Chapter 21

It had been two weeks before Draco had finally let Harry come downstairs and then another week before Harry had been allowed to sit outside. Harry had been surprised by how attentive Draco had been during his recovery as promised he had been there through all of Harry's checkups politely excusing himself so that Hastings could begin to tutor Harry. Whenever Draco had had to leave the house for shopping or to have his potions assessed he would make sure that Ron, Hermione or Remus where available to sit with Harry. He had protested that he was perfectly alright to spend some time alone but Draco had insisted that someone stay with him. During the first week after the miscarriage Harry had cried himself to sleep on Draco's chest; after five days of this Draco had suggested to Healer Hastings that Harry might need to take an anti depressant potion. Hastings had been ready to prescribe Harry one when he had refused to take it if it was prescribe; Hastings and Draco had shared a look but it was agree that the choice was Harry's. He had refused to speak to Draco for two days although he had still allowed him to comfort him at night. Finally the cycle was broken and although sometimes Harry did have the odd breakdown he was defiantly feeling better without the potions. Hermione had cried when she had first seen him after the miscarriage which had caused Harry to start crying too. Hermione had then climbed on the bed with Him and they'd cried and talked together for an hour before Harry had fallen asleep and Hermione had realised Ron was missing. She'd found him sharing a stiff whiskey with Draco at the kitchen table before they noticed her she was able to study Draco's face which at the moment was unguarded. It was a look that she had often seen on Harry's face at his lowest points but she never expected to see Draco looking like that. She was even more shocked when upon Ron noticing her stood there he simple stood up patted Draco's shoulder and directed his wife to the floo. After they had gone Draco had dejectedly climb the stairs and into bed pulling a sleeping Harry into his arms.

Tuesday 7th September 1999 4.08pm

Harry and Hermione sat in the garden soaking up the last rays of the summer warmth. Draco had had to attend an assessment class that afternoon and had called Hermione round to sit with him. Hermione had brought over a cold pasta salad and non-alcoholic cocktails for them. Harry sat back sufficiently full Hermione sent him a little smirk.

"When do you think Healer Hastings will let you go back to training?" Hastings had been a brilliant tutor and Harry felt that he would probably excel in training now with all the new spells and techniques that he had been taught. He missed having a life though, he missed going to ST Mungo's and treating real patients, he missed his class mates and although he had not revealed the cause of his illness to them they had all sent their best wishes, he even missed the bland cafeteria lunches.

"I'm hoping that he will clear me this weekend. I'm sure Draco would be happy with me not being as big a burden anymore." Harry was sure that Draco was dying to get back to a more time consuming potion brewing schedule. "And I know he's missing Snape."

"Has Snape not been around much then?" Harry shook his head. "No he hasn't. He doesn't come here much anyway but Draco goes there a lot but with me being weak he hasn't wanted to leave me. Snape has been round a couple of times but it was all very awkward. When he first saw me... you know... after he sort of gave me this rehearsed speech about how sorry he was but he wasn't even looking at me but staring at the wall. Since then he hasn't said a word and completely ignored my presence." Harry sighed. "I think Draco stopped asking him round."

"I can't imagine Professor Snape being very good in situation such as these." Harry gave a little snort at Hermione's words.

"Harry? Are you and Draco..." She giggled then. "Well are you... together?" Harry's mouth almost opened in shock. Almost.

"No, Hermione, we are not together. Where the hell do you get these ideas?" He shook his head though deep down he knew Hermione's suspicions weren't completely unfounded.

"Well I've been watching the two of you. The way Draco has looked after you and the way you have depended on him; it's the way that you would expect Ron and I to act." Hermione reasoned.

"I admit that other recent months Draco and I have grown closer and somewhere along the way we learnt to comfort and perhaps even care for each other but we are not together." His voice had been raised a little then; if it hadn't he was sure he would have heard the floo. Harry's thoughts were of nothing but setting the record straight for Hermione; otherwise he was sure he would have felt a change in the bond.

"You don't have any other feelings for Draco? You know in that department?" Harry whipped round to face Hermione then.

"I'll only say this once Hermione. Not now nor will I ever have any sexual feeling towards Draco." It had come out a little harsher that he meant it and he was sure he had upset Hermione by the look on her face. Then he realised exactly why Hermione was looking so uncomfortable.

"Thanks for the heads up, Potter." Draco drawled behind him. Harry's closed his eyes and exhaled slowly before turning to face Draco. Hermione was watching the whole exchange closely.

"Hermione was enquiring after our relationship. I was just explaining it to her." Harry told him calmly knowing that his pride was probably a little injured.

"Well in that case perhaps Hermione would like to know that the feeling is mutual. Satisfied, Granger?" Draco demanded raising an eyebrow as if challenging Hermione not to be.

"Yes. Very." She replied and Draco turned back into the house leaving the two best friends. "See I told you nothing was going on, Hermione." She nodded distractedly focusing on the brief flash of hurt that she had seen on Draco's face at hearing Harry's declaration. She played the image over and over again; Draco appearing in the door with a soft smile on his face eyes on the back of Harry's head and then the smile slowly fading as he listen to Harry's word. Hermione Weasley was not only sure that she had glimpsed Draco Malfoy-Potter's inner most feeling but she was also sure that he himself had no idea what those feeling meant. She let herself smile a little knowing smile as she half listened to Harry prattle on about a new healing spell he had learnt. Hermione Weasley had a feeling that everything was going to work out for the better.

Monday 13th September 1999 8.15am

"You're sure you want to go back today?" Draco asked when Harry came down stairs dressed in his Healer robes. Normally Harry would have been a little annoyed at that question but last night had been a 'comfort' night as Draco had affectionately named them and although Harry hadn't sobbed the way he had a month ago he had still cried and hadn't stopped until Draco had pulled him against him.

"I'm sure. Hastings said I would be fine didn't he?" Harry reminded him as he buttered his toast; not bothering to put it on a plate he took a bite out of it. Draco sneered at the crumbs that fell on the floor in disgusted. Harry rolled his eyes and just vanished them with his wand. "Better your neatfreakness?" Draco just shook his head and turned away but not before Harry noticed a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"There's no shame in coming home early you know?" Harry shrugged clearly not agreeing. "Your still tiring a lot easier than you should be."

"I know but I'm not so tired that I can't attend training. It's funny really because I'm the trainee Healer yet you're the one giving me medical advice." He snorted at the thought. "Any way what are you going to do with your day? Aren't you sort of glad to be finally rid of me?"

Draco choose to ignore the second question. "I'm going to restock my potion ingredients before my next lot of assessment potions come in. I'll start attending classes on Wednesday again. Even though they gave me a leave of absence from classes as long as my grades remained high Uncle Sev doesn't think I should abuse their trust."

"You don't think you need to attend classes?" Harry asked he knew Draco only had two or three classes a week but surely that meant it was more important to attend them.

"I've been assisting Uncle Severus since I was five I know a lot that is already being taught. Granted many of the potions and theories on the second year syllabus I do not have a good knowledge of but I won't be taking that year until after my research year."

"I didn't realised you'd mastered so many potions already. Not that I don't believe you're not capable of it but I've seen some of your lists lying around and there's some pretty advanced potions on there." Draco just shrugged but Harry understood that if he had grown up with a renowned Potion Master such as Severus Snape around then perhaps he'd be top of his potion classes too. Harry glanced at his watch realising it was about time to floo to work.

"I'm going to go." Draco nodded and Harry started for the door. "Oh and when you go out today make sure you watch out for the press. I had a letter today from one of my fellow trainees saying that they are getting pretty desperate lately trying to figure out where I am; practically dived on my teacher the other day trying to bribe her to tell them where I am. I can only imagine what will happen if they spotted you." He chuckled then when he imagined the over eager journalist following Draco into the apothecary and knocking over lots of nasty looking ingredients in their excitement to talk to him.

"Thanks for the warning!" Draco called after Harry frowning as he heard Harry's laughter follow him out the door.

11.58am

"I'm so worried that I'll be asked to perform a stasis spell. It looks like it takes so much magical energy to sustain; you did so well, Harry!" Paloma Clearwater congratulated him. She was Penelope Clearwater's younger sister although she was a year older than himself. She wasn't much like Penelope apart from her looks and Harry quite enjoyed her company.

"Thanks Paloma." Harry blushed a little uncomfortable with the attention he was getting from the class after successfully holding a stasis spell over a patient for 43 minutes while they were treated.

"Yeah man. I'm sure Hastings has a thing for you he hardly ever asks a trainee for help during an observation." Jerome Heron stated clapping Harry on the back. Harry just blushed a little bit brighter.

"Hey, Harry?" Paloma nudged him and then pointed down the corridor. "Isn't that your Husband?" Harry frowned and looked in the direction where she was pointing and sure enough he spotted unmistakeable platinum blonde Hair of one Draco Malfoy. The blonde was leaning against the wall looking a little impatient but then he spotted Harry and pushed himself off the wall and began walking towards him. "Are you meeting up for lunch?"

"Well we didn't make any plans too but I suppose we must be." Paloma let out a little giggle at that. "How romantic. He's come to surprise you with lunch on your first day back! Come on Jerome we know when where not wanted." she giggled again and pull Jerome down the corridor flashing Draco a huge smile as she past him which resulted in a raised eyebrow from the blonde.

"Friends of yours?" Draco drawled Harry laughed a little and glanced around noticing that a lot of the staff and patients in this corridor where watching the exchanged with interested. He knew why. The papers and gossip glossy's had been filled with romanticised notions about how Draco was so distraught that Harry had been taken so seriously ill that he had vowed not to leave his side until he was completely healed. Draco placed his arm on the small of Harry's back and moved him forwards clearly eager to reach a more secluded area. Harry didn't argue he'd actually noticed a few people had the audacity to get out their cameras and start snapping pictures of the pair.

"What are you doing here, Draco?" Harry muttered as they walked away from the bulk of the crowd his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok. You where right about the press I could hardly move in Diagon Alley. Look at these vultures some of them are supposed to be your colleagues for goodness sake and they're taking pictures!"' Draco scoffed sending an icy glare at the people who were staring. "We should have submitted a statement I think."

"It's their problem Draco..." Just then Harry spotted a quite exuberant trainee who waved at him getting both his and Draco's attention.

"Great work with the Stasis Spell, Harry!" He called across the corridor to him. Draco's hand stiffened on his back as harry managed to give the man a weak nod as a thank you before he was steered forwards at a slightly faster pace. Once they reach a less busy part of the corridor Draco manoeuvred him over to the wall and cast a privacy charm. Draco turned narrowed eyes on him and Harry gulped guiltily.

"You used a stasis charm on your first day back?" Harry just nodded and muttered that it was a privileged to be asked at this stage in his training.

"And what about refusing because you're in a crucial stage of your healing?" Harry almost argued and told Draco that he was way past the crucial Healing stage but decided better of it. "What dimwit asked you to do it anyway?" Harry thought about lying form a second but in the end he quietly told Draco that it was Hastings. "Your Healer asked you to perform a stasis charm knowing you weren't fully recovered? How long did you sustain this stasis spell?"

"Well it looked like a simple case that would take five minutes to finish. I'm sure he wouldn't have asked me otherwise." Harry reasoned.

"How long?"

"There where complications."

"How long?"

"43 minutes." Draco reeled back slightly clearly impressed that Harry had been able to hold a spell that powerful for so long on his first time. Then his face turned stony.

"We are going home!" Draco moved away from the wall ending the privacy spell motioning for Harry to do the same. "No arguments."

"Draco I'm fine honestly. All that rest has done me good." Draco turned back to argue with Harry but before the words even left his mouth the two men were distracted by a scuffle that broke out at a doorway a little further down the corridor. They both watched in horror as two security guards tried to control a scruffy looking man trying to force him back through a door claiming to be the psych ward. Harry felt his heart in his throat as the whole scene seem to slow down as Harry watched the man overpower the guards taking one of their wands and turn towards him and Draco; the man's bulging eyes only seeing the two of them as he catapulted up the corridor. He raised the wand above his head and screamed "Die Death Eater scum!" and a bright orange curse left his wand heading straight for Draco. Harry didn't even stop to think before pushing Draco to the ground and jumping in front of him wand out, shield up. The spell bounced off his shield and pelted through the wall opposite blasting a three meter wide hole through it. Harry sent a wordless Incarcerous at the man who fell to the floor with heavy thunk as the ropes restricted his movements. The security guards where quickly on top of him and dragging him off in seconds. Harry barely heard the screams and shouts as he turned quickly to see if Draco was harmed. He sighed in relief when he saw the blonde getting up staring wide eyed at the damaged the spell had done to the wall. Once he was standing he turned to Harry about to scold him for jumping in front of that spell when Harry promptly fainted. The adrenaline that coursed through Draco's veins helped him to catch Harry before he hit the ground. A moment later a Healer who had carefully watched the whole interchange ran over and cast a quick diagnosis spell on them both.

"He's just exhausted. Take him home to bed." Draco was about to ask for a second opinion just to be on the safe side when the Healer gave him a little push. "Go now before the press get here. I'll have a Healer come and check up on him later." Draco forced himself into action and nodded his thanks to the Healer leaving the hospital as quickly and as quietly as possible when one was carrying an unconscious Harry Potter.

Draco laughed when he saw the profit the next day. There they were on the front page the headline stating 'War heroes attacked in ST Mungos!' There were two pictures below; one of Harry pushing Draco to the floor and stepping in front of the curse and the other of Draco catching Harry as he fell unconscious. Harry had laughed when he saw the picture of himself fainting proclaiming he would never live this down with the Weasley brothers. Draco understood why; the profit had blamed Harry's collapse on the sheer fight he had from almost losing his Husband; over dramatic as always. The Healer in the corridor had indeed sent another Healer to check on Harry but Draco had not been best please to find a guilty looking Hastings on his doorstep. The man had apologised profusely for pushing Harry so hard on his first day back and then declared that Harry should take another week off. Draco happy with the outcome off the visit had only given Healer Hastings a small warning about compromising his Husbands health again and Hastings had left looking very sheepish.

"I think you secretly planned all this so you could force me back to bed." Harry had said that night, half asleep; he missed the blush that graced Draco's face at the implications.

A/N Well I was going to wait a couple of days before posting this chapter but this story has reached 100 reviews and I'm so happy that I just had to get this chapter out!

One thing I'm really enjoying is studying the stats for this story and I can't believe fifty people have favourited A Life Time. I also like looking to see where people are reading this are from; of course U.S is the highest followed by U.K but I'm quite surprised how many people are reading this in Germany and Australia! So hello to my readers who are all over the world!

Oh and a quick note to say I've rewrote chapter 1 because I just wasn't happy with it so you might want to check that out! I haven't changed the plot... just added more detail and sorted out my grammar. I can't believe how much my writing style has changed over this two years!

Don't forget to cast your name votes!

Name Vote :-

Alexander - 3

James - 3

Scorpius – 2

Cepheus – 1

Leo

Thanks Guys!

Jane Alpha