Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.

Author's Note: I can tell you right now that I won't be updating nearly as often come next week or the week after. I'm already swamped with AP Chemistry, Pre-calculus, and CP English work, and today was only the first day of class. I haven't had much time to write, as I have homework and many many other things to do. However, I'll try my best.

Thanks for the great reviews, everybody!

In this chapter: First Quidditch game of the season, an accident, and something that makes everybody happy

~~~

Chapter 21

When Harry opened his eyes again and found that he was alone, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Was it a dream?" he whispered to himself. "It couldn't have been a dream. My heart doesn't hurt anymore! It was real!"

Then he saw a folded piece of parchment standing on the bedside table. His name was written neatly on the front, so he reached over and unfolded the note.

Dear Harry,

I wanted to stay by your side all night, but I was quite tired and I have classes to teach, so I need to get some sleep. Expect a guest for supper.

Affectionately,

Severus

"It wasn't a dream!" Harry practically squealed with a goofy grin on his face.

He got out of bed and began to jump up and down around the room. When he noticed Draco standing in the middle of the room, staring at him, he just ran to his friend and threw his arms around him, hugging him tightly. Draco chuckled and returned the hug.

"What's going on?" Draco wondered, curiously. "You're...happy."

"Of course I'm happy!" Harry exclaimed as he began to dance around the room some more. "He loves me! He loves me! He told me so last night! He's coming to eat supper with me tonight, and he loves me!"

He handed the note over to Draco, who quickly scanned its contents before grinning at Harry. He wrapped his arms around his 'brother' in another hug, lifting him off the ground and spinning in circles.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so happy for you!" He then lowered Harry to the floor and kissed his forehead. "It's about time he came to his senses. I thought I was going to have to curse him!"

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's waist and leaned into his chest. He closed his eyes and let a content smile grace his lips.

"My heart doesn't hurt anymore, Draco," Harry murmured. "It's not broken anymore."

"I'm glad, love," Draco whispered in his ear, rubbing his back. His eyes suddenly became wide. "Harry! You're not supposed to be out of bed yet!"

"Oh, you ruin all the fun," Harry muttered, pouting as he was forced to get back into bed.

"Yes, I'm sure I do," Draco replied, rolling his eyes as he pulled the blanket over Harry's lap. "But just think: the faster you get better, the faster you get out of here, and the sooner you can spend time with Severus." That brought a dreamy smile to Harry's face. "Sirius and Remus are coming up to have breakfast with you, since they don't have any classes until ten-thirty."

"You're not staying?" Harry asked, frowning. Draco shook his head.

"No, I just came up to see how you're feeling. I have to go to classes, but I'll come by around lunchtime, all right?"

"Okay," Harry sighed, pouting. Draco sat next to him and pulled him into an embrace.

"Harry, you know I want to skip and stay with you, but I can't this time. I've skipped too many classes already this term."

"I know," Harry muttered. He looked at Draco's watch. "You'd better go, or you'll be late. Tell Severus I said 'good morning.'"

"Will do," Draco agreed with a mock salute. "I'll see you later, love. Don't forget to get some rest. Don't get yourself worked up over anything."

Draco left the room, and Harry snuggled down under his blanket as he waited for his godfathers to arrive. As he pulled the blanket tighter around himself, he felt his eyelids drooping until finally, he fell asleep.

~~~

A short while later, Sirius and Remus entered the infirmary with a tray of food for breakfast, only to find Harry asleep, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Is he...smiling?" Sirius whispered to Remus, hopefully. Remus nodded, placing the tray on a table. "And he's sleeping so peacefully..."

Sirius carefully knelt down by Harry's bed and gently tucked a lock of hair behind Harry's ear. As he did so, his fingers grazed Harry's forehead. Feeling how cool his skin was, Sirius looked down and saw that Harry was shivering.

"For God's sake, he's freezing!" Sirius muttered, grabbing a blanket from another bed and tucking it tightly around Harry. "Honestly, doesn't that woman take care of her patients?"

"Mmm, don't let her hear you say that..." Harry murmured, sleepily. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled tiredly at his godfather. "She'll kick you out before you can have breakfast with me."

"How are you feeling, love?" Sirius asked, helping Harry to sit up while Remus brought the food over.

"Good," Harry yawned. He winced and brought a hand to his head. "I've got a headache, though. And I'm kind of cold."

Sirius placed a Warming Spell over Harry, then sat down close to him, to keep him warm. The three began to eat their breakfast: eggs, bacon, and sausage. Remus's eyes widened when he saw how much and how quickly Harry was eating.

"Hey, hey, slow down!" he exclaimed, placing a hand over Harry's before he could shovel another bite of food into his full mouth. "Not so much, and not so fast, or else it won't stay down." Harry swallowed his food before replying.

"I want to hurry up and get out of here," he whined. "You all said I have to start eating and sleeping better so I can leave. I've been sleeping plenty, so now I just need to do the eating part!"

"You seem to be in a better mood," Sirius observed. "What gives?" Harry blushed a little and looked down at his plate.

"Severus came to visit me last night," he said, quietly, though he was smiling. Sirius narrowed his eyes.

"Did he? And what did the bastard have to say?"

Harry looked up and stared straight into Sirius's eyes.

"Only that he loves me, and he's sorry for hurting me. He just thought he was doing what was best."

"And you accept him, just like that?"

"We have a Soul Bond, Sirius," Harry said, firmly, as he glared at his godfather. "That means we love each other. We're bonded, and we belong together. Besides, I could tell that he was really sorry. But don't think I'll let him off easy. He'll make it up to me." Remus groaned at the mischievous gleam in Harry's eyes.

"I don't even want to know how," he muttered.

"Harry, I just want you to be aware of what you're getting into with him," Sirius sighed. "I'm just not sure if he's right for you, love."

"And what if I'm sure that he's right for me?" Harry challenged.

"Then that's fine," Remus cut in, firmly, before Sirius could respond. He sat on Harry's other side. "Come on, you two, no arguing. Harry, if you're sure that Severus is who you want, that's fine, but be careful, all right? I'm not saying this just because it's Severus; I would say it no matter who you're involved with. Sirius, respect Harry's decision, and try to be nice about it."

"Thank you, Moony," Harry said, smirking at Sirius.

"Damn you, Moony," Sirius muttered, glaring at Harry. "Fine, I'll respect your decision. But that doesn't mean I like it, you little brat."

Harry flinched a little when Sirius called him that, and he subconsciously moved closer to Remus, who wrapped his arms around the boy. Remus gave Sirius a disapproving look.

"Don't call him that, Siri, even if you don't mean it. You know he doesn't like it."

"Sorry, love," Sirius apologized, kissing Harry's forehead. "I didn't mean it."

"I know," Harry said, quietly. He laid his head on Remus's chest, yawning as he closed his eyes.

"Do you want us to leave so you can sleep?" Remus offered. Harry nodded his head. "All right. Sleep well, darling." Remus pressed a kiss to Harry's temple. "If you need us for anything, tell Poppy, and she'll get us for you."

Remus stood and headed for the door, while Sirius helped Harry to get comfortable in the bed again. Harry snuggled down under the blankets, pulling them tightly around himself. Sirius leaned over and kissed the top of his head.

"I'm sorry for upsetting you," Sirius murmured, touching Harry's cheek. "It's just that you know how I feel about him, and it's hard for me to comprehend the fact that you're in love with him. It will take some getting used to."

"It's okay," Harry told him, sleepily. "As long as you try..."

"I will," Sirius promised. "I love you."

"Love you, too... Come back later sometime, okay?" Sirius nodded, placed a kiss on the tip of Harry's nose, and left.

~~~

Harry slept for the rest of the day, except for when he awoke from a nightmare shortly after one o'clock. Poppy calmed him down and gave him a light sedative before sitting with him until he fell asleep again.

When Severus came into the room that evening for supper, Harry was still asleep, though it didn't seem to be a very sound sleep. There was a frown on his face, and he tossed and turned a couple of times.

A bad dream, Severus told himself.

He decided to wake Harry before the dream became a nightmare. Severus carefully sat next to Harry on the bed and was surprised when he stopped tossing. Harry calmed down quickly and nestled himself against Severus, letting out a content sigh.

"Harry, wake up," Severus urged him, softly, as he ran his fingers through the younger man's hair.

It took a moment, but Harry soon woke up. He yawned and stretched his arms, then noticed Severus and gave him a sleepy smile.

"Hi," Harry murmured before laying his sleepy head on Severus's shoulder. Severus just chuckled.

"Come on, rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty," he teased Harry. "Poppy says you've been sleeping nearly all day. At this rate, you'll be up all night."

"That's doubtful, I'm dead tired," Harry mumbled. His eyes suddenly lit up. "Did you bring me food?"

"Yes, I did," Severus replied, an amused smile on his face. "But you have to get out of bed. We're eating at the table."

Harry gave a slightly irritated growl, but he got up nonetheless. The two went to sit at the table, where Severus had arranged the vegetable soup, sandwiches, and pumpkin juice.

"Albus told me that we should have no problems, as long as we're discreet and we don't make a big show," Severus said, softly. He reached across the table and took Harry's hand in his own. "We might not have trouble with the Ministry, but you might have trouble with the other students, once they find out. And the media."

"No problems with the media," Harry replied. "Sirius went to the Ministry and made a deal that the media isn't allowed to print anything about me without his permission until I'm twenty-one. As for the other students...I don't care. I just... I just want to be with you. I want us to be together, and I don't care what anyone else thinks. They can give me as much trouble as they want, but it won't matter, as long as I have you."

Severus smiled slightly when he heard this. He lightly ran his thumb back and forth over Harry's hand.

"I want to take this slow, all right? I don't want to jump into anything and do something that might hurt you if you're not ready for it." Harry nodded.

"Fair enough," he agreed. He gave a sneaky smile. "Can I have the password to your rooms again?"

"I've already changed it back to the old one," Severus told him, smirking. "Just don't make a big scene when you come down." He then looked at Harry's bowl and plate; most of his sandwich was still on the plate, and his soup had hardly been eaten from. "You're not eating."

"Well, you've been distracting me," Harry shot back, teasingly. "Anyway, I'm not too hungry. I ate a lot at breakfast, and I think it's caught up with me."

"Just a little bit," Severus requested. "Breakfast was hours ago."

Harry complied and managed to finish about a third of his food. Then he and Severus went back over to the bed and sat down, Harry curled up against the older man's side.

"Did you date a lot of people when you were in school?" Harry wondered, curiously. He covered his mouth as a yawn escaped.

"A few," Severus replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Nobody to call it worth it. And you? I've heard several rumors over the years about your involvement with different classmates. Were any of them true?"

"I don't know what you've heard, but I guarantee none of them were true," Harry replied. "I've never been 'involved' with anyone." He wrapped his arms around Severus's waist and laid his head on his chest, closing his eyes.

"Go on to sleep," Severus told him, softly. He leaned over and kissed the top of Harry's head. "Don't worry, I'll stay here for a while." Harry nodded and cuddled closer to Severus.