A/N: THANX TO Lady Rillen: *giggles* I assure you, no need for your biting demon, dearie! Remmy: *sobs* I have this nasty habit of making our Draco sentimental! Agh! DragonMage: Yup, he's kook alright. Fanny chan: Jelly Tots.... *drool* AshFarley: I am honored and just tinkled pink by your pleasing praise, lovey. Merci bocous. blue eyed babe: Righto, dollface! LB: Heeho, thanks, darlin'! TheUnknownJedi: *squeals* I'm so flattered!
Chapter Six: *snerk* Eeeeeeew! Good Lord!
"I love you."
"I love you, too - you daft twit."
Draco grinned impishly up at Harry, who rolled his jade eyes and gently stroked the blonde's brow. They sat under a huge weeping willow by the side of their calm lake, the slimmer young man lying back into Harry's chest, nestled cozily between the black haired man's long legs. Draco had found the spot a year back when he and Harry had gotten into a fight. It had reminded him so much of Hogwarts..... he had gone running back to Harry, stifling any remaining protests the former Gryffindor still had to voice and dragged him to the spot. A dark shadow, dotted with tiny specks of moonlight, winking in and out of existence as a cool wind stirred the light green leaves reflecting in the moonlight.
A tickle in his throat rose to a fierce viscosity and Draco started coughing. Concerned, Harry rubbed his back and held up a cup of hot cocoa. Draco took the mug appreciatively, and sneezed. Pursing his lips, Harry said sternly, "I don't know why you're out here in this cold. Merlin knows it's my own fault. C'mon, get up." He tugged on Draco's sleeve, but the former Slytherin was overtaken by a fit of coughing. Harry waited patiently for it to stop before glaring hotly at his partner and jabbing a finger in the direction of their cabin, where a thin spiral of spoke spilled from the rickety chimney. The blonde grumbled moodily, his throat rasping, and trudged back along the lakeside, the frost lined grass stabbing at his feet.
Just about to step over a fallen, moss eaten log, Draco gasped as two strong arms uplifted him and he was swung into Harry's warm embrace. Suffering another coughing fit, Draco could only roll his streaming eyes. Harry grinned as Draco said hoarsely, "A regular prince in shining armor, eh?"
Shortly following, Draco was all tucked up in their bed, looking like a tiny Babushka baby all bundled up. He could do naught but give Harry pleading looks and sniffle pitifully. Harry (in his motherly element) rushed around the house, proving that he was a very multitaskable boy. Soup on the stove, heat pads over the fire, getting blankets, giving Draco a slice of lemon to suck on..... and still struggling to write his friends a blasted letter!
"Oh, Harry," simpered Draco in mock misery, "You don't *have* to do all this. Little old me can't be worth all the trouble....." He coughed weakly and sank back into the goose down pillows and blankets. It was like floating on air.
Harry was about to point out that if he didn't, Draco would most likely bludgeon him with a honey glazed ham, when something thin and light hit him in the head. Usually one wouldn't think that a envelope would do much damage, but Harry had woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning, then fell out of it, right into the soggy bowl of oatmeal he had eaten last night. So he wasn't surprise in the least when the letter sliced past the soft skin right bellow his eye, leaving a ribbon of blood. Stumbling back, clutching at his stinging eye, he realized that he had not yet washed the juice of the lemon he had given Draco from his hands. The former Slytherin sat, very amused indeed, in the bed as Harry went hopping around the small cabin, howling. Then the black haired man stepped in the same bowl of oatmeal he had fallen into earlier, toppling to the ground and sprawling there limply, his nose shoved right into the brown paper of the letter.
"You're a regular Fred Astaire, Harry darling," Draco called smugly from the bed, wheezing in peels of laughter. Harry would've retorted, but he had forgotten his position when he saw the letter and the dainty, neat writing over the front of it.
"Look, Draco! It's a letter from Ron and Hermione!"
"Really. I thought that some restless Death Eaters had thought to get you in the simplest way: shoot a piece of paper through the window and let you take care of the rest. Merlin, I don't know how you managed to survive-"
"They say they'll be down at the pub later today. We can meet them for lunch."
"With my condition!?" The blonde sniffled pathetically and gave Harry a merciless puppy face.
Harry regarded him with an arched eyebrow before he squawked as the soup started to boil over on the stove.
"Here you are. Eat it up and you'll be right as rain!"
"Speaking of rain," bubbled Draco innocently, "Being that it is runny and wet - could I see your arm for an eensy weensy wittle moment?"
"Uhh-"
"Thanks, love," whined Draco nasally, dragging his nose over Harry's sweater sleeve, leaving a clear trail of snottillage. Harry wrinkled his nose.
"No problem," he replied glumly.....
.....Yet again, here he was wandering the halls in search of his silver God. He felt rather foolish, always being the one to do the looking and finding. Though to have Draco waiting for him, half naked if he was feeling generous, was well worth any stroll through the ice cold corridors.
But Draco had not turned up at any of their normal meeting places. Harry wasn't worried though. It wasn't like Draco saw him *every* night. Was it? He thought back over the last couple days, weeks, months. Funny, ever since the little smoking incident, Draco and himself had been together almost every single night. He'd never really thought about it.
Harry, so immersed in his musings, didn't hear the two Slytherin prefects until it was almost too late. At the last second before they came into view of him, he dove under a long table lining the wall, tucking himself against the back leg. Holding his breath, he caught some of what they said.
".... was furious. He'll be in the infirmary for at least another day. Don't know how it happened either. Philip told me that a bunch of Gryffindors were walking past the locker rooms and Draco just missed my call and collided with a bludger. I think Potter was with them."
The other girl snorted. "Draco will make Potter pay for distracting him. I doubt they'd even be allowed near the training grounds!" The two prefects stopped in front of the table, the taller of the two leaning against it. Harry faced the back of her legs while the other continued.
"You know, now that I think about it, Draco's been acting kind of funny lately."
"Since the food fight?"
"Yeah."
"Probably got some pudding in his perfect hair."
"Potter probably put it there."
They started off down the hall and Harry expelled his breath slowly, waiting tensely for their voices to fade. Draco in the infirmary? What could've happened at practice with that bludger? Harry bit his lip. He had been walking with his house mates when the Slytherins were practicing. Seamus had put his arm around Harry for a joke. Draco might have seen and gotten the wrong idea.
"Don't kid yourself, Potter," said Harry bitterly, "Why would he let *you* distract him enough to get hit with a bludger? Get real." But he couldn't chase the thought from his head. Was it possible that Draco had seen Seamus put his arm around Harry and mistaken it for affection? Could Draco possibly be..... *jealous*?
Harry decided to go see the Slytherin. Maybe he would find out more then. Stopping back at Gryffindor, he picked up some chocolate frogs for the blonde and sped down to the infirmary under his cloak.
Draco was the only student in the place. It looked as if he were sleeping, but Harry could never be sure. The boy's arm was in a cast and he had a nasty bruise on his cheek. Harry winced, instantly guilty. He quietly tip toed to the bedside, looking about warily for Pomfrey, and set down the chocolate frogs next to the overwhelming pile of cards and treats. Ignoring the gifts and get wells, Harry clasped his hands together earnestly, brow furrowed with worry. He knew not whether to brush back the tousled hair from Draco's face or pull up the thin white blanket further over the lithe body, covering the white shoulder peeking from under the rough cotton underclothes. Harry frowned. Cotton would be far too rough on Draco's skin. The boy had told him that himself once. By morning the delicate paleness would be pink and chaffed.
Carefully so as not to wake the Slytherin, Harry began deftly undoing the buttons. His own pajamas were much softer. Draco would thank him in the morning. Or at least, make him feel good for doing such a thing. Draco never really said 'thank you'.
About halfway down the row of buttons, Harry froze when the bland voice broke the quiet atmosphere of the white room. "That's rather kinky what you're doing, Potter. If you think about it."
Harry met the amused gray eyes sheepishly and his cheeks colored. Draco pulled himself into a sitting position, wincing only once as he pressured his arm. Eyes wide, Harry rushed to puff up the pillow and pull up the blankets. Draco let him cluck over the bed sheets a little more before stating lightly, "You'll make a great mother one day, Potter." Harry's blush only deepened and Draco cupped the side of his head. "What are you doing here anyway, Potter? Pomfrey could walk in any moment. Not to mention that you interrupted a rather pleasant dream of you losing the Quidditch final and shaming your whole House."
"I was..... I heard you got hurt at practice. I was nearby, so I thought to drop in and make sure you weren't dying or anything."
"Do you always go stalking the halls late at night?"
Harry glared at the cool blonde. "Would you rather me stop?"
Draco avoided the question smoothly. "When I told you to eat, I didn't mean devour the whole Great Hall. How many helpings did you have at dinner?"
"Ron and I were having a contest."
"Typical Gryffindor behavior."
"Can we please have decent conversation for once?" Harry pleaded.
"I suppose. The weather was shitty today. How about you?"
"Can you at least try and make light of this? You're probably not even in pain. I've dealt with a lot worse."
"If you could be missing classes like Divination and Transfiguration, you'd flinch a little more than needed. What Potter, do you miss me already?"
"How can I miss you when you're right here in front of me?"
"I meant this....." Draco leaned forward, brushing their lips. Harry gasped when he drew back. "Really, Potter, you're just *too* much." Grinning in a sly, cheshire way, Draco cupped Harry's chin in his working hand and drew the darker boy forward, crushing their lips together in an insatiable kiss that left Harry breathless when the blonde broke it.
"Are you going to sit there all night, or will you come in this god forsaken bed and keep me warm? The bloody idiots didn't even have the decency to put socks on my feet." Draco wiggled his bare toes and pouted. Though his pout was wiped from his face as Harry crawled under the sheets and practically attacked the down turned mouth. Draco allowed himself to be pushed onto his back, reveling in the familiar weight and feel of Harry stretching out over his prone body.
The Gryffindor straddled Draco, looking down at him with a sweet and concerned innocence that chipped away at Draco's heart. Shaking his head, Draco reached up and removed Harry's glasses, placing them on the bedside table, and wriggled beneath The Boy Who Lived. Harry chuckled, pinning both broken and whole arm on either side of Draco's waist, capturing his mouth. Draco gently suckled on Harry's tongue, rolling over so that they lay face to face on their sides. Harry placed a hand on Draco's hip and nuzzled the slender neck.
Feeling truly tired now, after drinking a potion given to him by Madam Pomfrey, Draco gave Harry one last warm kiss before snuggling up to the Gryffindor, seeking warmth. Harry drew his arms up around the boy and held him closely. When Draco was fast asleep, Harry bowed his head and kissed the fine Angel hairs, knowing very well that Draco would have not allowed such prominent affection. He smiled; Draco looked so small and vulnerable. A tiny cherub all grown into the Angel who had fallen. Harry gently fingered the kissed crimson lips and stroked the flushed cheeks.
Beautiful.....
..... Draco blew his nose and tossed the dripping tissue onto the growing pile, ringing the cow bell he had found while crawling pathetically about. Harry skidded into the room, half dressed and wild eyed.
"What is it!"
"All de tissues are god."
"Merlin, Draco! You have a wand."
"I'll say de spell wrog ad ed up a cat or sobething."
"Not if you try *really* hard. C'mon, Draco. I need to get ready. You put up enough fight when I was trying to dress you, now I barely have time to run a brush through my hair!"
"What would be the poidt id sobething like that?"
"Lost all sense of smell and taste, but you somehow kept your lovely humor. Funny how the world works, eh?"
Apparently the former Slytherin felt well enough to raise a single clearly defined finger.
"Thought so. Now try and rest up, love. I'll be another ten minutes or so, and you don't want Ron making fun of you or anything."
"Oh bloody hell."
"Nah, probably Ron's bloody nose. You're in a very trite mood today."
"Go try ad brush your bloody, stigky, sbelly, ratty..... hair!"
"Yessir!!" Harry saluted tersely and gave Draco a dashing lopsided grin. The former Slytherin pursed his lips, sniffling noisily. Why did that blasted Potter have to be so damned irresistible. Draco sighed. Damn Gryffindors.
~*~
"See, the clean air cleared up your nose in no time!"
"Ah yes. Just ducky. Now all I have to contend with on this *glorious* day is the lovely Ron Weasly. Please may I go get myself run over by a truck."
"Why not a double decker? Those buses, I love them."
"I don't think you realize how difficult I'm finding it not to go stuff your head in a toilet and flush it."
Harry rolled his eyes, slinging his arms around Draco's shoulders. Draco ducked smoothly out of Harry's grip and spun on his heel. "I think I'll go off and shoe shop." But Harry grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back, stumbling, into his arms. Draco tried feebly to pull away, gave up, and let Harry cradle him against his wiry chest. "It's always weird. And that blasted Weasly is always picking fights-"
"No, Draco," corrected Harry, looking down his nose at the blonde, "Ron hasn't picked a fight with you since school."
"He somehow infiltrates my mind and controls me. So it's all his fault."
"I'm sure."
"Oh, you know those Aurors. They're weirdoes."
"Sirius is an Auror!"
"Point?"
The pub was relatively crowded when the two men arrived. Draco made a bee line for the bar, but Harry hooked his leg around the blonde's knee, sending him careening into padded seat. He warned the shorter man not to run off as he got drinks, and then he left Draco moping at their table.
"Draco? Draco!" Oh holy Christ. Granger.
"Hello Hermione," Draco ground out civilly through clenched teeth. Then his eyes met Weasly's and the world darkened; the skies above stormed, the seas below toiled, and all the elders of the world shivered and spoke to their bones-
"Malfoy."
"Weasly."
Ron took a deep breath. "Your looking-"
"You look worse anyway, as always." Nodding to a beaming Hermione, Draco weaved through the mingling crowd of wizards to get a jump start off his peachy mood.
"If you will, Ginny, I want a double."
"A double, Draco? My brother must be in town."
"Ginny, don't let him have a drop!" Harry bounded over, whisking the raised glass right from under Draco's nose. The former Slytherin growled dangerously as Harry shook a finger at him. "No. Ron and Hermione are expecting a nice lunch with us today."
"And let the Angels sing. May I please go kill myself?"
"No," said Harry firmly, "And besides, Ron would be furious if he missed out on such an event."
"Well, that just makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside."
Ginny leaned forward and gingerly lifted the cocoa mug from Harry's hands. The two men watched as she poured a couple shots of something into the cocoa. Then she handed it to Draco, grinning. "You'll be feeling fluffy soon enough, Draco."
Harry winked at her and drew Draco away, who was staring glumly at his cup. "You owe me for this, Potter."
Harry looked momentarily regretful. "Don't I know it."
The afternoon continued unabashed. Ron sat as far from Draco as possible, and the Slytherin did the same. Hermione did most of the talking, Harry gripping her hand and running his thumb over her palm. They were really close, those two. Draco had to admit that the young woman looked positively exuberant. Her dark hair fell in graceful curls around her flushed face, filled round and gleeful. She carried a certain.... glow about her. Weasley on the other hand was paler than usual, his narrow face colored only by the light copper freckles and twin points of deep red cresting the sharp bones of his gaunt cheeks. Draco thought he looked like a very lanky ogre.
"Ack, my throat's getting dry! I think I'll get myself something. Ooh, I'm craving some nice warm milk!"
"Mione," said Ron, half rising, "You should rest-"
"No!" she snapped. The men fell silent. Her face switched again to a happy expression and she motioned for Harry. "Will you come and pick up these guys' drinks, then? I don't think I would trust myself, and Ron's been working so hard lately!" She started off, bumping along joyfully, humming some unintelligible tune. Harry cast a wary glance at the redhead and the blonde before following his friend, steadying her when she swayed by the bar, nearly toppling over before howling at Ginny and telling her how pretty she looked. Ginny gawked at her old friend, looking back and forth to the pregnant woman and herself; all greasy.
Draco plucked a chip from the bowl sitting in the middle of the table and stuck it in his mouth along with a swig of cocoa and a marshmallow. He started chewing slowly, watching Ron fixedly, causing the redhead to squirm.
"What are you at, Malfoy?" Ron glared at him, his cheeks darkening. Draco smacked his lips loudly in reply.
"I would've thought you couldn't get any less mature, and yet here you go surprising us all again."
"So Weasly, do you like SEE food?"
Ron barely piqued an eyebrow. "You're lame, Malfoy. It's rather sad."
"I'm also very tipsy at the moment."
"This is new to me?"
"To who?"
"Me."
"What?"
"What?"
"More coooocoooooaaa....."
"Will you quit plucking at my sleeve like that! We're all adults."
Draco plucked with more enthusiasm, tongue between his teeth.
"Did you hear me?"
"No."
"What?"
"I'm deaf."
"No you're not!"
"Yes I am, dammit!"
Harry nearly dropped the glasses he was holding and dashed between the two men, who had risen to their feet. "Stop it, you two!"
"He started it," grumbled Draco, snatching his mai tai from Harry.
"I did not!"
"Did too."
"Did not!"
"Liar liar, pants on fire!"
"Why, you-"
"OH MY LORD!! MY WATER BROKE!!" Hermione blanched. "HONESTLY!!"
A.N: I hate this chapter with a passion! It could've been so much more than what it is, but I failed miserably. Please don't give up hope on this story yet! I've actually developed a STORYLINE *thunderclap*!! Give me another chance!! *sobs and grovels* P.S: What shall Hr/R's little "its" name be? And what shall the sex be? I'm leaning toward a girl, but me being a girl and choosing that seems a bit unfair. Vote!! Merci bocous! Au revior!
~*Villain*~
Chapter Six: *snerk* Eeeeeeew! Good Lord!
"I love you."
"I love you, too - you daft twit."
Draco grinned impishly up at Harry, who rolled his jade eyes and gently stroked the blonde's brow. They sat under a huge weeping willow by the side of their calm lake, the slimmer young man lying back into Harry's chest, nestled cozily between the black haired man's long legs. Draco had found the spot a year back when he and Harry had gotten into a fight. It had reminded him so much of Hogwarts..... he had gone running back to Harry, stifling any remaining protests the former Gryffindor still had to voice and dragged him to the spot. A dark shadow, dotted with tiny specks of moonlight, winking in and out of existence as a cool wind stirred the light green leaves reflecting in the moonlight.
A tickle in his throat rose to a fierce viscosity and Draco started coughing. Concerned, Harry rubbed his back and held up a cup of hot cocoa. Draco took the mug appreciatively, and sneezed. Pursing his lips, Harry said sternly, "I don't know why you're out here in this cold. Merlin knows it's my own fault. C'mon, get up." He tugged on Draco's sleeve, but the former Slytherin was overtaken by a fit of coughing. Harry waited patiently for it to stop before glaring hotly at his partner and jabbing a finger in the direction of their cabin, where a thin spiral of spoke spilled from the rickety chimney. The blonde grumbled moodily, his throat rasping, and trudged back along the lakeside, the frost lined grass stabbing at his feet.
Just about to step over a fallen, moss eaten log, Draco gasped as two strong arms uplifted him and he was swung into Harry's warm embrace. Suffering another coughing fit, Draco could only roll his streaming eyes. Harry grinned as Draco said hoarsely, "A regular prince in shining armor, eh?"
Shortly following, Draco was all tucked up in their bed, looking like a tiny Babushka baby all bundled up. He could do naught but give Harry pleading looks and sniffle pitifully. Harry (in his motherly element) rushed around the house, proving that he was a very multitaskable boy. Soup on the stove, heat pads over the fire, getting blankets, giving Draco a slice of lemon to suck on..... and still struggling to write his friends a blasted letter!
"Oh, Harry," simpered Draco in mock misery, "You don't *have* to do all this. Little old me can't be worth all the trouble....." He coughed weakly and sank back into the goose down pillows and blankets. It was like floating on air.
Harry was about to point out that if he didn't, Draco would most likely bludgeon him with a honey glazed ham, when something thin and light hit him in the head. Usually one wouldn't think that a envelope would do much damage, but Harry had woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning, then fell out of it, right into the soggy bowl of oatmeal he had eaten last night. So he wasn't surprise in the least when the letter sliced past the soft skin right bellow his eye, leaving a ribbon of blood. Stumbling back, clutching at his stinging eye, he realized that he had not yet washed the juice of the lemon he had given Draco from his hands. The former Slytherin sat, very amused indeed, in the bed as Harry went hopping around the small cabin, howling. Then the black haired man stepped in the same bowl of oatmeal he had fallen into earlier, toppling to the ground and sprawling there limply, his nose shoved right into the brown paper of the letter.
"You're a regular Fred Astaire, Harry darling," Draco called smugly from the bed, wheezing in peels of laughter. Harry would've retorted, but he had forgotten his position when he saw the letter and the dainty, neat writing over the front of it.
"Look, Draco! It's a letter from Ron and Hermione!"
"Really. I thought that some restless Death Eaters had thought to get you in the simplest way: shoot a piece of paper through the window and let you take care of the rest. Merlin, I don't know how you managed to survive-"
"They say they'll be down at the pub later today. We can meet them for lunch."
"With my condition!?" The blonde sniffled pathetically and gave Harry a merciless puppy face.
Harry regarded him with an arched eyebrow before he squawked as the soup started to boil over on the stove.
"Here you are. Eat it up and you'll be right as rain!"
"Speaking of rain," bubbled Draco innocently, "Being that it is runny and wet - could I see your arm for an eensy weensy wittle moment?"
"Uhh-"
"Thanks, love," whined Draco nasally, dragging his nose over Harry's sweater sleeve, leaving a clear trail of snottillage. Harry wrinkled his nose.
"No problem," he replied glumly.....
.....Yet again, here he was wandering the halls in search of his silver God. He felt rather foolish, always being the one to do the looking and finding. Though to have Draco waiting for him, half naked if he was feeling generous, was well worth any stroll through the ice cold corridors.
But Draco had not turned up at any of their normal meeting places. Harry wasn't worried though. It wasn't like Draco saw him *every* night. Was it? He thought back over the last couple days, weeks, months. Funny, ever since the little smoking incident, Draco and himself had been together almost every single night. He'd never really thought about it.
Harry, so immersed in his musings, didn't hear the two Slytherin prefects until it was almost too late. At the last second before they came into view of him, he dove under a long table lining the wall, tucking himself against the back leg. Holding his breath, he caught some of what they said.
".... was furious. He'll be in the infirmary for at least another day. Don't know how it happened either. Philip told me that a bunch of Gryffindors were walking past the locker rooms and Draco just missed my call and collided with a bludger. I think Potter was with them."
The other girl snorted. "Draco will make Potter pay for distracting him. I doubt they'd even be allowed near the training grounds!" The two prefects stopped in front of the table, the taller of the two leaning against it. Harry faced the back of her legs while the other continued.
"You know, now that I think about it, Draco's been acting kind of funny lately."
"Since the food fight?"
"Yeah."
"Probably got some pudding in his perfect hair."
"Potter probably put it there."
They started off down the hall and Harry expelled his breath slowly, waiting tensely for their voices to fade. Draco in the infirmary? What could've happened at practice with that bludger? Harry bit his lip. He had been walking with his house mates when the Slytherins were practicing. Seamus had put his arm around Harry for a joke. Draco might have seen and gotten the wrong idea.
"Don't kid yourself, Potter," said Harry bitterly, "Why would he let *you* distract him enough to get hit with a bludger? Get real." But he couldn't chase the thought from his head. Was it possible that Draco had seen Seamus put his arm around Harry and mistaken it for affection? Could Draco possibly be..... *jealous*?
Harry decided to go see the Slytherin. Maybe he would find out more then. Stopping back at Gryffindor, he picked up some chocolate frogs for the blonde and sped down to the infirmary under his cloak.
Draco was the only student in the place. It looked as if he were sleeping, but Harry could never be sure. The boy's arm was in a cast and he had a nasty bruise on his cheek. Harry winced, instantly guilty. He quietly tip toed to the bedside, looking about warily for Pomfrey, and set down the chocolate frogs next to the overwhelming pile of cards and treats. Ignoring the gifts and get wells, Harry clasped his hands together earnestly, brow furrowed with worry. He knew not whether to brush back the tousled hair from Draco's face or pull up the thin white blanket further over the lithe body, covering the white shoulder peeking from under the rough cotton underclothes. Harry frowned. Cotton would be far too rough on Draco's skin. The boy had told him that himself once. By morning the delicate paleness would be pink and chaffed.
Carefully so as not to wake the Slytherin, Harry began deftly undoing the buttons. His own pajamas were much softer. Draco would thank him in the morning. Or at least, make him feel good for doing such a thing. Draco never really said 'thank you'.
About halfway down the row of buttons, Harry froze when the bland voice broke the quiet atmosphere of the white room. "That's rather kinky what you're doing, Potter. If you think about it."
Harry met the amused gray eyes sheepishly and his cheeks colored. Draco pulled himself into a sitting position, wincing only once as he pressured his arm. Eyes wide, Harry rushed to puff up the pillow and pull up the blankets. Draco let him cluck over the bed sheets a little more before stating lightly, "You'll make a great mother one day, Potter." Harry's blush only deepened and Draco cupped the side of his head. "What are you doing here anyway, Potter? Pomfrey could walk in any moment. Not to mention that you interrupted a rather pleasant dream of you losing the Quidditch final and shaming your whole House."
"I was..... I heard you got hurt at practice. I was nearby, so I thought to drop in and make sure you weren't dying or anything."
"Do you always go stalking the halls late at night?"
Harry glared at the cool blonde. "Would you rather me stop?"
Draco avoided the question smoothly. "When I told you to eat, I didn't mean devour the whole Great Hall. How many helpings did you have at dinner?"
"Ron and I were having a contest."
"Typical Gryffindor behavior."
"Can we please have decent conversation for once?" Harry pleaded.
"I suppose. The weather was shitty today. How about you?"
"Can you at least try and make light of this? You're probably not even in pain. I've dealt with a lot worse."
"If you could be missing classes like Divination and Transfiguration, you'd flinch a little more than needed. What Potter, do you miss me already?"
"How can I miss you when you're right here in front of me?"
"I meant this....." Draco leaned forward, brushing their lips. Harry gasped when he drew back. "Really, Potter, you're just *too* much." Grinning in a sly, cheshire way, Draco cupped Harry's chin in his working hand and drew the darker boy forward, crushing their lips together in an insatiable kiss that left Harry breathless when the blonde broke it.
"Are you going to sit there all night, or will you come in this god forsaken bed and keep me warm? The bloody idiots didn't even have the decency to put socks on my feet." Draco wiggled his bare toes and pouted. Though his pout was wiped from his face as Harry crawled under the sheets and practically attacked the down turned mouth. Draco allowed himself to be pushed onto his back, reveling in the familiar weight and feel of Harry stretching out over his prone body.
The Gryffindor straddled Draco, looking down at him with a sweet and concerned innocence that chipped away at Draco's heart. Shaking his head, Draco reached up and removed Harry's glasses, placing them on the bedside table, and wriggled beneath The Boy Who Lived. Harry chuckled, pinning both broken and whole arm on either side of Draco's waist, capturing his mouth. Draco gently suckled on Harry's tongue, rolling over so that they lay face to face on their sides. Harry placed a hand on Draco's hip and nuzzled the slender neck.
Feeling truly tired now, after drinking a potion given to him by Madam Pomfrey, Draco gave Harry one last warm kiss before snuggling up to the Gryffindor, seeking warmth. Harry drew his arms up around the boy and held him closely. When Draco was fast asleep, Harry bowed his head and kissed the fine Angel hairs, knowing very well that Draco would have not allowed such prominent affection. He smiled; Draco looked so small and vulnerable. A tiny cherub all grown into the Angel who had fallen. Harry gently fingered the kissed crimson lips and stroked the flushed cheeks.
Beautiful.....
..... Draco blew his nose and tossed the dripping tissue onto the growing pile, ringing the cow bell he had found while crawling pathetically about. Harry skidded into the room, half dressed and wild eyed.
"What is it!"
"All de tissues are god."
"Merlin, Draco! You have a wand."
"I'll say de spell wrog ad ed up a cat or sobething."
"Not if you try *really* hard. C'mon, Draco. I need to get ready. You put up enough fight when I was trying to dress you, now I barely have time to run a brush through my hair!"
"What would be the poidt id sobething like that?"
"Lost all sense of smell and taste, but you somehow kept your lovely humor. Funny how the world works, eh?"
Apparently the former Slytherin felt well enough to raise a single clearly defined finger.
"Thought so. Now try and rest up, love. I'll be another ten minutes or so, and you don't want Ron making fun of you or anything."
"Oh bloody hell."
"Nah, probably Ron's bloody nose. You're in a very trite mood today."
"Go try ad brush your bloody, stigky, sbelly, ratty..... hair!"
"Yessir!!" Harry saluted tersely and gave Draco a dashing lopsided grin. The former Slytherin pursed his lips, sniffling noisily. Why did that blasted Potter have to be so damned irresistible. Draco sighed. Damn Gryffindors.
~*~
"See, the clean air cleared up your nose in no time!"
"Ah yes. Just ducky. Now all I have to contend with on this *glorious* day is the lovely Ron Weasly. Please may I go get myself run over by a truck."
"Why not a double decker? Those buses, I love them."
"I don't think you realize how difficult I'm finding it not to go stuff your head in a toilet and flush it."
Harry rolled his eyes, slinging his arms around Draco's shoulders. Draco ducked smoothly out of Harry's grip and spun on his heel. "I think I'll go off and shoe shop." But Harry grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back, stumbling, into his arms. Draco tried feebly to pull away, gave up, and let Harry cradle him against his wiry chest. "It's always weird. And that blasted Weasly is always picking fights-"
"No, Draco," corrected Harry, looking down his nose at the blonde, "Ron hasn't picked a fight with you since school."
"He somehow infiltrates my mind and controls me. So it's all his fault."
"I'm sure."
"Oh, you know those Aurors. They're weirdoes."
"Sirius is an Auror!"
"Point?"
The pub was relatively crowded when the two men arrived. Draco made a bee line for the bar, but Harry hooked his leg around the blonde's knee, sending him careening into padded seat. He warned the shorter man not to run off as he got drinks, and then he left Draco moping at their table.
"Draco? Draco!" Oh holy Christ. Granger.
"Hello Hermione," Draco ground out civilly through clenched teeth. Then his eyes met Weasly's and the world darkened; the skies above stormed, the seas below toiled, and all the elders of the world shivered and spoke to their bones-
"Malfoy."
"Weasly."
Ron took a deep breath. "Your looking-"
"You look worse anyway, as always." Nodding to a beaming Hermione, Draco weaved through the mingling crowd of wizards to get a jump start off his peachy mood.
"If you will, Ginny, I want a double."
"A double, Draco? My brother must be in town."
"Ginny, don't let him have a drop!" Harry bounded over, whisking the raised glass right from under Draco's nose. The former Slytherin growled dangerously as Harry shook a finger at him. "No. Ron and Hermione are expecting a nice lunch with us today."
"And let the Angels sing. May I please go kill myself?"
"No," said Harry firmly, "And besides, Ron would be furious if he missed out on such an event."
"Well, that just makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside."
Ginny leaned forward and gingerly lifted the cocoa mug from Harry's hands. The two men watched as she poured a couple shots of something into the cocoa. Then she handed it to Draco, grinning. "You'll be feeling fluffy soon enough, Draco."
Harry winked at her and drew Draco away, who was staring glumly at his cup. "You owe me for this, Potter."
Harry looked momentarily regretful. "Don't I know it."
The afternoon continued unabashed. Ron sat as far from Draco as possible, and the Slytherin did the same. Hermione did most of the talking, Harry gripping her hand and running his thumb over her palm. They were really close, those two. Draco had to admit that the young woman looked positively exuberant. Her dark hair fell in graceful curls around her flushed face, filled round and gleeful. She carried a certain.... glow about her. Weasley on the other hand was paler than usual, his narrow face colored only by the light copper freckles and twin points of deep red cresting the sharp bones of his gaunt cheeks. Draco thought he looked like a very lanky ogre.
"Ack, my throat's getting dry! I think I'll get myself something. Ooh, I'm craving some nice warm milk!"
"Mione," said Ron, half rising, "You should rest-"
"No!" she snapped. The men fell silent. Her face switched again to a happy expression and she motioned for Harry. "Will you come and pick up these guys' drinks, then? I don't think I would trust myself, and Ron's been working so hard lately!" She started off, bumping along joyfully, humming some unintelligible tune. Harry cast a wary glance at the redhead and the blonde before following his friend, steadying her when she swayed by the bar, nearly toppling over before howling at Ginny and telling her how pretty she looked. Ginny gawked at her old friend, looking back and forth to the pregnant woman and herself; all greasy.
Draco plucked a chip from the bowl sitting in the middle of the table and stuck it in his mouth along with a swig of cocoa and a marshmallow. He started chewing slowly, watching Ron fixedly, causing the redhead to squirm.
"What are you at, Malfoy?" Ron glared at him, his cheeks darkening. Draco smacked his lips loudly in reply.
"I would've thought you couldn't get any less mature, and yet here you go surprising us all again."
"So Weasly, do you like SEE food?"
Ron barely piqued an eyebrow. "You're lame, Malfoy. It's rather sad."
"I'm also very tipsy at the moment."
"This is new to me?"
"To who?"
"Me."
"What?"
"What?"
"More coooocoooooaaa....."
"Will you quit plucking at my sleeve like that! We're all adults."
Draco plucked with more enthusiasm, tongue between his teeth.
"Did you hear me?"
"No."
"What?"
"I'm deaf."
"No you're not!"
"Yes I am, dammit!"
Harry nearly dropped the glasses he was holding and dashed between the two men, who had risen to their feet. "Stop it, you two!"
"He started it," grumbled Draco, snatching his mai tai from Harry.
"I did not!"
"Did too."
"Did not!"
"Liar liar, pants on fire!"
"Why, you-"
"OH MY LORD!! MY WATER BROKE!!" Hermione blanched. "HONESTLY!!"
A.N: I hate this chapter with a passion! It could've been so much more than what it is, but I failed miserably. Please don't give up hope on this story yet! I've actually developed a STORYLINE *thunderclap*!! Give me another chance!! *sobs and grovels* P.S: What shall Hr/R's little "its" name be? And what shall the sex be? I'm leaning toward a girl, but me being a girl and choosing that seems a bit unfair. Vote!! Merci bocous! Au revior!
~*Villain*~