Chapter 8: A Life-Threatening Confrontation
Summary: "That could never happen, Drac," Harry told him. "We're like one." "You're right," Draco replied. "Like one." ***Chapter 8 Up!!!!!!!!***
"Pass the pumpkin juice!"
"What are you doing?! You just put marmalade into your cereal!" "What do we have first this morning?"
"Did you hear Diana's dating Steven Miller?"
"Can I have the bacon?"
"Ah, the lovely sound of breakfast at Hogwarts," Harry announced as he walked into the Great Hall with Ron and Draco.
"You fucking bitch!"
"You were saying?" Ginny asked wryly as she popped up next to them. Harry grinned sheepishly. Just then, Hermione waved them over, smiling, to the Gryffindor table.
"You do realize you've slept nearly half the morning away?" she half-asked, half reminded them.
"That's what Saturdays are for, Hermione," Draco replied, sliding into the seat next to Harry. Hermione simply rolled her eyes.
The four new arrivals started buttering toast and pouring cereal. Ron dumped half a dish of bacon into his plate.
"F is for friends that do stuff together," Hermione sang under her breath. "U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all, down here in the deep blue sea."
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Draco asked concernedly. Harry started laughing when Hermione finished the verse.
"F is for fire that burns down the whole town. U's for uranium...bombs," Harry joined in, still laughing, which made Hermione start. "N is for no survivors when you wanna take over the world!!!"
"Oh, my god," Ron whispered, he and Draco looking at Harry and Hermione in alarm.
"F is for frolic through all the flowers. U is for ukulele," they sang, this time, Seamus and Dean joining in. "N is for nose picking, sharing gum, and sand-licking here with my best buddy!" the four managed to finish before breaking down and hysterically laughing.
"Sorry, you guys, it's a song from a Muggle show, Spongebob Squarepants," Hermione gasped. "I got it stuck in my head."
"Sure," Ron replied.
"Okay," Draco added.
People were everywhere on that sunny midday. That is, until a sudden rainstorm appeared in the clear blue skies. Now, there were students of all four houses straggling in, their hair and clothes bedraggled and grungy. Harry and Draco were sitting in the Great Hall, playing chess while Ron looked on and gave pointers and criticism when needed. Suddenly, Hermione and Pansy came tearing to the Great Hall and screech to a halt next to the three boys.
"Harry, Draco, you've been exposed!" Pansy burst out once she caught her breath. The three chess players glanced at each other in confusion.
"Exposed as what?"
"As a couple," Hermione replied. Much to her indignation, Harry laughed.
"Mione, the whole school already knows."
"Yes, but the rest of the world didn't," she insisted. Pansy nodded as she thrust a newspaper under his nose. Harry glanced at it bemusedly before flipping it open. Draco and Ron scooted around the table to read it over his shoulder. Harry and Draco's faces paled as they read the title.
"Harry Potter's Secret.Boyfriend?!?! By Rita Skeeter
"Oh, no," Harry moaned rubbing his eyes.
"Dumbledore wants to see you both," Hermione told them.
"Why? Who cares if the rest of the world knows Harry and Draco are dating?" Ron asked quizzically.
"Voldemort reads the paper, too, Ron," Draco reminded gently. Ron's eyes widened in shock.
"Ohhhhhhh..."
"Yeah, let's go," Hermione insisted. Harry nodded and grabbed Draco's hand as they jumped off the table and flew out the door. On the way, Harry and Draco realized it was too hard to run and hold hands. After one last squeeze, they let go. They reached Dumbledore's office without any event. The office was...
"Empty," Hermione cried. Harry threw up his hands exasperatedly. In mid- throw, Harry realized something.
"Wh-where's Draco?"
"He was with us a moment ago," Pansy said, looking around with the rest. Harry's throat was clutched with fear and terror.
"Something's happened to him," he murmured. "I just know it."
"Well, don't worry, we'll find him," Hermione reassured, hiding her anxiety for her new friend.
"Right. Ron, Hermione, you two go look for Dumbledore. Tell him we need him," Harry ordered. "Pansy, you'll come with me. We're going to go look for Draco. Let's go." The other three nodded and split up.
Pansy and Harry were having a hard time trying to find the former Slytherin. They spent an hour frantically searching all the floors of the castle. Finally, they met up with Ron and Hermione, who hadn't found Dumbledore either. They were racing across the Entrance Hall when...
"HARRY!!!!!" Harry swiveled around and saw Draco being pulled outside, a look of terror on his face. A sharp stabbing pain shot through his forehead.
"Draco," Harry murmured, fear clutching his throat. Pansy raced off after saying she would go find help. The others flew outside and saw Draco in his father's grip, a knife held lose to his throat. Next to them, stood a sneering man with slits for eyes and a nose. His eyes were of a red hue. Lord Voldemort.
"Harry Potter. We meet again," he greeted, chuckling.
"Voldemort," Harry growled.
"So, it seems we're at a bit of a predicament, doesn't it?" Voldemort mused. "We both want something. You want your boyfriend, young Master Malfoy, and I want...you. Your life, to be exact. Hm."
"Let Draco go," Harry demanded, gritting his teeth.
"No, I don't want to. How about this? You have three choices," the Dark Lord proposed, twirling his wand between his fingers. "One: you sacrifice yourself and Malfoy goes free. Two: you resist and Malfoy dies. Or three: you fight and you both die."
"Fine," Harry hissed. "Let Draco go. You-you can have...me."
"Harry, no, just-mphf!" Draco cried, his protest being cut off by Lucius' hand closing over his mouth.
"Drac, I'm sorry," Harry whispered. He turned around to face his two best friends. "Mione, Ron, take care of Draco for me." Hermione nodded numbly. She suddenly threw her arms around Harry's waist.
"Harry, please don't," she pleaded.
"Mione, it's the only way Draco is safe," Harry whispered, smoothing her hair. He turned to Ron.
"We don't want you to do this, but if you need to, I'll do whatever you say," Ron told him. Harry smiled weakly.
"Thanks, Ron," Harry responded, hugging his friend goodbye. He turned and started walking towards Draco. "Let him go, Voldemort, you have me." Voldemort snapped his fingers and Lucius threw Draco to the ground. Harry bent down and help Draco to his feet. Immediately, the blonde threw his arms around Harry's neck.
"Please don't," Draco whispered, clutching Harry tighter then he ever had.
"Drac, sweetie, I have to," Harry whispered, squeezing his eyes shut to prevent the tears threatening fall. He placed a chaste kiss on Draco's forehead and framed the blonde's face with his hands while Draco wound his arms around Harry's waist. "Listen to me, okay? I need you to be strong. I need you to let me do this. I wouldn't be able to stand it if Voldemort got you."
"Harry, please don't," Draco pleaded. "I can't live without you."
"Drac, don't make this any harder, please," Harry asked him. "I don't want you to get hurt in any possible way. Hermione, please.?"
Wiping tears from her eyes, Hermione walked forward and tugged on Draco's sleeve. Harry kissed Draco one last time before hugging him tightly. Harry smiled weakly as he brushed stray tears off his face. Hermione then gently pulled the former Slytherin back with herself and Ron. Bravely, Harry turned to face Voldemort and Lucius.
"Okay, Voldemort, you want my life? Fine. Just leave them alone," Harry said, gesturing to his friends. He walked towards them. When he was close, Lucius sprung and captured him, holding him in a vise-like grip. Voldemort leaned close and traced Harry's scar, which was exploding with pain at the moment.
"Ah, yes," he murmured. "A mistake I will not make again."
"How are you going to kill him, Master?" Lucius asked eagerly.
"Hand me the knife," Voldemort demanded, never taking his cold, red eyes off Harry's determined, emerald ones.
"Oooh, nice choice, Master," Lucius replied gleefully, handing him the long, sharp knife he had been holding against Draco's throat earlier.
"Oh, no," Draco whimpered.
Voldemort examined the knife in the sunlight before quickly drawing it down Harry's arm. The raven-haired young man winced, but didn't cry out. Draco made a move towards him, but was stopped when Hermione and Ron grabbed his arms. For the next five minutes, Hermione, Ron, and Draco were forced to watch one of their loved ones be carved into until.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, let the boy go now."
They all turned and saw Dumbledore standing, all twinkle absent from his eye, his face more solemn than any of them had seen before. Fear flickered across Voldemort's face and he turned to run.
"Okey-dokey," the Dark Lord replied. Suddenly, he plunged the knife deep into Harry's stomach before, laughing, he and Lucius jumped onto two waiting broomsticks that had come zooming.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Draco screamed, breaking free of Ron and Hermione's grasp and racing to his boyfriend, who had fallen to the ground. Tears streaming down his face, he picked up and cradled Harry's head.
"Oh, my god. Harry, please, don't leave me, don't leave me here," Draco pleaded in a whisper. Harry opened his eyes and drew a shuddering breath. "Harry?"
"Drac." Harry whispered.
"What is it, honey?" Draco asked, leaning down until he and Harry's faces were less than and inch apart as he stroked Harry's pale cheeks.
"I love you, sweetie," Harry murmured softly into Draco's ear, lightly kissing Draco's waiting lips. He heard Draco's breath hitch in his throat; they had never before said that to each other. Before Draco had a chance to respond, Harry stiffened and fell unconscious, his breathing growing shallow and his heartbeat slowing.
"Harry?" Draco whispered, an alarmed note in his voice. "Harry? Harry!" When his boyfriend didn't reply, he turned and choked, "He's dying!" Hermione let out a cry as she and Ron rushed to Harry's side, Dumbledore and McGonagall, who had just arrived, following them.
"We need to get him up to the hospital wing," Dumbledore remarked quietly. He conjured a stretcher and magically lifted Harry onto it. It was a sad procession that was walking up to the school. Hermione tried to pry Draco away, but Draco refused and kept hold of Harry's hand as they walked.
A week later, Harry still hadn't woken up and Draco still hadn't left his side. The blonde was determined to be there when his love woke up. At the moment, Draco was sitting in a chair next to Harry's bed, holding his hand with his lips pressed up against Harry's soft skin, praying, constantly, silently.
"Draco, you need to sleep," Hermione insisted, walking into the room.
"No," Draco replied, his eyes never leaving Harry's pale face. "I need to be here when Harry wakes up." Suddenly, Harry's eyelids began fluttering. "Harry? Sweetie, can you hear me?" Draco asked anxiously.
"Drac." The name fell almost inaudibly from Harry's lips. Hermione gave an exclamation of praise and thanks, and then rushed out of the room to find Dumbledore and Ron.
"Oh, my god! I'm here, Harry, I'm here," Draco assured, wordlessly thanking God Harry was alive.
"You're here?"
"Yes, honey, I'm here. I'm right here next to you. I'm right here," Draco responded, laughing and crying all at once.
"Oh, my god, Drac, oh, come here," Harry asked, tears beginning to slip down his face. Draco smiled and scooted onto the bed, where he took Harry into his arms, careful when touching him near the large, white bandage covering the knife wound on his stomach.
"I thought I lost you for a moment there," Draco whispered, kissing the top of Harry's head.
"That could never happen, Drac," Harry told him, settling into the comfortable feel of Draco's arms around him. "We're like one."
"You're right," Draco replied. "Like one."
They lay there, each basking in the love beaming from the other until Ron and Hermione came screeching into the room.
"Oh, my goodness, Harry! You're awake!"
"Harry! You're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm both awake and okay," Harry told them, laughing. He winced several moments later though, gingerly placing his hands on the bandage.
"Harry, are you okay?" Draco asked worriedly, impulsively touching his boyfriend's arm.
"Yeah, just don't make me laugh," Harry requested, smiling weakly.
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"Cause it hurts," Harry replied.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, grinning sheepishly.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, I see you're feeling better," Dumbledore greeted as he walked into the room.
"Much better, sir, thank you," Harry responded, nodding his head slightly. Madam Pomfrey came bustling into the room, her arms loaded with bottles of medicine and ointment.
"Everyone, out! Including you," she ordered, glowering at Draco when he started to protest.
"Come on, Draco," Hermione insisted, pulling him out the door after he kissed Harry goodbye. On the way down the hall to the Gryffindor dorms, Draco suddenly stopped and grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Hermione, will you help me with something?" he requested.
"Of course, what?" she asked, alarmed at his abrupt nature.
"Come on, it's in Hogsmeade," Draco replied, his eyes twinkling.
"We can't go into Hog-" Hermione started to say, but Draco cut her off before she could finish her thought.
"Dumbledore gave me permission," Draco explained. "Ron, do you mind?"
"Nope, I gotta finish up some work I've been neglecting because of Harry's condition," Ron turned down. "I need to get it into McGonagall today if I want to get a passing grade."
"Okay, see you later," Hermione and Draco called as they and Ron parted ways. They reached Hogsmeade twenty minutes later and headed for the same jewelry store Harry got Draco's birthday gift in.
"What are you getting in here?" Hermione asked curiously.
"You'll see," Draco replied mysteriously. "But, I'll need your help picking it out. Come on."
Having said this, Draco took hold of Hermione's arm and dragged her inside.
A/N: Sorry about the breakfast scene in the beginning. It didn't really have any real part in the story. I just wanted to include a completely meaningless breakfast part. Hope you enjoyed it (and the ret of the chapter, too)!
Summary: "That could never happen, Drac," Harry told him. "We're like one." "You're right," Draco replied. "Like one." ***Chapter 8 Up!!!!!!!!***
"Pass the pumpkin juice!"
"What are you doing?! You just put marmalade into your cereal!" "What do we have first this morning?"
"Did you hear Diana's dating Steven Miller?"
"Can I have the bacon?"
"Ah, the lovely sound of breakfast at Hogwarts," Harry announced as he walked into the Great Hall with Ron and Draco.
"You fucking bitch!"
"You were saying?" Ginny asked wryly as she popped up next to them. Harry grinned sheepishly. Just then, Hermione waved them over, smiling, to the Gryffindor table.
"You do realize you've slept nearly half the morning away?" she half-asked, half reminded them.
"That's what Saturdays are for, Hermione," Draco replied, sliding into the seat next to Harry. Hermione simply rolled her eyes.
The four new arrivals started buttering toast and pouring cereal. Ron dumped half a dish of bacon into his plate.
"F is for friends that do stuff together," Hermione sang under her breath. "U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all, down here in the deep blue sea."
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Draco asked concernedly. Harry started laughing when Hermione finished the verse.
"F is for fire that burns down the whole town. U's for uranium...bombs," Harry joined in, still laughing, which made Hermione start. "N is for no survivors when you wanna take over the world!!!"
"Oh, my god," Ron whispered, he and Draco looking at Harry and Hermione in alarm.
"F is for frolic through all the flowers. U is for ukulele," they sang, this time, Seamus and Dean joining in. "N is for nose picking, sharing gum, and sand-licking here with my best buddy!" the four managed to finish before breaking down and hysterically laughing.
"Sorry, you guys, it's a song from a Muggle show, Spongebob Squarepants," Hermione gasped. "I got it stuck in my head."
"Sure," Ron replied.
"Okay," Draco added.
People were everywhere on that sunny midday. That is, until a sudden rainstorm appeared in the clear blue skies. Now, there were students of all four houses straggling in, their hair and clothes bedraggled and grungy. Harry and Draco were sitting in the Great Hall, playing chess while Ron looked on and gave pointers and criticism when needed. Suddenly, Hermione and Pansy came tearing to the Great Hall and screech to a halt next to the three boys.
"Harry, Draco, you've been exposed!" Pansy burst out once she caught her breath. The three chess players glanced at each other in confusion.
"Exposed as what?"
"As a couple," Hermione replied. Much to her indignation, Harry laughed.
"Mione, the whole school already knows."
"Yes, but the rest of the world didn't," she insisted. Pansy nodded as she thrust a newspaper under his nose. Harry glanced at it bemusedly before flipping it open. Draco and Ron scooted around the table to read it over his shoulder. Harry and Draco's faces paled as they read the title.
"Harry Potter's Secret.Boyfriend?!?! By Rita Skeeter
"Oh, no," Harry moaned rubbing his eyes.
"Dumbledore wants to see you both," Hermione told them.
"Why? Who cares if the rest of the world knows Harry and Draco are dating?" Ron asked quizzically.
"Voldemort reads the paper, too, Ron," Draco reminded gently. Ron's eyes widened in shock.
"Ohhhhhhh..."
"Yeah, let's go," Hermione insisted. Harry nodded and grabbed Draco's hand as they jumped off the table and flew out the door. On the way, Harry and Draco realized it was too hard to run and hold hands. After one last squeeze, they let go. They reached Dumbledore's office without any event. The office was...
"Empty," Hermione cried. Harry threw up his hands exasperatedly. In mid- throw, Harry realized something.
"Wh-where's Draco?"
"He was with us a moment ago," Pansy said, looking around with the rest. Harry's throat was clutched with fear and terror.
"Something's happened to him," he murmured. "I just know it."
"Well, don't worry, we'll find him," Hermione reassured, hiding her anxiety for her new friend.
"Right. Ron, Hermione, you two go look for Dumbledore. Tell him we need him," Harry ordered. "Pansy, you'll come with me. We're going to go look for Draco. Let's go." The other three nodded and split up.
Pansy and Harry were having a hard time trying to find the former Slytherin. They spent an hour frantically searching all the floors of the castle. Finally, they met up with Ron and Hermione, who hadn't found Dumbledore either. They were racing across the Entrance Hall when...
"HARRY!!!!!" Harry swiveled around and saw Draco being pulled outside, a look of terror on his face. A sharp stabbing pain shot through his forehead.
"Draco," Harry murmured, fear clutching his throat. Pansy raced off after saying she would go find help. The others flew outside and saw Draco in his father's grip, a knife held lose to his throat. Next to them, stood a sneering man with slits for eyes and a nose. His eyes were of a red hue. Lord Voldemort.
"Harry Potter. We meet again," he greeted, chuckling.
"Voldemort," Harry growled.
"So, it seems we're at a bit of a predicament, doesn't it?" Voldemort mused. "We both want something. You want your boyfriend, young Master Malfoy, and I want...you. Your life, to be exact. Hm."
"Let Draco go," Harry demanded, gritting his teeth.
"No, I don't want to. How about this? You have three choices," the Dark Lord proposed, twirling his wand between his fingers. "One: you sacrifice yourself and Malfoy goes free. Two: you resist and Malfoy dies. Or three: you fight and you both die."
"Fine," Harry hissed. "Let Draco go. You-you can have...me."
"Harry, no, just-mphf!" Draco cried, his protest being cut off by Lucius' hand closing over his mouth.
"Drac, I'm sorry," Harry whispered. He turned around to face his two best friends. "Mione, Ron, take care of Draco for me." Hermione nodded numbly. She suddenly threw her arms around Harry's waist.
"Harry, please don't," she pleaded.
"Mione, it's the only way Draco is safe," Harry whispered, smoothing her hair. He turned to Ron.
"We don't want you to do this, but if you need to, I'll do whatever you say," Ron told him. Harry smiled weakly.
"Thanks, Ron," Harry responded, hugging his friend goodbye. He turned and started walking towards Draco. "Let him go, Voldemort, you have me." Voldemort snapped his fingers and Lucius threw Draco to the ground. Harry bent down and help Draco to his feet. Immediately, the blonde threw his arms around Harry's neck.
"Please don't," Draco whispered, clutching Harry tighter then he ever had.
"Drac, sweetie, I have to," Harry whispered, squeezing his eyes shut to prevent the tears threatening fall. He placed a chaste kiss on Draco's forehead and framed the blonde's face with his hands while Draco wound his arms around Harry's waist. "Listen to me, okay? I need you to be strong. I need you to let me do this. I wouldn't be able to stand it if Voldemort got you."
"Harry, please don't," Draco pleaded. "I can't live without you."
"Drac, don't make this any harder, please," Harry asked him. "I don't want you to get hurt in any possible way. Hermione, please.?"
Wiping tears from her eyes, Hermione walked forward and tugged on Draco's sleeve. Harry kissed Draco one last time before hugging him tightly. Harry smiled weakly as he brushed stray tears off his face. Hermione then gently pulled the former Slytherin back with herself and Ron. Bravely, Harry turned to face Voldemort and Lucius.
"Okay, Voldemort, you want my life? Fine. Just leave them alone," Harry said, gesturing to his friends. He walked towards them. When he was close, Lucius sprung and captured him, holding him in a vise-like grip. Voldemort leaned close and traced Harry's scar, which was exploding with pain at the moment.
"Ah, yes," he murmured. "A mistake I will not make again."
"How are you going to kill him, Master?" Lucius asked eagerly.
"Hand me the knife," Voldemort demanded, never taking his cold, red eyes off Harry's determined, emerald ones.
"Oooh, nice choice, Master," Lucius replied gleefully, handing him the long, sharp knife he had been holding against Draco's throat earlier.
"Oh, no," Draco whimpered.
Voldemort examined the knife in the sunlight before quickly drawing it down Harry's arm. The raven-haired young man winced, but didn't cry out. Draco made a move towards him, but was stopped when Hermione and Ron grabbed his arms. For the next five minutes, Hermione, Ron, and Draco were forced to watch one of their loved ones be carved into until.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, let the boy go now."
They all turned and saw Dumbledore standing, all twinkle absent from his eye, his face more solemn than any of them had seen before. Fear flickered across Voldemort's face and he turned to run.
"Okey-dokey," the Dark Lord replied. Suddenly, he plunged the knife deep into Harry's stomach before, laughing, he and Lucius jumped onto two waiting broomsticks that had come zooming.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Draco screamed, breaking free of Ron and Hermione's grasp and racing to his boyfriend, who had fallen to the ground. Tears streaming down his face, he picked up and cradled Harry's head.
"Oh, my god. Harry, please, don't leave me, don't leave me here," Draco pleaded in a whisper. Harry opened his eyes and drew a shuddering breath. "Harry?"
"Drac." Harry whispered.
"What is it, honey?" Draco asked, leaning down until he and Harry's faces were less than and inch apart as he stroked Harry's pale cheeks.
"I love you, sweetie," Harry murmured softly into Draco's ear, lightly kissing Draco's waiting lips. He heard Draco's breath hitch in his throat; they had never before said that to each other. Before Draco had a chance to respond, Harry stiffened and fell unconscious, his breathing growing shallow and his heartbeat slowing.
"Harry?" Draco whispered, an alarmed note in his voice. "Harry? Harry!" When his boyfriend didn't reply, he turned and choked, "He's dying!" Hermione let out a cry as she and Ron rushed to Harry's side, Dumbledore and McGonagall, who had just arrived, following them.
"We need to get him up to the hospital wing," Dumbledore remarked quietly. He conjured a stretcher and magically lifted Harry onto it. It was a sad procession that was walking up to the school. Hermione tried to pry Draco away, but Draco refused and kept hold of Harry's hand as they walked.
A week later, Harry still hadn't woken up and Draco still hadn't left his side. The blonde was determined to be there when his love woke up. At the moment, Draco was sitting in a chair next to Harry's bed, holding his hand with his lips pressed up against Harry's soft skin, praying, constantly, silently.
"Draco, you need to sleep," Hermione insisted, walking into the room.
"No," Draco replied, his eyes never leaving Harry's pale face. "I need to be here when Harry wakes up." Suddenly, Harry's eyelids began fluttering. "Harry? Sweetie, can you hear me?" Draco asked anxiously.
"Drac." The name fell almost inaudibly from Harry's lips. Hermione gave an exclamation of praise and thanks, and then rushed out of the room to find Dumbledore and Ron.
"Oh, my god! I'm here, Harry, I'm here," Draco assured, wordlessly thanking God Harry was alive.
"You're here?"
"Yes, honey, I'm here. I'm right here next to you. I'm right here," Draco responded, laughing and crying all at once.
"Oh, my god, Drac, oh, come here," Harry asked, tears beginning to slip down his face. Draco smiled and scooted onto the bed, where he took Harry into his arms, careful when touching him near the large, white bandage covering the knife wound on his stomach.
"I thought I lost you for a moment there," Draco whispered, kissing the top of Harry's head.
"That could never happen, Drac," Harry told him, settling into the comfortable feel of Draco's arms around him. "We're like one."
"You're right," Draco replied. "Like one."
They lay there, each basking in the love beaming from the other until Ron and Hermione came screeching into the room.
"Oh, my goodness, Harry! You're awake!"
"Harry! You're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm both awake and okay," Harry told them, laughing. He winced several moments later though, gingerly placing his hands on the bandage.
"Harry, are you okay?" Draco asked worriedly, impulsively touching his boyfriend's arm.
"Yeah, just don't make me laugh," Harry requested, smiling weakly.
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"Cause it hurts," Harry replied.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, grinning sheepishly.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, I see you're feeling better," Dumbledore greeted as he walked into the room.
"Much better, sir, thank you," Harry responded, nodding his head slightly. Madam Pomfrey came bustling into the room, her arms loaded with bottles of medicine and ointment.
"Everyone, out! Including you," she ordered, glowering at Draco when he started to protest.
"Come on, Draco," Hermione insisted, pulling him out the door after he kissed Harry goodbye. On the way down the hall to the Gryffindor dorms, Draco suddenly stopped and grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Hermione, will you help me with something?" he requested.
"Of course, what?" she asked, alarmed at his abrupt nature.
"Come on, it's in Hogsmeade," Draco replied, his eyes twinkling.
"We can't go into Hog-" Hermione started to say, but Draco cut her off before she could finish her thought.
"Dumbledore gave me permission," Draco explained. "Ron, do you mind?"
"Nope, I gotta finish up some work I've been neglecting because of Harry's condition," Ron turned down. "I need to get it into McGonagall today if I want to get a passing grade."
"Okay, see you later," Hermione and Draco called as they and Ron parted ways. They reached Hogsmeade twenty minutes later and headed for the same jewelry store Harry got Draco's birthday gift in.
"What are you getting in here?" Hermione asked curiously.
"You'll see," Draco replied mysteriously. "But, I'll need your help picking it out. Come on."
Having said this, Draco took hold of Hermione's arm and dragged her inside.
A/N: Sorry about the breakfast scene in the beginning. It didn't really have any real part in the story. I just wanted to include a completely meaningless breakfast part. Hope you enjoyed it (and the ret of the chapter, too)!