Ruffinstuff! Woooo! A nice break from final studying-for-ness. Yay.
Disclaimer: Since when are they mine?
Parings: Draco/Harry(that mean's SLASH people!); Implied: Severus/Hermione (Mild!), Ron/Hermione. (later. Much later.)
Summary: Harry and Draco, who are paired up together for Muggle Studies, are forced to live together without magic for two months. Will they survive each other's wit and charms or does fate have something else in mind?
Note: Hey guys! I'm back with a new chapter! It's twice as long as the last one so I hope you enjoy it. And for those who kept pushing me to write some fluff: it's here! So, tell me what you think okay since this chapter was really hard for me to write. Review please and lets see if I can get it up till 200 reviews!
Status: Betaed! By my lovely beta: Ruffinstuff! Love ya lots! Oh oh! That's me.
-:-:-:-I'm Not In Love-:-:-:-
Chapter 9
Let the torture begin
"You need to eat," Harry stated plainly. He placed the tray that he had been carrying across the blonde's lap while ignoring the glare the Malfoy heir was shooting at him. Looking expectantly at him, Harry waited.
They had just returned from the hospital and the first thing the nurse told Harry to do is to when they reach home is to make sure Draco eats something. It was because Draco had refuses point blank to eat the hospital food for another day.
And Draco, being himself, was not making it any easier for Harry to make sure that he followedthe instructions the nurse had left him.
"Go away," Draco said, his voice barely a whisper, still weak from the operation.
"You need to eat. Ever since you got off from the medication, your strength is very low. You need to eat!" Harry exclaimed again.
"And whose fault is that?" he shot back and Harry cringed at this, knowing very well that it was his.
"Malfoy, please eat. You need the strength," Harry pleaded.
Draco continued to glare at the Gryffindor, and Harry countered by pleading with his eyes, masking the guilt and hurt that was threatening to break through the façade.
For a few minutes, they both of them stared at each other, neither one refusing to back down.
Finally, Draco unfolded his arms and picked up the spoon that was on the tray.
"Thank you," Harry said and Draco shot him one last glare.
Dipping the spoon into the still hot porridge, Draco stirred it a couple of times, mainly trying to stall for time. Then, scooping some of it, he triedto bring it towards his mouth but his hand was shaking too much. When the spoon was halfway towards his lips and his hand was clearly shaking still, another hand grabbed the said spoon over his to steady it. At this, Draco jerked his hand backwards, breaking contact with the other hand, spilling what was left on the spoon on the comforter.
"Bugger off," Draco spat and Harry shook his head slightly.
"C'mon, let me help you with that," Harry said softly.
"I said bugger off Potter! I can feed myself!" Draco yelled softly, his voice a bit higher than before. At this, Harry stood back and watched as Draco repeated his previous movements and finally, after a couple of tries and failing, dropped the spoon back into the still full bowl and pushing the tray aside with Harry only managing to catch it before it spilled all over the bed.
Without another word, Draco pulled the comforter over his shoulder and curled under it, facing away from Harry.
At first, Harry didn't know what to make of the sudden event and was content to just leave the blond where he was. But when he saw the lean figure underneath the covers started to shake from what Harry though was hunger, his patientstransformed into anger, and without thinking twice, Harry placed the tray at the foot of the bed and forcefully but gently, turned Malfoy on his back to face him and made him sit up on the bed once again.
"That bloody hurt, you prick!" Draco exclaimed, his face contracted with pain as he placed his right hand on the wound. Harry felt another stab of guilt in his chest but ignored it.
"Start eating or I swear to god that I will force-feed you," Harry snarled.
"Bugger off Potter and leave me alone. Don't you think you cause me enough pain already!" Draco shouted.
"Stop it, Malfoy! I know that it was my fault that you are in this position in the first place and you have no idea how fucking sorry I am that it happened to you instead of me but believe me, I am doing everything in my power to try and make things right again. I know that you're hurting - hell I've been there too! But you being stubborn like this isn't going to solve anything. So why don't you, just for once, just stop being a complete arsehole and let me freaking help you!" Harry yelled.
Glowering at Harry, Draco couldn't help but admit that the Gryffindor have some sort of a point. God knows that he was starving. Mutely, he reached for the bowl of porridge once again and set it down on his lap. Picking up the spoon, Draco then tried once again to manage the simple task of feeding himself but cursed softly when his hand refusedto stay still long enough for him to shove a few spoonful of porridge into his mouth.
Finally, after his fourth attempt, Harry priedthe spoon gently from his hand and lifted up the bowl from Draco's lap. Then, lifting up a spoonful, Harry brought it over towards Draco's lips and looked at him in the eyes.
And Draco had no choice but to open his mouth and obey.
"Harry, are you awake?" a voice called out from the living room and Harry looked up from the essay he was doing. Pushing himself up from the carpeted floor opposite of the bed, Harry then shot one last look at Draco and walked out into the living room.
"Oh, hey guys. What are you doing here?" Harry smiled when he saw both Ron and Hermione standing in front of the fireplace.
"We came by to drop off your assignment. Where's Malfoy?" Hermione asked while handing a few rolls of parchments towards Harry. Motioning the both of them to sit, Harry sat down on one of the chairs and looked through the parchments.
"He's asleep. Judging from this, Malfoy's getting off from doing assignments right?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah. Lucky bastard," Ron laughed while he got up from his previous sitting position beside Hermione and walked over into the kitchen. "Got anything to eat?"
"Ron! You just ate!" Hermione scolded and Harry laughed.
"Yeah, make yourself at home," Harry replied while shaking his head slightly. Ron will always be Ron; hungry all the time. "Anything new happened today at school?" he asked to Hermione.
"No, nothing new; same old, same old. The professors think that it should take a few more weeks before the barriers between the seventh years to start crumbling. You know, because of this whole project thing. How are things coming along here?" Hermione reported and Harry nodded his head.
"As well as it should be. It's only been a day since Malfoy got back from the hospital so he is asleep most of the time. His energy level is pretty low as well; the surgery took a lot out of him, I guess," Harry replied, leaving out the incident that happened a few minutes ago. Setting the scrolls on the coffee table, Harry leaned back against the chair and smiled at Hermione.
"So, no trouble then?" Hermione probed. Harry just shook his head.
"No, nothing yet. But I'll give him a week or so. You know, until his body finally starts to heal a little bit. By then he should be feeling like his old self," Harry stated and Hermione chuckled slightly. Just then, Ron came back into the living room with a plate of sandwiches but before he could sit, Hermione stood up.
"Oh no, don't sit down. We have to go," Hermione said.
"But we just got here! I was just about to eat this sandwich!" Ron moaned while looking at the sandwich he had made a few moments ago.
"We have to go; Malfoy need some peace and quiet so that he could rest. Do you have a bag, Harry? For the sandwich," Hermione asked and Harry nodded his head yes. Standing up, he walked over into the kitchen and pulled out a bag from one of the drawers. Walking back into the living room, he handed the bad over to a sour looking Ron.
"Thanks, mate," Ron mumbled while stuffing the half eaten sandwich into the bag.
"Well, we better go. Take care, Harry. If you need us, don't be afraid to call," Hermione said while pulling Harry into a loose hug. She then walked over to the fireplace and held out the floo powder towards Ron.
"See ya, Harry," Ron said shortly, still mad about not being able to spend more time with his best friend. Walking over towards Hermione, he took a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace, calling out his apartment and stepping into the fire.
"Don't be so hard on him, 'Mione," Harry said.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Hermione replied innocently but Harry could see amusement twinkling in her eyes. Without another word, she mimicked Ron's earlier movement and with a flash, Hermione too left the apartment.
Sighing, Harry ran his left hand over his hair and looked around the room. "Thank god Malfoy didn't wake up," he mumbled to himself.
"Who can sleep through that racket," a week voice replied behind him and Harry whirled around, coming face to face with a very pale Draco.
"Malfoy, what are you doing up? Is there something you need?" Harry asked.
"Nothing you can give me, Potter," Draco smirked. Turning back towards the room, he then walked towards the bathroom. At this, Harry walked quickly and trailed behind Draco.
"Do you need any help?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Bugger off, Potter. I'm not some damsel in distress that needs saving from you," Draco snapped, the hand that was trailing the wall, gripped the frame to the door of the bedroom until his knuckle turned white. Standing still, Harry watched as Draco's free hand crept over above his wound and sweat started to form on his forehead, a sight that Harry was all too familiar with.
Knowing that Draco was probably going to kill him after all this was over, Harry walked forward a few steps and without another word, wrapped his arms around Draco's torso, supporting most of his weight.
Draco, feeling Harry's arm around him, instantly tried pulling away and tried to push Harry but the arm was too secure around him.
"Fuck Potter, let go of me," Draco panted, his right hand still clutching his shirt over the wound. Harry ignored him and helped Draco over towards the bathroom. Once they were in the bathroom, Harry sat Draco down above the closed toilet seat and turned away.
"Don't tell me that you're not going to watch," Draco spat sarcastically at Harry's turned back, making the Gryffindor blushed.
"Call me when you're done," Harry said shortly and then left the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
After the incident on the first day, both Harry and Draco establish some sort of an understanding as well as an agreement. Draco, to Harry's surprise, finally realized that he needed Harry's help for the next two weeks in which he was too weak to take care of himself and became oddly silent for the better part of the first week; letting Harry helped him with everything and sleeping when there was nothing else to do.
And Harry let him be. He understands how it must feel for someone as proud as Draco to ask for help in every little thing and he too kept quiet for the first week since they got back to the apartment.
It wasn't until the second week that Draco was able to move around and feed himself that he start to bite back.
And Harry only smile at Draco's behaviorwhen the blond uttered his first insult in a week. After a week of tense hostility between the both of them, Harry realized that he had missed the fights they used to have.
Harry simply realized that he had missed Draco.
The first argument they have after Draco was strong enough to feed himself was about a glass of milk.
"Malfoy, I don't give a damn whether or not you like to drink milk. All I know is that you need to drink it. It's on the list!" Harry exclaimed as he handed the full glass of milk to Draco.
"And I told you, I don't give a rat's arse about the bloody list. I am not drinking that horrible thing," Draco replied, once again folding his arms across his chest. Rolling his eyes, Harry moved forward a few steps until he was standing right next to Draco.
"Why? Why won't you just drink the bloody thing? It's not that horrible. Its just milk!" Harry asked, this time perching onto the bed next to the blond while resting the glass on his own knee. At this, Draco looked away.
"I just don't want to drink it, alright. Besides, it taste disgusting," Draco replied and at this, Harry sighed.
"Would it make you feel any better if I get the milk in some other flavor for you?" Harry questioned. Draco turned to look at Harry and shot him a puzzle expression.
"What other flavor? I though milk can only taste like milk," Draco shot back. Harry chuckled at this.
"Show's what you know. Okay, if I get you some other flavor, would you just please drink up?" Harry begged. Draco kept quite for a bit, pondering things over and finally, he nodded his head slowly.
"Fine, bastard," Draco mumbled and Harry smirked.
"Thank you. Now go back to sleep; you haven't been sleeping as much as you're suppose to," Harry said as he stood up and walked over toward the bathroom where he proceed to dump the entire content of the glass down the sink.
"Get out then," Draco snapped at this, knowing very well that Harry won't do as he asked. Instead, he made himself comfortable on the bed and pulled the blankets tighter around himself. Harry, who, by now, have gotten used to it, ignored him.
"I mean it, Potter, and get out of this bloody room. I refuse to sleep with you hovering above me while I'm trying to rest," Draco snapped again when he saw Harry making himself comfortable on the chair in one end of the room.
"Just go to sleep, Malfoy," Harry replied.
"Bloody Gryffindor," Draco mumbled as he closes his eyes, trying to pretend that he was the only person in the room. Despite his efforts to stay awake that night, he ended up falling asleep almost instantly a few moments later.
And Harry, noting this, sighed and rubbed his face tiredly while standing up and walked out of the room. Draco would be safe for the time being and it was the only time he could think of to buy that milk he promised the blond.
"Bloody Slytherin," Harry mumbled to himself as he grabbed the keys and money on his way out of the house.
"Good evening, Mister Potter. Going out late tonight, aren't we?"
At this, Harry looked up and smiled at the doorman that was holding the door open for him. Glancing at the wristwatch he had been wearing, Harry saw that it was well past midnight.
"Yeah Tommy, I need to pick up some stuff," Harry replied. Looking out through the glass door, Harry was surprise to see that it was raining heavily outside. "When did it start raining?"
"It has been raining for the past few minutes, Sir," Tommy answered and Harry frowned at this.
"I didn't notice. Oh well," Harry said to himself and nodded at the doorman. Finally, waving farewell at Tommy, he exit the building, only to be assaulted by the downpour.
"Shit," Harry cursed under his breath. Pulling the light jacket he had thrown on as an afterthought before he left the apartment tighter around his body, Harry then sprinted towards the corner store he had spotted awhile back. Lucky for him, the street wasn't as crowded as it would be in the morning so he reached the store in a few minutes. He then entered the store with his clothes drenched.
"Nasty weather, isn't it," a voice chuckled.
"Yeah," Harry replied shortly to the storekeeper and shot him a small smile. "Sorry for making your store wet all over."
The shopkeeper waved nonchalantly. "Think nothing of it. Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked.
"Yeah, actually there is. Do you happen to have any milk?" Harry asked, now shivering slightly at the cold atmosphere of the store.
"At the very back of the store," the shopkeeper replied, pointing towards the refrigerator at the back of the store. Nodding his thanks, Harry quickly went over to the said refrigerator and looked through the selections of milk. Finally, he decided on strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and coffee. Piling up the four cartons of milk carefully in his arms, he went over to the counter.
"This will do," Harry said and he reached for his wallet that was in his back pocket. The storekeeper then rang up the tally for the cartons of milk.
"That would be 12 pounds," he announced and Harry handed him the exact change.
"Thanks," Harry replied, taking the bag the shopkeeper offered. Nodding his head slightly, Harry opened the door to the store and braved into the still pouring rain outside.
"Malfoy so owes me big time for this," Harry mumbled under his breath as he ran back to the apartment.
Harry groaned softly as he opened his eyes, waking himself from slumber. His head was killing him and he felt as hot as oven. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, Harry slumped back onto the pillow when he realized it was six in the morning, half an hour later than when he normally wakes up.
Harry wasn't as stupid as Draco made him out to be. As soon as he began sneezing yesterday morning, he knew he was coming down with a cold as a result of his late night escapade.At first, Harry had thought nothing of it, swallowing a couple of aspirin and continuing his now daily hovering over Draco but now, as he was faced with another failed attempt at getting up that morning, he was beginning to doubt his previous action.
"Buck up, Potter. It's just a cold," Harry scolded himself and tries once again to stand on his own two feet. Finally, after the fifth attempt, Harry manages to stand up, only to be assaulted with a splitting headache.
"Bloody hell," Harry cursed softly as to not wake Draco who was still sleeping. Grabbing hold onto the bed to steady himself, Harry proceeded to slowly walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, all the while squinting his eyes as too not let any unnecessary light from entering his eyes and causing him more pain then he was experiencing at the moment.
Upon entering the kitchen, Harry then began going through the upper left cabinet, looking for a bottle of aspirin he had placed there yesterday. Pulling out a pair of identical white tablets, Harry swallowed the both of it simultaneously with some water he grabbed from the refrigerator earlier.
"C'mon Potter, it's just a cold. Don't be such a sissy," Harry said to himself and sighed in relief once again as the medicine finally took effect. Ignoring his sneezing, Harry set out to prepare breakfast for Draco and himself.
Harry sneezed again for the fiftieth time that morning.
"Potter, stop sneezing at my face," Draco spat as he shut the book he was reading with a soft bang. It has been three days since Harry has begun sneezing but that was nothing compare to today. It was really beginning to get on Draco's nerves.
"Sorry. Here," Harry replied absentmindedly as he handed another glass of milk to Draco, coffee this time.
Draco looked at Harry suspiciously. It was the third time this morning that Draco had snapped at Harry and the Gryffindor didn't even glare at him for it. He was beginning to think that something wasn't right.
"What's the matter with you, Potter? Missing your horde of fan girls back in Hogwarts already. It's only been a week since they last see you at school," Draco sneered and Harry nodded his head slightly in respond. Draco frowned at this.
"Okay, Potter, spit it out. What's wrong with you?" Draco glared but Harry just nodded his head slightly again. Placing the still full glass onto the bedside table, Draco then poked Harry in the stomach, hard.
"Huh?" Harry asked as he looked up at Draco, his eyes somewhat glazed.
"What is wrong with you?" Draco articulatedcarefully.
At this, Harry stared blankly at Draco for a few moments in which, Draco challenged him back with his piercing glare.
"I don't feel so good," was all Harry said before his eyes finally closed and he fell onto the bed, unconscious.
"Bloody hell," Draco breathed as he watched Harry fall, unable to move quickly enough because of his injury. Harry landed on the bed, barely missing Draco's semi-outstretched legs, on his sides, facing Draco.
"Potter, wake up," Draco said, leaning forwards slightly and poking Harry with his left hand.
A feeling started to make itself known at the pit of his stomach and shot through his spine, making Draco shivered slightly at the intense feeling. At first, he wasn't sure what it was, not having to feel it often but when he looked at Harry and the same feeling shot up once again, Draco realized with a cold dread what the feeling was.
Worry.
He was bloody worried about the fallen Gryffindor.
Cursing whatever it was that placed him in that particular situation, Draco gingerly pushed himself up to a standing position and slowly made his way towards the living room.
He had a fire call to make.
"Mister Malfoy, what are you doing out of bed?" Madam Pomfrey shrieked as soon as she realized it was Draco who fire called her.
"I wouldn't be if Potter wasn't in it," Draco drawled and smirked when he saw the furious face of the matron.
"Potter should have known better than to fight you for the bed. Please fetch him for me and I will knock some sense into him while you rest," Poppy requested and Draco shrugged.
"I would. Only he is quite unconscious at the moment," Draco replied.
"Well serve him right for… Wait, unconscious, Mister Malfoy?" Poppy asked again, the anger morphed into worry in a matter of seconds.
"Yes. Has been for awhile now," Draco answered as he sat down on the sofa when the little energy he had suddenly evaporated, making him feel weaker by the moment.
"Then please step aside, Mister Malfoy and I will be there in a few minutes," Poppy said and was gone before she finished her sentence.
Shrugging slightly, Draco then pushed himself back up and walked slowly towards the bedroom, positive that Madam Pomfrey knew where they were.
"And here I thought you were suppose to be taking care of me," Draco scowled when he saw the unconscious form of Harry, laying sprawled on the bed, exactly where he fell when he blacked out. Sitting down at the edge of the bed opposite of where Harry was laying, Draco then looked at the form again, observing him closer this time.
Harry's face had unhealthy flush accompanied by a thin layer of sweat. Draco noticed that his breath was slightly labored, hitching a few times when he took his breath. At this, Draco frowned as he recognize the symptoms of some sort of a fever but did not know how bad it was. Reaching out, Draco pushed Harry so that he was lying on his back and then brushed the bangs backwards and felt Harry's forehead while the Gryffindor leaned into the cold touch involuntarily and was surprise to find it burning hot.
"I didn't even realize that you were sick," Draco mumbled, guilty that he didn't notice the unhealthy state of his housemate. Deep in thought, Draco didn't notice his hand that had started to soothing thread Harry's slightly sweaty hair.
"Good gracious, how long has he been out," a voice exclaimed from the doorway and Draco snapped out of his daze as the slightly plum matron rushed into the room, followed closely by McGonagall. Realizing where his hands were, he pulled the offending hand back, somewhat surprise at what he has been doing.
"For a few minutes, at least," Draco answered shortly, watching as Poppy waved her wand above Harry while mumbling some sort of incantation underneath her breath. A few heartbeats later, some words in Latin appeared and Poppy sighed, in relief or disappointment, Draco couldn't tell.
"What's wrong with him, Poppy?" Minerva asked. Apparently Draco wasn't the only one.
"A minor case of cold, coupled with lack of rest and proper nourishment," Poppy replied shortly as she walked towards the dresser and placed the small black bag she had been carrying the whole time.
"That explains the fever and passing out," Draco said absentmindedly and Poppy nodded her head at the statement.
"Oh thanks heavens," Minerva gushed, relief apparent on her aging face.
Poppy pulled out a few bottle of potions from the bag she had been looking through and walked over towards where Harry was laying. Lifting his head up slightly, she then poured the entire content of the first glass bottle that contained some sort of a yellow potion down Harry's throat. Massaging the Gryffindor's throat slightly to encourage swallowing, she then placed his head back on the bed and stood back.
"He should be waking up in a few minutes. I can't administer the proper medication if he is unconscious," Poppy answered the unspoken question and sure enough, a few minutes later, a soft groan punctured the soft atmosphere of the room.
"Mister Potter, can you hear me?" Poppy asked as she stepped back forward towards Harry. Another groan was heard flowed closely by a weak nod.
"Headache," Harry mumbled painfully.
"I realize that. Now, I need you to drink a couple of potions for me. Can you sit up please," Poppy requested.
From his position on the opposite side of Harry, Draco watched as the other boy struggle to do as Poppy said, only to fall back against the bed once again out of exhaustion. At this, another something surged through Draco's spine, making him move forward and placed Harry's head on his lap, surprising both female (females) in the room.
"Is this enough?" Draco asked, his eyes trained onto Harry's closed ones, refusing to meet the surprise ones of Poppy and Minerva.
"Yes, that is enough," Poppy replied, stuttering slightly at the beginning. Uncorking the second bottle, she helped Harry drink the potion, green this time. "Is that better?"
"Yes," Harry mumbled again. Smiling lightly, Poppy then gave Harry a third potion to drink and from the position above Harry's head, Draco could smell the faint scent of lavender; a calming draught.
"That should put him to sleep," Poppy said after Harry had drunk the potion. As Poppy predicted, Draco felt Harry's form relaxed gradually in his arms as slumber finally overtook him.
"I didn't even know that he was sick," Draco mumbled after a few minutes of silence.
"Didn't you notice anything peculiar in his behavior for the past few days?" Minerva asked gently and Draco kept quiet as he mulled the question over.
"He was pale and kept sneezing for the past few days. I didn't think much of it," Draco replied softly as his hands started to thread through Harry's hair once again. The only difference is that this time, Draco was conscious of the movement.
"When did it start?" Minerva asked again and at this, Draco's voice dropped to an even softer tone when he realized the answer to the question. The two female in the room strained their ears to hear his answer.
"It was that night when he went out to buy some milk for me. It was raining heavily that night," Draco said and Poppy nodded her head slowly at that.
"Probably because of the rain," Poppy said quietly.
"It's fine, Mister Malfoy. Don't worry about him. He should be good as new come morning," Minerva said soothingly.
"That's right. Just make sure he drink some pepper-up potion first thing when he wakes up and he will be as good as new," Poppy agreed and she showed him another bottle of dark blue potion which she then placed on the bedside table.
"You should get some rest, Mister Malfoy. Poppy and I will show ourselves the way out," Minerva said and Draco nodded his head slightly at that.
"Thank you," Draco said to their retreating backs.
However, it wasn't until a few hours later that Draco finally managed to sleep, his fingers still buried in the soft hair of one Harry Potter who, in turn, leaned further back into the embrace, content.
Harry woke up, feeling warm and content for the first time since the start of the term. Snuggling deeper into the warm blanket around him, Harry sighed softly. Opening his eyes slowly, Harry was met face to face with a milky white skin.
"What?" Harry mumbled as he pushed himself back a bit. His eyes shot open when he realized why it was so warm in the first place. Harry couldn't help but blush.
Draco was asleep, on his back, arms around Harry's torso. His face, that was usually masked with indifference was, for once, relaxed with sleep. It was so different from what Harry was used to that he found himself unable to look away.
Reaching forward, Harry tucked some blond hair that fell above the close eyelids back behind Draco's right ear and smiled slightly. Then, Harry leaned closer towards Draco's right ear and whispered a quiet "thanks" before sitting up and pushing himself up from the bed. Noticing the midnight blue potion that was left on the bedside and working out whom the potion was for, Harry grabbed the bottle and walked out from the room.
He never noticed the pair of silver eyes that soften slightly at his turned back.
Harry sat up abruptly as the once inert fireplace suddenly sprang into life and a strict looking matron stepped into the room. Looking up, she smiled at the sight of Harry as she brushed off the soot with her free hand.
"Good afternoon, Mister Potter. I trust that you are feeling better?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"Yes, thank you very much. The potion worked fine," Harry replied.
"Very good. Is Mister Malfoy awake?" she asked and smiled slightly as she watched Harry's face heat up slightly.
"I think so, yes. He just finished eating his lunch," Harry replied.
"That is fine. I need to make sure everything is in order so that he can take the potion tonight. Excuse me," she stated and walked briskly towards the bedroom.
As soon as she closed the door to the bedroom behind her, Harry fell back onto the sofa and covered his back with his hands, groaning softly. He completely forgot that the matron was there last night and she obviously saw how Draco had held him.
At the thought, Harry blush again.
"Stop it, Harry. It's nothing. Malfoy was just trying to be nice. He probably doesn't even realize how he was holding you this morning," Harry told himself. At this, Harry nodded to himself firmly.
"That's right, it meant nothing. I will stop thinking about it," Harry said determinedly before grabbing one of the homework he was working on before the matron appeared. To his astonishment, he did actually managed to forget about it.
He was so wrapped up in concentration that he was slightly surprised to see the matron standing in front of him.
"How is he doing?" Harry asked as he quickly rise up from his sitting position.
"He is doing extremely well. Because of this, it is safe for him to take the potion tonight," Madame Pomfrey replied with a smile and Harry nodded his head.
"Madame Pomfrey, about tonight, what time will you be here?" Harry asked.
"Oh, didn't I tell you Mister Potter?" When Harry shook his head, she continued. "It must have slipped my mind then. I will not be here to administer the potion to Mister Potter tonight. Instead, you will do it yourself."
"What? Why not? I mean, is that possible for a student to administer a potion to another student without adult supervision?" Harry asked, panicking.
"Nonsense, Potter. It is not a highly dangerous potion. It is a simple potion, which is design to flush out all the toxin in Mister Malfoy's body. Nothing more, nothing less," Madame Pomfrey replied while walking towards the small bag she had brought along with her.
"Why can't you do it instead? Or any one else for that matter?" Harry asked as he watched the mediwitch dig around the small bag and pulling out a small glass bottle. Taking it as it was offered to him, Harry then examined the content closely.
"I can't be here because there is another patient that requires my constant attention. Mister Winter was admitted this morning from taking an illegal potion which is highly dangerous to his heath and because of that, I cannot afford to leave him alone," Madame Pomfrey explained and Harry looked up at this.
"Daniel Winter? The sixth year Slytherin?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Now, listen. For tonight, all you have to do is to make sure Mister Malfoy drink this up after he hashis dinner. Understand?" she asked and Harry nodded his head.
"That's it?" Harry asked again.
"Yes. Although, after that, you need to look out for this symptoms," she said again and this time, she handed Harry a parchment.
"What should I do if any of this symptoms arises?" he asked.
"Well, if Mister Malfoy suffers from shortness of breath and sweating, he should be fine in a couple of minutes. But if he should sufferfrom anything other than the two, fire call the school immediately," Madame Pomfrey explained.
"Why can't you just give him any potions to help him breathe properly?" Harry asked, knowing very well that Draco would demand some sort of a potion to numb the effect.
"I can't give him any because there might be some toxin left in his body. I need to check the toxin level before I administer some other potion but usually, it would take about 12 hours until he is clean. Because of that, I will be here around 10 o'clock tomorrow to check up on him. Is that all?" Madame Pomfrey said.
"Yes, that's all. Thank you, Madame," Harry said and the matron nodded her head. Grabbing a handful of floo powder, she then called out the school and vanished.
Looking at the clock, Harry sighed softly as he pocketed both the potion and the parchment into his pocket and walked towards the kitchen. Making dinner would be a wonderful distraction, as he was not looking forward to tonight at all.
"Alright Malfoy, just shut your trap and drink up. The sooner you drink up, the sooner you will get better. I want to sleep on the bed again," Harry said as he handed Draco a small glass bottle filled with translucent blue liquid.
The both of them had finished eating dinner a couple of minutes ago and after much stalling from Harry, the both of them werenow in the bedroom; one standing at the foot of the bed while the other sitting down on it.
Looking skeptically at Harry, Draco frowned.
"Do you expect me to drink that up? How dumb do you think I am?" Draco replied while he folded his arms across his chest as if he was protecting what was underneath the layers of bandage. Despite the gesture, Harry just rolled his eyes.
"Yes Malfoy, I expect you to do just that. It's just a bloody cleanser potion. It's so that all the toxin that is in your body that might react to magic is flushed out from your body. Nothing poisonous, I assure you," Harry said. At this, Draco glared at him.
"I wouldn't put it pass you to poison me when I can do nothing to disarm you," Draco said and Harry shook his head at this.
"I thought we've been over this the first night we came here. I can't poison you because we're the only two people in this house. If, by any chance that I did it anyway, they would know that wasme because there is nobody else in this bloody house. Now, are you going to cooperate and drink up or should I tie you up and force this down your throat? I'm fine either way," Harry said, nonchalantly. He watched the blond silently, the right hand that was holding the glass bottle still outstretched when Draco gave a small sigh and took it from Harry's hand. Harry smiled.
"I swear if I die – "
"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. If you die then your ghost will haunt me for the rest of my life and make me miserable enough to wanna kill myself and join you in the realm of the dead. Now drink up," Harry said.
"And don't you bloody forget it," Draco mumbled and without another word, he drowned the entire content in one gulp, making a face at the slightly bitter taste.
"See, the world didn't go dark after all," Harry smirked which earned another glare from the blond.
"Now what?" Draco snapped as he placed the now empty glass back on the bedside table and leaned back against the mounts of pillows behind him.
"Now we wait for any symptoms that you might show. If we're lucky, you'll show none at all," Harry replied while he sat himself down at the edge of the bed at Draco's feet.
"What symptoms?" Draco asked. At this, Harry took out a piece of parchment from the back pocket of his trousers and read it out loud.
"Shortness of breath, sweating, extreme pain anywhere on your body especially at the area of the intersection or stop breathing all together. You know, the usual. If it gets to the extreme pain, I'm suppose to fire call the school right away. The rest, you will just have to ride it out," Harry explained. He then handed the list over to Draco who scanned the parchment again.
"Ride it out? You mean I have to bare with the pain?" Draco exclaimed and winched slightly at the sharp pain that stabbed his chest from moving to quickly. At Harry's glare, he relax back again while taking a deep, calming breath.
"Yes. It shouldn't last that long, you'll pass out soon after. To sleep that is," Harry reassured him.
"Oh thanks, that makes me feel a whole lot better. Suffering the pain until I pass out? Why can't you just give me a numbing potion or something?" Draco asked again.
"Pomfrey's afraid that the potion might react to the toxin that is still lingering in your body. According to her, it's only safe to give you some other potion 12 hours after the cleanser potion is administrated," Harry said.
"Damn," Draco replied, flicking the parchment back to Harry.
"Look, if it makes you feel any better, you can sleep through it. It would be less uncomfortable or painful that way," Harry suggested. At this, Draco sighs in relief and nodded his head.
"I think I should. That bloody potion took more out of me that I though," Draco said while scooting back until he was lying on the bed comfortably. Harry could see that he was falling asleep but at the last moment, he opened his eyes slightly. Before he could say anything, Harry cut him off.
"No, Malfoy. I am not going to leave you alone," Harry sighed.
"It's not that. I was just wondering if you'd mind staying?" Draco asked drowsily, a brush of pink spreading across his cheek at the request as he closed his eyes.
Harry was quite surprise at that. The blond had never asked him to stay before. Pushing himself up, he then walked over to where the blond was now sleeping and smiled softly at the sight. Before he could stop himself, he brushed back a lock of blond hair that fell over the closed eyes.
"No, I wouldn't mind at all," Harry replied quietly to the still room.
Harry opened his eyes and groaned softly, cursing himself for sleeping on the job. Stretching, he winced at the sore feeling that only comes from sleeping on an uncomfortable, high back chair for hours at a time. Glancing at the clock that was situated on the side table, Harry frowned when he realized that it had been only three hours since he had managed to doze off.
Harry was just about to curl up on the chair to resume his sleep when a soft moan accompanied by a sharp intake of breath pulled him permanently away from the thought of sleep. Sitting up, Harry then looked towards the bed and felt his blood ran cold at the sight of Draco Malfoy withering on the bed.
"Malfoy?" Harry called out as he shot out from the chair. Grabbing the chilled hand of the blonde with one hand, Harry then tried to wake the slumbering dragon but Draco only just pushed him aside.
"Can't breathe properly," Draco replied, eyes still closed, breathing uneven. At this, realization dawned.
"Shortness of breath," Harry whispered, mostly to himself. Louder, he said "Ride it out Malfoy, it shouldn't take too long. Is it that bad?"
A shook of the head, eyes still close.
"Good, than it means that this is still not a worse case scenario. Alright Malfoy, just calm down and breathe in deeply. That's it," Harry instructed and was glad that the blond was doing everything he instructed him to do. Reaching up, Harry brushed back the hairs from Draco's sweaty forehead.
"Sweating," Harry mumbled. At this, he reached for a small towel he had prepared before hand and gently wiped the sweat away.
"How long?" Harry heard Draco asked.
"A few more minutes. Hang on, okay. You're doing great," Harry replied encouragingly.
For endless minutes Harry watched Draco struggled with every breath while wiping his now damp face, hating watching him suffer and yet, powerless to do anything about it.
'I need to do something. I should do something. But what? C'mon, Harry, think!' Harry thought to himself as he continuously wiping the sweat out of Draco's eyes, watching as the blonde's breathing steadily grew heavier by the minute.
'Should I call the hospital? No, I can't do that; they would want him to keep taking the drugs. The school?' At this, Harry glanced at the clock at the bedside table once again and frowned. It was close to four in the morning and realized that the matron was probably fast asleep by now. Waking her up would seem inappropriate since she did say that she this should be a normal behavior for Draco.
Finally, after ten minutes of arguing to himself while watching the blond and still, no positive reaction from Draco, an idea struck him.
"C'mon Draco, move up. You need to sit up so you can breathe easier," Harry said while he pulled Draco into a sitting position. Draco, who's at this point is too exhausted to fight back, could only cooperate silently.
Holding the blond up while rearranging the pillows behind Draco wasn't as easy as Harry madeit out to be, considering he was only left with one hand to maneuver the pillows. Finally, after struggling and failing, Harry decided it was easier if he would just sit behind the blond so that Draco could lean back against him.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked, breathless as he felt Harry climbing onto the bed behind him.
"It's easier this way. Come on," Harry replied as he positioned himself behind Draco and pulled Draco back so that he could lean back against him. Harry then placed Draco's head on his left shoulder and then, with his left hand, stroked his hair gently.
"Breathe," Harry whispered into Draco's ear as his hand continued to caress the soft hair. His right hand then crept up underneath Draco's thin shirt and gently, as to not cause any more pain to the cut, caresses the wound that was underneath the layers of bandages.
At first, Harry was surprise at himself for doing such a thing and was fully prepare for an all out yelling. But, as Draco relaxed more with every stroke and his breathing even out with every caress, Harry couldn't help but, once again, smile softly at this.
Kissing the side of Draco's head gently as the blonde finally fall into deep sleep, Harry mumble a faint good night before hugging the blond closer to his body and falling asleep himself.