Behind the Cover

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Behind the cover
By CelticFox
Chapter Three

The train ride passed much more slowly this year, or at least it seamed to. Even though Blaise and Pansy had done their best with healing Harry's injuries it was quite obvious that the boy was still in a lot of pain. And no matter how many times Draco tried to get the other two to tell him exactly what was wrong with the raven haired boy, they refused "It's not something you want to know, trust me." Blaise kept saying before finally snapping at Draco to just drop it. Draco was now sitting on a corner of the compartment glaring out the window; he must have started to doze off because he didn't even notice they had arrived until Pansy landed a kick on his leg.

"Draco stop pouting and get up already."

"Malfoy's don't pout." He said automatically but stood up none the less and stretched. "so what do we do now?" He looked at his two friends then at Harry who was still curled up under Blaise's cloak; he could see the boy's face and was surprised to see how pale and shaky the boy looked now.

"Now you get to go out onto the platform and see if you can find Snape or one of the teachers that might be down to collect Potter." Blaise said and glanced out the compartment. "Though I would wait until the hallway is clear so that no one sees Potter when you leave." Draco let out a long sigh and sat down again leaning forward with his elbows propped up on his knees hands folded with his chin resting on them as he stared at Harry. He still wanted to know what was wrong with him; perhaps there was something he could help with. This thought didn't surprise him as much as it had at the beginning of the day. Only because he had thought it so many times since then, the only thing that puzzled him now was why was he so worried about Harry? The boy had driven him mad ever since their first year at Hogwarts. Draco started counting off the things that Harry had done that annoyed him starting with their second meeting when he had chosen that weasel over him. And now Harry was hurt, and fate seemed to have found it amusing to dump him off on Draco only a few months after Lucius had been sent to prison courtesy of the boy still unconscious in front of him. Sighing once again Draco stood up when the noise in the hallway was gone.

"I'm going to see who came to get Potter off our hands." Draco said and moved to head out when he felt something tugging on his robes. He turned around to see Potter still curled up, eyes still closed, but it was obvious he was awake because he was sitting up slightly and had latched onto Draco's robe as it brushed by him. "You're going to have to let me go Potter if you want me to go get you someone who can actually help you." Draco said. At first Draco thought that Harry wasn't going to let go of him because his hand tightened on the robe then slowly the cloth slid from his hand and Harry fell back against the seat.

"We've got him, you just go." Pansy said as she and Blaise went to Harry's side and helped him sit up Pansy whispering things to him again as Blaise shot Draco a look. Nodding Draco hurried out into the hallway after making sure there was on one out there. Closing the door behind him he stepped off the train calmly and looked around to see if Snape was there. At first Draco didn't see him and started wondering if the professor had gotten his owl. But then he saw him making his way through the swarm of students most of them moving aside when the realized who it was and Draco had to smile a little at that. If any of them knew what Snape was like out of school they would probably think that Snape had an evil twin brother, or rather that Snape was the evil twin. Draco made his way over and could see that Snape was grumbling under his breath a little and smirked a little more. Out of all the students Draco thought it was safe to assume that Harry Potter annoyed the potions teacher more then anyone else ever had in his whole life.

"Where is he?" Snape asked once he was close enough for Draco to hear him without shouting.

"Still on the train. I didn't think it would look good if I carried him off." Draco said and turned leading Snape back onto the train and to the compartment where Harry was only to walk right into Pansy who was making a mad dash off the train.

"Ow, Pan." Draco looked at her and saw the panicked look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" She said and grabbed his hand pulling him along. Snape raised an eyebrow but followed them both quickly. "We told him that you went to get one of the professors and that he would be taken to the hospital wing. He seemed alright but he wasn't saying anything. And then Blaise asked if there was a way for us to contact his family, even though they're muggles Dumbledore might have allowed them to come and see if Harry was alright and he just lost it." Pansy explained quickly as they reached the compartment, the door had been blown off and Blaise was standing in the doorway trying to hold up a shield charm trying to contain whatever it was Harry was doing inside.

"Blaise!" Pansy called to get his attention and let him know that she had brought help. Blaise only spared a glance her way and he looked a little relieved.

"What has that idiot boy done this time?" Snape asked as he stepped over next to Blaise so he could look into the compartment. Harry was on the floor curled up in a tight ball his mouth open in a silent scream as wind seemed to be whirling around inside the small room, an affect from the raw magic that was exploding from the boy. Snape spared a thought to how strong Blaise's shield charm must actually be in order to hold that in there, but it wouldn't last long. "Blaise, you will need to let your shield charm down if I am to get in there and calm Potter down."

"Sir, I think it might be best right now if you knock him out as soon as I let the shield down." Blaise suggested. Snape looked again at Harry then nodded his agreement. It would be best, and easier to help him once he wasn't in such a confined space. Snape held up his wand and nodded for Blaise to let down the shield. A shot of red light came from Snape's wand hitting Harry before the magic shot them both off their feet.

"Ow, shit he has some strong magic." Blaise said as he rubbed his chest where the magic had hit him and thrown him back into the wall.

"It only seemed strong because it was confined in such a small space." Snape said as he stood brushing himself off, stepping into the room he easily lifted Harry up obviously over estimating how much the boy weighed. He was as light as a 12 year old, this caused Snape to frown slightly as he turned and left the compartment. Pansy and Draco helped Blaise up exchanging looks the three of them followed Snape quickly.

----

He was floating; at least, that's what it felt like. But even the light feeling wasn't enough to make the pain go away. He couldn't pinpoint every part of him that hurt, except his eyes. Because those were the only part on him that burned and felt like tiny pins were being stuck into them every time he attempted to open them to see what was going on. There were voices as well, voices he thought he should recognize. That was a girls voice. 'Hermione?' he tried to ask but he couldn’t seem to get enough breath to ask. Then he realized it couldn't be her voice, this voice was much older then Hermione's. But it sounded familiar. It couldn't be his aunt's voice for two very main reasons, one it wasn't shouting at him to get up, and the second was because he knew his aunt was…Harry stopped himself from finishing that thought. He couldn’t think about it, it was too horrible. But even though he told himself he was not going to think about it images started flashing through his head. It was getting harder and harder to breath; he could feel hands closing around his neck cutting off ever last bit of air. His lungs were screaming for air now and he frantically clawed at his neck, or tried to but someone was holding his hands down, he was trapped he couldn't move and he couldn't even manage a tiny breath to ask for help, though it didn't stop him from trying. And then his mouth was held open by a strong hand and something was sliding down his throat smooth and thick and the taste made him gag and cough and he fought against the hands hold him and screamed and at once all the hands hold him vanished and he fell back against something soft, a bed, taking deep breaths now he slowly relaxed as the voices around him continued to talk. And now that he could breath and was awake now, at least, he thought he was awake; he didn't want to open his eyes to find out still afraid of the pain. But dream or not, he listened carefully to what the voices were saying.

"-happened to him?"

"I was hoping you could tell us that Mr. Malfoy."

"I told you, I don't know. I saw him fall through the barrier onto platform nine and three quarters the train was ready to leave so I dragged him on board. Right now I think Pansy and Blaise might know more about what's wrong with him then I do." Draco said in a snappish tone, he didn't mean to sound rude, but he had already been over this story with Snape, and Dumbledore, and McGonagall AND Madam Pomfrey.

"Well? Mr. Zabini?" Pmofrey's voice asked. Blaise sighed.

"Draco came and got me and Pansy since we're doing a self study of healing. Pansy knows more then me at the moment, but I was the one that did the spell to find his injuries and we both healed what we could. I discovered that he had a broken wrist, sprained ankle, a few cracked ribs, a half collapsed lung which is why he was having such a hard time breathing. And he had internal bleeding around his abdomen."

"Is that all?"

"Um…not quite." Pansy spoke up now. "It would also seem there is some saver damage to his eyes, we didn't want to do anything about that incase we made it worse. And there is also some uh….tarring." Pansy said and Draco stared at her. The eyes he knew about, but the tarring? Tarring of what?

"Tarring?" Pomfrey asked also wanting to know full details of what they had found. But before anyone could answer Harry's eyes shot open and he sat up quickly.

"NO!" He yelled but his hands flew to his eyes covering as he fell back onto the bed whimpering as he felt the pins and needles going into his eyes once more. Pomfrey was by his side in an instant trying to pull Harry's hands away from his face but he wouldn't let her. "hurts." He said.

"I know it hurts, but I can't do anything unless you let me see." Pomfrey said, Harry whimpered as he let his hands be pried away from his face but his eyes were still tightly closed. Pomfrey frowned. "Mr. Potter, if you please." Harry shook his head keeping his eyes closed tightly.

"Harry, my boy." A new voice said and Harry froze his head turning to the sound of Dumbledore's voice. "My dear boy." Dumbledore came to stand next to Harry's bed and put a hand on his arm. Harry flinched and pulled his arm away quickly. Dumbledore frowned but didn't attempt to touch him again. "Harry?" Harry made a small noise of enlargement to show that he was listening to the headmaster but nothing more then that. "Harry, I need you to tell me what has happened." Dumbledore said gently. Harry bit his lip and turned away shaking his head refusing to speak now as well. He flinched away when he felt Madam Pomfrey attempting to get a look at his eyes.

"please…" Harry whimpered pitifully as he curled up. Draco stood back with Blaise and Pansy watching this. Dumbledore turned to look at Snape who was staying out of the way watching everything as well waiting to see if he would need to brew any potions. Dumbledore nodded to him and glanced in the direction of the three onlookers. Snape nodded in return before turning his full attention to the trio. "There is nothing more for you to see here. Let us go to the feast, it is likely rumors are already spreading due to the absence of so many teachers the head master and a few students." Snape walked towards them and Draco looked at him and gave one more look in Harry direction before turning on his heels and leaving the room heading for the great hall. Pansy and Blaise followed him quickly.

"He looked so…pathetic." Draco said once they were out of the infirmary.

"what?"

"Potter, I've never seen him look so pathetic so…"

"Broken?" Blaise provided. Draco was silent for a long moment before nodding. It really was the only way to describe the way Harry was acting. What had happened to make him like this? Draco was still curious, but at the same time he didn't think he really wanted to know. How could something be so awful that would tare someone down so much?

"So are we quite sure it wasn't death eaters?" Draco asked.

"I don't think they were involved directly, I mean think about it. If any death eater got their hands on Potter I don't think they would beat him the way he has been. They would bring him strait to the dark lord in hopes of a reward that they would most likely never get."

"That is true. And there's no way I can know if any of them were involved either."

"So it's true then." Pansy said. "That you're not going to join him after school?"

"He wanted me to join this year, but I was able to get out of it until the end of this school year. I don't know yet what I'm going to do about that. But no, I don't think I will be joining him at all." Draco paused and turned to face his friends an icy look set on his face. "And if I find out that either of you have repeated this to ANYONE the cruciatus will feel like a tickling compared to what I will do to you." Blaise blinked at him and then snorted.

"Dray, you should know by now that your threats are pointless against us." He put his arm around Draco's shoulders and turned him around and swung the other one over Pansy's shoulders leading his two friends to the great hall. "Just do us one favor will you Dray? If you plan on making a run for it, let us know so we can come with you alright?" Draco blinked he had heard Blaise talk about that before but he had always taken it as some kind of joke, but now he couldn't help but wonder if Blaise was actually serious.

"You too Pan?" Draco asked.

"Are you implying that I would want to miss out on being shacked up with two of the hottest boys I know?" She grinned at them and both boys laughed.

----

"It's no good headmaster; he simply will not open his eyes. I can attempt to tell what is wrong with them without seeing them. But I can not tell if it was a potion or curse that did the damage." Pomfrey said as she sat down at her desk. She had just given Harry some dreamless sleep potion in hopes that he would get some much needed rest. Even though he had been sleeping all day his body was still recovering from its ordeal.

"Are you quite sure that it was a one of those two things that damaged his eyes? Could it not be caused by something in the muggle world?" Dumbledore asked.

"there is nothing that I know of in the muggle world that can cause that kind of damage without leaving a very noticeable injury. And even those would have been healed when Mr. Zabini and Miss Parkinson cast their healing spells on him. No, the damage done is definitely magical."

"And his other injuries?"

"Beaten, no magic used for those injuries. Everything is healed now except for his eyes. And whatever mental damage he may have from this." She looked at Dumbledore giving him a stern look now. "You know my theories about this boy's well being. And after this Dumbledore, I don't care who the culprit is but I must strongly insist that he does not return to that house ever again." Dumbledore stared at her before letting out a heavy sigh.

"That is one reason why I came here tonight Poppy instead of going to the feast." He said as he looked sadly out the door to the bed where Harry was still fast asleep. "He will not be going back there, even if there were a way for him to he could not. I received a message tonight from a Misses Fig. She is a neighbor of Harry's family." Dumbledore explained. "It would appear that the Dursley's, Harry's only remaining family, were found murdered tonight. No one is clear yet as to what happened, but from the state of Harry's injuries I would say he was there when it happened and was able to get out, though how I am unsure, which is why we must get him to tell us what happened."

Madam Pomfrey stared at Dumbledore in shock. "Do you have any idea who it might have been?" She asked.

"Alas, no. All the evidence points to the idea that it was just a random muggle killing, I can not agree with this given the fact that it was Harry's family attacked and killed. The last protection he had from Voldamort. And now without that there is really no safe place for that boy until the monster has been killed."

"Enough." Pomfrey said. "I will not allow you to send that boy to the wolves after what he has just gone through!"

"I do not ask you to understand Poppy. But I do ask you to try. This boy is the wizarding worlds only hope. The lives of hundreds rest on him."

"He is only sixteen years old Albus! No, I refuse, as his current doctor I am hear by banning you headmaster from visiting him until I am sure that he is stable again. I am sure that Snape has already told you that not only was he injured, but it appears that his magic has been affected as well due to all the stress he is under. Raw magic Albus, it is as dangerous to those around him as it is himself. If he continues to have outbursts it will eventually destroy him. You yourself should know this; it is why we start training wizards at a young age." Pomfrey stood up and began shooing Dumbledore out of the room. "Go, go to the feast and when I think the boy is ready to speak with you then I will send for you and not a moment sooner!" She said sternly as she closed the door in Dumbledore's face. The head master stood there and stared at the door but couldn't help but allow a smile to tug at his lips. The idea of what some people would say if they heard that Albus Dumbledore was just thrown out of a place was highly amusing. Still smiling to himself he turned and headed towards the great hall.

----

‘Forget, please. Just let me forget’ Harry thought to himself as he lay on his bed in the hospital wing. He wasn’t sure what time it was, or how long he had been laying here. But he was sure that the start of term feast was long since over. The castle seemed quiet. Not still, no Hogwarts was never still. Harry had felt this back during first year. Harry had long since come to the conclusion that so much magic was in Hogwarts that it could no longer be considered a building, though Harry still wasn’t sure if the building could be considered ‘alive’ but it was close enough to it. ‘please…I just want to forget.’ Harry thought again. It was then that Harry felt something warm wash over him, it was very similar to the feeling of standing in the cold for far longer then you should have but you never realize how cold you are until you step back inside and you get that first hit of warm air.

“Do you really wish to forget, child?” A voice whispered in his ear and Harry was tempted to jerk away from it but he found it oddly comforting. He nodded hoping that they could see him and when they didn’t say anything else he said in a soft whisper.

“yes.”

“Why do you wish to forget?” The voice asked and Harry frowned, he thought the answer to that would have been obvious, but then he realized it was obvious to himself, and someone else might not understand his reasons behind it. But in order to explain, he would have to tell them and Harry wasn’t sure how, but he knew that this person would want him to tell everything. Harry felt the bed shift as someone sat on it and a cool hand ran through his hair stroking it gently much the way a parent would while comforting their child after a nightmare. At least Harry assumed this is what it would feel like.
“You do not have to be afraid to tell me dear child. For I already know, I have seen into your very being and know what torments you.”

“Then, if you already know, why do I have to tell you?” Harry asked pleading in his voice because he truly did not want to tell anyone the secrets he kept hidden from the world. It was silent for a long moment and if Harry couldn’t still feel the hand running through his hair he would have thought this person had left.

“It is not I you need to tell. Sometimes hearing things out loud for yourself can help make a wiser decision then if you keep it all hidden. I can make you forget, but you must realize what you will be forgetting.” Harry sank further into the bed and sighed loudly. “I will let you think this over. I will visit again at another time, until then rest my child.” The hand vanished from Harry’s hair the bed shifted again as the person stood up. Harry strained his ears listening for footsteps or the sound of a cloak, but he didn’t hear anything. He was tempted to open his eyes but the fear of the pain he knew would come kept him from doing so.

“hello?” Harry called out into the stillness of the room. When there was no answer he pushed himself up on the bed. “Hello?” He called a little louder. The warmness that had washed over him before was now gone, and Harry felt colder than he had ever felt in his life. And the fact that he hadn’t heard anyone leave the room he was sure that whoever that was had to have still been there. But why weren’t they answering now? Harry threw the blankets off himself and climbed out of bed he felt his way along the bed to the end and stood there still straining his ears to listen for any sound at all. He had never noticed before how frightening the stillness of Hogwarts could be; it was almost suffocating. He heard the door across the room start to creek open and he spun around so he was at least facing the door, the quick movement sent Harry’s head spinning and the feeling didn’t stop, and now he was falling he couldn't see where he was falling how close was he to the bed? Would he be lucky and land on that or would he crack his head on the floor. And then just as suddenly as he had started falling he stopped. And there was no throbbing headache from his head connecting with the floor, or the softness of the bed. It felt like he just…stopped.

"Are you stupid?" Draco said as he lifted Harry up and set him back on the bed. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Harry shot back and Draco was surprised to hear Harry sound almost like his old self that he had to wonder if the only thing wrong with the other boy now was the fact that he refused to open his eyes.

"I couldn't sleep actually so I was taking a walk and I thought I heard someone talking in here so I came to see who it was." Draco explained sitting down in a chair next to the bed. Harry frowned and lowered his head. Draco watched him and couldn't help but wonder if Harry had fallen asleep, it would be just like the boy to do something stupid like falling asleep while sitting up like that.

"that wasn't you…?" Harry asked in an almost frightened whisper.

"What wasn't me?"

"You weren't in here a few moments ago, asking me to talk to you?" Draco shook his head and then remembered that Harry had his eyes closed.

"No, I just got in here when you spun around and nearly cracked your head open." Draco leaned back in his chair. "Was there someone else in here? Because I didn't see anyone come out." Draco glanced around the dark room wondering if whoever Harry was talking to could still be in the room. Not that he would be able to see anyone since the room was like an endless shadow. "whoever it was though is gone now. Maybe you were dreaming." Draco suggested looking back at Harry.

"I was NOT dreaming." Harry protested crossing his arms over his chest and Draco was sure that Harry wanted to glare at him right now. The more they talked, the more Draco was finding it irritating that the boy refused to open his eyes when there didn't seem to be anything wrong with him.

"Alright, so you weren’t dreaming. Then what did this person look like?"

"…I don't know, I didn't open my eyes to look."

"And why won't you open your eyes? You seem perfectly fine to me." Draco taunted, it had been driving him crazy all day that he was actually and truly worried about Harry Potter, and had even dragged his friends along for the ride. Not that Blaise and Pansy seemed to mind, it gave them both a chance to show off skills that no other Slytherin had and they had actually spent the night privately gloating about it. Not that anyone other than Draco knew what they were talking about, but it was fun just the same.

Harry stood up quickly. "I don't open them you wise ass because it HURTS! It doesn't hurt when I keep them closed." Harry said loudly.

"Poor pitiful Potter. Not enough drama in your life?" Draco really didn't know where any of this was coming from. Why now? Because Harry seemed to be healthy enough didn't mean he was whole again. If Draco had stopped and thought about it, he might have been more worried about the fact that Harry seemed to bounce back far to quickly from an ordeal that was sure to leave scars on any person. So it surprised Draco when Harry actually opened his eyes in order to see where he was swinging the punch. Draco was able to catch it easily enough and smirked at Harry who was glaring back at him with a fire in his eyes that Draco could recognize, and the blond boy took pride in the fact that to his knowledge he was the only one who could get a look like that from Harry. "So, pitiful Potter can see after all." Draco said still holding the fist that had been aimed at his head. Harry blinked at him as he too realized that he had his eyes open and it didn't hurt; well there were still a slight pain in them but nothing like before. He was just beginning to think that perhaps the pain had been because he was so tired. This thought had only finished forming in his head when the room was flooded with light as Madam Pomfrey came in.

"Mr Malfoy what is going on in here?" She asked and had only taken a single step towards the two boys. Draco didn't answer because he was watching Harry's eyes as they seemed to fog over giving him a slightly glassy look before he screamed stumbling back his hands flying to cover his eyes again. Pomfrey had only caught another glimpse of Harry's eyes again, but it was a longer glimpse then before. "by the founders. It can't be." She said in a shocked whisper, waving her wand the lights went out and she went over to Harry's bed where the boy was curled up trying to hide his face. "Harry, Harry look at me. The lights are out now; you can open your eyes again. I promise it won't hurt any more." She said gently. Shakily Harry looked up at her slowly opening his eyes that were back to normal again. She smiled at him and nodded. "There you go. Alright can you sit up?" It was going to be hard to inspect Harry's eyes in the dark but now that she already had her suspicions it was all she could do. "Alright now keep looking at me Harry. I need you to do me a favor and keep your eyes open. This is going to hurt a little bit but it is the only way to find out for sure if my theory is correct." Harry whimpered his hands already moving back to cover his eyes. "It will only last a moment I promise.' She said. "Are you ready?" Harry stared at her, he wasn't ready. He didn't like that pain; it seemed to be getting worse and worse every time he felt it. What if this time it didn't stop? But he nodded anyway. He heard Pomfrey mutter 'lumos' before his eyes were flooded with light again before he even had time to register the pain the light was gone.

"Alright dear, I am going to ask you to close your eyes for me. You were correct in keeping them closed, however I am afraid that will not be enough." Using a summoning charm Pomfrey got some bandages and began wrapping Harry's eyes in them. "I am afraid that this is all we can do for now."

Draco was reluctant to say anything and remind Madam Pomfrey that he was here. But he wanted to know "What's wrong with him?" He asked. Pomfrey didn't even spare him a glance. "No one is sure of the true cause of this. The only thing most healers can agree on is that it is a side affect of a very strong magical backlash. Much like how you witnessed Potter's raw magic on the train. Only this is confined within the body."

"…You make it sound as if Potter was using his magic to attack himself."

"I think it's more of his magic was attacking him. There are many, many side effects from this and it can manifest in many ways. But there are always certain signs to look for." She lay Harry back down on the bed; he was shaking again and felt weak and tired. "In this case it seems to be affecting his eyes." She explained as she stood up and turned to look at Draco. "Magic is a strange thing Mr. Malfoy, even to those of us who have been born and raised in this world can not even begin to comprehend such a force, guess work and chance makes up 90% of our world. So right now there is nothing more I can do to help Mr. Potter." She said motioning for Draco to follow her to her office and let Harry get some more sleep.

"Why are you telling me this?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow as he followed her cautiously.

"That boy has gone through so much already. A person's life story can be written in many ways. And it is not easy for me to admit that the best for that boy out there; is you. He does not need friends that are going to coddle him and do things for him. He must keep his eyes bandaged during all hours of the day, and at least once a night his bandages need to be changed and washed. He will need to learn to do these things on his own because I do not know how long his eye site will remain this way."

"I’ll ask again, why are you telling ME this?"

"Think of this as my detention for you." Pomfrey said smiling at the boy. "Unless you would like me to fetch one of the professors to give you a proper detention?" Draco glared at her, none of the teachers would be happy with being dragged out of bed during this time of night to deal with a single student that was out of bed. And a student that should have known better.

"So you want me to babysit Potter is that it?"

"More or less. I know you do not have the best of history with each other. And it is because of that, that I am asking you to do this. You are the only one that may be able to help him learn how to do things on his own. Because for right now, Harry is going to have to learn how to live blind."

TBC>>>

Yay another chapter. So this one took me a couple days due to the fact that I've been working 9 hours for about two days in a row and I'm dead on my feet. So yay for four reviews and yay for over 400 hits! And yet again I do not have a beta reader. So yeah. Once I do have one these chapters will be fixed up a bit if there are any mistakes (which I am sure there are a LOT of them) but right now spell check is my friend. So here is chapter three, and now to start on chapter four.