Draco

"What are you two doing?"

Hermione's voice cuts through the air sharply. Ron and I look at her, lowering our wands. We glance at each other.

"Ronald Weasley," she says threateningly when neither of us answer. "I don't care about your schoolboy grudge. Draco shouldn't be dueling right now."

"We weren't dueling," Ron says, holding up his hands. "I was teaching Draco a spell."

Hermione narrows her eyes. Suddenly, I feel bad for anyone who has ever pissed her off. The anger slowly fades.

"Did you just... call him Draco?"

Ron rubs the back of his neck. "Uh, well... yeah. I think we've come to an understanding actually."

My eyebrow raises as I lean against the window. "Did we?"

"After what you did to Anthony, yeah. I mean, hell, I like you well enough now." Ron shrugs.

"Back up. What did you just say about Anthony?" Hermione scowls. "Was he here? Why didn't you wake me up?"

I decide to let Ron explain. I'm more interested in looking out the window. My room has a good view of the street in front of the hospital. I should be able to see Harry when he comes back.

I know it's just my own insecurity, but I'm afraid he won't come back. Logically, I know he will, but anxiety tugs on my mind and heart.

"Anthony sneaked in here with Harry's cloak. He started shouting about Harry cheating on him with Draco. Anthony raised his fist and Draco tackled him and broke his nose," Ron hurriedly explains.

Hermione shoots me an appraising look. I think I can almost see approval on her face, but she turns to Ron too quickly for me to be certain.

"What happened then? Where is Harry?"

"Harry told me to give Draco a potion and mentioned daisies. He left with Anthony immediately after." Ron tilts his head. "Do you know why he said that?"

I'm surprised to see Hermione's shoulders sag. Relief washes over her features. "Thank the goddess. I was worried Harry would never file for DAISIES."

"What?" Ron looks at me in confusion.

I don't know why he does that. I am as lost as he is. The way Hermione phrased it, it sounds like an acronym, but I can't even begin to guess what it is.

"Why am I not surprised you forgot?" Hermione rolls her dark brown eyes. "DAISIES: Domestic Abuse & Invasive Stalking, Immediate Enforced Separation. Remember? It's the magical contract I developed when I found out wizards don't have restraining orders."

Recognition dawns on Ron's face.

"Oh," he breathes, "Harry is filing DAISIES against Anthony."

"What does that mean exactly?" I ask, glancing out the window again.

My heart leaps. I can see someone with messy black hair striding down the sidewalk.

"It means, if DAISIES is authorized, Anthony won't be able to come near Harry. He won't even be able to speak about him. He won't be able to harm Harry again."

I'm only half paying attention to her now. I understand what she is saying, but my eyes are fixed on Harry until he enters the building.

"Harry's back."

I turn on my heel and move as quickly as I can. I rush out of my room, ignoring Hermione as she tries to stop me. I need to see Harry. I need to confirm that Goldstein didn't hurt him.

I dodge healers and visitors, some of who are startled to see me walking so quickly through the corridors. I skirt the head healer.

I see him. I see Harry. He is leaving the stairwell. He looks exhausted, but I can't see any signs of a fight.

His eyes widen when he sees me. I see his lips form my name. I can't hear him though. He starts running to me.

"Draco, what are you doing? You shouldn't be straining your body."

He cups my face in his hands, looking at me worriedly. I grasp his wrists. I'm still searching for signs that he's been hurt, but I find none. That doesn't mean he wasn't hurt somewhere I can't see.

"What happened? Did Goldstein do anything to you?" I demand.

"No. I'm completely fine," he says gently, his thumbs stroking my cheekbones. "Anthony won't be a problem anymore."

I want to ask him more about Goldstein, but I'm so relieved that he is here and unhurt, the words die in my throat. Instead, I dip my head and press my lips to his.

Kissing Harry in the middle of the hospital corridor with his coworkers surrounding us is probably a bad idea. At the moment, I don't care.

Harry's lips move against mine, kissing me sweetly. I feel all the tension drain from my body.

Someone clears their throat. Harry pulls away from me. I can see a flush rising in his cheeks.

"Elliot..." Harry says, grimacing.

"We need to talk, Harry. Mr. Malfoy, can you wait in your room, please?" Elliot doesn't wait for an answer. He just walks off in another direction.

"It will be fine, love," Harry murmurs.

I nod jerkily and watch him leave. I am worried that I just cost him his job.

Someone's hand wraps around my wrist. They guide me back to my room. I follow numbly. They make me sit in one of the chairs gently. I look up into worried dark eyes.

"Draco, are you okay?" Hermione asks, handing me a glass of water.

"Did... I just get Harry fired?"

Hermione shakes her head. "No, don't worry about that. Elliot is a fair person. He wouldn't fire Harry over something like this."

"Yeah, it's more likely he caught wind of Anthony coming here. Harry said Elliot was getting tired of that." Ron claps a hand to my shoulder.

Hermione takes out her wand. I watch her run through diagnostic spells. "When was your last potion?"

"Right after Harry left."

Hermione nods and points her wand at me. A soft light enters my chest. My heart feels warm as it slows down. I hadn't realized that it was beating so fast.

"My shift is starting in a few minutes. I have to go, but I'll be back to check on you in an hour or so." Hermione squeezes Ron's shoulder and leaves.

There's silence between us for a moment. Ron is being quiet and I just don't know what to say. I still need to talk to Harry about Goldstein. I need to understand what is happening.

"Harry will be back before you know it," Ron says after a long moment.

"I shouldn't have kissed him. We decided we wouldn't do that while he was still my healer." I force myself to drink my water.

"Harry looked like he was enjoying it if you ask me." Ron snickers. "But yeah, you should have probably waited until you weren't in public."

I feel my cheeks heat. "I know. I don't know what came over me."

"Well, it's not like you did it to hurt him." Ron shrugs. "I mean... the you I knew in school probably would have tried to get Harry fired, but this you.. you're more mature and nicer."

I flinch. I can't help it. The memories of everything I did as a student are filled with remorse.

"About that..." I stare into my cup. "I am sorry. I wasn't kind to you or anyone really. I fucked up a lot. If it weren't for me... Fred might not have died. Dumbledore would probably still be alive too."

Ron doesn't say anything for a long time. I don't blame him. An apology from me probably doesn't mean anything. There is nothing I can do to make up for Fred's death... or Dumbledore's.

"Well, that's about six years late... but better late than never," Ron says roughly. "I... forgive you. Just don't break Harry's heart."

He squeezes my shoulder. I blink up at him. Ron is staring at the ceiling. I think I see tears in his eyes.

"I'm not planning on hurting him," I answer quietly. "Ever."

It's another twenty minutes before my door opens. Harry walks in, balancing three steaming mugs. I vanish my water.

"How did it go?" Ron asks, standing up.

"Elliot wasn't happy. He saw me leaving with Anthony. He lectured me for about fifteen minutes." Harry sighs, handing us each a mug. "Finally, he allowed me to get a word in. I told him about DAISIES and he was relieved... but..."

Harry glances at me, looking worried.

"What?" I ask, feeling nervous.

"Hermione is officially your healer now. Elliot is worried that I'm too close to you to treat you properly." Harry shifts his weight. "I'm sorry, Draco. I told you I would heal you."

I take a moment to let that sink in. Then, I roll my eyes so hard, I swear I almost see the back of my skull.

"Harry, I don't care about that. I don't mind having Hermione as my healer at all." I smirk. "At least she is competent."

I take a sip of the tea Harry gave me to hide my grin. Ron looks torn between defending Harry and being proud of Hermione... and Harry's mouth is opening and closing. Its highly amusing.

After a moment, Harry starts laughing. Ron glances at Harry, but then he starts chuckling too.

Harry leans down and kisses the top of my head. "Ron, can you give Draco and me some time alone?"

"Just make sure your clothes are on before Hermione comes back." Ron winks at us before taking a book and leaving.

I take another long drink of my tea. I know Harry isn't planning on sleeping with me, but the thought is enough to make me want to squirm.

Harry moves a chair and sits in front of me. He takes one of my hands in his.

"I am assuming you're going to explain what happened with Goldstein." I look at our hands. His darker skin contrasts prettily against mine.

"Yeah. I owe you an explanation, but first, I need to tell you a few things."

I meet Harry's green eyes. He looks so tired. I squeeze his hand. He's so close, our knees are touching.

"The first thing is I'm not dating Anthony. I broke up with him weeks ago."

"Was that before or after we kissed?" I ask quietly.

"After, but it was the day after I left him." Harry looks uncomfortable.

"Okay..." I can handle that. I think. Then I remember something. "That means you were still dating him when we..."

I hesitate. I still don't know if Harry was going to kiss me when we were at my cottage.

"Ah... you mean when we almost kissed and I got stung?" Harry asks, his face flushing.

"You were about to kiss me then?"

"I was. I completely forgot myself. I forgot about Anthony. I forgot I was your healer." Harry runs his fingers through his hair. "The truth is, I haven't felt anything for Anthony for a long time. After that night with you, I went to my friends for advice. Ron convinced me to leave Anthony."

I'm not sure how to feel about that. I don't like the idea of Harry nearly kissing me when he was dating someone else, but I can understand it a little bit after everything Ron told me.

"Tell me the rest." I put my mug down and grab Harry's other hand.

"Well... the other things I want you to know first are that I'm sorry that Anthony showed up here tonight, I'm sorry you fought with him. It must have been... unnerving to say the least." Harry squeezes my hands. "The last thing is I really like you. I had a crush on you in Hogwarts... but now I really, really like you. I want to be with you and only you."

I take a breath, trying to steady my nerves. There are a lot of things I want to say, but I focus on what is important. "If he shows up here again, I'm cursing him. Ron just taught me a curse that I'm itching to try out, but I'm upset because he tried to hurt you. He stalked you. I'm not upset with you... and I really like you too."

Harry's hands tense around mine. He's staring at me with a tenderness I've never seen directed at me. "He won't show up again. He can't come near us anymore. I filed DAISIES. That's a-"

"Hermione explained DAISIES. That's an impressive piece of magic... and I'm grateful Anthony can't harm you again or stalk you."

Harry smiles slightly.

"So, tell me what he did to you," I say gently, bringing Harry's hands up to kiss his fingers.

Harry leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. Then, he starts talking.

He tells me about when he first met Goldstein after school. How Goldstein brought him to an aquarium... how they grew close. Harry tells me that Goldstein was charming and kind at first.

I feel vaguely jealous, but I know it's irrational because Harry is right here with me. He's not with Goldstein.

Harry goes on, his grip on my hands tightening. He talks about how Goldstein dealt with the media. How people sent him howlers because Rita Skeeter made it seem like he wasn't good enough to be with Harry.

I stop myself from saying she was right.

Harry tells me that not long after the howlers, Goldstein grew possessive. He guilted Harry into not seeing his friends and family. He called Harry selfish for being bi and believed Harry liking girls was just a phase. Then, he would turn around and say that Harry was going to cheat on him because he would start missing vaginas.

Harry's squeezing my hands so tightly, his knuckles have gone white. I rub the back of his hands with my thumbs until he relaxes.

Harry takes a deep breath. He tells me about the abuse next. About how Goldstein would withhold affection to punish him. He tells me how Goldstein would show up at his work if Harry wasn't home by a certain time. He tells me about the time Goldstein was mad and punched the wall next to Harry's head. He tells me about how Goldstein cursed Harry's house elf.

Harry tells me that all of this happened slowly. Harry didn't notice the changes at first... and then Harry started blaming himself for Goldstein's actions. He tells me how Goldstein kept him down. How he would tell Harry no one would put up with Harry besides him.

Hearing about all of the abuse Goldstein put Harry through is enough to make my blood boil. I stay silent as Harry speaks, letting him get it all off his chest.

By the time Harry is finished, I'm seething. I want to find Goldstein, use the dickhead curse, and punch him right in the forehead. That actually seems too kind. I want to kill him. I want to torture him.

"I understand if you don't want to be with me after hearing all of this," Harry says, pulling one of his hands out of mine to rake through his hair.

"Harry, I know you can't help being an oblivious idiot sometimes, but do you really think hearing all of that would make me want to be with you any less?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"You know, you shouldn't call someone who has been abused an idiot." Harry smiles tentatively.

"Probably not, but have you met me? I'm a very rude and snarky individual." I shrug.

Harry grins and cups my face in his hands. "And somehow I'm still attracted to you."

My heart flutters.

"Are you masochistic?"

"No, I just really like you." Harry laughs.

I'm addicted to Harry's laugh. It makes my chest feel warm. "You're not my healer anymore right?"

Harry shakes his head. "No... why?"

"Because I'm tired of waiting... if you are."

"I am too." He smiles slightly. "But... are you sure? I doubt we will be able to keep this quiet."

"I think I can handle howlers and hate mail. It's not like it would be the first time." I roll my eyes.

When I was released from Azkaban, howlers and hate mail showed up at my mother's place for me a month. People were pissed that a Death Eater was released from Azkaban after only a few months.

Harry looks confused, but then understanding crosses his features. He just seems sad now. I kiss his forehead.

"If I can make a suggestion?" A voice says, sounding faintly amused.

Healer Elliot is standing in the doorway. I wonder how long he's been there.

Harry rubs the back of his neck. "Yes?"

"Just write your own article for the paper first. That takes away Skeeter's shock value... and you guys get to control the information that public first sees." Elliot leans against the door. "Of course, she will still write her own version of events and some people will listen to that, but you'll get the first word in."

Harry's mouth falls open. Elliot smirks.

"That seems really obvious to me," Elliot says.

I have to agree with him. Honestly, that does seem blindingly obvious now that he said it. I know there will still be howlers, but there might not be as much. Not that howlers would stop me from being with Harry at all.

"Sounds like a plan," I say, smiling faintly.