Author's Note: Many, many thanks to all those who have sent me such wonderful reviews. I appreciate them more than I can say :)

Chapter 9

I think it's about time I cut in again. Yes, I know that I should probably let you go on and find out what happens but for those of you biting your nails in fright...I thought I would reassure you a bit. Although it does seem as though everything is a bit scattered and jumbled...well let me just say that everything connects. I do so love a mystery and I wouldn't deprive you of one but I thought it wouldn't spoil too much if I just told you that...So keep it in mind...Oh...and are you sure you wouldn't like a lemon drop? They're quite tasty. No? Well, perhaps later...

The greater part of an hour had already passed by the time Harry decided he had enough of his Uncle's rambling. What his Uncle thought he was accomplishing by yelling at his door, Harry didn't know. But, he'd had enough.

Sliding out of bed with one last caress to Draco's gaunt cheek, Harry made his way to the door. He would not have the man continue to beat on the damn door while the blonde was in here suffering!

Gathering his anger around him like a shield, Harry grabbed the rickety chair firmly and threw it to the side. He noted with some satisfaction that his Uncle's roar had stopped mid rant as he deftly slide the locks out of the way. Before he had the chance to reach for the knob, the door flew open...

"ABOUT BLOODY TIME! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE..." But Vernon's voice trailed off as he got a good look at his horrid little nephew. His eyes widened slightly even as another flush of anger covered his portly cheeks. Moments later his beady little eyes glanced past Harry to Draco, his bushy mustache twitched. But before he could look more closely or even take a step forward, Harry stepped in his way...

Disgust and anger welled inside of Harry as he stared as his Uncle. The man's obese face was red and covered in sweat. His mustache quivered as he took in great gulps of air through his oversized nostrils.

A snarl broke Harry's lips. "Get out."

Vernon's beady eyes sharpened. "NOW SEE HERE BOY! YOU LIVE WITH ME AND I WON'T STAND FOR YOU TO TALK TO ME..."

"SHUT UP!" Harry barked, cutting Vernon off. How dare his Uncle. How dare him. Taking a deep breath, Harry felt his scar flare with an echo of his previous pain, fueling his anger ten-fold. Curling his fingers into tight fist, Harry continued on in a low tightly controlled voice. "You will get out of my room. Now."

Vernon sneered. "WAIT JUST A MINUTE.."



"I told you to shut up," growled Harry. Vernon did, too shocked to do anything else. "Good. Now you will turn around and leave my room. You will not bother me again. If you do, I'll make you regret it."

Vernon stared at Harry for a long moment as if gauging how serious Harry was. Then...

"You aren't allowed to do magic outside of school."

Harry snorted. "You really think that would stop me from blasting your big hairy arse off the face of the planet?"

Vernon's face went red and white all at the same time. "You...you..." He sputtered but then stopped short. Harry smirked.

"Now get out. And if you so much as breath a word to anyone about my guest...hell if you bloody well think about what and who you saw in this room, Dudley will suddenly have a snout and a new tail."

Vernon stared at him then turned on his heels as best as he could and stormed out of Harry's room, slamming the door behind him.

Harry's smirk grew. Merlin that had felt good.

"B-b-bet you've b-been waiting to d-d-do that for a w-w-while n-now..." A croaking voice murmured behind him causing Harry to spin around and stare into the smoky gray eyes of his archenemy.

Harry's smile faltered for a moment. If possible, Draco looked worse awake than he did asleep.

Draco lifted an eyebrow but soon forego-ed it when he realized it was the one that had been slashed. Harry forced a smile.

"I've been wanting to do that since I came here." He said. Draco nodded in understanding as a dry cough racked his form. Harry took an involuntary step forward. He didn't know how Draco would react to him being nice now that he was awake. /Wait a minute...how long has he been awake?/

"D-d-don't j-just stand there P-otter. Get m-me a d-d-drink." Draco wheezed, clutching a hand over his ribs. Harry propelled himself into motion.

/Where the bloody hell--aha! There it is!/ He thought as he scanned his room for the water bottle he kept there. Since the one time that he had gotten punished for getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of water when he was twelve, he had taken to filling one before he went to bed just in case.



Grabbing the bottle from off his desk, Harry quickly unscrewed the cap and moved to Draco holding it out to him. Draco rolled his eyes.

"C-can't exactly d-d-drink it laying d-down now, c-can I?" Draco asked. Harry blushed.

Setting the bottle onto the floor out of the way, he moved to Draco's side and slide an arm under his shoulders to help him sit up. That accomplished he picked up the bottle and put it to Draco's lips.

For a less than a second Draco looked as though he was about to protest but one look at Harry's determined face and he stayed silent, sipping his water. Several silent minutes passed as Harry helped Draco drink, making sure never to give him more than a table spoon each time so it wouldn't turn Draco's stomach. By the time the process was done, Draco had drunk half the bottle.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked, a crease forming between his brows as he held the bottle up in invitation. Draco shook his head.

"F-full." He said simply. Harry sighed. Being full after half a bottle of water was definitely not a good sign.

/Maybe I can make him a little broth.../ He thought as he recapped the bottle. /At least then he would have something with a little consistency in him. Or maybe some very weak tea to start.../

Draco's stuttering whispered voice pulled him out of his musing. "T-th-thank you."

Harry didn't pretend to mistake what he meant. "You're welcome."

Strained minutes passed as Harry allowed Draco to adjust to saying 'thank you' to him. Harry settled himself at the end of the bed, making sure he didn't touch Draco. Who knew how the boy would react to the contact.

"H-he always l-like that?" Draco asked minutes later. Harry smiled blandly.

"Pretty much."

Draco nodded. Harry watched him curiously from under his lashes. Something was going on in that cute little blonde head of his. /Whoa! Red light! Stop right there! Do NOT pass go, do NOT collect two hundred gallons. Cute?/

A small sigh escaped Draco's lips as his nose wrinkled. Harry bit his bottom lip. /Yeah. Definitely cute. Have I told you that you're pathetic today?/

"So..." Harry started. He was not going down that lane of thought. At least not now.

"So what P-Potter?" Draco sneered. /There's the Slytherin you know and lo-hate./



Harry shrugged.

"Planning on telling me what's the hell is going on?" He asked nonchalantly though his heart was pounding in his chest.

"I'm l-laying here and y-y-you're sitting there." Draco stated with another eye roll, though the corners of his eyes scrunched as if he was in pain. "T-try to keep up w-with the rest of the c-c-class, Potter."

Harry sighed. "Cut the shit, Dr-Malfoy. Just tell me why the hell I woke up this morning to find you in my front lawn."

Draco grimaced and settled down further into Harry's pillow. "L-leave m-m-me alone. I'm s-s-leepy."

"Malfoy..." Harry growled but stopped himself short as he saw the way the boy's eyes were, indeed, dropping. "Fine Malfoy...get some sleep. But when you wake up, I want answers."

"Mmm." Was the only response he got as Draco fell back into a deep sleep. Harry sighed and for the second time of the day swung himself out of bed. /Need to write Dumbledore anyway.../

Dragging the dingy chair over to the desk, Harry got out parchment and ink. He'd have to wait for Hedwig to come back before he could send it but he could at least pass the time by writing it out.

/How the bloody hell do I start this? 'Dear Dumbledore, Draco is here. Scar tingled and hurt. Yours truly, Harry.'?/ Harry snorted. /Don't think so./

Opening his ink well slowly, Harry sat back in his chair to contemplate. His eyes wandered over to Draco's sleeping form.

/He sucks his thumb!?/