Harry

It's been a week since I decided to break up with Anthony, but I still haven't done it. I've tried. I keep telling him we need to talk, but he always comes up with a way to avoid it. It's driving me mad.

I want to get to know Malfoy better. I want to see if there is a possibility of us being a thing. I want to know him, but I also want to be broken up with Anthony first. I don't want Anthony to get in the way of anything that might happen between Malfoy and me.

The thought of liking Malfoy is still confusing. I'm still worried about Ron's reaction to it - and I don't think Malfoy will appreciate the newspapers being all over him for dating me.

After thinking about it all week, I've decided that it's his choice. If Malfoy wants to deal with fame and he wants to be with me, then I'll be happy to be with him. I think. I thought I would be happy with Anthony too, but Malfoy isn't Anthony.

I run my fingers through my hair. I promised myself I wouldn't see Malfoy again until I broke up with Anthony... and I am growing desperate to see him.

I step out of my home. I need to break up with Anthony today. I'm done with him. I am done with the abuse and manipulation.

Then I'll go to the chateau and talk to Malfoy.

"Harry, I don't have time to talk right now," Anthony snaps, polishing the handle of his Silver Arrow.

Anthony plays quidditch, but only in a local team. He's a beater, but he's not very good. In fact, he sucks.

"I think you probably have time for a quick conversation," I say, folding my arms.

He shoots me a dirty look. "If you keep going on like this, I won't cuddle or sleep with you for a month. I have a game tonight."

"That's just it. I don't want you to touch me ever again! It's over between us! I'm sick of you abusing me! I'm sick of you treating Kreacher like shit!" I exploded, my temper finally getting the better of me.

To my surprise, Anthony starts laughing. "Oh, love, I haven't abused you. You're just imagining things. I think you're so used to people fighting with you, that you need to see it in me."

I stare at him, starting to doubt myself. Do I need to see abuse in what Anthony does? Am I that used to it?

I remember Ron, Hermione, Ginny... all of my friends and family telling me the same thing. That Anthony is abusing me. They wouldn't lie to me.

Malfoy's face surfaces in my memory. I let myself remember how he made me feel as he laughed and healed my sting. I remember how he gripped my hand when we apparated to his cottage. I remember how he made sure I slept after I had a fight with Anthony. Malfoy has treated me with more kindness and compassion than my boyfriend ever has.

Even if Malfoy doesn't want to be with me, I still would rather be alone than be with Anthony now. I guess I don't need romantic companionship. I have my friends and family. I have love. If Malfoy does want to be with me, that will just be a bonus.

I am never going to lose myself in someone else again. I'm never going to allow myself or Kreacher to be mistreated again.

"To be honest, I don't give a damn if I am imagining it. You jinxed Kreacher. I don't love you. I don't want anything to do with you."

Anthony stands, setting his broom aside, and steps towards me. At first, I think he's going to hit me, but he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him.

"He's just a house elf, Harry. You don't mean all that. You're special to me." He tries to kiss me, but I turn my head.

"No. Let go of me," I hiss, grabbing his hand. "I don't want to see you ever again."

There's a crack and someone opens the front door. I spin away from Anthony and look at the person stumbling in. It's Luna.

Her hair is in disarray and she looks panicked. "Harry! Thank the gods! I tried looking for you everywhere else!"

I run to her, wrapping my arm around her waist. "Luna, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Draco! He was attacked! Cruciatus! Cardiac arrest!" she shrieks. "We need you! St. Mungos!"

I grip her tighter. "We're going there now."

Anthony grabs my arm. "This isn't over."

"Yes, it is." I push him away from me and turn on my heel, disapparating with Luna.

When I rush into Malfoy's room, he's sitting propped up in Blaise Zabini's arms.

Malfoy looks weaker than I've ever seen him. He's so pale it scares me. Blood is trickling out of the corner of his mouth. It seems like he's barely hanging onto consciousness.

I force myself to walk forward, taking my wand out of my sleeve. I carefully start the diagnostic spells, my quill taking notes beside me.

He bit his tongue badly, which is where the blood is coming from. His body is sore from the curse. His heart though... it's grown worse. It's barely performing.

I cast a healing charm on his tongue and body before summoning a potion that I hope will help him.

"What is going on, Potter?" Zabini demands.

I glance up at him, noticing the way Malfoy seems even paler against Zabini's dark skin. I hold up a finger to him. I'll answer his questions later.

I take Draco's face in my hands, brushing off the blood with my thumb. I'm shaking, but I hide it. I'm so angry.

"Who is responsible for this, Draco?" I ask, barely managing to keep my voice calm.

I want to torture them. Scream at them. Lock them away in Azkaban. Something!

Draco's half lidded eyes find mine. He looks so tired. He shakes his head slowly. I take a deep breath. I need to stay calm. I need to be a healer.

I tip the potion into his mouth, just remembering it now. Draco swallows it all. His face smooths out a bit. He stops clutching at Zabini's arm.

"Potter..." he mumbles, grabbing my hand.

I'm violating so many health codes right now. I shouldn't be touching blood with my bare hands. I shouldn't be so close to Draco. I shouldn't be leaning down.

I am anyways.

I press my lips to his forehead. When I pull back, Draco's tired eyes are staring up at me. His face is faintly pink.

"I'm going to heal you. I'm going to keep you safe," I say quietly, feeling for his pulse on his neck.

His heart is beating at a more normal rhythm now. He's still watching me. His hand tightens on mine.

"Harry... is Luna okay?" he rasps.

"I'm fine." Luna steps closer to us.

I forgot she was here with how worried I was about him.

"What happened?" Draco mumbles.

"A Death Eater. He cast the Cruciatus curse on you. I couldn't see who it was." Luna frowns faintly. "I cast a bat bogey hex on them, but he disapparated before I could do anything else."

"What the fuck? Why is a Death Eater after Draco? Why is his heart all fucked up? When the hell did Potter start kissing him?" Zabini demands, his arms tightening around Draco.

Luna and Draco share a look. She takes Zabini's hand. "Let's go and get some tea, okay? I'll catch you up on everything that has been happening while you've been in Australia."

Zabini looks dubious, but after Draco weakly shoves him, he gets up and follows Luna out of the room. I take his place on the bed beside Draco, helping him to sit up. He leans against me.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him, my anger fading with him in my arms.

"Tired... but better. Blaise said a woman named McHale saved me from cardiac arrest... and you kissed me?" He sounds so unsure of himself.

"I did." I brush his hair out of his face.

He smells like the sea. I wonder if it's his shampoo. His head falls to rest against my shoulder.

"I must be dreaming then. It's a good dream though... I like it." Draco looks up at me from under his pale lashes.

"Why would it be a dream?"

"You don't like me... even if you did... I would only damage your reputation. I'm no good for you or anyone. Death Eaters don't get happy endings." Draco yawns. "Don't wake me up just yet... please?"

I stare at him, feeling my heart ache. Has he been living with that weight on him this whole time? It's been five years since the war, but it seems like it just happened yesterday with the guilt written plainly on Draco's face.

"You're not a Death Eater," I say, hugging him closer to me.

Draco reaches down and pulls up his sleeve. The dark mark is there, faded. It's surrounded by flowers. I have no idea what they are, but they're beautiful. The mark is almost hidden by them.

"You fought against him, Draco. You saved my life during the war. You're not a Death Eater." I raise his arm up to my mouth and kiss the mark.

Draco's mouth is hanging open when I turn my head to look at him. He is definitely blushing now. I want to kiss him, but he needs rest and I don't want our first kiss to be while he thinks he's dreaming.

"You're using my first name..." he mumbles after a moment.

"I am... because I like you. A lot. You used my first name too." I press my face into his hair, inhaling the salty scent.

He doesn't answer. I check on him and find he's sleeping. That's good. He should rest until tomorrow at least.

I press one last kiss to his forehead, unable to help myself. I gently lower him until he's laying on the bed and cover him with a blanket.

There's something wrong with his condition. I'm certain of it. It can't just be a muggle illness. I think it's a curse. It's a good thing the Black library is full of books on curses.

"Kreacher?"

My house elf appears with a crack. "Yes, Master Harry?"

"I need you to do me a big favor, Kreacher. I need all the books on curses you can find. Ones that can cause issues like heart problems. Do you think there's a book like that at home?"

Kreacher looks thoughtful and bows. "Kreacher recalls a few books with such curses. Mistress Bellatrix was interested in them."

"Perfect. Can you bring them here?"

Kreacher nods and disappears with another crack. I'm glad I don't actually have a shift today. I can focus exclusively on researching Draco's heart condition all day.

Once Draco is healed, I'm going to find whoever did this to him. I'll make them regret ever hurting him.