Authors Note: So I finished this story, there is this part and one more chapter which is basically a bonus lemon and complete smut but rather enjoyable I hope. So anyway here I the second last chapter to this I'll post the final installment tomorrow. If anyone is reading this I will post the chapter in my live journal tonight. Lol doubtful anyone will read it but as a bonus do enjoy the second last installment.
Love Forever Silent
Chapter 14: Nightmares
Harry sat beside the bed watching the IV, a muggle IV drip fluids into his pale and skeletal boyfriend. His body was wasting away, the fluids and muggle treatments were keeping him alive, barely. Taking a steadying breathe he placed a single kiss on pale lifeless lips, before settling hands gently on Draco's forehead. Taking a calm steadying breath, finding his centre he drew of the large well of magic reaching out invisible hands towards the mind of Draco. Gryffindor's sword hummed with power, the room silent as the dark figure by the bedside slumped forward unmoving. As still as the pale figure on the bed.
-#-#-#-
It was a dark place, Harry felt as though he was floating through the air. "Draco?" he called out not all that surprised that his voice worked in this subconscious. It was nice to once more be able to speak again, after spending so much time silent. He floated through this abyss, before realizing he wasn't deep enough. "Hold on love I'm coming…"
-#-#-#-
"Madame Pompfry?" Albus Dumbledore entered the infirmary an upset Ron and Hermione hot on his heels. The matronly women came out her office, "Yes Headmaster?" But the trio had stopped at the foot of the bed a look of infinite sadness crept across the normally twinkling eyes. It was too late…
Harry lay as still as Draco across his body, a soft blue light came from the sword strapped to his back. "It's too late…" the headmaster whispered, "All we can do is wait and hope…"
-#-#-#-
"Draco?" in this world his voice was echoing and hollow, he'd delved deeper into this world and now he stood on a desolate plain. Reaching the ground he walked slowly forward. "Draco!" he spotted the blonde standing motionless in the distance running. "Draco!" the blonde did not respond did not move his attention was somewhere else. Harry suddenly collided with an invisible wall. Falling backwards he pressed hesitantly against the clear wall before him.
Standing he leaned against it watching for what seemed like hours as Draco stood unmoving, Harry could not see well through the shifting transparent wall but he thought Draco looked as though he was crying. "Draco…" his voice was horse and croaky from yelling when finally a pop and the wall vanished startled Harry backed away and Draco crumpled to his knees. Hesitantly moving forward he paused several feet from the hunched figure, "Draco?" he whispered. Slowly emotionless grey eyes turned to him, long seconds passed before a terror filled scream rent the air. "NO!" backing away Draco held out his hands defensively. "No! No please no!" crying and gasping he moved away, "Oh god no please, just go no more I don't want to see it anymore…"
Unsure what was happening Harry stood still waiting for something to make sense. "Draco," he began calmly, "What is it I'm going to do?" the blonde lay on the ground in a fetal position, sobbing, it was pulling at his heart, soul reaching. Finally he subsided, gasping for breath. "Rejection…" Draco finally whispered in a hoarse voice. Harry sat down close without touching, "Draco what rejection," lifeless eyes again, "Harry will reject me he will say no to me again like always…" unmoving except for his thin chest rising and falling. "Draconis Malfoy, I would never reject you. I love you more then anything." Those eyes moved finally seeing him, "Harry?" pushing himself shakily to his knee Draco looked deeply into two very clear green eyes. A single shaky hand reached out hesitating, "Harry?" the other smiled softly, "Herodotus James Potter," with a cry Draco was in his arms. "I knew you'd come," he whispered against his chest, "I've been trapped here so long, I just wanted to go home…I just wanted to get back to you."
Harry's chest hurt, "We are going to get home Draco, we will but it's going to be up to you…"
-#-#-#-
Ron and Hermione sat between the two beds, Harry and Draco both lay still and quiet it have been a week since Harry went to pull Draco out. "How much longer can they last?" Hermione asked hesitantly to no one in particular. Draco was not looking well despite the IV and muggle treatments they were unsure how much longer his wasted body could hold on. "Please come back soon, this is all my fault…" Hermione took Draco's pale hand gently, silent tears rolling down her face.
-#-#-#-
"What do you mean Harry?" smiling the taller teen stood helped the smaller teen to his feet, "I mean you need to beat this, these memories your seeing are bad are they not?" a hesitant nod, "You need to push past these, you need to remember the good Draco." The blonde looked stunned, "Push past them and remember those moments that gave you the most happiness and you will pull us out of here."
There was an ominous rumble above them, one the many bubbles was breaking away and moving down towards them Draco flinched physically in fear he knew what was coming. Harry gripped him gently by the shoulders, "Draco, you be strong, you be strong for me I will be here with you." Draco looked up slowly earnest green eyes looked back at him, Harry…reaching out gentle pale hands touched his face, tracing where his scars would have been. This was Harry in the time before the war. "You were always so beautiful…"Draco whispered, beautiful lips twisted in a smile, "So are you love," The bubble was looming closer, "Be strong," smiling softly Draco leaned forward kissing Harry, as the bubble descended enclosing the couple.
-#-#-#-
Hermione ran to the gargoyle at top speed, "Cauldron Cakes!" she yelled not pausing at it leapt aside and she hurried up the stairs. "Headmaster! Headmaster!" barging through the door she spotted Dumbledore seated behind the desk, "Sir! Madame Pompfry says they're moving!"
-#-#-#-
"Harry…" Draco was terrified his insides felt like jelly and his hands were shaking violently. He was watching himself once more watching longingly as a young Harry laughed and joked across the Great Hall. "Be strong Draco what do you remember…what was better." Closing his eyes he mentally sifted through memories, "My birthday…" he whispered concentrating pulling the memory forward. "It's working love…" he heard Harry whisper.
Opening his eyes he saw the room of requirement, full of his friends, faces lost to them during the war. It had been one of his happiest moments, he watched as his dream self laughed getting hugs and kisses from everyone. He watched as dream Harry picked him up spinning him around before releasing him. "I loved you then you know…" the Harry with him now whispered in his ear. Draco nodded slowly, "I loved you too…" the image was fast wavering and fading as it morphed back to his nightmares. He was once more looking at himself being abused by his father. The man was beating him hard, the other Draco visiblely shied away gasping in sympathetic pain.
"Think Draco, a better memory…" screwing his eyes shut against the horrifying image he thought of his first kiss with Harry. The memory of the beating faded and he was in the infirmary… winding a bandage around Harry's arm. He smiled lovingly as he watched as they clumsily, shyly met. His emotions were somewhere between a sob and laughter. "That was one of your best memories?" came the soft voice from his right. He nodded shakily as he watched the scene again and again. This one was longer to fade out, the memory stronger. Draco knew the image this time coming, he saw the field again at night heard the horrifying laughter this time he was ready.
"Be strong Draco…" but the blonde was already concentrating on the best memory he had. He felt the bubble shudder and the memory of him and Harry, the first time they had made love. When Harry had made him his. Opening his eyes he watched as he and Harry thrust against each other arching, moaning in ecstasy "Is that how you see me?" He glanced at the Harry standing beside him, before looking to the one in the memory. "What do you mean?" the real Harry beside him was frowning in confusion, "I look, like I did before…you don't see my scars." Draco smiled pulling him close, "Love is blind, Herodotus." Kissing him deeply Draco felt the bubble give one tremendous shudder before the sound of shattering.
They were being pulled upwards Draco held tight to Harry, "You did it, you fought it and won." Draco held him closer, "While I still have my voice Draco, I love you always…"
-#-#-#-
Harry opened his eyes scaring the daylights out of Ron who was nodding off beside the bed. "Harry!" bolting upright he, sat back down just as quickly as his knees gave out. "Oh god mate!" Clear blue eyes filled with tears, "We thought we'd lost you…" he croaked out. Sitting up the other man patted him on the shoulder smiling he opened his mouth to say all was well but all that came out was a wheezy croak. Smiling sadly he had forgotten for a moment he could no longer speak.
A moan came from the bed where the still figure of Draco lay. Harry was over by his bedside in a moment. Pale eyes fluttered open, "Harry…" he mumbled before a wracking cough caught him. Madame Pompfry having heard the noise hurried in with a glass of water shouting in surprise to see both patents awake. "Oh Harry! You clever boy you've done it!" wasting no time she moved to Draco's beside to check him over.
The doors to the infirmary were opened and Dumbledore entered followed by Hermione. The brown haired girl cried out, rushing to Draco's side sobbing her apologies. It was all quite a bit of confusion as the small blonde was checked over. Harry explained himself to the headmaster. Ron and Hermione explaining what had happed since they'd be under.
About two hours later things had settled, Dumbledore had left twinkle in his eye restored. Ron, and Hermione now sat quietly as Harry and Draco ate. Harry eating quite a bit more then his lover, but happy to see the blonde eating. The air was still thick with tension, things were still unresolved between Harry and Hermione, the tall man was not nearly as forgiving as Draco.
"I want to try and explain Harry," a single emerald eye threw her a look that could have frozen water. "I just…I was so jealous, you've just accomplished so much and I…I haven't." She looked down at her robes, "I always thought it'd be me who was the one to go somewhere, and you were appointed a teacher, you got order of Merlin First Class, you were knighted your liaison for the ministry…Harry your tittles go on and on. You've published a best selling book." She was crying now tears running down her face, "You deserve it all Harry, you were so strong and so brave and I was being a little petulant child and could not just be happy for my best friend. Now…now I think I've lost you forever cause I was too stupid to just let it go."
Stifling a sob she clutched Ron's hand, Draco settled his hand on Harry he looked at him gesturing with his head. The dark haired man sighed, if Draco could forgive her he guessed he could as well. Standing he moved to kneel down eye level with Hermione, 'Hermione you've been one of my best friends since first year we have been through so much together. If Draco can forgive so can I…' the words faded in the air and Hermione threw her arms around him sobbing.
-#-#-#-
It was very late Harry was now settled comfortable in the hospital bed Draco nestled in his arms. The blonde was settled over his lovers heart, the strong steady beat lulling him to sleep. Scared he reached up in the air above them his hands moving in the familiar patterns in the dim light, 'You'll be here when I wake?' callused fingers ran up smooth pale arms across, long delicate fingers, before signing as well. 'Always, I'll be here when you wake tomorrow and everyday after that…' with a smile he settled back against his love.
TBC…