Chapter 9: A bad fall

It's Hermione who tells him, obviously trying to accept the fact that Harry actually cares for Draco. Dinner is over and he has just got the books he needs for tonight's study session. He is about to leave the common room to meet up with Draco when she comes over to him. She looks a bit unsure and chews nervously on her lip.

"Harry, you were going to see Malfoy, right?"

Harry sighs. "Yes I am. Why is that a problem? No, wait, don't even get started."

"I need to tell you something." She lowers her voice and looks around.

"And you have to do it right now?"

"Yes." There's some more chewing on the lip. "It's about him."

"I thought we were over these kind of conversations."

Hermione take an impatient breath. "You don't understand, there's no use going now. He won't be there."

Harry feels the blood leave his face. "What? Why?"

"Not here. I'm not supposed to tell you." She drags him over to some chairs away from the others. "I got to know at the prefects' meeting, we're not supposed to talk about it."

"You've already said that. Now tell me, what's wrong."

"I'm sorry, but there's been an... accident." She notices the look on his pale face. "No, no, not that serious. Just a little."

"Hermione, tell me what has happened."

"As I said, there was an accident. He must have slipped when he was going down one of the big staircases and fallen all the way down."

"Oh. No." Harry stands up. "I need to go."

"Harry, wait!" Hermione swallows hard. "There's something else..."

Harry sits down again, impatiently. "OK, tell me."

"I really shouldn't tell you this, I'll be in so much trouble... I'm Head Girl after all." Hermione looks torn.

"Hermione, please. It's obviously something you think I should know. And of course I won't tell anyone where I got it from."

"You see Harry..." She swallows again. "...when they found him..." She takes a deep breath and looks up at Harry. "His clothes were full of shoe prints. And some or the damage to his face was not really consistent with stairs. But the official story is still that he fell in the stairs."

There's a loud 'thud' when Harry's Potions book hits the wall and starts spreading loose pages over the floor below. Harry himself stands next to the chairs with his eyes closed, ignoring the curious heads that turn his way. He opens his eyes again when Hermione puts a hand on his arm.

"I'll take care of your book. And your bag. You go and see if you can see him. He's probably awake by now." She gives a faint smile and squeezes his arm.

"Awake?" Harry's voice is no more a croak, and he takes a deep breath before he scoops her up in a hug. "You're a wonderful friend. Thank you." Then he turns and heads for the portrait hole.

When he reaches the hospital wing he's nervous. He has no idea what awaits him on the other side of the door. What if Draco is still unconscious? What if he's really badly hurt? He dries his hands on his trousers and walks inside.

Madam Pomfrey comes to meet him the second he steps inside.

"Mr Potter. Nothing wrong with you I hope?"

"No. I'm here to see Draco. Malfoy. How is he?" He can feel his voice shake and he tries to take some calming breaths.

"He's sleeping now, you'd have to come back tomorrow I'm afraid."

"Will he be OK?"

Madam Pomfrey presses her lips together. "He will be."

"Can I just see him? Just quick?"

"Well, come here then." She walks down towards her office and points at one of the beds.

Harry starts to walk over to the bed. "Thank you, I won't wake him up."

"It's a little bit late for that now, isn't it?" Draco's voice is hoarse and he sounds very tired.

"Draco, I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

"How do you feel?" Harry shoots a glance over his shoulder to locate Madam Pomfrey in her office, then takes Draco's hand and sits down on the edge of the bed.

"I've been better. But it'll mostly be gone tomorrow." He wets his lips with his tongue. "I hope."

Harry look a bit alarmed. "What exactly is wrong with you?" He sighs and squeezes Draco's hand. "Sorry. I promised myself not to talk about that tonight. You don't have to answer that."

"It's OK." Draco's voice starts to get slurry. "The damage is mostly gone, broken bones and such. But Madam Pomfrey keeps talking about 'physical and mental shock' and wants to keep me under observation."

Harry flinches slightly when Draco talks about broken bones, but when he stops speaking he nods. "Maybe that's a good idea. Make sure you're not up too early."

"Harry, can you imagine how much I will fall behind in classes if I spend a whole day in bed? Or even more?" There would have been panic in his voice if he wasn't that sleepy.

Harry chuckles. "Sometimes I think you and Hermione have to be soul mates."

"If you're only going to insult me you can just go." Draco makes a very sleepy excuse for a snort.

"I'm not going to insult you , but I will be going anyway." Harry smiles and stands up. "You obviously need to sleep now."

"No. Please." Draco tightens his grip on Harry's hand.

"But you need to sleep."

Draco's face is very open and vulnerable. "Can you stay? Sit here with me until I fall asleep?"

"Sure." Harry moves a chair over to the bed, sitting down with Draco's hand still in his. It doesn't take long for Draco's breath to be even, and his hand is relaxing in Harry's. Harry stands up and lets go of Draco's hand, checking for onlookers. When none are found he gently kisses Draco's forehead and then leaves the hospital wing.

When Pansy goes to breakfast next morning she is worried. She sat up late to catch Draco after he was back from the meeting with Harry, but he never came. And then Blaise told her that it didn't look like Draco had used his bed last night. She's almost at the table when she sees Harry and his two sidekicks enter the hall. She makes her decision fast and walks over to them, praying that Harry won't hate her for making contact in public.

"Potter."

"Parkinson." Harry stops and nods at her. Then his eyes grow wide and he stares at her.

"Potter, can I talk to you?" Come on Potter, you can do it. "Between four eyes."

"Of course." He turns to his friends. "I'll be right there, you go ahead."

Pansy watches his friends go. But why is the Granger girl's face so soft, why does she look at her with something that's almost pity?

"Should we go outside the hall?" Pansy makes a gesture at the doors. "It's only polite after all to let people eat their breakfast in peace."

Harry looks up, confused. Then he looks out over the hall and realizes that half of the students are staring at them. "Oh. Yes, I think that might be wise."

They start for the door when Harry just can't be silent anymore. "You don't know, do you?"

"Outside." Pansy looks grim. When they are in a corner of the Entrance Hall she turns to him. "What is it I don't know?"

"Draco. He got really... had a really bad fall down some stairs yesterday." Harry seems distressed.

"A bad fall?" Pansy raises an eyebrow. "I see. How bad?"

"I'm not sure, he was really tired when I talked to him. Some broken bones at least. Madam Pomfrey wants to keep him for observation at least another day." Harry's voice turns lower. "But I think it was bad. He was unconscious when they brought him in."

Pansy says a lot of things that indicate that she's no lady. "And why didn't anyone tell me?"

"I don't think Draco did much at all yesterday, he was pretty out of it, and I was just so worried, I didn't think of that." Harry looks guilty.

"Hm." Pansy narrows her eyes. "And how come you got to know?"

"Uh, I can't tell you that."

Pansy's eyes get even smaller and her lips grow thin.

"Hey, Parkinson, what about this? You go have your breakfast and then you can go see him before class. I can explain to Professor Flitwick if you get late." Harry looks a bit anxious.

"Yes. Yes, that sounds good. You would really tell Professor Flitwick?"

"Yes. Of course. Just tell Draco I'll be up after lunch." Harry starts walking back towards the doors, and before he walks through he nods. "See you in class." He disappears inside.

When Pansy starts to eat her breakfast it tastes like paper. She is forcing down a toast when the post comes. To her surprise there's a letter for her. She's just about to open it when she gets cold, and turns the letter over again. Yes. It's most likely the same handwriting as on Draco's letters. Slowly she opens it, not sure what to find. What she finds is another letter, same as all the others, only addressed to Draco Malfoy, Hospital wing this time. She's tempted to open it, but instead she abandons her breakfast and heads for the hospital wing.

"Draco, how are you?" Pansy hurries over to his bed. "Potter told me you were here. And about the accident. Are you fine? Why are you still in bed?"

"What does he know about the accident?" Draco seems worried.

"It sounded on him as if he knew the truth, but he didn't say anything to me. My guess is that he knows, but isn't supposed to tell anyone." Pansy looks around. "Speaching of which, I don't know the truth yet, care to share?"

Draco sighs. "It's not much to tell. There were four or five of them, I don't really remember any faces."

"Oh come on, Draco!"

"No, I'm serious. You see, the fall isn't a lie, I did fall down the stairs. I was a bit... confused after that."

"But you didn't accidentally trip by yourself."

"No, not really."

They look at each other with grim faces for some moments, then Draco nods. "Enough of this. I slipped and fell, no need to say anything else." He glances at Pansy. "Especially not if talking to Harry."

Pansy lifts an eyebrow. "If you say so." She pats Draco's arm. "Now, how are you?"

"I'm fine. It's just Madam Pomfrey being tiresome." He frowns and sits up. "I can't see why I can't get out of bed though, this is stupid."

Pansy traces patterns in Draco's bedclothes. "I have two messages for you. One good and one bad." She looks unhappy. "First I should tell you that Potter said that he will stop by after lunch."

"I take it that was the good one." Draco smirks at her. "What's the bad news?"

Holding out the letter Pansy looks uneasy. "This came with owl to me this morning."

Draco takes the letter and opens it. "Congratulations. Next time you won't be that lucky." He presses his lips together and hands it to Pansy.

Pansy sighs. "We know one thing at least. The person sending these is enough familiar with you or Hogwarts to know who to send letters to when you're not there to get them. Yes, and not to mention enough well-apprised to know that you're here. I didn't know it until Potter told me fifteen minutes ago."

"Which makes it even more likely that it is someone in Hogwarts." He notices Pansy's thoughtful face. "What is it?"

"I think you're making a mistake here."

"What?"

"I think you should tell Potter."

"No. That won't happen."

"Draco. Even if you like it or not, he is one of those few who maybe actually could help you." She stares sternly at him. "And he is your friend. I'm sure he would want to know."

"I know Pansy, I agree, but no. I don't want to."

"Don't be difficult."

"I have my reasons. And I don't want a Third Wizarding War." He smirks at Pansy.

"I don't know..." She gives him a conniving look.

"Just leave it, Pansy. Go to class."

oOo

Harry visits Draco after lunch, and they are laying on the bed together. To Draco's delight Harry is allowed to bring some of his books too. They take some time where Harry explains what they have covered before lunch, and then some time where Draco is panicking slightly over not knowing what will be covered in the afternoon.

"Draco, it's just one day. You know that Madam Pomfrey said you can leave tomorrow."

"One and a half, she won't release me before lunch."

Harry sighs. "I don't know why you are worrying. You're one of the best in all classes, it won't be a problem at all for you to catch up." He gives Draco a calculating glance and hides a smile. "Sometimes I think you just like to whine."

"I certainly do not." Draco's eyes are big and filled with hurt.

Harry rolls his eyes. "No, of course you don't." He looks around, and when they are alone he leans over and presses a short kiss on Draco's lips. "What does Madam Pomfrey say? Why is she keeping you?"

Draco grumbles. "She's still talking about 'physical and mental chock', insisting that I must stay here for observation. And I have to lay down all the time."

"But it's for your own good. You shouldn't leave bed before it's safe."

"As long as I can stay in bed with you I won't whine." Draco winks at him. "It is pretty cosy here, too bad we can't make the best of it. But I have to admit that there are things I don't want Madam Pomfrey to witness."

By now Harry is slightly blushed and closely inspects the pillow.

"Maybe if we moved in under the bedclothes she won't see us?" Draco taps a finger to his lip.

Harry's head flips up and he stares at Draco in panic.

Draco laughs in amusement. "Oh, Harry, I'm joking. But you should have seen your face."

"You're terrible." Harry hides his face in the pillow

With an amused smirk Draco reaches out and start to stroke his hair. "Poor thing."

There's a muffled sound that is indisputably annoyed.

"Potter, get out of there."

Harry lifts his head and looks at Draco. "Potter?"

Draco shrugs. "Well, it worked to get you up. Harry."

"I get a bit nervous when you say my name." He bites his lip.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Well, hearing you use my last name made me feel like I've done something bad. And when you use my first name... well you often do that before you kiss me."

"Is that so?"

"And now we're here and Madam Pomfrey-"

Draco kisses him.

"What are you doing?" Harry looks at him accusingly.

"It's called kissing." Draco is perfectly relaxed and sounds patronising.

Harry stares at him for three seconds before giving up and allowing an amused smile on his face. "You're hopeless, you know that?"

"I'm meaningfulness incarnated, just for your information." Draco sniffs haughtily.

"Well, as long as you don't start whining again I guess I should be happy." Harry holds a perfectly straight face.

Draco snorts insulted. "I never whine, I only express my displeasure. And I only do it when I have a good reason."

Harry laughs. "Actually, if someone should whine here it's me."

Draco's eyes narrows. "Oh yeah? And why is that?"

"Well, you'll be out of here in good time for our Thursday training, while I'm missing my weekly Potions session. And we both know how good I'll do without it."

With slightly tilted head Draco watches Harry. "And what exactly gave you the impression that we won't do it today? I hope you brought your books." His face moves into a satisfied smirk when he hears Harry sigh deeply before getting his books.

oOo

It's after dinner. Harry is sitting on the edge of Draco's bed, distractedly poking Draco's knee.

"Stop it."

"What?" Harry looks up with a confused face.

"You're violating my knee. Stop it." He folds his arms. "I'd like you to remember that I'm terribly injured and suffering through my time here."

Harry looks at him with a raised eyebrow, but retreats his hand. "Terribly injured? I don't know about that."

"But I am suffering!"

There's a snort from Harry. "That's for sure though. And you make sure everyone knows it too." He glances at Draco. "You should be happy I'm here, or you would have to suffer alone. I can go if you don't like me here.

An undefined sound of displeasure comes from Draco, and a hand snaps out and catches Harry's wrist.

"Oh no, you don't! Don't you dare leave me, I'm dying of boredom here."

Harry laughs. "You're hopeless. And I like you so very, very much." He blinks surprised and starts to blush.

"You're very cute when you blush. Yes, just like that." Draco watches him in amusement, but then his face softens. "And you know that I like you too. A lot." He touches Harry's cheek, and then lies back and watches the blush slowly go back.

A noise startles them, and when they look up Pansy is standing there.

"You guys need to be more careful." Pansy walks up to the bed. "What if it was someone else than me?"

"What do you mean, Pansy?" Draco looks irritated.

Pansy checks that Madam Pomfrey is out of earshot. "Well, I take it that you two want to keep your relationship secret?"

Harry's face go dead pale, but Draco seems unaffected.

"Dear Pansy, what makes you say something like that?" Draco sounds a tad bored.

"Oh, come on. I'm coming in through the door, and here you two are, staring at each other as love-sick puppies."

"I did not!" Draco looks indignant. "I do not do love-sickness, especially not the puppy variant!"

Harry tries to hide a smile behind his hand. Then he remembers that Pansy knows, and the laughter in his stomach turns to ice. "Parkinson, you're not going to tell anyone, are you?" He stares at her in something close to fear.

Pansy gives him a calculating look. "You know, I think I've had enough of this."

"What?" Harry is panicking slightly.

"This Parkinson thing. When are you going to start calling me Pansy? I've been dying to call you Harry for ages."

Harry looks bewildered. "Well, Pansy, please don't tell anyone."

Pansy gives a little miffed sound. "Of course I won't! Do you think I'm stupid?"

"I wouldn't answer that question if I were you, Harry." Draco is obviously amusing himself. When he sees Harry's face he smirks. "Yes, of course I knew all the time she wouldn't tell a soul. It was just so entertaining to watch your face."

"I hate you."

"I very much doubt it." Draco reaches out and strokes Harry's cheek. "Just for you I will be nice for a whole minute."

Harry closes his eyes and tilts his head back. Then he opens his eyes and looks at Pansy. "This is strange." He takes Draco's hand and smiles at him, then looking back at Pansy. "It feels incredible good to talk with someone and not having to hide." Harry suddenly looks thoughtful. "Honestly Pansy, how did you know?"

"Well, actually I didn't know until you confirmed it. But it was Blaise who made me see the possibilities first though."

"Blaise?" Draco looks amused.

"Yes. One night you were away and he wanted help with something, and he was ranting about 'Potter here and Potter there, you could think Potter is his fucking girlfriend.'. I knew that you felt a lot for Harry, but I thought it was friendship just as everyone else. I never thought about it that way until he said that, but then everything just fell into place. Things you'd said and done suddenly made sense. I was pretty sure of the feelings from your side. But I didn't know about you of course." She nods at Harry. "You and mini Weasley seemed to be a sealed deal before this year, so I must say that I was a bit uncertain." She gives a smug grin. "But then I walked in on you smiling like that, and it turned out that I was right after all." She looks very pleased with herself.

Harry snorts, tries to suppress a laughter and gives up.

"What?" Pansy looks at him with narrowed eyes.

"I'm just thinking about Hermione." He shoots an amused glance at Draco before he looks back at Pansy with a big grin. "Imagine what she would say if she got to know that you figured it out before she did."

Draco snickers from the bed. "Please let me be present when you tell her."

The smile disappears from Harry's face. "You think I should tell her? About us?"

"No, no." Draco reaches out a hand for Harry's. "Not now. Some time in a future I think I might find it pleasant not to have to sneak around your best friends, but not now. Not even soon." He squeezes Harry's hand. "And definitely not until you're ready for it." He glares at Pansy. "And Pansy... just see her as an unfortunate event along the way."

"You've always been so good with compliments Draco." Pansy sniffs. "I'd like to remind you that he said that he did like having me know." She looks calculating at Draco. "And talking about having someone to know..."

"Pansy. Shut it." Draco looks furious.

"...don't you have something to tell Harry?"

"Get out of here. Now." Draco sits up in the bed. When Harry stands up he takes his hand. "Not you. Pansy."

"Draco, you have to tell him. It won't help to kick me out of here. You might even find it good to have me here."

Harry clears his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but what are you talking about?"

"Brilliant, Pansy." Draco spits out the words, but lays down again.

"Draco?" Harry presses his hand lightly. "What is this about? You're making me a bit worried."

"It's nothing. Just Pansy being silly."

Pansy snorts "Draco just doesn't want to tell you because he thinks you will start a Third Wizarding War if you get to know."

"Thank you, Pansy, now I really stopped worrying." Harry glares at Draco. "Tell me."

"It's really nothing."

"You think I would start a Third Wizarding War over nothing. Thank you for that."

"Just show him that stupid letter!" Pansy gives up an impatient noise.

"Letter?" Harry looks between them.

Draco hides his face in his hands. "I hate you Pansy." He sighs but doesn't remove his hands. "Well, show it to him then."

Pansy snorts and wriggles the letter out of Draco's pocket, and then hands it to Harry. He reads it.

"This is the same as with Pansy. You think it was the same..." He trails off when Pansy starts to shake her head.

"This one came by owl. As the others did."

"The others?"

"He's been getting these letters since... beginning of January I think."

"January. All from the same person?"

"It seems like it."

"And what do they say?"

"Mostly that he's closely watched and that he's soon going to die."

Harry blinks. Then he turns to Draco and rips away the hands from his face. "You've been getting death threats since the start of term, and you didn't think you should tell me?"

Draco looks slightly blasé as he sits up. "I didn't think it was that big a deal." He gives Harry a haughty glance. Harry explodes.

"Not a big deal? How many lives do you have to play with that I'm not aware of?" Harry throws out his arms. "Or maybe that's not the problem here? Maybe you just didn't trust me enough?"

"It has nothing to do with trust." Draco's voice is ice cold and slightly bored.

"No? Then what? Let me see, you thought I might start a war. You didn't trust me to actually help you, you thought I would just run off being stupid."

"If I didn't know better I thought you had started on that war already." He inspects a nail. "It sure sounds so."

"I'm out of here, later boys." Pansy tries to sneak out unnoticed.

"Don't bother Pansy, I leave you to your trusted, personal business." Harry turns and storms out right in time to hear the angry footsteps of Madam Pomfrey.

oOo

Harry sits in the common room with his friends, trying to focus on the things inside Gryffindor Tower. But he's still fuming, hurt that Draco didn't trust him more than that. He is really trying to ignore it, instead catching up on Seamus' wild story featuring three angry Quidditch players, a whole lot of butterbeer, a cat and two dozens of black buttons stolen from the Transfiguration classroom. Hermione has sent him some worried looks, but when she looked like she was going to ask him he only shook his head, and for once she left it and let it go. He has almost relaxed when there is a third-year girl walking up to them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Potter?"

"Yes?"

"There's a girl outside the portrait asking for you."

There's a second before the cheering and wolf-whistles start.

The girl goes on. "I think it's a Slytherin."

All of them fall dead silent, staring at Harry. He puts on a cold mask worthy of Draco and walks out of the room, lots of eyes on his back.

Outside he folds his arms and glares at the girl. "Pansy."

"Hey, don't bite my head off, I didn't do anything."

Harry sighs and takes down his arms. "Sure. What do you want?"

"I don't think we should discuss it right outside your common room."

"Clever girl." He starts towards the stairs to sixth floor.

"May I quote you on that? But I guess Draco will never believe me anyway." She gives Harry half a smile. He doesn't return it.

When they are in the middle of a long empty corridor he stops. "So. What do you want?"

"Go and see him."

"No way."

"Harry. He's sorry. But he can't come here and see you on his own."

"So he sent you here."

"Mm... not really. He never really said that he is sorry, but I know he is."

Harry glares at her and folds his arms again.

"And I know you're sorry for yelling at him too."

"He so deserved it! If he had only-"

"Yes, good, well." Pansy holds up her hands. "I'm not here to argue with you. But my best friend is laying in the hospital wing on the brink of tears because he had a stupid row with his boyfriend, and I don't like that."

Harry lets his arms down and stares at her, dumbfounded. "He is crying?"

"I don't know. He would never do it so I can see it, but it was close when I left him."

He turns around and stares down the corridor. "I guess I should see him."

"Yes, but you will not be allowed in now."

"Why?"

"Well, Madam Pomfrey wasn't that impressed with your yelling. There is a visitors prohibition."

"Fuck."

"But I guess you can try to sneak in. Tonight if not earlier."

"Yes." Harry nods. "Thank you."

"Just make it fine again. And if I get to know that you've been mean to him and made him cry, it will not be fun to be you."

"Is that so? Should I be worried?" Harry looks amused

"Oh yes." Pansy gives him an evil smirk. "Then I tell them I'm your girlfriend." She turns around and disappears down the corridor.

Harry almost runs up to the dormitory and rummages around in his trunk for his cloak when a voice makes him jump.

"She told you, didn't she?" Ron is sitting on his bed.

"Um."

"I see ferret face has taught you good language."

"Shut it, Ron. And I can't tell you."

"I see." Ron hits his bed absentmindedly. "I don't like it. Suddenly she acts like she owes him something. It's creepy. I see him taking over both you and now her."

"Ron, it's not as you think. He's my friend, you know that. And I'm perfectly sure that Hermione still dislikes him and mistrusts him just as always."

"I don't know." Ron's eyes narrow. "She's different."

Harry sighs. "Maybe she just tries to be nice about him for my sake? I'd like that." He starts looking for his cloak again, and when he finds it he turns to Ron who's still sulking on his bed. "I have to go. Don't worry, it will turn out fine." And he hurries out of Gryffindor Tower.

When he reaches the hospital wing he stops and listens at the door. Open the door and get through will be the worst part, if Madam Pomfrey is inside she'll see the door open. He listens at the door for a while and decides to give it a try. He puts on the cloak and slowly opens the door, carefully slipping inside. Madam Pomfrey is nowhere to be seen. He hurries over to the bed where Draco is lying, reading a book.

"Draco." He whispers as loud as he dares. "Keep quiet, it's just me."

"Harry? Where are you?" Draco puts down his book and whispers back.

"Here." Harry takes off the cloak but keeps it close in case Madam Pomfrey starts to move.

Draco sits up and stares at him. "The cloak. Of course."

"Um. Yes." Harry looks a bit uneasy.

"Where did you get it anyway?" Draco sounds curious and reaches out for it, but pulls his hand back.

"Inherited it." He reaches out and places a hand on Draco's cheek. "But forget about the cloak for a bit."

Looking from the cloak to Harry, Draco makes up his mind. "Sure."

"I hate to remind you, but weren't you mad at me?"

Draco stiffens up and immediately the mask is back in place. "Yes. So?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt you." Harry strokes Draco's cheek. "Don't be sad."

Draco presses his lips together to a thin line.

Harry looks at him for a while, and when nothing happens his face gets very tired and he swallows. "I guess that's my cue for leaving." He turns to leave when a hand locks around his wrist. When he looks up Draco is looking at him intently.

"I do trust you." Draco's face is still closed and his eyes unreadable. "Never think that I don't trust you."

"But..."

"You always makes a lot of fuss as soon as something happens to me, and it is more or less making things worse. If I just ignore them they almost go away. But when I'm with you and you're all upset it gets so much more real." Draco starts to stroke Harry's wrist with his thumb. "And then there is the fact that you make a lot of fuss, and I still can't believe why you do it for me." There is a tentative smile wakening in his face.

"But Draco, it won't go away by itself, you-" He falls silent when Draco is yanking him down and puts a finger over his lips.

"Don't. Not now. When I get out of here." His mouth gives a smirk but his eyes are still guarded. "Preferably somewhere with a lot of people so you won't dare shouting."

Harry squirms. "You just made me so mad. I just..."

Draco tugs his arm to get him to sit down on the bed. "I keep an eye out for Pomfrey. Sit down."

"I didn't mean to be so angry, but I was... well I was hurt."

"Harry, hush." Draco shifts closer and sneaks his arms around him. "Use those arms for something useful, will you?"

"But what if Pomfrey comes out?" Harry hesitantly puts his arms around Draco.

"We'll hear her. And if we don't she will only see two friends hugging each other. I've had a scary accident after all. And no, that topic is a 'not now' too. Anyway, if she would come out and we don't hear her, and she sees more than two friends that hug, she never tells on students, whatever happens, so will you please relax and at least try to pretend that you've missed me too today."

Harry suppresses a soft laugh and pulls Draco close to him. "You do remember that we already have met twice today?"

"Yes, but..." Draco hides his face in Harry's neck. "...last one was a bit bad, so I don't know if that counts." There is a short silence, and then Draco speaks with a voice that's barely audible. "I didn't do it to hurt you."

Harry realizes that it will be as close to an apology as he will get from Draco. He holds him extra close for some time, and then starts to move a finger up and down Draco's spine. "I just can't get it that Pansy figured it out."

"She's not bright, but she has good instincts." Draco mumbles hushed at Harry's neck.

"And poor Hermione got it all wrong."

Draco lifts his head and looks at him. "There's no need to feel sorry for that little Mudblood." His eyes are narrowed and his voice is full of disdain.

"Hey, don't call her that."

"She wanted to send me to Azkaban, innocent. Sorry for not being her biggest fan at the moment."

"No. I don't care. Don't call her that."

Draco's face closes up and his eyes turn to stone. He looks coldly at Harry for some seconds, then a couple of emotions hasty flash over his face, and he burrows it in Harry's neck again. "Fine."

Harry smiles with his face in Draco's hair. "I did miss you today. A lot."

"You should. Honestly, I can't understand how you managed." Draco follows Harry's collarbone with his finger.

"If Madam Pomfrey comes out now she will never believe the 'friends who hugs'-line."

"She better stay in her office then."

"I thought that maybe I should go-"

Draco quickly puts his mouth over Harry's, and the rest of the sentence vanishes.

A bit later Harry carefully backs off. "If Madam Pomfrey comes out now..."

"Can you please not think about Madam Pomfrey when I'm kissing you?"

Harry stifles a laugh in Draco's shoulder. "I'll try not to." He runs a hand through Draco's hair. "But I really think I should go."

"You're messing up my hair. Stop it. Do you have to?"

"Mess up your hair? I'm afraid so."

"Idiot. Do you have to go?"

"We've been lucky this far. I really don't want to hear Pomfrey's opinions on my voice levels."

Draco sighs and hugs Harry hard. Then he lets go, kisses him on the cheek and shifts back up on the bed. "Go then. I'll see you tomorrow."

Harry leans in and kisses him first on the nose and then on the mouth. "Tomorrow." He turns and tiptoes out of the hospital wing.