Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. This story is merely my way of saluting her. I do not own any of these characters; I just manipulate their thoughts. I also want to give props to Beren and Mijan for inspiring my stories.
-x-
"Harry? Please, Harry!" Draco said shakily, trying to wake Harry up. He heard the distinct sound of Apparation behind him. He heard Ministry officials running towards them, shouting orders to capture the two unconscious Death Eaters.
"What happened?" Kinsley asked grimly, kneeling beside the distraught blond. Draco turned blindly at the sound.
"I – please, we need to help him. He couldn't – he tried to stop the Killing Curse. And my fa – Lucius used Sectumsempra on him. He can't – Harry can't heal it. Please," Draco wept, clutching Harry to his chest.
"We'll transport him to St. Mungo's right away, Draco," Tonks said, trying to release Draco's grip on Harry.
"I have to go with him," Draco stuttered. Kingsley looked at Tonks desperately. She sighed and nodded.
"Okay, let's go."
Draco tried to stand up with Tonks, but his legs gave way slightly from exhaustion. Williamson caught him as he sagged. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Draco felt the effects of the Cruciatus curse washing over him and he tried to stave off the nausea. He nodded silently, heaving. Tonks looked at Kingsley nervously before conjuring up a Portkey.
"Here we go," she said, holding onto Harry's limp body. Draco touched the Portkey with Tonks and they were transported to the Emergency wing of the hospital. Mediwizards quickly moved Harry into a private room, shutting out Tonks and Draco. Draco felt dizzy once again and tried to support himself against the wall.
"Sit down," Tonks ordered. Draco stumbled to the chair outside Harry's room. Tonks knelt in front of Draco.
"What did they do to you?" she asked quietly, assessing Draco's health using silent charms.
Draco took a shuddering breath. "They used Sectumsempra and Crucio on Harry. He can't heal Dark magic so –"
Tonks interrupted. "No, Draco. What did they do to you?"
Draco stared silently at his trembling hands. "Cruciatus Curse. Bellatrix tried to use the killing curse, but Harry –" his voice broke as he remembered Harry's pained cry when the curse hit his shield. He vehemently rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. "It's all my fault. I hesitated," he said softly. He felt fury well up inside him. He roared in aggravation, wrenching his hair. Tonks hugged him softly, feeling his body go limp against her.
"He's going to be okay, Draco," she said soothingly. Draco clenched her tightly, wanting to believe every word she said.
-x-
The waiting room was soon filled with well wishers. Draco sat in the corner of the room, leaning his head back against the wall, staring at the ceiling. He was trying not to think. Whenever his mind wandered, he flinched at his thoughts, trying to suppress them. He didn't want to talk to anyone and he didn't want to hear anyone talk to him. He wanted to be with Harry, but no one was letting him go in. Draco squeezed his eyes shut. He was emotionally drained from the previous night. He had been healed of all injuries after Tonks had dragged him to the Emergency room once again. He'd slept fitfully in his hospital room that night, nightmares plaguing him. The next morning, he couldn't lie still, so he had wandered into the waiting room and was now sitting quietly.
Harry had lost a lot of blood during transit. His wounds were deep; some even tore into his lungs. The slashes needed to be bound together using powerful potions and bandages. Luckily, there was no apparent permanent damage. But the energy he needed to fuel the shield was enormous. His magic was wavering, unstable as his body fought to stay alive. So far, Professor Dumbledore was the only one allowed into Harry's room.
Frustrated with himself, Draco stood up from his seat and walked out of the waiting area. He paced in front of Harry's room, hoping to catch a glimpse of him if someone left the door open. He walked back and forth briskly, keeping his mind occupied by counting the number of steps he took. After around three hundred steps, he heard the door open. He quickly looked up, trying to peer into the room. Dumbledore smiled sadly before opening the door wider. Draco gaped, looking at the old wizard hesitantly.
"You may go in, Draco," Dumbledore said, quietly.
Draco's breath hitched in his throat. Now he wasn't sure if he wanted to go in. He stalled for a moment, staring at Dumbledore's kind eyes.
"Is – Is he awake?" Draco asked hopefully.
"No. I don't know when he will wake up."
"Okay," Draco said decisively, walking into the room. He wanted to be there when Harry woke up. He stumbled to a halt when he saw Harry lying on the large hospital bed. Oh no, Harry… He blindly let his feet lead him to the broken man on the bed. Harry looked pale and drawn. His mouth was pursed in a perpetual grimace and his eyes were flicking back and forth underneath his eyelids. He was restrained to the bed and Draco noticed horrifically that the cuffs were chaffing his wrists. Harry was shirtless but his chest was wrapped in white bandages. Rather, they were once white, but now had spots of red on it. He seemed to be shivering slightly from the shock. As Draco approached Harry, his mind filling with dread and sadness, he saw Harry flinch away. Draco quickly glanced up at Dumbledore, who was standing by the door.
"He's not able to control emotions anymore," Dumbledore explained.
Draco quickly shut Harry out of his mind. He didn't want Harry to suffer any more than he had to. He gently touched Harry's cheeks, tracing the tear tracks with his shaky fingers. Harry unconsciously moved towards Draco, pressing his cheek against the familiar finger. Draco stared lovingly at his fiancé, willing him to wake up. But Harry stayed as he was, unconscious and in agony. Draco sat by Harry's side for a while, glad that he finally got to come into the room.
Draco yelped suddenly when Harry shot his eyes open. Harry unseeingly whipped his head to the side, arching his back. He screamed hoarsely, lashing in his bed. Draco watched in horror. Dumbledore eyed Harry sadly. "It seems that Sirius' magic is finally leaving him," he explained. Draco tried to stop Harry from convulsing, but Dumbledore put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "He needs to vent, Draco," the Headmaster said quietly. Draco stifled his sobs in his hand, watching Harry shudder in his bed.
"You don't have to see this," Dumbledore said understandingly. Draco shook his head vehemently.
"No, he needs me. I'll stay here. I have to be here when he wakes up," Draco muttered shakily through his tears.
"Draco, he's going to be alright. You know that, right?"
"Yes… He'll be alright if I stay."
-x-
Harry felt the pain creeping up on him again. He'd had enough. He'd had enough last year, when this had happened. The second time was worse. He felt like his body was being wrenched apart into pieces. The days and nights blended together. His muscles were torn from his frantic motions. His hands and feet were bound again, causing him to panic whenever he thought about how helpless he was. His head was filled with pain and nausea. He wanted to die.
But something always stopped him. It wasn't revenge this time. This was not like last time. Soft touches often brought him back from the torment. Quiet voices soothed him, although he had no idea what the words meant. Comforting kisses kept him relatively sane. He wanted to know why he couldn't give up. He couldn't remember anything except for pain. He wanted to know why he was still alive.
-x-
On the third day after the incident, Draco was lovingly talking to Harry when Harry wrenched his hand out of Draco's and sent out a bloodcurdling scream. He strained one last time against the restraints, convulsing in his bed with fervor. The scream died down in his throat as he fell backwards against the pillows, exhausted.
"Draco?"
Draco fumbled for his wand and released Harry from the restraints. He climbed into Harry's bed and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. "Harry, don't you ever do that to me again," he cried, kissing Harry passionately.
"That hurts," Harry wheezed, trying to get away from his fiancé.
"Oh, fuck it," Draco said vehemently, kissing Harry's cheeks, his forehead, his chin, his nose, and his lips with enthusiasm. Harry moaned against Draco's bruising kisses. Relief washed over him. When Draco finally pulled away, Harry took in another deep breath.
"You're okay. Oh, Draco, I thought… I mean, I didn't know if – I was so scared for you. I was so scared that I wouldn't – I love you so much," Harry stuttered, laying a tired hand on Draco's cheek.
"I know, Harry. I know you love me. Even if you don't say it, I always know," Draco said quietly, looking into Harry's teary eyes.
"Good," Harry said, moving in gingerly for a soft kiss.
-x-
"Harry, it seems like Sirius' magic has left you," Dumbledore said grimly.
Harry's breath caught in his throat and tears stung his eyes. "Why?" he asked hoarsely. Draco squeezed Harry's hand in support.
"Because it is no longer needed, Harry. Remember how I had talked to you about the need to balance good and evil. The evil is vanquished, Harry. The good has prevailed. Sirius' magic was used one last time, Harry – to save Draco's life. Now, it is no longer needed."
Tears spilled down Harry's cheeks. That magic was the one thing that connected him with his godfather. And now it was gone. "Where did it go?"
"One can only assume, Harry. I'd like to think that once a magical entity dies, its magic is dispersed into the universe. It never truly disappears, it is merely moved into other objects."
Harry nodded in understanding. Sirius had given him the most priceless gift. And he had used it very wisely. Now that he had no need for it, it was returned to the universe. But that didn't stop Harry from feeling disheartened over losing a part of his godfather. Harry tugged at his ruby that was resting on his chest. It was no longer glowing. It glinted the sunlight onto the ceiling, but it didn't radiate red anymore. He was back to normal, whatever that was.
"And now, Harry, I want you to focus on getting better. You only have three weeks until the big day," Dumbledore said, a twinkle present in his eyes. Harry smiled bashfully despite himself. Draco chuckled when he saw Harry's face flushing with embarrassment.
"Yes, you'd better get well soon. I'm sure a hell not carrying you down the aisle," Draco drawled, earning a punch in the arm.
-x-