Chapter V

You don't need him. Leave him alone. You're bad for him. You're no good. You should be with someone else. Ginny… Ginny…

You can't give him children…

You're not what he wants. He's not what you need…

Leaveeeeeeeeeee. Harrreeeeeeeee….

Harry…

"HARRY,"

Harry jolted awake, gasping for air. A cool hand was on his forehead pushing the hair there away. His vision was blurry, but he could make out the blonde hair.

"Draco?" he croaked.

"Shhh… drink some water," Draco replied. There was a soft aguamenti and a cup was placed at his mouth. Harry drank greedily, the cool water soothing his throat. When he finished he lay back against the pillow.

"Here," came Draco's voice again and glasses were placed into his hands. He slipped them on shakily, afraid that Draco was another illusion. The world around him grew clearer and the calm blonde's features came into focus,

"Draco, it is you," Harry whispered in wonder.

"Of course it's me you arse. Who else would give his own bollocks to save you from near insanity," Draco growled, his anger returning now that Harry was conscious.

Harry looked sheepish. Then he looked down at his fingers, that meek childlike expression that Draco found he couldn't stand, it simply wasn't Harry's style. Draco was about to scold him for doing it when Harry spoke. The words were so soft that Draco didn't catch them.

"What?"

"I'm so sorry Draco,"

The dark haired man was now shivering. Draco sighed and stood. He placed a hand on Harry's head and smoothed the hair away from his face.

"There is something wrong with you right now Potter. We'll get you right again, then we'll talk," Draco said finally "And, sorry isn't enough,"

Then he left the room.

"I still don't agree with this," Blaise huffed. The dark skinned man was not happy with the situation. "He hurt you Draco, badly, so what if he's sick, he seems to know he did wrong. Why now does he suddenly repent," he argued.

Draco shook his head.

"I'm not forgiving him for anything Blaise, and I'm sure as hell not talking to him about it yet. But I'll be arsed if I don't try my best to cure him. Then you can toss him out onto the street," Draco replied.

Hermione thumped him.

"Fine, no tossing," Draco said good-naturedly, rubbing his arm.

"Jokes aside, are you sure about this Draco? Neville could treat him," Hermione suggested. Blaise frowned at that, he, like Ron still hadn't completely forgiven Harry. Draco understood why, both men had been cheated on before. They weren't extremely forgiving when it came to matters of the heart. He also knew that he was extremely hurt by what Harry had done, but it didn't mean he had stopped loving Harry nor did it mean that he would let the man get done in by a mind spell.

He didn't want Harry dead or insane.

"Neville doesn't know Harry like I do," Draco answered quietly.

Hermione scowled, not a good look on the Gryffindor. Blaise too looked like a skunk had let loose stink in the room. The rest were strangely quiet.

"Draco, that doesn't mean you have to –

"It does," Draco didn't let Pansy finish. "You haven't slept in the same bed and have to wake up to his nightmares; you haven't had him into fits where he tries to kill you. You don't have to live with the constant reminder that sometimes he's no 100% there. Harry is different,"

Neville placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We do understand, but it's for exactly those reasons you shouldn't have to treat him. You are just too close,"

"Neville…I need this. At the most for closure," Draco replied.

Silence again.

"Fine," It was Pansy that had broken the silence. "You are allowed to treat him, with permission from us, as the 'Council for Draco's Wellbeing' or CFDW," all of them laughed at that "On the condition that you work together with Theo and Neville," There was a chorus of agreement. Ron snickered at Draco.

Draco stuck his tongue out at him

"Fine Mother,"

Blaise watched Draco as he cast diagnostic spells on Harry and deciphered the results. The blonde moved fluidly, taking caution as he lifted Harry's head and fluffed his pillow. Blaise rolled his eyes. Draco didn't have to care for Potter but he knew that even if it wasn't Potter laying in that bed it wouldn't change the amount of care Draco put into looking after him. The war had change all of them in ways they'd never forget. Draco had taken the brunt of the change though. Blaise remembered a time when Draco wouldn't have even talked to him simply for the fact that his Mother was not as old money as the Malfoy's. Now he understood it came from years of conditioning from an overbearing father and an unhealthy lifestyle of not many friends nor outdoor experiences. If it hadn't been for that moment in their sixth year, he and Draco wouldn't be the same people they were now.

Blaise stood outside the common room door having forgotten the password again. It was late, past curfew and he was going to get screwed if he didn't enter soon. He cursed, why did they have to change the last password. As he thought about a password a figure came into view from the corner of his eye. It was fast moving and hunched. Blaise squinted, hoping it wasn't Filch, he usually wasn't this deep in the dungeons. Then he caught sight of the blonde hair.

Malfoy

He raised an eyebrow and squared his shoulders to meet the other boy, but the minute Malfoy looked up and saw him he stopped in his tracks.

"Bollocks," was whispered as both boys stared one another.

Blaise narrowed his eyes when he saw the black eyes and bloodied lips the blonde sported. Malfoy pulled his cloak around himself and ducked away from Blaise. "Ahem, what are you doing out here Zabini?" he asked softly, trying to sound commanding but failing. Blaise frowned at the blonde, was he trying hide his wounds? Blaise walked towards the cowering boy. Malfoy saw him and inched backwards. "Za-Zabini what are you doing?" he half yelled. "Shh… or someone'll hear you. I just want to look at your wounds," Blaise said calmly. The other boy seemed sceptical of this. He flinched away and held fast to his robe. Blaise made an impatient face. "If I was going to hurt you I would have done it when you first sneered down at me through your nostrils Malfoy, open up,"

Malfoy sighed but let go of his robes.

Blaise felt sick. Aside from the black eye and bloody lips there were dried up cuts spread all over his torso, remains of his t-shirt hung loosely stained with blood.

"What in Merlin's name, who- What happened?" Blaise questioned. Malfoy squirmed uneasily. "None of your business," he huffed angrily, only to wince as he rubbed one of the cuts. "It's nothing to concern yourself with Zabini," he continued. Blaise frowned at him. Malfoy was definitely hiding something. "Malfoy just tell me what-

"THE WILLOW,"

Blaise was surprised. "The…Willow?"

"Yes! That blasted tree; I barely saved my bollocks from being lobbed off by it. Why do we even have such a tree on grounds?!"

Blaise couldn't help himself, he burst out laughing.

"Zabini," Malfoy hissed indignantly.

Blaise looked up at him, still snickering.

"And here I was, beginning to feel like you were abused or bullied, something serious like that," Blaise said, a grin spreading over his face "Shoulda guessed you were like the rest of us Malfoy,". Malfoy looked affronted. "The rest of- how am I like you?!" Malfoy shrilled. Blaise raised his hands to calm the blonde. He smiled and placed his hand on Malfoy's head. "Normal, or the relative average, behaviour wise. Now I can rest easy at night knowing you're a chum like the rest of us," Blaise ensured the blonde.

"Now come, lest get you cleaned up,"

As they walked up the stairs, Blaise grasping Malfoy's hand lightly for balance, Malfoy called out to the other boy softly.

"Zabini,"

"Hmm?"

"Am I really like the rest of you? Is this really normal?"

Blaise stared back at the other boy.

"Yes, Draco, it is in our books. Now, you've gotta meet Theo, he'll be dying to test his new healing spell on you,"

Malfoy's eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"Call me Blaise,"

"Blaise?"

The dark skinned man looked up at Draco. The blonde had really filled out since those days. None of the cuts from that day had left scars.

"Yes?"

"Do you want some tea?"

"No, no, I'm good,"

"Fine, watch Harry please,"

Blaise nodded and smiled at the blonde.

He looked over at Potter, who had awoke in the middle of Blaise's memory journey and was staring at him now. He narrowed his eyes and stood. Blaise walked over to the bed and leaned over until he and Potter were eye to eye.

"If you ever, hurt him again, I will personally break your legs so that you can never walk near him again. Understand Potter?"

Potter looked at him with unwavering eyes.

"If I ever hurt him again I will throw myself in a pit of basilisks,"

Blaise eyed him.

"He hasn't forgiven you yet," Blaise reminded him.

"I know Blaise,"

"He won't forgive you for long time,"

"I know, Blaise,"

"I don't think we'll ever forgive you truly,"

Potter was silent.

"Good luck,"

And then they were both silent.

Hope you liked it :) Any spelling errors and what not, do tell me. I'll work on my timing.