Taken

Body



Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Harry Potter and company. Not that I haven't tried, but my demon minions have really been letting me down. They still haven't been able to...er... persuade JK Rowling that I can have them. I mean honestly, why does she still want them? She should really just hand them over. So, since I don't own them, don't sue me. It doesn't make any sense, considering I am 'borrowing' them. Permission you ask? Who needs permission. Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha

Chapter 8:

Later that day, Severus made his way back to the infirmary to check on the boy who had been plaguing his thoughts all day. He really needed to get some sort of hobby other potion making, something that could keep his mind off the boy, potions due to always thinking about Longbottom and how he might destroy the entire school, and dealing with everything the Headmaster wanted of him. Rubbing his hands over his face while breathing deeply, Severus pushed his hair out of his face, schooling his features back to the evil, mean Potions master everyone knew and hated before entering. It wouldn't do for his reputation he had worked on for years being destroyed by one mere boy; one boy that he was suppose to fervently hate.

Upon seeing the boy laying on his bed, fast asleep, Severus couldn't help but to allow a small smirk to over take his face, showing a single true emotion for an instant before it was quickly squashed into his calmed features. "How is he, Poppy?" He asked as though he didn't really care, or that he was bored in having to be here inquiring after the boy.

"He...well...oh, Severus, I don't know. There is nothing physically wrong with the boy. I can't do anything for him, and it's tearing me apart inside. I can't stand to watching him rocking back and forth, muttering, occasionally banging his hands to his head." Shaking her head, a solitary tear slid down the cool medi-witch's face. She normally could handle any type of situation, but this one had her at her wits end. She was never very good with emotions. "Oh! And that damn dog, Severus, it's got to go!"

Laughing quietly to himself, Severus looked over at the growling dog that was muzzled and petrified on the other side of the infirmary. "I'm afraid that isn't really a possibility, Poppy; he is the boy's seeing eye dog. We can't just let it wander around unchecked. He should always be with the boy." Smirking at the glowering canine, Severus pulled a chair beside the slumbering boy's bed. "I assume you gave him a 'Dreamless Sleep' potion." He really wasn't asking; he knew that is what had been administered to the boy.

"Yes. I felt bad because he didn't want to take it. I had to hide it in his drink, lying to him to get him to drink it. When he realized, he got this overly scandalized look on his face." Wringing her hands in worry, Poppy hoped that the boy wouldn't stay mad at her. "I just couldn't watch him like that anymore. I had to bring him some sort of reprieve from his memories."

"Hmm...quite understandable. I'm sure he will understand." Keeping his eyes firmly on the boy of their discussion, Poppy realized that she had been subtly told that their conversation was over. Huffing at the abrupt ending of their discussion, Poppy dismissed herself, leaving Severus to his silent contemplation.

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Mind constantly wandering, Draco silently huffed to himself. How was he actually expected to pay attention to anything that was being said while a tragically beautiful boy was waylaid in the hospital in emotional trauma? This was a barbaric torture! All this waiting; no word on how Harry was. Draco was ready to tear his platinum blonde hair from his head. Growling in anger at a fellow Slytherin, who had the gaul to ask him what was wrong, Draco quickly gathered his books when the last bell of the day wrung, practically sprinting to the Hospital Wing to see the raven haired boy.

Entering the Wing, Draco wasn't even slightly perturbed to see Severus sitting in a chair, looking completely oblivious to the entire world. Sitting next to his Head of House, Draco silently watched the sleeping boy on the bed. He was overjoyed to see that a 'Dreamless Sleep' potion must have been administered, giving Harry time away from his memories. Draco couldn't stand to see him in such pain. Hearing a quiet whimpering, Draco looked around the barely lit room, his eyes resting on a hulking, black figure that was gagged and petrified further down the room. Deciding to further investigate what this was, Draco laughed out loud, quickly clapping a hand to his mouth to not wake anyone up, when he noticed the 'Grim' glarin him him. He couldn't believe that the 'infamous' Sirius Black had let a medi-witch get the best of him. The top Aurors of the Ministry, and the Dementors and Death Eaters, could not get their hands on him, but a medi-witch does. This is too rich. I bet Sev had a field day with this. Shaking his head, Draco felt some pity for the animal, but wasn't stupid enough to release him. He knew that Madame Pomfrey didn't like the dog, and he didn't want to be banned from the Infirmary for the entire duration that Harry had to stay there.

Sending an apologetic look towards the bound mutt, Draco turned back towards Harry only to be distracted by obsidian eyes glaring menacingly at him. "You woke me, obnoxious brat," Severus snarled half heartedly. It actually warmed his heart that Draco already cared enough for Harry to visit him in the Hospital Wing. It should that even though he was a Malfoy, he wasn't a cold hearted bastard like everyone thought.

Chuckling, Draco said, "Sorry, sir. I tried to be quiet, but...hehe, seeing Black like that was too funny to pass up without some sort of laugh." Becoming more serious, he said, "Sir, how is Harry? He'll be all right, won't he?"

Smiling in a fatherly fashion, Severus got out of his chair, walking to Draco and ruffling his blonde hair. "Yes, Harry will be just fine. We're going to have to help him deal with him memories though; those are things that he'll never fully get over. My concern right now is you. How are you? I know you seemed to take this all rather hard." Looking in concern at the boy, Severus could tell that he was going to try to mask his true emotions, but one look from him, and the boy opened up.

"It's Hell on me. I don't understand, but I seem to be emotionally attached to Harry already. I-I don't like seeing him in pain. I don't like to see people being mean to him, hurting his feelings, or anything of the like. It also drives me nuts when other people pay attention to him; this feeling doesn't distinguish between friendly attention and other attention." Blushing, he stammered out his next sentence. "I-it's almost like I'm j-jealous." Gulping, he looked into the eyes' of his mentor.

Hehe, the silly boy doesn't seem to realize that he is attracted to the boy. Whoever thought that Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy, would ever fall for Harry Potter, son of the notorious prankster, James Potter. Now this is a true laugh. I bet James would think it is a riot, wasting no time in rubbing it in Lucius and Narcissa's faces. Sometimes I'm glad he's dead. Not that anyone deserves to die in the way that he did, and not that he deserved to die so young. Oh boy, the boy is looking at me like I'm demented. Guess I shouldn't spend so much time thinking.

"Well, I think these emotions are quite normal for someone who is falling in love."

"What!?" Blushing to his roots, Draco was doing a fair impression of a tomato, or Ron Weasley when he was embarrassed or angry. "I-I'm not falling in love with anyone!"

"Sure you aren't. You can keep deluding yourself, or you can face the facts that you fancy Harry Potter, and then do something about it. I'm sure he wouldn't turn you down; just not quite yet though. Give him a little more time." Smirking at the overly flustered boy, Severus wondered how he got such good grades, but could still act like such a naive child when it came to matters of the heart. "Now, I think that it is time for dinner. Go on. You don't need to starve yourself."

"And you? Do you mean to starve yourself?" Looking pointedly at the man, Draco lost some of his stern look, coming into a bewildered facial expression when Severus let out a bark of laughter.

"Oh don't worry about me. If I know the Headmaster well, which I do, he'll show up with dinner for me. He expects me to keep an eye on the boy, to be here for him should he awaken and need comforting. Honestly, sometimes I wonder what makes the man think I make such a good father figure. I've never had children of my own."

"Pity, I think you would have made an excellent father." Leaving the infirmary quickly, Draco didn't give Severus time to comment on what he had said, instead making a fast retreat to the Great Hall. Besides, he was sure that Severus wouldn't be very appreciative of that comment; he was a rather strange man. Draco wasn't sure he would ever be able to figure him out.

Reaching the doors, Draco carelessly through them open, opting to enter like a true Malfoy, aloof and uncaring, as though the entire world was simply waiting with baited breath for his arrival to everything. Ignoring all the accusatory and angry glares, he held his nose up hoitily as he made his way to his normal seat at the Slytherin table. Sliding into his seat, he used impeccable mannes hes he commenced with his meal, making idle chat as everything went on.

"Hey, Drake, how's Harry?" Chantel Avery asked the boy. Looking at the girl, Draco finally placed where he recognized her from. She was the seventh year Slytherin that had been helping Harry at dinner his first night at the Slytherin table. It pleased him that she still cared enough about him to ask even though she was no longer helping him.

"He'll be all right, but this isn't the sort of thing that I want to talk about at the dinner table. We can have a more detailed discussion in the common room. But thank you for your concern, Chantel." Giving pointed looks to the other Slytherins, Draco stood, turning to Chantel with his hand held out to her. "If you'd like, my lady, we could adjourn now to have our little discussion." Raising an elegant eyebrow at her, he awaited her reply.

Taking his hand in hers, she smiled softly at the younger boy. "I'd be honored. Shall we then?"

Helping her up from her seat, Chantel and Draco made their way out of the Great Hall and back to the common room. Many whispers followed their departure, but they ignored everyone else.

"Well, hmph. Like I care how Perfect Potter is doing," Pansy huffed, throwing her spoon down into her soup. "I don't like him. He takes my Dray's attention away from me."

Rolling his eyes, Blaise said, "I don't think he was ever yours to start with, and you should care; Harry is a Slytherin now." Throwing his napkin on his plate in disgust, Blaise left the Great Hall deciding that he wanted to know how Harry was also. Watching him leave, both Crabbe and Goyle followed. If Draco cared for and accepted Harry, then they wouldn't be stupid enough to not come to accept him as well. If one wanted to survive their time at Hogwarts in Slytherin, then they didn't go against Draco Malfoy, or any Malfoy for that matter.

TBC

Well, there you go. I'm sorry! I know it's been a while since I updated, but I was stuck. Again. Hehe, that seems to happen on this story. Oh well. At least I put something up. Hopefully you enjoyed this. If not, I'm sorry. Please leave me a review; I'll be eternally grateful if you do.