A/N: Here is the next chapter. More awkwardness, some angst, nightmares, apologies, and interruptions. Oh, and a bit of cursing. Thank you for all the reviews! Enjoy :)

Over the next few days, Harry tried multiple times to make up for what he said to Draco without really telling him why he said it, but Draco just brushed off his apologies and said that it was fine. It wasn't and he knew it. Draco helped him plenty, but was professional the entire time. They may not spend too much time outside of work together, but this was getting beyond ridiculous. Harry was fed up.

"Malfoy, what is going on with you?" he demanded as Draco served him lunch. Draco looked over at him, frowning.

"I'm serving lunch, why?" he asked uncertainly.

Harry scowled. "That's not what I meant and you know it," he responded sharply.

Draco sighed. "What do you want me to say, Potter?"

"Tell me what's wrong. Am I that much of a burden on you?" he asked, wondering if that was part of his problem. He had tried to be a good patient and not needy and he had thought he had been doing a pretty good job.

Draco snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, Potter. You're not a burden on me at all. Nothing's wrong, alright?"

Harry sighed. He reached out and found Draco's wrist. He gripped it. "Draco, I know you better than that. I know that something is bothering you. The tension between us is thick as wool. What is wrong?" Harry asked again, his tone pleading.

Draco sighed and shifted, trying to get out of Harry's grip, but once Harry started rubbing his pulse point with his thumb, he was less inclined to get out of his hold. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, just enjoying the simple touch. "You hurt my feelings," he whispered, admitting to what had been bothering him since his outburst the day that Harry had come home.

"I know I did, but why did it hurt so much?" he asked just as quietly.

"I already told you that in my outburst. I'm the one who should be asking you why you hate that it's me taking care of you," he bit out.

Harry closed his eyes and released Draco's wrist. Draco missed the touch already. "I already told you that I hate needing help," he responded.

"There's more to it than that. I know that if it were Granger or Weasley, you'd be totally fine. Why does it bother you that it's me?" he demanded.

"I don't know. I guess because I don't want to appear weak to you. We're supposed to be partners, equals, and if I'm in this position, I'm useless," Harry explained. It wasn't his exact reason for why he reacted the way he did, but it was part of it.

Draco sighed. He sat down next to him. "Look, you've been taking care of people all your life. You're relatives, your friends, me, the entire fucking Wizarding world. It's okay to not like needing help. You're so used to helping other people that the idea of needing help from someone else is just unfathomable to you. But, I'm not other people, Harry. I'm your partner and your friend. I'm not going to just let you suffer or hate that I have to help you. Let someone help you for once. Merlin knows you've earned it," Draco replied, assured.

Harry sighed and nodded. "I am sorry that I hurt you," he replied quietly.

Draco chuckled. "You've been saying that," he replied.

Harry laughed. "Can we stop having this tension now?" he asked after a moment.

Draco nodded. "Yes. Now eat your lunch and listen to whatever show it is that you love," Draco replied.

Harry smiled slightly and turned towards the TV. He knew that the matter wasn't completely settled as he didn't tell Draco the real reason why he said what he said, but at least for now, it seemed to calm things. He already felt less tense around him. He sighed and ate his lunch. Draco had figured out that if he cut things up into pieces, Harry could easily find them and eat without much help.

Harry drifted off to sleep after finishing his lunch. His mind drifted off into dreamland. He was warm as Draco had given him a blanket at some point and content. It didn't last long.

Harry stood in a familiar forest, with familiar sounds. He looked around, panic setting in as he realized where he was again. Everything around him was so vivid. He stared straight ahead, knowing what was coming. He looked to his right and left, trying to find the people that he knew should be there, but they weren't. He panicked even more, wondering why his parents, Sirius and Remus weren't there. Why weren't they helping him? He kept going, even though every part of him wanted to stop and go the other way. Soon, he was walking into the clearing where he knew his fate lay. Voldemort was there, staring at him with his evil smile in place. He raised his wand. There was no preamble. The words were uttered and the green light shot towards him. Harry cried out, even though he hadn't done that in real life. He fell backwards and then everything was black. He heard voices. People were around him, but he couldn't see them. He could see nothing. The panic was suffocating him. He started to scream and he couldn't stop himself.

"Harry! Harry! Wake up!" Draco cried as he shook Harry violently.

Harry started awake and looked around. He could see nothing and the panic was still there. "I can't see! Why can't I see?!" he cried, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Draco's eyes widened in shock and worry. He wrapped Harry up into his arms, trying to calm him, shushing him, assuring him that he was perfectly safe. He rubbed his back in soothing circles, whispering nothing that made sense, trying to calm him. After several minutes of shaking and crying, Harry started to calm and soon he was breathing softly against Draco's chest.

"Harry?" Draco asked uncertainly.

"I'm sorry. I wish you hadn't seen that," he whispered hoarsely.

Draco frowned, feeling his hurt again. He took a deep breath. "Why?" he asked, trying to keep his voice even.

"I haven't had a nightmare in years. I don't want anyone to have to deal with that. I'm sorry," he replied quietly.

Draco frowned and the hurt lessened. "You have nothing to be sorry about. Are you okay? Do you remember where you are and all of that?" he asked uncertainly

Harry laughed quietly and nodded. "Yes. It's just been so long. I forget how paralyzing they can be, especially when I can't see right now," he replied.

"What were you dreaming about?" Draco asked.

Harry sighed and moved back slightly. Draco loosened his arms, but Harry didn't move quite out of his hold. "Well, I was going into the forest to face Voldemort. My parents, Sirius, and Remus were there in real life, but they weren't there in my dream. My panic started right then. Then, as I approached where Voldemort was, my panic increased because he didn't talk to me this time. He just shot the killing curse and I was gone. I couldn't see in my dream and I couldn't see when I woke up. It was awful," he explained.

Draco shuddered. "That's horrible. I'm so sorry. If I hadn't have been so stupid the other day about replaceable potions stuff, we wouldn't be in this mess. You wouldn't be suffering like this," Draco responded angrily.

Harry reached out, seeking out Draco's arm, but instead he found his stomach. He froze, his hand resting against it. He looked up, even though he couldn't see Draco and heard a slight intake of breath from him. He blushed deeply, moving his hand back and curling it into a fist. He obviously didn't see the wanting look that Draco was giving him. "It was just one dream, Draco. The dreamless sleep prevents it from happening. It's what I get for falling asleep on the sofa. Please stop feeling guilty about this. I can start being a right pain if that will help you feel less guilty," Harry suggested, smirking at him.

Draco laughed and shook his head. "I'd like to see you try being a pain in the arse like that. I bet you couldn't do it," he countered.

Harry just smiled and shrugged. "Maybe we'll find out," he commented.

A thump was heard coming from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation. Draco's wand was immediately in his hand, followed by Harry who realized he wouldn't be much help other than to be somewhat threatening should someone be in the house. They heard cursing coming from the kitchen and both sighed, putting their wands away. Ron came in shortly after, Hermione trailing behind him.

"Weasley, Granger," Draco greeted. Ron stopped short and looked at Draco and Harry in confusion. Hermione peeked around him and smiled uncertainly, a questioning look in place. Draco blushed slightly and slid back from Harry. Harry looked in his general direction, wondering why he moved away, but then realized that they must have been a lot closer than he realized.

"Malfoy," Ron said uncertainly, coming back to his senses. He walked over and stood at Harry's left. He reached out and gripped his shoulder. Harry reached up and patted his hand, smiling over at him. Draco watched the exchange for a moment, feeling his jealousy rise.

"I'll leave you all be. I've got some stuff to do," Draco said as he got up from the couch. Harry turned to where he was going.

"Wait, Draco," Harry called out. Draco stopped.

"Yeah?" he asked uncertainly.

"Thank you for helping me out of that nightmare. I'm glad you were here," he said gratefully.

Draco startled at that and smiled softly. Hermione and Ron were looking between the two curiously. "You're welcome. Anytime," he replied and then walked out of the room.

Harry nodded and turned to face where he knew Ron was. Hermione had yet to make her presence known to him. "What brings you by?" he asked.

"We wanted to see how you were doing," Hermione said as she settled in next to him, the same spot that Draco had been in before.

"Oh, well, I'm doing well enough I suppose. I'm able to see some changes in light, but no figures or anything," he replied.

"Are you having nightmares, mate?" Ron asked.

"I just had one when I fell asleep after lunch today. I take dreamless sleep at night so I don't dream then," he replied.

"What was your nightmare about?" Hermione asked.

"Just going into the forest, but my parents weren't there and I just got struck with the killing curse, and woke up not being able to see, of course. I just got really panicky, but Draco calmed me down," Harry replied as if it was nothing.

Hermione sighed and patted his hand. "How's Malfoy been?" she asked.

"He's been pretty great actually. Well, I shouldn't say actually because I knew he'd do a good job. I just wish he didn't keep feeling guilty," Harry replied.

"He should feel guilty until you get your eyesight back," Ron commented under his breath. Harry turned in his general direction and narrowed his gaze at him.

"Ron," he said in a warning tone.

"Right, sorry mate," he replied, shifting nervously.

Harry rolled his eyes and turned away from him again. "How's work?" Harry asked, moving away from discussing Draco. Hermione launched into the latest thing she was working on and eventually Ron was able to update Harry on things going on in the auror department.