A/N: Thank you for all the lovely reviews and support! Also a big thanks to FanofBellaandEdward for proof-reading this for me!

Chapter Thirteen:

IV's & Ice

A knock came from the door, forcing Draco to look up from what he was doing.

In the doorway of the room stood a very stiff-backed Ron and a very weary-looking Hermione. The skin was pinched around her eyes. She'd pulled another extra-long shift at the Ministry, no doubt. They seemed to be waiting for him to say something. Give them permission, perhaps? That'd be a first. Still, this was no time for him to be bitter. They were making the effort and going along with what he wanted for a change. He wasn't about to start another row. He settled for remaining calm.

"So," he said as he closed the notebook from Hermione's intrigued eyebrow twitch. "You came."

"Of course we did," she said, edging into the room. "We made a point of getting visitation privileges. We're not about to let them go to waste."

He had to bite his tongue on that one. He busied himself with drawing the blinds to keep the harsh sunlight out of Harry's eyes. The sunlight slanted sideways and cast long bands up the wall. "Just see that they don't go to waste, and there won't be any problems." Hermione made a soft sound in the back of her throat, and gestured for Ron to sit down. Draco pretended not to notice as the redhead obeyed automatically, both of them slinging their light jackets over the back of their chairs. "So where are your children?" Draco asked turning back to look at them as he moved to the armchair his mother had long since vacated.

"With my mother," Ron stated.

Hermione glanced between Ron's scowl and Draco's standoffish expression before opting to cut through the silence. "How has he been responding to treatment?" she asked, her voice trying and failing not to be too hopeful.

"There was a very minuscule improvement in his brain activity about an hour before you came," Draco said reclining into the armchair. "Dr. Jacob said not to put too much hope into it though."

"Why not? It's the best thing we've heard in months!" she stated a little too eagerly.

This was what he had been worried about; her effortless exaggeration over the smallest thing. He didn't want to admit that he had already crested that 'hope high' and began to descend back into the hard reality of it all. She didn't need to know though. She didn't need to know that he'd launched himself at Harry's hand and practically held on for his life, whispering into his lover's ear, trying to coax something more than just an extra spike or two on the monitor.

Nothing.

Over the last hour he managed to regain control of his emotions and settle down inside his head. He'd taken a pen from his bag, propped his book open in his lap and started writing. Regardless, he didn't need to get his hopes up in regard to a small spike on the monitor.

"Mione don't," Ron placed a hand over her own and gave a squeeze. "You know as well as I do that if Harry were better, we'd see definitive signs."

Draco had to bite back his surprise. Ron had clearly seen Harry battered up and bruised more times than he'd ever tell Hermione about. Not to mention, Harry was a stubborn fighter; he truly wouldn't give up without a fight. Hell, the whole reason he was still with them, was a clear sign in itself. Unfortunately, Hermione didn't seem to see it that way.

"Ron, if he's showing signs of improvement, then this is a good thing!" her voice rose a little as she gripped his hand right back before her attention whipped to Draco. "You know it's true. Whatever you did, you need to keep doing it!"

Draco blinked and said slowly, "We restarted him on a lower dose of Chemo. That's all."

"Is it a new chemical component?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Same stuff as at St. Mungo's. Just a more controlled, lower dose."

Hermione blinked in surprise, her large brown eyes searching his face for any sign that he was lying. He wasn't. Her frustration seemed to drain out of her in a heartbeat. "I don't ... er ... what do you mean? Why wasn't it working before?"

"Hostile environment? Lack of outward support or familiarity around him? No proper form of schedule? Believe me, there are a million ways for him to have all but died before now. We're just lucky that he hasn't."

She pursed her lips and slumped back in her chair, arms folded tightly across her body. She deliberately didn't look at him, a scowl forming on her face. For his part, Ron drew in a deep breath and tried to regain control of the situation. "So what has Dr. Jacob said about his progress? It's good, bad or we shouldn't get our hopes up yet?"

"C," Draco said abruptly. "As much as I want it to be positive, it's too small and too coincidental to actually be significant."

Nodding his head, the redhead leaned forward a little more, hands knotted between his knees. "Either way it's too early in the course of treatment for anything to be determined. Right?"

"Precisely," the blonde agreed, surprised that the man was being so receptive. "I doubt we'll be seeing any proper effects, good or bad, until it's been at least a month on this new dosage."

"So we wait," Ron stated as though that solved everything.

Silence followed his statement. A calming hand on Hermione's forearm calmed the brunette down and her stance deflated as she Ron's hand in her own and squeeze. Draco had to snap his head away from the affectionate gesture. It had been so long since he'd felt the pressure of Harry's hand around his own. He flexed his fingers and tried not to think about it, an impossible task considering he was in Harry's private room.

"Has your mother come to visit?" Hermione's voice drew him out of his musings. He hummed and nodded absently, Harry's face too peaceful. He turned to look at her, his mask of haughtiness slipping. "And? How is she handling all of this?"

"Well enough," he said, "Of course she expected me to be settled, married off with at least a grandchild to her name. Sadly, this is my reality."

"Do you think, maybe ... my mum could come and see Harry?" Ron asked tentatively, the issue still a slowly burning bridge between them.

Draco felt his posture stiffen a little. He didn't want the mother weasel interfering; her opinions were about as good as sawdust to him. She would only get in the way and annoy him. He shook his head, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"She misses him!" Ron protested.

"And seeing him in this state is going to fix that?" Draco snapped unable to stop himself. Inhaling deeply he flexed his shoulders. "For now, no. I don't think your family needs to see Harry like this. Maybe once he shows signs of actually improving." Glancing at the clock he cursed that there was only half an hour left. They would probably stay until the end. With a sigh he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to get some coffee. You guys ... talk to him. Maybe that will help."

Without a backwards glance and a heavy heart, Draco left the room.

~0~

Waking up the following morning to the pale glow of the morning sun gleaming into the spacious hotel room, Draco smiled and drew the blankets closer around himself. The warmth of sleep still clung like a cloak to his skin and the bed was nothing but a cosy marshmallow for him to burrow into. He stretched out under the covers, yawning despite himself and groaned in appreciation. Harry may not appreciate the luxurious feel of thousand thread sheets, but Draco sure did.

Harry.

The night before suddenly swam back to him in a flurry of hot, heavy kisses, grinding like horny schoolboys against each other and falling awkwardly into the sheets. They hadn't fucked -that would be going too far. Not to mention there was no protection and Draco didn't know if Harry liked him like that. Sure they'd touched and kissed like their lives depended on it, but as far as talking about it like adults -zilch.

Perhaps he was just lonely? It wasn't like they'd been in any female company lately. They'd been months travelling together, only actually fighting a couple of times at the start of the trip. Things had mellowed out; Draco had stopped taking everything so personally, and Harry relaxed a lot more. There had been no surprise inspections from Aurors and only two owls from the Ministry asking for an official update from Harry.

In that respect, everything had gone so smoothly Draco had almost forgotten the charmed anklet on his left leg.

Lifting his head he squinted around the room, the pale light making it hard to focus on any one thing. Wriggling over he dropped his head on the pillow and winced when his jaw knocked something hard. Looking down through bleary eyes he saw a dark tuft of hair sticking out from under the pillow. Blinking slowly, his brain failing to put two and two together, he tweaked a strand of hair.

There was no response.

He tweaked again, harder this time.

A muffled sound came from under the pillow. Satisfied, he pulled even harder. Harry sprang up on his arms with a grunt of pain, glaring sleepily at Draco. Merlin, he looked so hot! The thought flashed through Draco's mind before he could stop it. Harry on all fours, grumpy and sleepy -clearly not a morning person -with his hair so messy he looked almost feral, and staring at Draco like he was going to be his last meal.

He couldn't help but hope he would be.

"Can't you just let me sleep?" the brunette growled low in his throat, the sound rumbling through Draco as the young man shifted closer, the heat from his body burning hot as his leg brushed against the blonde's.

Draco shook his head. "Nope."

"Fucker," Harry growled through clenched teeth.

"Don't tempt me," Draco grinned as he reached up, combed his fingers into the thick black hair and tugged. Hard.

Harry grunted again -the sexiest sound ever -before yanking Draco's hand out of his hair and throwing his weight on top of him, pinning the pale wrists about the blonde's head and straddling his hips. Draco bit his lip as Harry leaned closer; his dark hair was a sexy mess, making him look like he'd just been fucked senseless, his eyes were ablaze with desire and dear Merlin, did he look sexy without his glasses!

He bucked his hips, not caring at how hard he was. Harry groaned above him for one very obvious reason, that Draco took full advantage of. The man was hard too, the friction between their thin boxers maddening. It would be so easy to slide the cotton again, get Harry as wet as he was. Right then, he didn't even care about using protection. He just wanted Harry.

"Let me fuck you," he rasped out, the need growing inside him.

To his surprise, Harry only stiffened a little before nodding, his hard-on twitching as Draco brushed his fingertips through the fabric. "Okay. Are you going to top or ...?"

He let the question hang but it didn't need answering. "Have you ... done this before?" Please let him say 'no'.

Harry shook his head. "I've not fucked but ... I've touched myself ... both ways so ..." He dropped his gaze, as though embarrassed by the admission. Draco sat up a little, tugged Harry down into a rough kiss by his hair, the roughness of light stubble making it even sexier.

"Merlin, you're so hot, Harry. Stay just like that, all-fours." Draco shifted out from underneath him and stood at the end of the bed. Tugging his bottoms down he guided Harry backwards by his hips. His breathing was heavy as he pulled Harry's bottoms and boxers down, those smooth buttocks twitching at his touch. The faint dark hair peaking between his legs and cheeks.

The sight made him even harder.

Panting he felt his brain kick into hyper-drive. So many fantasies hinged on this moment. Smoothing his hands down Harry's back he bent down and spread his cheeks, wetting his fingers and then spitting for extra lube. Despite what Harry said, he was still tight to the touch as Draco eased a finger inside, groaning almost as loud as Harry did when the muscles clenched down around the digit.

"Shh, just relax, it won't take long."

"Please don't," Harry begged, rocking his hips back, deliciously eager for more. "I'll cum before you know it."

Draco closed his eyes and groaned again, every muscle urging him to hurry, to make the actual sex worth it. He worked Harry a little quicker, easing another finger into his tight arse before he felt he was loose enough. Tugging his underwear down, Draco spat on his dick and slicked himself up, his fingers still working on Harry's arse until he was sure the man would be putty in his hands.

"I hope you're ready, cause I'm not waiting anymore," he warned as he came to almost kneel on the bed behind him, removed his fingers and position his swollen, leaking head at Harry's entrance. "Ready?" he panted.

"Mnng," was all Harry mustered as Draco pushed the tip inside. Hot muscles clamped around him instantly and Harry let out a long, low groan that made everything inside the blonde quake with lust. Fuck, he wasn't going to last! He hadn't even started and he was already going mad!

"Fuck, Harry, you're so tight," he growled as he eased his head in and out, the ridge catching on the tight ring of muscle and making him sweat.

"Draco-o-o-o!"

It was all the encouragement he needed. With his hands on Harry's arching back, he slowly eased himself into the burning tightness beneath him, inching ... inching ... inching ...

"Fuck!" he cursed as he pushed completely inside, the hot dampness of Harry's thighs pressing against his own. Spots flooded his vision as he gasped for cold air. He needed to cool down, calm down enough to focus.

Harry was panting like a dog in heat under him. He bowed his head and arched his hips back. Draco growled low in his throat as he straightened up, gripped those hips and pulled out -then slammed back in. A cry of pleasure was his reward. Each time he did it, the moans would make his cock even harder. Teasing Harry was endlessly rewarding but he wasn't going to last. Neither of them were.

"Draco, please ..." the brunette begged into the cushions, his body barely strong enough to keep his spread legs in place. That was enough teasing. With one last pull out, Draco slammed forward, sliding his hips faster and faster inside the tight heat, the muscles clenching around him, spurring him on until he was blinded by his own libido.

"Harry, I'm gonna cum -" he grunted out in warning.

"Wait." The brunette crawled off of Draco's dick, making him wince. He recovered quickly as he fisted himself, the brunette lying on his back, legs spread and his skin flushed pink. "In me ..." he panted as he rocked his hips. Draco obliged without thought, the sight of Harry's vibrant green eyes rolling back in his head driving him insane. With Harry's legs around his waist, he thrust harder and faster until he dropped over the younger man, spilling his seed deep inside him and moaning loudly. Every muscle burned as his mouth fell open in an almost silent scream. The burn of Harry's eyes making him melt and explode all at once.

He collapsed on top of Harry, completely spent and still seeing spots. "Fuck ..." was all he managed to breathe as he gasped, desperate for cold air to fill his over-heated lungs. Harry shifted under him and he rolled off. "That was ..."

"Yeah," Harry gushed his chest still heaving, his erection still pressing against Draco's stomach.

Grinning wickedly, Draco said, "Let me take care of that."

Harry tasted clean and sweet when he came down Draco's throat not five minutes later. Not like the few other guys Draco had sucked off. Their diets had left a bad taste in his mouth. Not Harry -Harry was, for lack of a better word, the perfect flavour.

Dropping heavily down onto the mattress -after Harry had cleaned himself up with weak, trembling hands -finally, able to breathe again, Draco turned to the brunette and felt fear grip him all over again. Sadly, the thought process of words didn't exist in the post-sex mentality. "I hope I'm not just convenient for you," he said softly.

"What?" Harry frowned heavily as he scooted over onto his side. "What do you mean?"

"This. Us. Whatever we are."

"Draco, we're not anything," Harry said, "We can be, though." He said as an afterthought, the look of defensiveness evident on the blonde's features.

Rubbing a hand down his face, questions and politics and the press caught up to his brain. If he was with Harry it would be a spectacle; headlines would call him possessed, claim that Harry was under a mind-control curse. They'd be hounded about town, wouldn't even be able to go down Diagon Alley without photo's being snapped.

He could kiss Knockturn Alley goodbye completely.

Would it be wise to be the Wonder Boy's other half? Not only that, but his other -gay- half? The papers would explode when they'd print that their golden boy was gay, but also dating a Malfoy? An ex-Death Eater?

Not to mention the back lash he could get from his Father.

Or the backlash Harry would get from the entire Weasley Clan.

Was it worth it? No, probably not. Maybe behind closed doors, but that would only be a quarter of their life at best. Half, if they were lucky. Not to mention, how would it affect Harry's career?

He couldn't do that to him. Wouldn't do that to him. He refused to be the burden that caused Harry's fall from grace.

Taking his hand away from under Harry's he turned a cold shoulder to the younger man and focused on sitting up and redressing himself. "We can't," he murmured. "As much as I want to, you know it would only lead to disaster for both of us. I won't be the one to do that to you."

'I care about you too much,' went unsaid but Harry heard it all the same.

"Okay," he said slowly as he sat up, shifting to sit beside the blonde and not giving into the urge to rest his head on the sharp, pale shoulder. "I can respect that."

"I'm glad you do." His words felt hollow to him but Harry wasn't calling him a bastard or throwing him out of the room. That was good at least.

"Still friends?"

Draco breathed a small smile, finally relaxing a little, even if the ache in his chest wouldn't abate. "Still friends."

Outside the snow continued to fall, making the roads and pavements covered in a thin layer of snow and ice. They were impassable to anybody who didn't wish to break their necks. So, for their last day in Italy, Draco and Harry spent their day inside, playing a few boards game from their re-sized trunks and ordering more room service for dinner, sans the ice cream.

Draco didn't think he could eat ice cream again without remembering.

That night they went to bed without kissing or touching one another. Although, somewhere in the darkness in the early hours of the morning, Draco felt his heart skip a beat when he was dimly aware of Harry sliding over the mattress and draping an arm tentatively over the blonde's waist. Draco remained still, enjoying the sensation before lacing their fingers together.

They weren't in London yet.

Reality could wait a while longer.

A/N: Hope you enjoy the update! x