Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) 25th Chapter ( Chapter 25 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Anything you recognize is property of JK Rowling. Additionally this is not my story. I am uploading this to my own account in support of the author the story belongs to who has been struggling with hackers.

The thing I've most been dreading as a fan is that the story would be removed from the site by the hackers and the author wouldn't have access to their old chapters when the situation was eventually brought under control in the event the site moderators wouldn't be able to give the author their account back.

For anyone interested the author goes by Hancock23 on Fanfiction -dot- net. I will remove the story from my account when Hancock23 has gotten the story safely uploaded elsewhere or has been safely given their account back on Fanfiction -dot- net. Without further ado I give you a backup upload of: Behind the Fog by Hancock23.

PS: This Backup Upload contains minor edits for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Plus some rewording/restructuring of sentences so they make better sense and flow better. Hope you don't mind me becoming something of a Beta Reader for this Backup Upload Hancock23.

Chapter 25 - Beautiful Lady

After the letter sending incident in the middle of the night, Malfoy hadn't done anything suspicious and Harry was getting antsy since all Malfoy seemed to do was study. The boy spent hours poring over books in his library and finishing essays. Harry made sure to confirm that by checking his books whenever the Slytherin took short bathroom breaks.

What he did not know was that Draco had not been placed in Slytherin on a fluke and he deliberately disillusioned his work to appear like his homework.

Fortunately, Draco took breaks to read manga or engage in a game of chess, but in as much as Harry enjoyed spending those times with Malfoy, he was dying to go out for a fly now that the bond had let up enough to allow them time apart. Unfortunately, he had gained an unhealthy paranoia, and he couldn't help thinking that Malfoy would take his absence as an opportunity to go get up to something. It was driving him bonkers, and he was even contemplating the thought of asking Malfoy to go flying with him so that he can fly and watch him at the same time.

Finally, on the fourth day after Malfoy had sent the mysterious letters, Harry resolved to ask him to go flying, maybe have a seekers game or something since neither had been able to play Quidditch for a long time now. He had decided to do it when they met for their shared History of Magic class right before lunch.

During breakfast following his decision, Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, directly across from Draco; an intense look on his face as he stared at the boy as if he could stare Malfoy into plastering all his secrets on his face. It was only because he was staring so hard that he noticed Malfoy's odd behaviour before everyone else. Malfoy seemed to be struggling to stay awake, which was weird since Harry knew that the Slytherin had slept normally the night before, plus he didn't think that Draco would display such bad table manners even in private let alone in front of everyone.

He watched him attempt to say something to Parkinson, but if the look on the girl's face was anything to go by, whatever Malfoy was saying was not making sense to her. Frowning a little in concern now, Harry continued to watch closely and not a few seconds later, the blonde attempted to stand only to fall over, but luckily, Parkinson caught him before his face smashed in a bowl of eggs sitting on the table directly in front of him.

Without thought of what he was doing, Harry was out of his seat and running towards the Slytherin table, but Parkinson saw him before he could get there.

"Don't come any closer Potter." She shouted and those who hadn't been wondering why Harry was sprinting across the hall, now looked, and an excited chatter broke out.

"What is going on Mr Zabini?" Severus asked, as he walked over briskly from his place at the teacher's table. Blaise was now helping his girlfriend carry the weight of their unconscious friend, and they gently placed him on the bench as they waited for Snape to reach them.

"I think Draco has been poisoned." Pansy said urgently, and Harry forgot about the threatening tone she had used to ask him to keep away as he ran the rest of the way. "He said something about a naked lady before he lost consciousness."

The hall had gone deadly silent as she spoke as if there was a mutual understanding between the occupants that they were to keep their mouths shut so that every detail of the interaction could be clearly heard for later disambiguation. Nonetheless, some of the students mostly from the Gryffindor side of the room could not help but snigger when they heard what Malfoy had said before his sudden collapse.

If anyone were keeping a close eye, they would have noticed that most of the studious students including Hermione Granger and all the Ravenclaws had a pensive look at the statement. Most of the student body however associated the odd statement with hallucination and could not help but be consumed by unholy glee at the thought of a hallucinating Malfoy.

"Belladonna then?" The Potions Master stated, as he hoisted Draco into his arms making sure not to bang any of his godson's limp limbs on the table and bench. It would have been easier to use a levitation charm, but no one wanted to note that to the dour man especially when every line in his body betrayed an uncharacteristic tension to any who knew him well enough to suggest such a thing.

"Zabini, go to the dungeons and grab a bezoar from the cupboards. Parkinson, make yourself useful and grab whatever Mr. Malfoy was having before the sudden collapse. Potter, lead the way to the East tower." Snape said in a voice that brokered no argument, but Harry must not have been astute enough to notice that because he chose to question the man nonetheless.

"Shouldn't we take him to the Hospital Wing?" He asked, his tone of voice implying that he thought Malfoy desperately needed Madam Pomfrey and he did not understand why Snape intended to deny him that.

"Potter, I don't remember anyone asking for your bloody opinion, so shut your trap and do as you are told." Pansy said harshly and angrily. The stress of the situation was clearly getting to her and knowing that the girl would not callously endanger Draco no matter what, Harry decided to disregard every instinct in his body that was screaming that they should head to the hospital wing instead of the tower.

Without another word, he began the tension filled trek to the East tower ignoring the curious looks directed his way from his friends and the headmaster who had not made a move to leave his seat at the high table during the entire debacle. Pansy followed behind with the jug and cup of Draco's coffee, and Blaise showed up a few minutes after they had placed Draco in his bed with a bezoar which the Potions Master proceeded to stuff in the Slytherin's mouth.

The group of four watched as the substance dissolved in Draco's mouth and they all released a relieved breath as his breathing became easier. It was hours though before his fever broke and he fell into a peaceful sleep devoid of the delirious mumbling that had been plaguing his rest. The four of them stood vigil over Draco for the entire day and night, none of them willing to leave his side for a minute even when Severus stated that it would take awhile for him to regain consciousness.

Malfoy's color was returning steadily as the hours passed and Harry let out a breath he had not known he had been holding, but he did not fully relax until Draco regained consciousness almost a day later down to the hour of poisoning. He was weak and was only awake long enough to assure them that he would be alright before falling asleep again, but Harry was glad for the assurance.

Without the worry that had kept everything else at bay, the four realised that they were famished and tired having not eaten or had more than a few winks of sleep in the last twenty-four hours, so they allowed Dobby to keep watch of Draco as they dashed to the great hall for breakfast. Harry had wanted to stay and eat in the room but he knew that his friends would likely show up at his door if he did not go down for breakfast.

Reluctantly, he made the walk down and instantly regretted his decision to not eat in the tower the moment he noticed the curious stares sent his way the moment he stepped into the hall. He had expected the curiosity but mixed in with the curiosity; he saw pity, anger, and a myriad of other emotions that he did not understand until he was presented with the daily prophet the moment he took his seat next to Ginny. He really should have expected it but even knowing the depths that Rita Skeeter would go to for a story, he had not thought she would sink that low.

Draco Malfoy wants to be pretty for Harry Potter.

Harry's mouth dropped open at the heading of the front-page article and for a moment thought that someone was playing a very awkward joke on him until he read the accompanying article.

Draco Malfoy, bonded of our saviour caused yet another commotion yesterday when he was poisoned and unfortunately managed to survive the poisoning. Before he collapsed in a dead faint, Malfoy supposedly said 'Naked Lady,' which is another name for 'The Beautiful Lady' or even more commonly, Belladonna. It is a fact that the poison is tasteless when ingested so there is no way that Malfoy could have known the poison that was used against him if he was indeed poisoned. This reporter has hazarded a guess, and many would agree that the most likely explanation is that Malfoy used the poison cosmetically and accidentally poisoned himself.

For those who may not know, Belladonna is commonly used by women to promote pupilar dilation. Widely dilated pupils are perceived as a sign of beauty, and according to eyewitness accounts, Malfoy is very particular and vain about his looks. It does not take much to come to the conclusion that Malfoy has found himself attracted to the "boy who lived" after spending many months in close proximity to him; and that he is now desperate enough in his attempts to gain the saviour's attention that he has resorted to this dangerous method.

One student said, "Malfoy is an attention whore; He wants to take Harry from his chosen love." Pardon the crude language, but it is the policy of the Daily Prophet to report statements as they are presented to our reporters.

Once again, this reporter would like to urge the Ministry and the headmaster of Hogwarts to take steps before Draco Malfoy decides that Ginevra Weasley is in the way of his desire and does away with her.

Harry did not bother checking the continuation of the story on page seven and instead dropped the paper like it was a nasty thing that had suddenly appeared in his hand and one that he could not stomach being in contact with for longer than necessary.

"What the hell is this?" He asked in shock, and stood up from the table in a desperate attempt to distance himself from the ridiculous article.

"Malfoy is dangerous Harry." Hermione said, picking up the paper that Harry had dropped, her face set in a look that Harry had seen numerous times over the years; one that he usually associated with a long lecture he could do without at the moment. Uncharacteristically, he found himself squashing a sneer that was threatening to take over his face and instead let the incredulity he felt show.

"He is a Malfoy, Harry." Ron said, his face a mask of distaste as if the very thought of the name left a bad taste in his mouth and it probably did, but Harry could no longer feel the same distaste.

Not after all that had happened in the past couple of months, and he found himself wanting to defend Draco, but he didn't know what he could say at that very moment. "They are used to getting what they want, and Ginny could become collateral damage if you don't do something about it." Ron continued, and Harry suppressed the desire to ask what exactly they expected him to do.

"It's true Harry." Ginny made her voice heard. "Don't you see the way he looks at me? He is jealous of me." There was some pride in her voice that made Harry uncomfortable; because it seemed to imply that she took great delight in having something Malfoy wanted but couldn't have.

Putting his discomfort aside for later examination, Harry let the chocked laughter that had been bubbling in his throat come forth, and the great hall watched in alarm as he burst out into hysterical laughter. Maybe it was the stress of the last few hours or the confusion of finding it hard to sympathise with his friends about the situation, but he could not make himself stop. Hermione was about to suggest the hospital wing when he finally managed to bring himself under control and after wiping the tears that had trailed down his face; he adopted a serious look as he recalled the conversation he had had with Malfoy just a few days ago.

Do you care now? Harry had asked, and he remembered the answer he had received very clearly.
No, I haven't started to care.

Sighing in resignation, Harry made himself speak. "Listen," he said slowly as if he was talking to slow-witted children; and he might as well have been; because he doubted they would believe a single word he said. Nevertheless, he continued.

"Me, you, the Wizarding World on the whole really; we have nothing that Draco Malfoy wants. It is the height of ignorance to think we are important enough to him to affect his decisions and actions in any way. At this point in time and after everything that has happened, only someone with the mental capacity of a toddler would believe this crap." Harry said with a quiet anger that both surprised and discomforted several people in the hall; including the headmaster who narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Harry was angry with his friends because they were acting like they usually did; and somehow that no longer felt right but more so, he was angry with himself because he wanted Malfoy to be affected by him. It was a disturbing realization and losing his appetite; he started to head out of the hall.

"Where are you going Harry?" Ginny shouted at him.

"To sleep obviously!" He shouted back. "Like any decent human being, I naturally couldn't sleep last night and risk waking up next to a corpse." He said, and this time he could not restrain the sneer that appeared on his face causing eyes to narrow even more.

The entire hall stared at his back in shock as the door closed behind him. He hadn't had such an outburst in ages, but to his defense, he was tired, worried and just...angry. It's not like his friends and girlfriend had poisoned Malfoy; and he would undoutedly apologize later for shouting at them, but right now, he simply couldn't deal with irrational comments borne of hate.

Harry walked quickly to the East tower and found that none of the others had come back to the room for which he was grateful. Methodically, he stripped down to his boxers, but didn't have the energy to put on his pyjamas, so he slipped into bed as he was and like usual, brought Malfoy into his arms and fell asleep immediately.

Severus found them like that when he returned to the room later in the day. He had heard about the commotion in the hall, and for hours he sat looking at them sleep, and he wondered what would happen to them. They were both changing, and while Draco was ruled by his logic, Harry was ruled by his emotions; and at the moment, those were out of whack.

Harry was confused, and even if he ever got past his confusion, Severus didn't know if Draco would or could accept Harry. Love and all that emotion may be enough for Harry, but it was not enough for Draco.

He needed so much more than love before he even thought of accepting Harry into his life and Severus hoped that Harry would realise that before long. Draco kept on walking forward without looking back; and soon enough Harry may find that he can no longer spot Draco's back in the distance. Severus did not want that to happen to them. He didn't want them to be a victims of life and timing, like he had been with Lily Evans.

It was almost time for dinner when Draco woke up again, and for reasons Harry did not care to explore even under threat of torture, he had been watching Draco sleep for hours. He couldn't say what he had been looking at, but he had been fascinated all the same. He had been entranced by the way Draco seemed to pout in his sleep and the way he tended to unconsciously follow Harry whenever the Gryffindor had tried to leave the bed for some reason or other. In his sleep, Draco was angelic, and Harry marvelled at the grace in his movements as the Slytherin stretched his limbs as his body and mind woke from the long slumber.

"Are you finally awake or what?" Harry asked, when Draco had fully opened his eyes.

"No genius, I'm still sleeping." Malfoy said, as he rolled his eyes; and Harry couldn't help the smile and blush that came over his face. The Slytherin was fine if he had the cheek to sound so condescending first thing after a poisoning.

"Was it my coffee?" The blonde asked.

"Yes." Harry confirmed. He explained that the Potions Master had run several tests on the coffee and had found an extract of Atropa Belladonna in the beverage. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel okay, just a little nausea but that is to be expected." Draco answered.

"Should I get a potion for that?" Harry asked in concern and made to stand, but Draco pulled him back to the bed. "It will pass; as I said, it's to be expected."

Harry was doubtful on the wisdom of leaving it be, but he let it go with the promise that he would call for Severus if it did not pass. "By the way, how did you know that it was belladonna?"

There was no accusation in Harry's voice; not that Draco knew there was a reason Harry would be accusing him of poisoning himself; just plain curiosity.

"Actually, I didn't." Draco said much to Harry's disbelief.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"I just guessed." He answered, and Harry was hard pressed to keep from shouting at the blonde. What did he mean that he had just guessed? What would have happened if he had been wrong? Harry tried not to think of that possibility and brought his mind back to Malfoy who was speaking again.

"I remembered that Madam Sprout's fifth-year herbology students have been harvesting belladonna for the last few weeks. The symptoms I felt at that moment felt very much like belladonna, so I was pretty sure of my guess. I just assumed that someone has a very morbid sense of humour." Draco shrugged nonchalantly, but Harry could hear the bitterness in his voice, and it made him angrier at the person who had done this. Something in what Draco had said nagged at his brain but before he could give it much thought, Draco broke the silence.

"How is Biddy?" He asked.

"Beside herself." Harry answered truthfully, and Draco frowned despite the fact that he had expected that very answer. "She left the coffee brewing for a moment to tend someting else in the kitchens, and didn't see who did it. She has been bawling since you fainted yesterday.'

"I did not faint." Draco said with a straight face; and Harry did not know whether to be amused or concerned by his husband's blatant denial of reality. After a few minutes where nothing was said, Draco sighed and called the little elf and true to Potter's words; the elf was inconsolable.

"Biddy, is this how a Malfoy elf should behave?" Draco asked in a firm voice, and the house-elf stopped crying immediately. She straightened her back, and in his mind, Harry had the mental image of a soldier being called to attention.

"Biddy is sorry she is letting master be poisoned." Draco nodded. "Biddy is taking more care with master's food from now on."

Even though Draco wanted to say that it was not the elf's fault, he knew that it would do no good so he let her say her piece. "Thank you, Biddy." The elf bowed. "Now Biddy, I am feeling a bit tired and hungry." Harry would have laughed at the eager look that came over Biddy, had Draco not sent him a dangerous glare that warned him against that very action. "Won't you take care of me for a bit?"

"Biddy is taking care of her master Draco." She agreed happily. "Biddy is making master something special." She was gone before Draco could say more

"You really know how to handle her." Harry said, and took note of what to do if he ever found Dobby bawling like that.

"Of course." Malfoy said with a smile. "Nothing can take her mind off negative things quite like the happiness she feels when taking care of me." He smirked.

"How arrogant." Harry said smiling indulgently.

"I am her favourite person Potter, and coincidentally, she is one of mine."

"Really? An elf as one of your favourite people?" Harry asked sceptically.

"Don't be so surprised Potter; A person's worth has little to do with their species." Malfoy said seriously. 'You will sometimes find the best allies, in the most unlikely of places."

"I will keep that in mind Malfoy." Harry said, and he truly meant it. Dobby had helped him many times, and he did consider him to be one of his better friends when he was not trying to help him, because that just never ended well for him.

In the lightest mood since the poisoning, Harry changed the subject, "What do you want to do as we wait?" he asked.

"I can think of a lot of things I want to do." Draco winked before he continued. "But I was not exaggerating when I said I am a bit tired. Can we just sit and talk?"

"Anything you want." Harry answered with a smile; and leaned back on the headboard of their bed. Pulling Draco so that his blonde head leaned on his shoulder came as natural to Harry as flying always had.

Uploader's Note: This Has Been A Backup Upload of Chapter 25 of Behind the Fog by Hancock23.