Chapter Ten

"Father-" Draco made to speak but was silenced by the mans glare. Harry hadn't ever had a relationship with his own father, but he was quite sure the relationship between the Malfoys was far from how it might have been. The man showed such a severe lack of compassion for his son. Harry could almost go as far as to say Lucious disliked his son.

"I come to Hogwarts on business and here I find you lying in a hospital bed, weak and pathetic. Draco, have you no pride?" The man delivered, his eyes looked away in distaste. Harry looked back to Draco in time to see his face fall as he looked down, defeated. An anger rose within the Gryffindor. Every part of his being wanted to stand up to the man, shout at him, hex him even... But he knew better. Getting involved in someone else's family business was something he knew not to do. From an early age the Dursleys had made a point that he was never to interfere or indeed have an opinion on anything they did as a family, he was an outsider and as such he did not have the liberty.

Harry felt the older mans gaze turn to him but he refused to look up. Suddenly he felt very uncomfortable. He wanted to leave but something inside him made him stay, either not wanting to leave Draco or just plain fear. Not many things truly scared Harry, but he often feared for others far too readily.

"Why are you here Potter?" Lucious said, more of a statement than a question.

"If I had fallen like that-" Harry started coldly but was cut off by the older man sighing.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, merely an explanation as to your presence." He growled. Harry was muted. He didn't know what to say. Why was he there? He felt a cold sweat come over him, nervousness kicking in. He tried to swallow but his throat was dry.

"To see if he is ok." Harry shrugged in an attempt to look unphased by the mans dare overbearing presence. He looked back to Draco for any kind of sign, an indication as to what he should do, but the blond still sat staring into the duvet that covered his body.

"Ah, so caring, as always Potter. Well, hop along now, before someone thinks your presence here is in some way welcome." Harry felt the mans gaze bore into the back of his head. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. An awkward silence fell amongst them. It seemed time itself had stopped to wait for Harry's next move. But he had no other moves. He had well and truly been made unwelcome. He was an outsider. He could sit there no longer.

Harry rose in silence, taking one more look at the cowering blond. He just needed a sign from him, anything, to stay. But nothing. Draco gave him nothing. He slowly turned on his heel and no sooner had he taken a few steps away from the bed, when Lucious Malfoy whipped the cubicles curtain around the two of them, shutting him out. Harry hung his head and continued out of the hospital wing, deep in thought. He had done the right thing. He couldn't and wouldn't have got involved. Hell, he didn't even know Draco!

Thwack. The unmistakable sound of cane meeting skin echoed behind him, followed by the tiniest whimper. Harry haulted, his thoughts frozen, his heart thumping hard. Had he just heard... no. He waited, as if waiting for the sounds to repeat as confimation. But nothing. There wasn't another sound.

Draco walked into the Slytherin common room that night, having missed dinner. He ached, all over. He just wanted rest and knew he wouldn't have slept in the ward. Nothing was broken, he had attained a mild concussion but was told he just had to take it easy.

"Draco!" Pansy's voice chimed as the entrance closed behind him. The common room was empty, only Pansy sat on the green leather sofa, accompanied by a small welcoming fire. Draco felt himself relax a little. The fire looked welcoming.

"Pansy." He managed to mumble in acknowledgement before he collapsed onto the sofa beside her.

"Are you... Ok?" She said in a softer, more delicate tone. He felt her look at him before sitting up a little, leaning forward and poking the fire. She seemed calmer. Different.

"Mmm, just tired." He said quietly, unable to conceal his lack of energy.

"You should get some rest." She said gently, an heir of kindness in her voice. She turned to face him and smiled before shuffling back into the sofa and watching the fire once more. "You did good today, in the match." she offered in an encouraging tone but yawned, readjusting a cushion beside her head and looking sleepy.

"Potter would have caught it anyway." he shrugged.

"maybe," she shrugged back. He looked over at her and she offered a small smile.

"Why are you so nice to me?" the words stumbled from his mouth before he really considered them. The girl shrugged again,

"Why are you so rude to me?" She smiled mockingly. Draco shrugged, feeling a smile crack his tired features.

"You aren't so bad," she looked back to the fire, "I think you just acted like a dickhead one day then didn't know how to stop..." She sighed, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Draco watched her carefully. He hadn't often had a chance to look at her properly before. She was always prancing about, making an idiot of herself. But now, while she was relaxed and seemingly carefree, she was different. She was inviting.

"Sorry." He said quickly before he could change his mind. The girl turned to look at him with a baffled frown.

"For what?"

"For being a dickhead?" He gave an awkward grin, he was not used to apologising.

The girl sat up a little, her attention caught. Draco felt his heart flitter slightly. She moved closer, shuffling towards him, gently closing the gap. His breathing got a little faster as he suddenly noticed it and tried to control it. He watched the girls lips as they curled at the sides, forming a different type of smile. He was suddenly very aware of himself. How he was sitting, where his legs were before him, where his hands were placed either side of him, where his eyes were.. Looking at her lips. He looked away, focusing his gaze to the fire. What was happening?

"Don't worry about it." the girls voice broke the silence. He felt her hand come to rest on his. His heart began to race. He dared not look at her. He felt her warm breath on his cheek and he closed his eyes. Her lips ran across his skin gently. He couldn't help but picture them, plump and red. He felt her other hand snake up his neck to his jawline then turn his face slowly towards her. He kept his eyes shut, he felt embarrassed to look. All too soon her lips met his, pressing lightly awaiting a response. He responded. He kissed back, unable to stop himself. She tasted sweet. Strawberry? He didn't know. He didn't care. He kissed her harder. He felt the weight removed from his hand as she lifted it to his chest, then his back, her fingers dancing over his cotton shirt. Then under it. Hang on. No. Wait.

It was too late and his body gave an involuntary jolt away from her touch, in pain. His eyes scrunched a little but he refused to open them and see her expression. Her worried, questioning expression. He waited for the actual questioning to begin, but it didn't. He opened his eyes. She was still close, taking in his face, her hand still cupping his cheek. She said nothing. He sat in silence as she continued to look at what felt like every part of his face. He felt her hand once more on his chest, slowly lifting his shirt. He accidentally made eye contact with her and her eyes were somehow reassuring. He allowed her to lift his shirt. He didn't help her, but he didn't stop her. And then there she was, examining his back. He couldn't see her reaction because she was behind him, but he was glad of it. He hadn't yet examined it himself but he could only imagine what a mess it must look.

He felt his shirt placed gently back down over his skin. He waited for the questions he was sure would come any moment. But still, the girl said nothing. Eventually she moved behind him, but not to join him in her original position, but to hug him. She placed her arms about him and rested her head on his shoulder. He could feel her heart beat. He felt extremely awkward and uncomfortable but at the same time completely at ease. He allowed himself to rest his cheek against hers and breathe in her strawberry scent. His breathing slowed. He closed his eyes and listened the the fire crackle. He allowed every muscle in his body to relax. He felt at ease, a state he wasn't accustom to but enjoyed none the less.

"I love you Draco."

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