hated you more than any other in this lifetime. But you did give me the next Malfoy heir and for that, I will tolerate you. However, know this, boy. If you continue to torture my Draco, make him persist in dismantling the life he made for you and was exceedingly proud of, I will make you sorry. Continue on with this foolishness and I assure you, I will see to it that he divorces you, dumps you in a hospital room, and moves on. Do not test me in this. He may have feelings for you, but he also has a child to raise. A child he knows you loved and would want the best for. It will not take much to get him to agree that it is for the best that Maia have two functional parents. I suggest you remember that."

Lucius sat up straight again just as the door was hurriedly opened by a rather chubby man of youngish years. "Oh, hello sir. My name is Healer Todson. Mr. Malfoy went ahead and sent me up while he dealt with some sort of owl. Course, he's usually doing something when I come…guess he doesn't like to watch or something. But don't mind me. I won't interrupt your visit. I'll just be manipulating his muscles and such so they don't get flabby and useless. I'll be doing it the Muggle way, but don't think I don't know how to do it. My mum was a Muggle nurse and did the same things. She's retired now-- I'm the last one of five, you know-- but she showed me everything that needs to be done."

The red-headed man had moved into the room and to the opposite side of the bed while rolling up his sleeve by the time his diatribe was done. Without a 'by-your-leave', he grabbed hold of Harry's flaccid arm and began moving it to and fro. The patient's head flopped to the side at the jarring, but the man carried on bending and twisting, and pulling at the limbs. When the spectacles fell heedlessly onto the coverlet, a wand was jabbed under the man's chins.

"I suggest," Lucius hissed coldly as he stared directly into the frightened healer's eyes. "That you have a bit more respect for this man. I would also hope that you remember, Mudblood, that you and your kind are alive due to this man's actions. Otherwise, I assure you, I and my kind would have stamped out your filth." Lucius pulled back with a cool smile and sat down in his chair, keeping his wand out in plain view. "So, Healer Todson, let's be a bit more gentle, shall we?"

Swallowing hard and wiping the sweat from his face, Healer Todson nodded shakily. "Y-yes, sir. Of course, sir. Meant no disrespect." He carefully put Harry's head back onto the pillow and, with trembling fingers, set the spectacles back in place. By the time Draco had returned, Todson had regained control of his trembling, but was still entirely too pale.

*-*-*

Harry woke two days before his twenty-fourth birthday. Unfortunately, nobody realised it until Draco walked into the bedroom to find the bed empty. In shock, Draco stared at the empty sheets for a full minute as he tried to remember where he had left his husband last. On the heels of those racing thoughts was the immediate fear that Harry had been kidnapped again. But he knew that the wards were in place and had been strengthened by Dumbledore himself upon Draco's request. Draco blinked and backed out of the room, went to the banister, and, in a completely uncivilized act that he would never think to do normally, called downstairs, "Severus, do you have Harry?"

An equally uncivilized and shock filled, "What?!" was his answer. Snape appeared immediately at the bottom of the stairs. "What?" he asked again stupidly.

"I didn't think you had him," Draco replied in a strange voice, then turned and ran to the den. Empty. The sound of pounding feet coming up the stairs accompanied him throwing open Snape's bedroom door. Empty. Severus met him at Maia's door and they went in together.

Harry stood at the round crib, hands at his sides as he watched his sleeping daughter. Draco cautiously stepped forward while Snape stayed back a ways. Harry never moved as Draco approached and came up alongside of him. "Harry?" he inquired softly, not sure what response he would receive.

"She's gotten big," Harry whispered, but whether it was from the desire not to disturb the sleeping baby or from a voice that hadn't been used for months Draco wasn't sure. "I saw the calendar. She's almost four months old now."

Draco stared at Harry's profile. "Almost," he agreed softly.

"I missed her first month birthday. But, I guess that was a good thing," Harry continued. He looked at Draco then, his eyes haunted. "I haven't touched her, Draco. I promise. I won't hurt her again. I'll never get closer than this, I swear."

"Gods!" Draco pulled Harry into a tight embrace. "It wasn't your fault! It was that bastard's fault! He was poisoning you! Do you hear me, Harry? He was feeding you a poison that was making you act that way! I know you would never hurt her!"

"I dropped her…"

"No! Stop it, you idiot! Have you gone deaf? I told you it wasn't your fault!" Another pair of arms came around Harry and Draco was glad for it, for he knew that Harry would listen to Severus.

"Harry, you are not to blame in this. You were being manipulated. Many of us were being manipulated," Snape stated in his calm low voice. "Continuing with this guilt is ridiculous and will not benefit anyone. How can withholding yourself from your daughter do anything but cause harm?"

Harry's grip tightened on them both and tears wetted Draco's shoulder. All three men went down to the floor and the two Superos held Harry as he wept. After the tears had slowed, all of their pain was poured out into each other with words and touch. They healed each other that night as they sat on the nursery floor. It would just take time for the scars to fade.