A/N: Updates should be more regular now. Hopefully more than once a week if all goes according to plan. Thanks for sticking with me. I know I've been bad at updating. Anyway, I hope your enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 25: Chaos

Harry woke mid-afternoon disappointed to find himself alone in bed. He craned his neck to get a better view of the room and found himself staring at a sleeping Ron and Hermione. Every inch of his body throbbed with pain. "You're awake," Madame Pomfrey observed, waking his friends. He nodded and watched her approach. "Are you hungry?"

"No, thank you."

"You'll need to eat, Mr. Potter. I can't keep giving you the nutrition potions," she replied sternly.

"Later," he compromised.

Poppy nodded, satisfied with his response and left him to his visitors.

Once she was out of the room, Hermione spoke. "How are you feeling?"

"Brilliant," he said sarcastically. She gave him a good-natured glare before gesturing for an honest answer. "Fine, I feel like total shit."

"That's better," Ron said. She slapped his arm but smiled.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Harry said.

"Malfoy's a right prick," the ginger offered. Harry bristled at the statement, but nodded his agreement.

"It wasn't exactly against the rules," he replied.

"But it was a dirty, slimy way to play," Hermione argued.

"Why are you defending him?" Ron asked.

"I-I'm not!" Shit, yes I am. And I have to stop, he scolded himself.

"You were," the ginger pressed.

Harry's jaw tightened as he resisted telling them about his relationship. He was more afraid of Ron's reaction than Hermione's; but didn't think he could take their responses at the moment. Not to mention, Draco would be absolutely furious if I told them.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, noticing him stiffen.

"Peachy. I'm just tired and in a fair bit of pain. Nothing I can't manage," he said, smirking. The others smiled sadly at him.

"We brought you some stuff," Ron said and Hermione waved her wand. Cards, gift baskets, and treats flew from around the corner and landed at the foot of his bed.

Harry smiled, "All of this from you two?"

"Well, no all of it, Ginny did get you this card," he replied, gesturing to a particularly large one.

The three laughed as Ron and Hermione riffled through the gifts from his classmates. Harry was content to watch as he was, for the most part, unable to move. He also wasn't overly hungry and forfeited a bunch of sweets to Ron; but was careful to keep plenty of chocolate frogs for Draco.

A few hours passed and the doors of the infirmary opened. The trio looked up to see Draco sauntering in. Ron and Hermione scowled at the approaching Slytherin.

"Have you come to see what you did?" Ron challenged, gesturing to the bed.

Harry's cheeks flushed as he met Draco's eyes. He glared at the ginger but held his tongue.

"No, Weasel, I came to deliver potions," he replied snidely, stalking past the bed.

"So you're Snape's little messenger boy now? How cute."

The Slytherin bristled and turned on him "Piss off Weasel!" He sneered, glaring at Ron. Draco hated hurting Harry's friends, especially in front of him, but saw no other choice. Hermione stepped between them and pushed Ron back toward the bed. "Your girlfriend always comes to your rescue, doesn't she?" Draco couldn't help himself, it was too perfect.

Ron pushed past Hermione. "Listen here Malfoy," he started and punched the blonde in the face.

Harry's hands balled into fists. He could have strangled Ron for that. While the ginger didn't know what happened to Draco at home, it still infuriated Harry. He had to bite his tongue to not say anything. The smell of blood filled his nose and he looked up to see his love's nose broken at an odd angle. Fury flooded through him and he strained against the pain, trying to stand and help the Slytherin.

Draco staggered backwards and felt his nose snap. Blood poured down his face as he looked up at the ginger with a dark glare. He slipped his wand out of his pocket and raised it to curse the Weasley just as Madame Pomfrey walked in.

"Mr. Malfoy!" She gasped and nicked his wand from his hand. "Sit," she commanded, directing him to the bed next to Harry's. Ron and Hermione tried to slip out while she was distracted, but she stopped them. "Not so fast, Mr. Weasley. Miss Granger, you're free to go." Hermione mouthed an apology to Harry and Ron before disappearing. Once Poppy had the blood slowed and Draco's nose set, she faced Ron. He shrunk under her glare. "You'll serve a week of detention with Mr. Filch for your infraction. And you'll go straight to your head of house when you leave. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied solemnly.

"Good. Go."

He departed quickly and Madame Pomfrey looked at Draco. "How are you doing, dear?"

"I'm alright," he replied and looked over at Harry who was still seething.

"Mr. Potter, please try to relax. I'll be back in a bit with dinner. Don't move," she said to both of them and was off.

"I'm sorry," Harry said quietly.

"Don't apologize, I deserved this. Weasel—er, Weasley is pretty damn strong," he said, gingerly touching his re-aligned nose. It was already healing and would be perfect by morning.

"Yeah," Harry laughed, "I think it's the result of having so many brothers."

Draco smirked and walked over to Harry's bed. He slipped in and snuggled his head against his chest. The Gryffindor grunted. "Sorry, did that hurt?"

"A little, but I'm fine," he assured him and stroked his hair. His chest screamed in pain, but he didn't care, it was well worth it to feel Draco against him.

Poppy returned with Severus a few minutes later. She brought both trays to Harry's bed and smiled at them both. They grinned sheepishly back. Snape took a seat on the side of the bed as she spoke. "He's going to make sure you two eat your dinners, aren't you?"

"Indeed," he replied, sounding tired. She gave the three a warm smile before departing to her office.

Draco ate his soup relatively quickly and resumed snuggling with his Gryffindor. "How was your day?" he asked Snape as Harry struggled to take his fifth bite.

"Rather dull, as usual. Yours?"

"The same, until Weasley—"

He was cut off by Harry who had leaned over the bed and was vomiting.

Severus was unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire. He moved to the side and held Harry in position so he didn't fall out of bed. A grimace made its way onto his face as he assisted as best he could. "Sorry," Harry choked before coughing up blood.

Draco rubbed the Gryffindor's back and looked away, trying his best to ignore the stench. He could feel his stomach churning angrily and had to get up and walk to the end of the room.

Finally, Harry laid back on the bed. Tears slipped down his cheeks and his throat burned. Severus handed him a rag and a glass of water. The Gryffindor wiped his face and took a drink as Snape vanished the mess. "I'm sorry," he said in a strained voice.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," the blonde said as he returned. He was a little ashamed that he was unable to stay at Harry's side.

"As Draco said, you needn't apologize. Are you alright?"

"It hurts," he whispered.

"What hurts?"

"Everything," Harry mumbled before fainting.

Draco looked up at Severus and was horrified to find fear in the older man's eyes. "Stay with him, I'll get Madame Pomfrey," the young Slytherin offered and sprinted to her office.