Draco returned to his flat showered and changed clothing quickly and
finally returned to the hospital. The hospital was empty as it was early
morning, empty with the exception of a nurse at the desk, and Ron Weasley
and Hermione Granger. He suddenly felt the urge to run, to go far away,
but his legs would not move, and he intended to keep his earlier vow of
ensuring that Harry stayed in his life this time. He knew he had probably
ruined any chance he ever had, but he had to try. He had betrayed Harry,
and only a few hours before he had almost killed him, but he was selfish
and he had, had a taste of what he had wanted so badly for so long and he
didn't want to lose it again.
Weasley and Granger sat in the waiting room, they had not yet seen him. Ron was pale, Hermione had her head on his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he saw a faint glint on Granger's ring finger. Draco guessed they had finally gotten it together and realized how much they loved each other. He knew he had to face them, so he quickly gathered his nerve and walked over to them.
"Weasley, Granger"
Granger looked up at him, a look of shock and anger on her face. Weasley true to his nature was on his feet and in Draco's face immediately, his face quickly turning red with fury.
"Malfoy" he spat "What the bloody hell happened? What the fuck did you do to Harry?"
Draco glanced over at Hermione quickly and saw that she was more than happy to let Weasley have at him. He couldn't blame her, if Weasley wanted to beat him within an inch of his life he would gladly let him, he deserved it and he knew it.
"Nice to see you as well Weasley, and Hermione you're looking lovely" Draco spat sarcastically.
Hermione was on her feet quickly and in one swift movement had slapped Draco. His cheek was on fire; he felt something warm on it and realized that Hermione had reopened the gash on his face.
"Malfoy, you sick bastard, how the hell did you find Harry so quickly? What have you done to him now? Did you feel the need to toy with him again? You decided that what you did to him two years ago wasn't enough?"
"I didn't find him Granger, he ran into me if you must know"
"Right Malfoy, tell me another story" Hermione spat, her voice full of venom
"Get the fuck out Malfoy, you're not needed or wanted here" Ron grabbed Draco's arm in an attempt to escort him out of the hospital, but Draco wasn't going anywhere and wrenched his arm from Ron's grip.
"I'm not going anywhere Weasel. I'm staying here."
"Like hell you are!"
Draco was on the ground in no time, Weasley was on top of him punching and kicking him repeatedly. He didn't fight back and he took everything that Weasley gave. Apparently Hermione noticed and began to attempt removing Ron from Draco.
"Ron, RON!! Stop!! Please Stop!! He's not fighting back! RON STOP IT!" Hermione sunk to her knees, and sobs overtook her body. Ron finally came back to reality and ceased his assault on Draco, turning his attention to his fiancée instead.
"Mione, I-I'm sorry. Shhh, it's okay, it's going to be fine, you heard the doctor"
Draco brought a hand to his face and winced. He knew his face would be bruised after the beating he had just endured.
"Oh, Ron what if everything isn't okay? I knew we should have talked him out of coming here, I just knew that something terrible would happen. We should have talked him out of it just like we should have talked him out of his relationship with Draco"
"I'm still here you know" Draco stated
"Shut up Malfoy" Ron stated in a voice that was deadly calm
"Look, I'm not leaving Weasley, if you want to beat the bloody hell out of me every hour on the hour that's fine, but I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying here until Harry wakes up"
Hermione looked at Draco, really looked at him and was shocked at what she saw. The love in his eyes when he spoke of Harry was exactly as it had been two years earlier. She couldn't believe it. Draco Malfoy still loved Harry Potter, but why then had he betrayed him and disappeared without a trace? She needed and wanted to know, but she knew that Draco would never open up with her fiery tempered fiancée around.
"Ron, would you mind going and getting me some coffee from the machine downstairs, I could really use it"
Ron glanced at Malfoy, he did not want to leave the thing most precious to him in the world alone with Malfoy. Hermione sensed Ron's hesitance.
"I'll be fine Ron, Draco is no state to harm me with the beating you just gave him"
"Right, I'll be right back" With one last death glare at Draco Ron left the waiting room.
"Mind helping me up?"
Hermione extended her hand out to Draco and helped him to sit down in one of the chairs.
"What the bloody hell is going on Mal-Draco? Just what exactly happened? Please tell me"
Draco sighed, he had to tell someone if not he was going to burst.
"Harry moved next door to me, I didn't even know it until tonight. I was coming home from dinner Harry came running down the stairs right into me"
"Is that how he fell down them?"
"No" Draco whispered a tear escaped his eyes and he wiped it away quickly
"How then?"
"I was so shocked when I saw him, I am sure that he was as well. We fought. We kissed. We fought again. I tried to escape his questions and when I shoved him aside to return to my flat, Oh God!"
Draco broke down, sobs wracked his body. All of them emotions that had built up since seeing Harry earlier that evening finally crashed down onto him and he couldn't take it anymore. He didn't care if this was Hermione Granger's shoulder he was crying on, he needed to let it out, he may regret it later, but for now there was no room for regrets.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco. She didn't know where he had been for two years, but she knew that Draco still loved her best friend and was suffering just as much as she and Ron, perhaps even more since he felt entirely responsible for the events of the night. There were still many issues to address, but for now Draco needed a friend and she felt compelled to be that person for him, for now.
"Sshhh, Draco, Harry is going to be fine. His doctor came out here and spoke to us after Ron and I arrived. They've run some tests, and although he hasn't woken up yet and the sedatives have not worn off yet they have been able to determine that the odds of Harry making a full recovery are excellent"
"B-but they won't know how bad the concussion is or how much damage it has done until Harry is fully awake"
"Harry is beginning to respond Draco, he's just not fully awake yet, this mixed with the results from the test give everyone reason to believe that he is going to be fine"
"This is all my fault, I just should have told him and then we could be making up right now instead of stuck in a bloody hospital"
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
Hermione didn't want to ask the question. The time seemed inappropriate, but she had to know for the sake of her friend.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
Draco laughed bitterly. "Ah, the million point question, you and Harry think quite alike you know that?"
"Is that what caused you to fight?"
"Yes"
"Did you give Harry a response?"
"No, that's when I tried to run back to my flat and ended up shoving him too hard. Then I was given the privilege of watching him fall down 4 flights of stairs and land at the bottom with a thud." Draco's voice was empty and hollow.
"Don't you think you just should have answered the question? You could have avoided this"
"I wouldn't be me if I did things the easy way, besides it's a little more complicated as to why I refused to answer. He demanded an answer and I was angry and refused to give it to him so we resorted to violence. Then we were kissing and he asked again. I got angry and refused to answer because I felt used"
Draco looked at Hermione. The worry in her eyes evident. Slowly he lifted the arms of his shirt.
Hermione looked at his arms, the skin was flawless and unmarred by the Dark Mark. Draco Malfoy was not a Death Eater. She wanted to ask him what had happened but she saw Ron returning with her coffee. Draco quickly pulled the sleeves of his shirt down and turned to stare at the wall in front of him.
"Still here Malfoy? I thought I had made myself clear earlier-"
"Enough Ron, he's staying. End of story." Hermione's voice was sharp. Ron knew that tone, whatever had happened while he was gone had changed Hermione's attitude towards Malfoy. He also knew that it was no use arguing.
"Fine"
Hermione yawned. Ron wrapped his arms around her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Sleep love, I know you're exhausted. I'll wake you if there is any news"
Draco almost smiled at Weasley and Granger, almost but not quite. If he had just answered Harry's question maybe that would be he and Harry. Ron glared at Draco again, and Draco knew that it was taking all of Ron's strength not to beat him to a bloody pulp again. He couldn't stand the intensity of Weasley's glare so he moved to a small couch across the room and laid down, his back to Harry's two best friends.
Ron knew that Hermione needed sleep but he had to know what had transpired when Hermione had gotten a sudden craving for coffee. Hermione hated coffee, she never drank it, and he knew that her request was an attempt to get him out of the room and talk to Draco.
"Mione" he whispered
"Hmmm?"
"What did you and Malfoy talk about while I was gone? Why the sudden change towards him?"
"We talked about what happened tonight Ron"
"And what did that bloody stupid Death Eater have to say?"
"He's not a Death Eater Ron, he showed me his arms, there's no Dark Mark on them."
"What?!" Ron was shocked. He was sure that Draco Malfoy hadn't shown his face for two years because he had become a Death Eater.
"Ron, he's still in love with Harry"
"If he loves him so much, where the hell has he been for two years?!?! He disappeared without a trace after that day"
"I don't know what he's been doing for the past two years Ron, I only know he's not a Death Eater"
"Then how the hell did our best friend fall down 4 flights of stairs?"
"They had a fight Ron, believe it or not this is all just a horrible horrible accident. Draco never meant to push Harry down those stairs"
"I don't know Mione, it's all too convenient. Malfoy shows up after two years on the exact night that Harry moves into the muggle world and then he ends up in the hospital after falling down the stairs, it's just too convenient"
"It's not convenience Ron, it's fate"
"Fate?"
"Yes fate, Harry was meant to move in next door Draco, just I was meant to walk into yours and Harry's compartment on the Hogwarts Express our first year"
Ron smiled as he remembered that day. He had thought Hermione was a horrible bossy, know it all, and she was, but she was also beautiful, clever, loyal and a million other things that had made him fall in love with her over the years. He didn't know how he had gotten so lucky but she had loved him back and he thanked Merlin everyday for that. Hermione was the greatest gift life had ever bestowed upon him.
"I love you Mione"
"I love you too, Ron"
Their lips met in a soft and tender kiss. Hermione pulled away and yawned.
"Sorry" she smiled.
"It's alright" Ron smiled down at her "Mione if this is indeed fate don't you think its being exceptionally cruel?"
"Love is never easy Ron, and some love is more difficult than others. We didn't have it easy, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as Harry and Draco's relationship."
"We never betrayed each other the way that Malfoy betrayed Harry either"
"No we didn't" Hermione's voice trailed off and Ron knew that she had finally succumbed to sleep.
He looked over at the couch where Malfoy was asleep. He looked so fragile and vunerable, and for an instant he felt sorry for him.
Draco couldn't sleep, he was afraid to close his eyes. Every time that he did he saw Harry fall down the stairs, he saw Harry leaving him that day in the Astronomy Tower, and worst of all he saw his eyes, filled with love and then venom and hatred. It was all too much.
Weasley and Granger had been asleep for half an hour when Draco heard someone enter the waiting room. He turned around and saw it was Dr. Edwards. The knot in his stomach tightened.
"Excuse me"
Weasley and Granger stirred.
"How is Harry?" Draco asked without waiting for Ron and Hermione to wake up fully.
"Is he awake Dr. Edwards?" Hermione asked
"I'm afraid not, this is cause for some concern, the sedatives should have worn off by now, but Mr. Potter is not waking up"
Ron, Hermione and Draco all looked at each other helplessly. None of them could believe that this was happening.
"But Dr. Edwards you told us that Harry was being responsive last night" Ron's voice sounded strained, the fact that he was holding back tears was quite evident.
"I said that I believed he was responding Mr. Weasley, but what I thought were his responses are reactions to whatever is going on in his head"
"This is a mental block then Dr. Edwards?" Draco questioned
"I'm afraid so, you have to realize that it was an extremely traumatic event that led to Mr. Potter's condition Mr. Malfoy. There is some part of his mind that is unwilling to deal with it"
"What can we do to help him?" Hermione asked.
"I can only suggest talking to him, make him remember the good things, let him know that there are people here who love him and who need him back in their lives"
"And if he doesn't wake up?" Ron asked, the color was gone from his face.
"Let's cross that bridge when and if we come to it Mr. Weasley"
Draco wanted to die. Harry may never wake up, he may never again be able to gaze into the emerald green eyes that he loved so much. It was all his fault, and it was all too much to take.
"Can we see him?" asked Hermione
"Yes, two people may go in at a time for about 30 minutes then he will need to rest"
"Weasley, Granger you go ahead I would like to speak to Dr. Edwards"
Ron and Hermione were led to Harry's room by a nurse, Draco waited until they were out of sight before addressing Harry's doctor.
"I need to know, do you truly believe that Harry is going to wake up or is he gone forever?"
"I can't give you a definite answer Mr. Malfoy. It is something that is impossible to predict, I have seen people lie in comas for years and wake up suddenly one day. I have also witnessed unfortunate cases where the event pushes them over the edge. Harry appears to be teetering precariously between those two"
"I see, do you think I will be able to see him after he has rested from seeing Weasley and Granger?"
"I don't know if that would be in Mr. Potter's best interest at this time Mr. Malfoy. You are directly linked to the event that led to his present condition"
"Yes, I am aware of that, but Harry and I, we shared some very happy moments as well. Please Dr. Edwards I have to see him, please" Draco bit back tears
"Why don't we see where things are after Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger visit with him and go from there?" Dr. Edwards felt sorry for Draco, he knew that the young man before him was barely holding on by a thread.
"Dr. Edwards I have one more question"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"How soon will it be before you will have to contact Harry's blood relatives?"
"Well given Harry's present condition I would say a day or two unless Harry wakes up. I need a blood relative to make the decision about how to treat Harry's condition if his state remains unchanged"
"What would it take for them to relinquish that authority?"
"You would need a legal document drafted by an attorney and signed by his blood relatives"
"Very well, please let Weasley and Granger know that I will return within a day or so"
"Mr. Malfoy? I thought you would want to remain with Harry, I don't understand"
"I do want to remain with Harry and I'll wait lifetimes if I have to, but his relatives hate him, they would like nothing better than for him to be dead. I will not leave Harry's life in their hands"
"You are an admirable young man Mr. Malfoy"
"Believe me Dr. Edwards there is nothing admirable about me. I am horribly selfish I am doing this because I want to hang onto Harry as long as I can"
"If you say so Mr. Malfoy, excuse but I have other patients to attend to"
Draco nodded and watched as Dr. Edwards left the room. His head was spinning, but he knew what he had to do. He returned to his flat, contacted the attorney that dealt with his affairs, and left for Privet Drive.
Weasley and Granger sat in the waiting room, they had not yet seen him. Ron was pale, Hermione had her head on his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he saw a faint glint on Granger's ring finger. Draco guessed they had finally gotten it together and realized how much they loved each other. He knew he had to face them, so he quickly gathered his nerve and walked over to them.
"Weasley, Granger"
Granger looked up at him, a look of shock and anger on her face. Weasley true to his nature was on his feet and in Draco's face immediately, his face quickly turning red with fury.
"Malfoy" he spat "What the bloody hell happened? What the fuck did you do to Harry?"
Draco glanced over at Hermione quickly and saw that she was more than happy to let Weasley have at him. He couldn't blame her, if Weasley wanted to beat him within an inch of his life he would gladly let him, he deserved it and he knew it.
"Nice to see you as well Weasley, and Hermione you're looking lovely" Draco spat sarcastically.
Hermione was on her feet quickly and in one swift movement had slapped Draco. His cheek was on fire; he felt something warm on it and realized that Hermione had reopened the gash on his face.
"Malfoy, you sick bastard, how the hell did you find Harry so quickly? What have you done to him now? Did you feel the need to toy with him again? You decided that what you did to him two years ago wasn't enough?"
"I didn't find him Granger, he ran into me if you must know"
"Right Malfoy, tell me another story" Hermione spat, her voice full of venom
"Get the fuck out Malfoy, you're not needed or wanted here" Ron grabbed Draco's arm in an attempt to escort him out of the hospital, but Draco wasn't going anywhere and wrenched his arm from Ron's grip.
"I'm not going anywhere Weasel. I'm staying here."
"Like hell you are!"
Draco was on the ground in no time, Weasley was on top of him punching and kicking him repeatedly. He didn't fight back and he took everything that Weasley gave. Apparently Hermione noticed and began to attempt removing Ron from Draco.
"Ron, RON!! Stop!! Please Stop!! He's not fighting back! RON STOP IT!" Hermione sunk to her knees, and sobs overtook her body. Ron finally came back to reality and ceased his assault on Draco, turning his attention to his fiancée instead.
"Mione, I-I'm sorry. Shhh, it's okay, it's going to be fine, you heard the doctor"
Draco brought a hand to his face and winced. He knew his face would be bruised after the beating he had just endured.
"Oh, Ron what if everything isn't okay? I knew we should have talked him out of coming here, I just knew that something terrible would happen. We should have talked him out of it just like we should have talked him out of his relationship with Draco"
"I'm still here you know" Draco stated
"Shut up Malfoy" Ron stated in a voice that was deadly calm
"Look, I'm not leaving Weasley, if you want to beat the bloody hell out of me every hour on the hour that's fine, but I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying here until Harry wakes up"
Hermione looked at Draco, really looked at him and was shocked at what she saw. The love in his eyes when he spoke of Harry was exactly as it had been two years earlier. She couldn't believe it. Draco Malfoy still loved Harry Potter, but why then had he betrayed him and disappeared without a trace? She needed and wanted to know, but she knew that Draco would never open up with her fiery tempered fiancée around.
"Ron, would you mind going and getting me some coffee from the machine downstairs, I could really use it"
Ron glanced at Malfoy, he did not want to leave the thing most precious to him in the world alone with Malfoy. Hermione sensed Ron's hesitance.
"I'll be fine Ron, Draco is no state to harm me with the beating you just gave him"
"Right, I'll be right back" With one last death glare at Draco Ron left the waiting room.
"Mind helping me up?"
Hermione extended her hand out to Draco and helped him to sit down in one of the chairs.
"What the bloody hell is going on Mal-Draco? Just what exactly happened? Please tell me"
Draco sighed, he had to tell someone if not he was going to burst.
"Harry moved next door to me, I didn't even know it until tonight. I was coming home from dinner Harry came running down the stairs right into me"
"Is that how he fell down them?"
"No" Draco whispered a tear escaped his eyes and he wiped it away quickly
"How then?"
"I was so shocked when I saw him, I am sure that he was as well. We fought. We kissed. We fought again. I tried to escape his questions and when I shoved him aside to return to my flat, Oh God!"
Draco broke down, sobs wracked his body. All of them emotions that had built up since seeing Harry earlier that evening finally crashed down onto him and he couldn't take it anymore. He didn't care if this was Hermione Granger's shoulder he was crying on, he needed to let it out, he may regret it later, but for now there was no room for regrets.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco. She didn't know where he had been for two years, but she knew that Draco still loved her best friend and was suffering just as much as she and Ron, perhaps even more since he felt entirely responsible for the events of the night. There were still many issues to address, but for now Draco needed a friend and she felt compelled to be that person for him, for now.
"Sshhh, Draco, Harry is going to be fine. His doctor came out here and spoke to us after Ron and I arrived. They've run some tests, and although he hasn't woken up yet and the sedatives have not worn off yet they have been able to determine that the odds of Harry making a full recovery are excellent"
"B-but they won't know how bad the concussion is or how much damage it has done until Harry is fully awake"
"Harry is beginning to respond Draco, he's just not fully awake yet, this mixed with the results from the test give everyone reason to believe that he is going to be fine"
"This is all my fault, I just should have told him and then we could be making up right now instead of stuck in a bloody hospital"
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
Hermione didn't want to ask the question. The time seemed inappropriate, but she had to know for the sake of her friend.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
Draco laughed bitterly. "Ah, the million point question, you and Harry think quite alike you know that?"
"Is that what caused you to fight?"
"Yes"
"Did you give Harry a response?"
"No, that's when I tried to run back to my flat and ended up shoving him too hard. Then I was given the privilege of watching him fall down 4 flights of stairs and land at the bottom with a thud." Draco's voice was empty and hollow.
"Don't you think you just should have answered the question? You could have avoided this"
"I wouldn't be me if I did things the easy way, besides it's a little more complicated as to why I refused to answer. He demanded an answer and I was angry and refused to give it to him so we resorted to violence. Then we were kissing and he asked again. I got angry and refused to answer because I felt used"
Draco looked at Hermione. The worry in her eyes evident. Slowly he lifted the arms of his shirt.
Hermione looked at his arms, the skin was flawless and unmarred by the Dark Mark. Draco Malfoy was not a Death Eater. She wanted to ask him what had happened but she saw Ron returning with her coffee. Draco quickly pulled the sleeves of his shirt down and turned to stare at the wall in front of him.
"Still here Malfoy? I thought I had made myself clear earlier-"
"Enough Ron, he's staying. End of story." Hermione's voice was sharp. Ron knew that tone, whatever had happened while he was gone had changed Hermione's attitude towards Malfoy. He also knew that it was no use arguing.
"Fine"
Hermione yawned. Ron wrapped his arms around her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Sleep love, I know you're exhausted. I'll wake you if there is any news"
Draco almost smiled at Weasley and Granger, almost but not quite. If he had just answered Harry's question maybe that would be he and Harry. Ron glared at Draco again, and Draco knew that it was taking all of Ron's strength not to beat him to a bloody pulp again. He couldn't stand the intensity of Weasley's glare so he moved to a small couch across the room and laid down, his back to Harry's two best friends.
Ron knew that Hermione needed sleep but he had to know what had transpired when Hermione had gotten a sudden craving for coffee. Hermione hated coffee, she never drank it, and he knew that her request was an attempt to get him out of the room and talk to Draco.
"Mione" he whispered
"Hmmm?"
"What did you and Malfoy talk about while I was gone? Why the sudden change towards him?"
"We talked about what happened tonight Ron"
"And what did that bloody stupid Death Eater have to say?"
"He's not a Death Eater Ron, he showed me his arms, there's no Dark Mark on them."
"What?!" Ron was shocked. He was sure that Draco Malfoy hadn't shown his face for two years because he had become a Death Eater.
"Ron, he's still in love with Harry"
"If he loves him so much, where the hell has he been for two years?!?! He disappeared without a trace after that day"
"I don't know what he's been doing for the past two years Ron, I only know he's not a Death Eater"
"Then how the hell did our best friend fall down 4 flights of stairs?"
"They had a fight Ron, believe it or not this is all just a horrible horrible accident. Draco never meant to push Harry down those stairs"
"I don't know Mione, it's all too convenient. Malfoy shows up after two years on the exact night that Harry moves into the muggle world and then he ends up in the hospital after falling down the stairs, it's just too convenient"
"It's not convenience Ron, it's fate"
"Fate?"
"Yes fate, Harry was meant to move in next door Draco, just I was meant to walk into yours and Harry's compartment on the Hogwarts Express our first year"
Ron smiled as he remembered that day. He had thought Hermione was a horrible bossy, know it all, and she was, but she was also beautiful, clever, loyal and a million other things that had made him fall in love with her over the years. He didn't know how he had gotten so lucky but she had loved him back and he thanked Merlin everyday for that. Hermione was the greatest gift life had ever bestowed upon him.
"I love you Mione"
"I love you too, Ron"
Their lips met in a soft and tender kiss. Hermione pulled away and yawned.
"Sorry" she smiled.
"It's alright" Ron smiled down at her "Mione if this is indeed fate don't you think its being exceptionally cruel?"
"Love is never easy Ron, and some love is more difficult than others. We didn't have it easy, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as Harry and Draco's relationship."
"We never betrayed each other the way that Malfoy betrayed Harry either"
"No we didn't" Hermione's voice trailed off and Ron knew that she had finally succumbed to sleep.
He looked over at the couch where Malfoy was asleep. He looked so fragile and vunerable, and for an instant he felt sorry for him.
Draco couldn't sleep, he was afraid to close his eyes. Every time that he did he saw Harry fall down the stairs, he saw Harry leaving him that day in the Astronomy Tower, and worst of all he saw his eyes, filled with love and then venom and hatred. It was all too much.
Weasley and Granger had been asleep for half an hour when Draco heard someone enter the waiting room. He turned around and saw it was Dr. Edwards. The knot in his stomach tightened.
"Excuse me"
Weasley and Granger stirred.
"How is Harry?" Draco asked without waiting for Ron and Hermione to wake up fully.
"Is he awake Dr. Edwards?" Hermione asked
"I'm afraid not, this is cause for some concern, the sedatives should have worn off by now, but Mr. Potter is not waking up"
Ron, Hermione and Draco all looked at each other helplessly. None of them could believe that this was happening.
"But Dr. Edwards you told us that Harry was being responsive last night" Ron's voice sounded strained, the fact that he was holding back tears was quite evident.
"I said that I believed he was responding Mr. Weasley, but what I thought were his responses are reactions to whatever is going on in his head"
"This is a mental block then Dr. Edwards?" Draco questioned
"I'm afraid so, you have to realize that it was an extremely traumatic event that led to Mr. Potter's condition Mr. Malfoy. There is some part of his mind that is unwilling to deal with it"
"What can we do to help him?" Hermione asked.
"I can only suggest talking to him, make him remember the good things, let him know that there are people here who love him and who need him back in their lives"
"And if he doesn't wake up?" Ron asked, the color was gone from his face.
"Let's cross that bridge when and if we come to it Mr. Weasley"
Draco wanted to die. Harry may never wake up, he may never again be able to gaze into the emerald green eyes that he loved so much. It was all his fault, and it was all too much to take.
"Can we see him?" asked Hermione
"Yes, two people may go in at a time for about 30 minutes then he will need to rest"
"Weasley, Granger you go ahead I would like to speak to Dr. Edwards"
Ron and Hermione were led to Harry's room by a nurse, Draco waited until they were out of sight before addressing Harry's doctor.
"I need to know, do you truly believe that Harry is going to wake up or is he gone forever?"
"I can't give you a definite answer Mr. Malfoy. It is something that is impossible to predict, I have seen people lie in comas for years and wake up suddenly one day. I have also witnessed unfortunate cases where the event pushes them over the edge. Harry appears to be teetering precariously between those two"
"I see, do you think I will be able to see him after he has rested from seeing Weasley and Granger?"
"I don't know if that would be in Mr. Potter's best interest at this time Mr. Malfoy. You are directly linked to the event that led to his present condition"
"Yes, I am aware of that, but Harry and I, we shared some very happy moments as well. Please Dr. Edwards I have to see him, please" Draco bit back tears
"Why don't we see where things are after Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger visit with him and go from there?" Dr. Edwards felt sorry for Draco, he knew that the young man before him was barely holding on by a thread.
"Dr. Edwards I have one more question"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"How soon will it be before you will have to contact Harry's blood relatives?"
"Well given Harry's present condition I would say a day or two unless Harry wakes up. I need a blood relative to make the decision about how to treat Harry's condition if his state remains unchanged"
"What would it take for them to relinquish that authority?"
"You would need a legal document drafted by an attorney and signed by his blood relatives"
"Very well, please let Weasley and Granger know that I will return within a day or so"
"Mr. Malfoy? I thought you would want to remain with Harry, I don't understand"
"I do want to remain with Harry and I'll wait lifetimes if I have to, but his relatives hate him, they would like nothing better than for him to be dead. I will not leave Harry's life in their hands"
"You are an admirable young man Mr. Malfoy"
"Believe me Dr. Edwards there is nothing admirable about me. I am horribly selfish I am doing this because I want to hang onto Harry as long as I can"
"If you say so Mr. Malfoy, excuse but I have other patients to attend to"
Draco nodded and watched as Dr. Edwards left the room. His head was spinning, but he knew what he had to do. He returned to his flat, contacted the attorney that dealt with his affairs, and left for Privet Drive.