Chapter Text
When the sun finally rose for the next day, Harry had barely slept.
Draco's body was still lifeless and lying on the transfigured bathroom door. Which was now a bathroom door again, mostly it seemed because of anti-vandalism runes that had kicked in and overrode his own transfiguration. But the bathroom had finally dried out by then.
Harry could not believe that all that blood had been carried away without so much as leaving a stain on the tile. It should not wash clean like that. Not all of that blood.
Regardless, the sun rose and slowly Harry became aware of a commotion outside.
Harry's heart started pounding rapidly. It had not been real before when Draco had been talking about how this was a bad look, but this was still a murder! They were gonna send him to Azkaban! And then *he* was gonna be murdered by Voldemort! Dumbledore probably meant for him to escape last night, but he'd just stayed here like an idiot because he was guilty! Voldemort was gonna kill him, or worse! HIs friends were gonna have to rescue him and then get killed in the process! Assuming he still had friends after this! He was a murderer! He was gonna die!
Harry scrambled to his feet. It was fine! He'd just had a brilliant plan! A place he could go where no one would find him! No one but him could go down into the Chamber of Secrets, and the entrance was right there!
He'd just sneak out at night and steal food from the kitchens! Heck! He would not even have to steal because Dobby would probably just help him and Dobby was a free elf and no one would ever be able to make him do anything he did not want to do, so he would not turn him in. And it was all gonna be fine!
Draco's translucent form was sleeping leaning against a wall, but awoke groggily as Harry jostled the door they'd both been perched on.
"G'morning Potter," the ghost said, before bolting upright, "Bloody Hell! Oh shit! Oh no! No! I can't be dead! Dying was just a dumb escape fantasy dream! I can't afford this! I can't do this! NO!"
Harry ignored him, as he scrambled for the sink, tripping and falling on his face, and then getting up just as quickly to face the little snake design. He hesitated. He could not just disappear. Hermione and Ron would be so worried. He'd have to let them know somehow. He could tell Malfoy to pass on a message? Not that he could trust Malfoy to deliver it. What was he mental?
He'd just have to figure it out himself. Yup, he thought a bit hysterically, he could send a message. Not like he had not managed it properly to save Sirius' life. Ha!
"Malfoy, could you let Ron and Hermione know that I have not died, and I'm just in hiding so I can't be sent to Azkaban?"
"What are you on about Potter?" the ghost asked him judgmentally, "You can't be in hiding in a bathroom. That's ridiculous, and the corridors are already full of students. And what are you gonna do, sneak into Hogsmeade via one of your secret passages and---" The ghost frowned. "You actually could, could not you." He was quiet and shocked, mouth parted with dawning understanding but his face grew thunderous.
"You could run away like a coward." Malfoy said angrily, "So much for bloody Gryffindor."
"There's no other choice!" screamed Harry. "It's run away or Azkaban! It's run away or get killed by Voldemort when he inevitably pays me a visit in Bloody Azkaban!"
"YOU PROMISED! YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD SAVE MY PARENTS!" screamed Malfoy.
"I can't save anyone if I'm dead!" thundered Harry!
Draco pursed his lips. "You're not even trying!" wailed Draco. "Do you really think they'll send you the bloody Savior to Azkaban? Who the fuck do you think you are? Bloody Dumbledore will never allow it!"
"Half the ministry already wants me there!" screamed Harry, "and how's Dumbledore gonna stop this? Oh I'm sorry it was an accident, please don't send me to Azkaban?" Harry bit out sarcastically.
Malfoy seemed to collect himself. Flipping his head to the side for a moment, "Calm down Potter," he said calmly, "think for half a second." He made significant eye contact with Harry as he spoke calmly, "Albus Dumbledore is more powerfully connected and in control than the minister for Bloody Magic, with more invested in you as the bloody Savior chosen one prophesied child than anyone, and is a magical powerhouse to boot." He took a strong outward breath, which exuded a ghostly chill across the bathroom, "He'll cover it up." Malfoy seemed to sigh. "He'll cover it up. It's obvious. It's simple. It's frankly a little depressing." He said honestly, "Congratulations Potter, you get to get away with murder! And I'll help, and I'll keep Myrtle quiet about it too. Now are you gonna run away like an idiot, or are you gonna listen to me?"