AN: Story is mine. Potter world is JK's.
Draco sat by Teddy's bed. The healers had kept him under observation for 48 hours, hoping that he would wake up in the stipulated time. If he did wake up in 48 hours, they said they would be able to help him heal, if not they would wait for another 24 hours but if Teddy did not wake up in the next 72 hours. Then he would slip into a coma and eventually- NO! He would NOT go there. Teddy will wake up. Teddy has to wake up.
Draco sat there, silently willing Teddy to wake up. He did not know what day or date it was. He knew that in another 30 minutes those 48 hours would be over and Teddy had to wake up before that. His eyes burned, the world, this hospital, Potter's visitors were a dull hum in his ears. Time itself was moving slowly. He knew Potter tried to talk to him at times. He knew he responded too, but he didn't understand the conversation. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't bother looking up.
"Malfoy?" Granger's voice pulled him out of his stupor but not for long, conversations were over rated really. "Malfoy, maybe you should go home, get some rest. You have been sitting on this chair for two days now."
"Thanks for the concern Granger but I am not leaving Teddy again. I shouldn't have left him alone in the first place. I am not going anywhere."
"So, fine. Sleep here. Next to Teddy, but you need to get some rest. You look like crap."
"Thank you for the compliment and concern again but I cannot sleep."
"What do you mean by you cannot sleep?" She asked incredulously.
What was wrong with Granger? Didn't she understand, small talk was useless. He didn't need her concern. He needed Teddy to wake up before the next fifteen minutes were up. What?! He had been talking to Granger for fifteen minutes now someone should record this moment in history.
"Malfoy?" Granger was shaking him now. "Malfoy?"
"What's wrong with him?" He heard Weasley behind her.
"I don't know Ron. He said he couldn't sleep." Turning back to Draco she shook him again. "Malfoy, when was the last time you slept?"
He shrugged, he honestly didn't remember. "Okay, when was the last time you woke up after a goodnight's sleep?"
He knew that one. He had slept soundly because he had thought of Teddy and was excited about seeing him the next day. He had woken up feeling fresh and well rested. That felt like a lifetime ago though.
"Malfoy? Hey, Malfoy?" This time someone else was shaking him, a Weasley one of those popular funny twins. Of all the Weasleys Draco liked the twins best, he was horrified when he had seen Fred Weasley's body. "I think he has gone in a shock, should I slap him?"
"That won't be necessary Weasley. I was just thinking about the answer to Granger's question. I woke up after a good sleep on the morning of the day Teddy and Aunt Meda were supposed to visit us."
"What?!" Granger yelped. "Malfoy, you haven't slept at all in over 72 hours! You need to get some rest."
"I will sleep when Teddy wakes up. Now please leave me be."
"But-" Granger had started to say something but then she moved away with the two Weasley boys.
56 hours and Teddy had still not opened his eyes. Draco refused to abandon hope. Astoria had observed Draco sitting in the same position for 56 hours, from what Hermione Granger had told Ginny Weasley, he must have been awake for more than 85 hours. She had watched Harry Potter struggle to stay awake in his sickness to keep a watch on Teddy. Astoria was amazed at the display of such love and devotion.
"Hey" She said softly as she sat on the edge of Teddy's bed next to Draco. He didn't reply but his hand twitched slightly. She placed her hand on top of his. "He will wake up. He is so well loved. He would wake up."
For the first time he looked into her eyes and Astoria felt as if he had opened the gates of his soul for her. She could see pure torture and pain in them. He was broken and it looked like Teddy was the only think holding him together. Her heart ached to comfort him, before she knew it; she had pulled him in a fierce hug. He leant his forehead on her shoulder and sobbed. Only the tears were few and far in between, she made smoothing circles on his back, as his entire frame shook harder. Tears leaked down her eyes at his pain. They sat like that for 6 hours. Draco kept count of all the hours. Then Teddy's fingers twitched under Draco's hand. He moved away from Astoria and stared at his hand. Teddy's fingers twitched under his hand again, this time with a little more force.
"Draco? Draco? What is it?" Astoria asked shaking him slightly.
"His fingers twitched twice but- LOOK! His feet twitched!" Before she could say anything, Teddy let out a low moan. She jumped, "Do nothing, don't jostle him. Let him wake up on his own, I will go call the head healer."
Ginny who had stayed back with Harry had woken up with a jerk at Draco's shout and was already running out to the lobby to get Andromeda, Narcissa and Bill. Harry who was under a strong sleeping potion was woken up when the healers threw everyone including Draco out. Half an hour later the healers came out and informed them that Teddy had indeed woken up and had asked for them already. They were allowed to meet him for now. But she also told them that Teddy's road to recovery would be painful and they would have to toughen themselves.
Teddy was already chatting with Harry when Andromeda ran in and hugged him, kissing him all the while. Teddy pulled away making a face at being kissed. Draco stood by the door. He didn't know if he should enter or not. Among his various prayers he had desperately prayed that if Teddy wakes up, he would take the punishment and stay away from him. If it meant that Teddy gets to live, he would happily fade out of Teddy's life. He didn't know which prayer was answered. Before he could make a decision Ginny Weasley had pulled him in and pushed him towards Teddy. He looked at Potter who gave him a knowing smile and nodded encouragingly and just like that Draco knew that he might not like Potter and Potter might not like him but they would always protect the other's relationship with Teddy.
"Uncle Drake!" Teddy beamed at him, throwing his arms open and reaching out for him.
"Hey kid. You gave us a big scare." Draco said gathering the little child up in his arms.
"I saw mum and Moony da." Teddy said suddenly, "We played and chased butterflies and watched the clouds. Then mum asked me if I was ready to go home. But then you came and Darry came and Grandma came and asked me if I was ready to go home. So, I asked mum and Moony da to wait a bit. I just wanted to tell you that I was going home with mum and Moony da. But when I returned, they were gone. So, I came back home with you." He smiled showing off his dimples as the adults sat in stunned silence. They had come this close to losing Teddy. But then Harry mused, love was the most powerful magic of all times.
Teddy protested as he was kissed goodnight by his grandma and great aunt before they left for the Malfoy Manor. He protested loudly when Bill ruffled his hair and proceeded home. He climbed down his bed despite several protests and crawled on top of Harry's chest but reached a hand for Draco. He tapped Draco's hand rhythmically; Draco could feel the exhaustion of the past days catching up with him. "Uncle Drake?" Teddy said sleepily. "Hmmm…"
"Why did you say you would go away if I wake up? I don't want you to go away. Promise you won't go away?"
Draco looked up to notice that Potter was watching him. He nodded in understanding. "I promise kid. I won't go away."
"I love you, Uncle Drake. So much." Teddy said as he spread his hands wide on either side of Potter.
Draco laughed. "I love you too kid. I love you too." He said kissing Teddy's tiny palm.
"Hey, Malfoy. I think you should get some sleep now." Potter said quietly as Weasley returned after talking to the Healers about Teddy's treatment.
"We will talk in the morning. Malfoy here really needs to sleep and Harry you need to sleep too." Ginny said as both men looked at her expectantly. Both of them nodded. "You can sleep in Teddy's bed. He won't leave me tonight." Potter said.
Draco nodded; he slept off as soon as his head hit the pillow. "Who would have thought that Malfoy was capable of loving someone so much. Whoever he falls in love with would be a lucky woman." Ginny muttered as she leant in to kiss Harry and Teddy goodnight. Harry nodded looking at Malfoy again.
"You know, he reminds me of dad. I mean lets face it. Dad was a pompous jerk to the people he didn't care about but he was fiercely loyal and devoted to those he loved. Maybe Malfoy is like that. I just realized that any person who is capable of sitting for 60 plus hours on a hard chair without complain or sleep for someone they love can't be all bad." Ginny laughed before giving him a final kiss and going off to sleep on the couch.
"Hey, Ted." Teddy yawned in response.
"I think you can call me Dad if you want to."
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" Teddy squealed in delight but neither Malfoy nor Ginny stirred. "I LOVE YOU, DADDY!"
Harry laughed. "Yes, Yes. I love you too. Now will you please keep it down? Your uncle Drake and Aunt Ginny are sleeping." Teddy nuzzled Harry's chest, hugging him harder and soon both God father and Godson were fast asleep.
AN: And that's a wrap for at least a month. I would like to focus on my other fics like "The year you weren't there" and "Until the last breath." Also on some alternate universe fic where James survives and on top of that I need to figure out which one to post first a fic describing the relationship between all the Potter men and their wives or a fic describing Draco's relationship with Teddy through snippets.
Well we will cross that bridge later.
For now, Read and review.
Happy reading.
Love
The Fishes.