A/N: Poor Harry messed everything up. What will be the result? I do not own Harry Potter, blessed be J.K!
Results
Chapter Fourteen – June 18th 1999
One Week Later
"Can you read it for me?" Harry Potter asked his friends each seated around his hospital cot. His recovery had been slow; his burns had were severe and due to their magical nature could not be healed as easily with magic, they would have to heal a normal human speed. His eyesight was slowly returning but everything was still fuzzy, as if he wasn't wearing his glasses and without them he saw nothing but grey static. Draco, who had not left his side since he had been admitted a week ago, took the parchment back from him and cleared his throat. Harry listened as the paper rustled, his other friends shifted in their chairs and he heard Ron sniff. Draco hissed moments later.
"How bad?" Harry braced himself.
"I'm sorry babe, it's not great" Draco said kindly.
"Tell me…" He said grimly.
"Well for Charms…" he paused while he consulted the parchment, "Acceptable" he proclaimed and Harry sighed.
"You passed" Ron commented. He could only imagine the horror or dread on Hermione's face.
"Earth Magic?" Harry asked. It was considered to be an easy subject among the higher level students, but Harry chose it to fill in his timetable, he sure as hell wasn't going to do Divination again and Firenze the centaur, was a wonderful if not unusual teacher.
"um…E - Exceeds Expectations!" The Slytherin said with a little more enthusiasm.
"Well done, Harry" Hermione finally spoke; it was one of the few subjects she had not chosen to take.
"Nice" Ron added.
"Thanks" Harry said in the direction of their voices, a slight smile on his face. "What else?" he prompted after a few moments.
"Defence against the dark arts… E - Exceeds Expectations and there is a note next to your grade…" Draco read the note quietly for a moment then told the group. "Poor performance, however student shows a natural talent for the subject" He said in a clipped tone, clearly unimpressed with the statement.
"Of course he has 'natural talent', he's freaking Harry Potter, he has only been saving the world since he was a baby for Merlin's sake!" Ron shared the displeasure with the comment.
"It's fine Ron…" Harry said awkwardly, he lifted his hand to try and find Ron's arm, noticing this Ron moved closer to his friend and guided him to touch his arm. With a smile, Harry pat his friend a couple of times in an reassuring manner.
"It's still a good grade, Harry." Hermione stated matter-of-factly.
"Thank you Hermione" He smiled a little wider, he enjoyed having his friends with him. "How about Magical Creatures?" he asked.
"Let's see…ah Acceptable" the blonde stated clearly "and the same for Transfig…but Potions" He coughed.
"Let me guess…Troll?" Harry half-laughed.
"Harry!" Hermione scorned him for joking about such important things.
"Sorry Harry, not T but still not a pass you got Poor with a comment" Draco grimaced. While his other friends consoled him, Draco read over the note.
"It reads 'While the written component to this exam was completed to an Acceptable standard, due to the failure to complete the practical exam and the endangerment of fellow students, we were unable to provide a passing grade. If you wish to contest this grade please contact us before the end of term'" Draco took a deep breathe in when he finished reading aloud.
"Surely they will let you sit it again Harry?" Hermione protested.
"I don't really care anymore, Hermione…" Harry sighed again and Hermione made an indignant sound but said nothing more. Being nearly blinded and horribly burned will gain you some brownie points with her. Harry was relieved that torture was over.
"How'd you guys do?" Harry asked changing the subject.
"Ron managed four Outstanding and three Exceeds Expectations." Hermione said proudly because without her, Ron never would have done so well.
"Your mother will be pleased" Harry congratulated his best friend.
"She is…and Hermione got all Outstanding, of course." Ron spoke for her as she had for him; Harry could sense the pride coming of Hermione like a perfume.
"Of course. That's wonderful, Hermione" He praised the witch fondly.
"Thank you" She said politely. "How about you Draco" She addressed the other boy, who had discarded the parchment and returned to gently, holding Harry's injured hand.
"Mostly A's too but a couple of Exceeds…" He muttered "But you know what, we have enough money to last us a while, we will just focus on Rosie for a while, I think" Draco changed the subject. Harry grinned because he was pleased to hear Draco talking about the future. Their relationship was still a little rocky but they were slowly mending it, rebuilding trust takes time but Harry's injury let Draco know without a doubt he could not live without Harry in his life.
"You know Kingsley wants you for the Auror training no matter what grades we get?" Ron said plainly.
"I know Ron, but things are different now…" he squeezed Draco's hand, "but you're gonna make a great Auror, Ron." Harry was sure of it.
"What are you going to do Hermione?" Draco asked the proud witch.
"Maybe medicine, I've been offered training positions for various departments in the Ministry as well as St Mungo's and McGonagall wants me to teach here at Hogwarts, I will have to review all my options and talk to my parents" She informed them proudly.
"I can't say I'm surprised" Draco said dryly and Harry chuckled, Ron remained quite unsure if he would get in trouble for laughing at his girlfriend.
"Thank you Draco" she said just as dryly but with a slight smirk curling the corners of her mouth. Worried that she was offended Harry shook Draco's hand with a frown on his brow.
"Oh it's okay Harry…I know Draco is joking." She assured him with a little laughter in her voice, when she remembered he could not see her smile.
"Alright" he relaxed. Harry heard her chair scape as she stood and another scape as she pulled Ron to his feet.
"Ron and I will talk to you later Harry" She said meaningfully. Harry was sure Hermione was just trying to give them more alone time, she had been trying her best at match-making since Draco had stopped talking to him. Hermione while very angry at he and Ginny, hated to see a couple who were clearly still in love, give up without trying.
"Thanks for coming guys." Harry told them honestly.
"See ya later mate" Ron said.
"Bye Harry" Hermione added and Harry listened to their footsteps until they were out of hearing range. Then he was alone, with Draco. It was bitter-sweet not being able to see Draco's face, he had longed to see him for so many sleepless days, but thought he had it far too easy, being unable to see the pain in Draco's eyes.
"Thank you for being here Draco" Harry said his heart growing tight at the thought of being without him, because of such a stupid mistake.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I can't do without you Harry Potter" He said truthfully. Harry could imagine his classic Malfoy smirk, they were an unlikely couple.
"I love you and I'm so sorry" he said for the millionth time.
"I know you are Harry, but you must never lie to me again" Draco said very seriously. Harry nodded but the blonde put a finger to his lips so he could not speak, "I understand you are a very attractive man, famous, rich…I know women will always be throwing themselves at you but…" He paused again as Harry tried to protest, "wait…" he warned and the Gryffindor remained quiet, "I'm just saying I understand it, but if you ever act on it before talking to me about it, I will leave you" Draco warned very seriously. Harry took a moment to process what he had said before speaking.
"Really?" Harry finally replied.
"Yes. Non-monogamous relationships are not uncommon in the Wizarding world, my father had many mistresses, with my mother's consent of course and I heard…" He glanced around him and said in a quieter voice "McGonagall has out lived her husbands" he put emphasis on the last word.
"The headmistress…at the same time?" Harry said in stunned voice and a smirk on his mouth, "I promise I will not make the same mistake again" he said meaningfully when he processed this new information, "I promise" he said once more for good measure.
"I believe you, but it will take a while before I can forgive you…you understand that right?" Draco said seriously.
"I understand" He knew the pureblood's trust would be hard won.
"Good" Draco lent forward and pressed his lips to Harry forehead. Harry warmed to the gentle gesture, he had a chance to make it right and he would do everything in his power to do so.
A/N: Do you think Draco is going to easy on Harry? I know alot of you are angry at him for what he did. What does Harry need to do to gain Draco's trust and forgiveness? Please Review!