Chapter 2: Bed, Boyfriend, and Being Fine

Harry was surprisingly awake. He liked a good lie-in, so that was no surprise. It was that he was awake thinking and not dozing off.

And he was thinking about Draco.

And he was not having a panic attack. Or an asthma attack. Or a Dark Lord attack. (Those in the know were still overjoyed that they had gotten rid of the guy once and for all. The former Death Eaters that were not in Azkaban where mere shadows of their former selves, by all reports. Draco's father was in good mental health, reportedly, but remembered little about the entire war or Voldemort. Mrs. Malfoy highly enjoyed her husband now.)

He might be having some sort of attack, though. His muscles will not stop spasming in his right leg again. He wonders if this is what the Cruciatus Curse feels like, as he had only read about them. As far as Harry is aware, he has never had the curse used against him. He did do a lot two days before, perhaps too much for a rainy day. He must be getting old. That must be it. Wait, not even sixteen yet. That's ridiculous. And he was growing. It was all growing pains and related issues. It must be.

He tried to put those thoughts out of his mind and focus on Draco's visit. Turning his head, he squinted at his bedside clock. Half-nine. Nice, but what did he plan to wear?

After the rain and clouds of the days prior, today, according to BBC radio, was to be very sunny and hot. Quite unlike yesterday. It was a day for shorts then. They could have tea and biscuits in the back garden, in the shade. It seemed this would be the gentlemanly thing to do. He could use the formal tea tray and have it all prepared and set out if he got up soon. It would be lovely, and Draco would swoon because Harry went to such trouble just for him.

He huffed out a laugh. Who was he kidding? He had been so clumsy lately, or more so than normal. He just did not feel quite put together today. He almost felt floaty like after surgery, potions, and the like. Just the slightest bit. Oh, well, he wanted to get on with it. Mum was home today, so perhaps it would not be such a bad idea to ask her about it.

Harry pulled on a nice pair of dark blue shorts that went to his knees, and cinched at the waist with a belt, which he paired with a polo-style shirt with a collar. After this, he pulled his leg on, and then stood to study himself in the mirror. After smoothing his hair, he decided he didn't look half-bad, even if he did say so himself. Draco would appreciate this look, especially as Draco was trying harder to not always dress in wizardwear no matter the weather. There were times Harry just needed to feel a bit cooler. Or warmer. Honestly, his body sometimes had no clue what was happening! Fortunately, there were such thing as cooling robes and heating robes, and he had a set of each. His mum and Madam Pomfrey did not know why this happened to him. It was apparently unusual, to say the very least. Even Healer Hannah had decided he was a mystery.

In the front hall, he heard a commotion and small, cheery voices. Oh, no, Mum or Mione were minding the children today! Normally, Harry loved to entertain the two-year-old twins himself, but not today. Draco was going to arrive, and they would have an uninterrupted conversation where Harry would express his feelings. Feelings which he often found difficult to express.

"Harry!" shrieked Arshan, one of his little cousins, who ran to hug Harry's legs. Harry braced himself against the wall, because they last time this had happened, he had fallen backward with the force of the two small children. Arshan laughed as he reached Harry first while his minutes-older sister Aniseh was quickly behind. Both were dressed for the expected warm temperatures outdoors.

"Harry! Play ball?" they both asked, running back to their mother who held out what appear to be new and quite tiny footballs for them. They each took one in their arms and trotted back over to Harry.

"I'm sorry for this, Harry." Aunt Tina looked apologetic. "I have an emergency at hospital. Your mum will be minding them as she says you expect a friend today. I must say you look handsome this morning."

Harry blushed, and turned to his mother who had just stepped in. Before he could mutter a word, she whispered, "We'll talk later. Good luck. I have tea and biscuits under a charm in the garden for you and your guest. I will take the children to the park."

"Take Hermione with you," Harry suggested aloud, smiling at the two little ones jumping up and down at his feet.

"Mione! Go park!" Aniseh shouted, letting her ball go in her excitement. She ran after it so easily that Harry felt a twinge of envy. It was not the first time, but he brushed it aside for the moment, trying to stay focused and not let himself get further distracted.

He needed to talk to Draco about being more than friends, and had to do some deep breathing. So he seated himself at the table near the floo and tried to centre himself mentally. It was what he needed to do for successful occlumency, and he found this worked well for his anxiety, too. He felt Hermione touch his shoulder and whisper good luck, so he assumed she left with their mum and cousins. He kept his eyes closed, running his favourite calming images through his mind.

Another touch startled him out of his meditation. Draco stood almost close enough to kiss.

Draco looked like he wanted to kiss Harry.

Or perhaps it was all in his imagination, and Draco did not truly fancy him! His breath hitched, and despite all his intentions, his mind ran on.

"Harry, are you alright?" Draco put an around Harry's shoulders.

He gasped in air. He had to get this under control. He had to centre himself again. Draco was here with an arm around him. He does like me, he reminded himself.

"I'll be alright soon," Harry whispered while attempting to draw longer, more even breaths. After a few moments, he realized Draco was breathing with him to help coach him along. Just the simple action of assisting him to take slower breaths like Draco had nothing else in the world but him.

The remainder of his anxiety and panic calmed down quickly.

"Thank you, Draco," Harry said. He stood from his chair, and in a rather formal manner, asked, "Would you care to join me in the garden for some tea and biscuits, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Why, yes, thank you, Mr. Potter, I shall be happy join you in the garden for tea," Draco said as they bowed to one another, and then burst into laughter.

Harry led Draco to the small but nicely appointed patio to the table, which was in the shade at this time of day. Draco seemed much relieved.

"You know, Harry, I burn in the sun if I don't use sun-potions," Draco commented as he seated himself at the table.

"I know. That's why the table is where it is." Harry prepared Draco's tea just as he liked it, with sugar. Harry drank it plain, himself. He offered the biscuits to Draco and then selected a few for himself.

"Sirius thinks he can put a secret Quidditch pitch here? This is not a very large back garden, and muggles may see you. Perhaps we will all go to the Manor for a Quidditch game after the cinema and party here."

"We haven't had a match together in ages. Maybe later today? Anyway, I have confidence Sirius making it happen, even if it is only temporary. "

"I shall speak to Cousin Sirius about the arrangements," Draco said with a firm voice that was meant to sound mature, but this made Harry giggle a bit. He slapped a hand over his mouth. Draco stared across at him, and then started laughing again.

After they both had control of their faculties once again, Draco was the one to speak up.

"There was a reason for me to come here, so I should get on with it."

"What? I have something to tell you," Harry countered, but then closed his mouth too quickly, biting the inside of his cheek. It stung briefly, but he paid it no mind.

"Do you want to tell me you fancy me?" Draco sounded quite nervous. "I fancy you, Harry. Will you be my boyfriend?"

"I do fancy you, Draco. I will be your boyfriend. Will you go on a date with me?" Harry gasped out while trying hard not to put his hands in his hair. Draco grinned, much relieved, glancing at Harry's hands, which seemed twitchy. He leaned forward and gathered Harry's in his own.

"Isn't this a date? We have tea, sunshine, and each other," Draco said in a soft voice.

"You burn in sunshine."

Draco laughed again, his nervousness obviously now gone. "I know, love!"

"I burn as well, but not quite as quickly as you," Harry said. Why this was coming from his mouth, he truly had no idea. Draco started laughing harder and moved to sit closer to Harry.

"We could try kissing in the shade," Draco finally calmed himself enough to whisper. Harry stared at Draco's lips, trying to get his mind in order, but failing miserably. Instead, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Draco's.

-

"We're home!"

Harry and Draco were still in garden, cuddling, after practicing their kissing skills several times.

"We'll come in, Mum!" He stood, pain twinging down his residual limb again, as well as the lingering muscle soreness in his right leg. This was becoming rather ridiculous, if he was being honest with himself, as he should not have to take pain potions every day. He decided to ignore it as much as possible and turned to take his boyfriend's hand. Draco accepted, kissing Harry's hand as he rose up, his longish blond hair sweeping over Harry's arm as it fell forward.

Harry loved the sensation, and it temporarily allowed his pain to subside.

"Did the toddlers return with them?" Draco asked cheekily. "I could teach them how to be prats."

"I am a Seeker, not a Seer, Dray," Harry said with a laugh as he gathered up their tray from tea to carry inside. "And no, they may well become prats on their own."

"I will carry that," Draco said. "Just to be a very polite guest who wishes to help, of course."

"I can carry it." Harry wondered if the pain showed on his face, even though he was attempting to school his face into a neutral expression.

"No, you are my boyfriend and I am the guest," Draco said, taking the tray right out of Harry's hands. Harry let his hands fall to his sides and followed his boyfriend (which brought a thrill to think about) into the house, where they were immediately accosted once again by his young cousins.

"Harry," Aniseh said. "Come eat strawberries." She grabbed his hand, and he nearly lost his balance again, but tried to laugh it off.

"Alright, Ani," he agreed. Draco followed behind them with the tray. Harry wondered if Draco would bring his favourite house elf, Dobby, along during one of these visits.

"I'm very sorry, Harry joon. Tina was further delayed at work, but Kian will pick them up in an hour," his mum sighed as they joined her and Arshan. Tara seemed to sigh a lot lately, but then she was an incredibly busy woman. However, she was also committed to her children and now her young niece and nephew. "Did you two have a nice time?"

"Quite," Harry replied simply, while Draco nervously set their tea tray on a counter. Draco turned to Tara and bowed.

"Yes, thank you, Ms. Shayani," he replied, in a formal manner. "We enjoyed our tea."

"Draco is my boyfriend now," Harry said, grinning at Draco, who seemed to turn red in the face.

"Well, congratulations are in order!" Tara snapped her wand out of her holster and wrote sparkling letters in the air. Both Aniseh and Arshan became excited and tried to jump to grab the letters before they faded. Harry wondered in passing if one or both of the twins had any magic. Time would tell. Now Harry flushed, and went over to stand by Draco. He grabbed the other's hand and held it steady.

"I didn't know if this would surprise you," Harry said. "I guess not." He must have looked uncertain.

"Harry, no. This does not surprise me. You and Draco have been good friends. Are you happy?"

"Yes, very," Harry whispered while Draco squeezed his hand.

"That is all I need to know," Tara said. "I am so pleased for you both. You two are cute together. "

"Are you boyfriends now?" Hermione nearly shrieked as she entered the kitchen. She looked quickly back and forth from Harry to Draco, and a wide smile lit up her face and brown eyes.

"I'm so happy for you!" She strode over to the boys and threw her arms around Harry and Draco, both of whom were still flushed. Aniseh and Arshan bounced around them, having no idea what was going on, just that everyone was happy.

"Come along, Ani and Arshan. We have toot-ferhenghi to eat!" Harry's mum said to get the toddlers' attentions.

"Bal-e, Khaleh Taraneh!" Aniseh shouted. She was definitely the most vocal of the twins, and in both English and Persian. Arshan tended to be quieter generally, although he had his moments, like earlier that morning. Both he and Aniseh liked to snuggle with Harry after playing hard, but Aniseh would always started chattering after a while and Arshan would cuddle into his chest and fall fast asleep. Harry liked the feeling of the toddler's weight, being counted on to provide a warm bed by the trusting toddler. Sometimes he could not help but think about where he was at age two. He had forgiven his Aunt Petunia, but holding a sleeping little one made him think about it. He felt sad for his toddler self, suddenly without his own loving parents there to rest on, in comfort and peace.

"Harry joon?"

"Yes, Mum?"

"Will you allow me to run diagnostics on you?"

It was at their evening meal and apparently, Harry looked awful. Hermione had been studying him with her concerning face since he had gotten home from Draco's, and now Mum must have noticed

"I'm just tired." He yawned to prove his point. He was extremely tired after his very emotional day, and practicing Seeking at the Manor with Draco that afternoon. (They also practiced kissing some more, but did not share that activity with anyone else.) His muscles were started to get tight and twitchy again as well.

"You look more than tired," Hermione chimed in. "I know it was a wonderful day for you today but do allow Mum to check you out. You have been sleeping more than usual recently, and from what I have read, it is possible to get too much sleep, which may make you more tired, particularly if it's not good sleep. Have you been getting to REM stage? I know I am not a doctor or a Healer like Mum, but I think it is a good idea to let her scan you. Perhaps - "

"Hermione," her mum interrupted. "Shhh, batche-joon." Hermione shut her mouth in surprise, but then sheepishly smiled.

"I'm sorry, Mum."

"Apology accepted. Harry, I will meet you in your bedroom after the kitchen is cleaned up."
gain

"Alright, Mum. Okay. How can I help?"

"Just get ready for bed and try to relax without falling asleep!"

"I wanted to write a letter to Draco and then read tonight, but I think I am too tired."

"I think it's more than that," Tara said in a rather gentle voice. Damn, Harry thought he had been hiding it well, but he should have counted on his mum, ever the Healer, to notice.

"Yes," he admitted. "You're right. I did want to talk to you about it sometime, but today was the best day! So I thought I would put off asking you. I am truly tired, though." He rubbed at his left hip, because he was trying to relax the muscles there. Wearing his magical prosthetic leg all day had not helped his muscles by any means. He realized Mum saw him doing this, so he removed his hand quickly. Hermione had noticed, too, but instead of saying anything, she began to clear the table, and prepare a plate for her dad, who would be home in an hour.

"Will you make it to your room safely? Do you need your crutches?"

"Mum, I will be fine," Harry replied, and got to his feet, pushing against the table to gain his balance.

Fine was a famous last word. Halfway to his room, his right leg, the one he was born with, gave out from under him, leaving him very surprised, and he fell forward onto a rug. He knew the rug was there, so how had it tripped him? His ankle felt a bit off, and his knee. Perhaps he had not lifted his foot high enough? It was a very flat, thin rug, more like carpet, hard to catch, which is why it remained there even with their disabilities. No one had seen the need to remove the rug.

Now he wished he could do wandless magic and vanish the rug. He really wished he had the energy to read more on wandless magic, but he did not.

It seemed Mum and Hermione had not heard him fall. That was good. He worked his way up to hands and knees, balanced, and held out his hand. Might as well just give it a try. He tried to mentally push his magic out of his hand.

"Accio crutches!" He fell again, when his crutches slammed into his hand.

"That was not what I expected," he murmured while dropping the mobility devices to the floor in front of himself. His hand did not feel broken. Small favours.

"Harry? What's going on? Did you fall?" Mum came running, and Hermione following close behind.

"I tripped on the carpet," he replied. "And I Accio'd my crutches wandlessly!"

"Did you really, Harry? You have more power than I do, and we know that, but this encourages me to keep trying!" Hermione said quickly and loudly.

"Not everyone can learn wandless magic," their Mum said. "Especially someone like me who didn't grow up using magic at all. You will have to practice to get it under better control. Come, let's get you up and to your room. Did you injure yourself?"

"I think I'm not any worse. I did want my crutches." They helped Harry back onto his feet, and then Tara pulled out her wand and vanished the carpet rug to a storage closet.

In his room, they left him alone to get changed. He had showered at Draco's home before he had come home this afternoon, so even though a bath would make his muscles feel better, he was truly ready for bed. And maybe pain potion. Or some muggle medication at the very least.

After a few minutes, Harry was splayed out on his bed, under his blue duvet. He could not sleep, because Mum thought it even more important to run diagnostics after his fall. It seemed his magic was fine, and wandless magic did not count as underage magic! Wait until he saw Draco again! He did not think Draco could do wandless magic yet, although he was sure Draco would be able to learn. So would Hermione. She wouldn't stop until she had caught up with Harry. She was competitive when it came to learning new things and skills. Flying was always the exception. She did not care for that, and Harry found it rather funny, but at the same time, he was happy to have something that he did not always need to compete with her.

"Ready, Harry joon?"

"Yeah, Mum." He felt the light buzzing as she performed the scan. He closed his eyes, trying to fully relax. Relaxing was hard as his muscles were jumping, particularly in his leg and his residual limb. Hips. Back. His ankle still felt off.

"Your temperature is normal, and most of your vitals are fine. I am going to fetch a vitamin potion and paracetamol for you, joon. You've been taking too many pain potions recently. You are low on Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Potassium, and some magnesium will help. You mildly sprained your ankle. I have a spell for that. Be back in a moment." She was back with the vitamin potion, medication, sleeping potion, and a glass of water. He was still awake because his muscle spasms had decided to go an extra round. He couldn't sleep like this. Particularly the ones in his residual limb – they were their own special kind of hell.

"I can't take anything stronger for the pain?"

"That's why I am giving you Severus' extra strong sleeping potion, because no, I can't in good conscience give you more pain potion." She watched him swallow everything before asking, "When did you muscles start spasming?"

"About once a week more or less, two months ago. It gets worse the more I do, so it get worse at night. But - I fly just fine, Mum!"

"I know you can fly, and I am not that worried because of all the charms your have on your Firebolt. I know you love your dangerous game, and I support you. Don't worry about that. It is just that we need to get to the bottom of what is making you so tired, achy, and prone to falling."

"I am just growing still," he said, yawning. The sleep potion was hitting him quickly. "I will be fine."

ac
"Harry joon, I do think it is more than that, but do get some good sleep for now. I will speak to Hannah and Poppy to see if they might have an idea."

"Fine, Mummy joon. G'night." That sounded so childish, but he didn't care at the moment. The strong sleep potion was coursing through his body, and he welcomed drifting off into nothingness.