"Sectumsempra!" He shouted as he flicked his wrist towards Malfoy.
A flash of white lashed like a whip from Harry's wand towards Malfoy. The pure white was soon overridden by splatters of red. His robes were in tatters and deep wounds appeared along his face and chest. He fell to his knees choking on the blood running down his throat. Harry ran towards his, a wordless cry on his lips, and fell to the floor next to him. He issued a gentler cutting charm against Malfoy's robes and pulled them away from the wounds.
He racked his brain for some spell, some charm to stop the bleeding. He struggled to remember anything else written down by the curse in his Potion's book or any possible cure from his lessons. Finally, the words broke free of the panic-filled fog that has descended on his brain.
"Vulnera Sanentur." He whispered the words hopefully.
He watched in anticipation as the blood flow ceased but the wounds remained open. He muttered it once more, relief at the cessation of the blood but fear for Malfoy's life crashing over him. The wounds started to scab and knit together. He laid his head on Malfoy's chest desperately listening for a heartbeat. It thudded faintly. He whispered the spell once more against his skin. The wounds finally healed over, his heartbeat grew louder and he started breathing heavily.
"Thank god!" He stayed laying against Malfoy, letting everything hit him. He hadn't meant to hurt him, let alone kill him. The fear and guilt at what he had done and the thought of losing Malfoy nearly consumed him. Tears pricked his eyes and he soon succumbed to the hysteria welling up inside him. Amidst his sobbing, he felt a stir beneath him. He felt a hand move up his leg, across his hip and settle on his back.
"P-p-otter?" Malfoy's hoarse voice broke through.
"Malfoy, oh my god! I'm so sorry. I didn't know the spell did that! I never would have used it!" Harry stopped resisting the urge and gathered Malfoy to him. He stopped at the whimper.
"Where the fuck did you learn that spell? I feel like I've been trampled by a hippogriph." He braced his hand on Harry and dragged himself up right. He was in too much pain to think about killing Potter.
"I found it in a book... I'm so sorry." He resisted dragging Malfoy to him once more and hung his head in shame.
"Potter, I'm in too much pain to hate you right now. Even though you did try to kill me, I owe you my life for knowing how to save me." He looked up at Potter and winced at the movement.
"But if it wasn't for me, I wouldn't have had to heal you. And the scars Dra…Malfoy. They're bad."
"I can fix those no problem if I can get to my room. No one needs to know about this." He grimaced as he tried to get up and fell back with a gasp. "On second thought, I don't think my room is the best idea. I need to get to the room of requirement."
"Here, let me help you up." Harry stood quickly and held out his hand. Malfoy stared in a moment of uncertainty. A range of emotions crossed his face before he finally gave in and accepted the hand. Harry hefted him up and put Malfoy's arm around his shoulder. Malfoy stood panting for a second before nodding that he could continue. Harry pulled his invisibility cloak out of the bag at his side and wrapped it around them both. They shuffled their way through the back halls until they reached the room.
Malfoy drew himself away from Harry and paced a few times in front of a blank wall before it transformed itself into a door. He allowed himself to be braced against Harry once more as they made their way to the door. Harry opened it to what appeared to be a den. There was a roaring fire in front of a dark leather couch and two chairs of the same material. Bookshelves lined a majority of the walls. On one blank wall, there was a cabinet containing vials and potions ingredients. On the opposite side was a large bed with black satin sheets and a blood red comforter.
"Bed or couch?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Neither. I have to go to the cabinet first." Malfoy directed them towards it and they slowly made their way over to it. He removed his arm from around Harry and searched the cabinet quickly. He brought out a large, pleasant smelling jar. "I fear I'll need help applying this." He flushed with embarrassment.
Harry nodded and brought him over to the couch. Malfoy gingerly removed his robes, staring down at his chest. A dozen still pink scars littered his chest, spreading up his neck, and there was a spattering across his face. Malfoy turned his face away from both his chest and Harry. Harry unscrewed the cap on the jar and scooped out some of the lotion. He used his other hand to take a little off and apply it to Malfoy's chest. He hissed but held still. He moved his ministrations to his neck. When he had finished with his chest and neck, he took a deep breath and put his hand on Malfoy's face and gently brought his face forward. He felt the other boy tense and bit his lip.
"I just need to get your face." He whispered. Malfoy nodded and he grabbed a little more of the salve. As he applied it to his face, he thought how best to say what was on his mind. "I'm so sorry, Draco. I never meant for this to happen." He watched as the scars started to fade.
"It's my fault. I was going to use one of the Unforgivables. If I was in your place, I would have let me die. It's no less than I deserve after all that's happened." To his shame, his eyes started welling with tears again.
"You know I couldn't do that. Who would I get into daily fights with then?" His joke fell flat and he softened. "Draco, you have a choice you know. You don't have to keep doing this."
"I'm not like you, Potter. I don't have the luxury or choice." His voice held bitter shame.
"We all have a choice. I know the threat you are living under. I know the fear you're feeling. We can keep this a secret until we're ready but you don't have to continue with all of this."
"H-harry," He stumbled over actually using his first name, "I just don't know what to do." And against everyone else in his life's voice screaming in his head, he allowed to Golden Boy to draw him in and hug him.
"It'll be ok. You don't have to be the bad guy. That's the great thing about having free will. You have the option to decide if who's side you want to be on, what you want to do with your life. I'm willing to help if you decide you want to be a part of our side."
"I think…I think I want to be good. I can't stand it anymore. I didn't want any of this to begin with. I think I want to start over…Starting with you, Harry."
"That's ok with me." He smiled warmly. "Though, I think it's better if we keep all of this away from everyone else until we have it all figured out. I don't think anyone else would understand." They both laughed nervously before settling back against each other.
They both became lost in their own thoughts, both thinking how easy it was to give up all the fighting and how easy they were in each other's company. Malfoy thought of the librated feeling swelling inside him. No more thoughts of how he was going to kill Dumbledore, fear of what would happen if he failed, or having to hide away from everyone. Harry thought of what all this could possibly mean. Malfoy had effectively switched sides and he wondered how to redirect all the energy he had spent going after him. They both thought about how everything begins with an end.
A/N: Ahhhh! I'm so sorry! I had to update this because I made a crucial error. Probably unnoticed by anyone but me, but I couldn't just leave it. Malfoy was supposed to kill Dumbledore, not Harry. But! It's all fixed now and I can sleep better at night.