Author's Note: Wow! I was just uploading this fic and when I refreshed the
page there were 2 reviews! I couldn't believe my eyes. I can't stop smiling
now. Oh boy, and I was just about to turn off my PC and turn in for the
night, too. Thank you Caet Rae and Myrddin Ambrosius! You made my day! (or
night, rather)
I'll write more ASAP. The story is finished in my head, its just taking longer to put words to screen. ( Ok back to the story.
Chapter 3: Awakening
(1 week later)
Draco stirred in his bed, a breeze tickling a strand of his blonde hair to the tip of his nose. He sniffed and opened his eyes slowly.
As his vision adjusted to the weak light, he could make out that he was in a hospital room.
He tried to sit up and winced in pain. He instinctively reached up to his chest and felt the bandages bound around him underneath his pajama top.
He tried to think. *What the hell happened?*
The last thing he remembered was Harry's face.
Those green eyes, looking right at him. And at that moment he thought that he was dying, that this was the end.
He sighed softly and laid back against the pillow, closing his eyes as the memory of that fateful match came back slowly in fragmented pieces.
*It was my fault.*
He turned and faced the bed next to him; a figure was sleeping soundly on it. His dark hair rumpled against the white pillow. It was Harry.
The door suddenly opened, and Madam Pomfrey stepped in.
She stopped short when she saw that Draco was awake.
"Oh my! You're up!"
Draco frowned slightly at her as she turned and fled out of the room, obviously excited.
Less than a few minutes later, she came back with the headmaster, Professor Snape and McGonagall in tow.
All of them looked extremely pleased, even Snape; who was managing an actual smile.
*Wow, I'm actually touched.* thought Draco.
Dumbledore spoke first.
"Welcome back, Mr. Malfoy. We were afraid you would be sleeping until the term is over."
"Well, I'm up now. How long have I been asleep?"
"Oh, about a week now."
"Really?" Draco eyes widened slightly at this.
"Do you remember what happened?" Draco nodded silently at the headmaster who continued.
"Yes, both you and Harry had rather serious injuries and they had to heal slowly. We couldn't take any chances."
At the mention of Harry's name, Draco blurted out before he could stop himself.
"What about Harry? He hasn't woken up yet."
This time Madam Pomfrey answered.
"Well, Harry bore the brunt of the fall and he suffered much more blood loss than you did. It just takes a bit longer for him, dear." she said kindly as she saw the worry etched deep in Draco's eyes.
"Yes, Draco. Potter will be fine. He always is." interrupted Snape as he moved closer to Draco's bed and put an awkward hand on his shoulder. "Meanwhile, your housemates send their regards. You've been missed in Potions."
Draco smiled weakly at the Potions Master and mumbled his thanks.
"And now that you're awake, I expect you'll be wanting something to eat." The headmaster noted with a twinkle in his eye.
"No, no. I'm not hungry." protested Draco before the low grumble of his stomach gave him away.
After a few more minutes of small talk and Draco reassuring them that he was feeling very much alive, they left the room and Madam Pomfrey conjured up a dinner of steaming stew, chocolate pudding, pumpkin juice and complete with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.
Draco dug into his food lustily. He hadn't felt this ravenous since, well ever.
Next to him, Harry's eyes fluttered. And slowly opened.
"Draco?"
The spoon stopped in mid-air, inches from Draco's mouth as he heard his name being spoken. His heart skipped a beat in his chest and he took a small gulp before turning to face Harry's bed.
Harry had turned on his side to face Draco. His half-opened eyes were still heavy lidded and he looked extremely weak.
"Where.. are we?" he managed out slowly.
Draco put down his spoon back into the bowl, his hunger forgotten.
He slowly slid his feet to the cold floor, biting back the pain shooting up his ribs and sat facing Harry's form that was still slumped in his pillow.
"Harry, we're in the hospital. Are you all right?" he asked, the concern betraying his otherwise steady voice. But Harry didn't seem to notice.
He had fallen back into slumber. His face looked so peaceful and vulnerable at the same time that before he knew what he was doing, Draco had taken a few steps and walked over to his bedside.
He reached out and touched Harry's hair, absentmindedly stroking it, frowning at the sleeping boy.
*Shit, what the heck am I doing?*
He let out a small startled gasp and took a step back as he tried to make sense of what he just did.
*It's just Potter. I'm supposed to hate him, for god's sake!*
His young mind was reeling with the implications. Made worse by the confusion coming deep from his heart. A dull ache not caused by his injury had settled there.
He took a few more steps back and sat down on the edge of his own bed. But he didn't turn around.
He just sat there, staring at Harry, until long after the sun had set. His dinner had been left cold and long forgotten by then.
I'll write more ASAP. The story is finished in my head, its just taking longer to put words to screen. ( Ok back to the story.
Chapter 3: Awakening
(1 week later)
Draco stirred in his bed, a breeze tickling a strand of his blonde hair to the tip of his nose. He sniffed and opened his eyes slowly.
As his vision adjusted to the weak light, he could make out that he was in a hospital room.
He tried to sit up and winced in pain. He instinctively reached up to his chest and felt the bandages bound around him underneath his pajama top.
He tried to think. *What the hell happened?*
The last thing he remembered was Harry's face.
Those green eyes, looking right at him. And at that moment he thought that he was dying, that this was the end.
He sighed softly and laid back against the pillow, closing his eyes as the memory of that fateful match came back slowly in fragmented pieces.
*It was my fault.*
He turned and faced the bed next to him; a figure was sleeping soundly on it. His dark hair rumpled against the white pillow. It was Harry.
The door suddenly opened, and Madam Pomfrey stepped in.
She stopped short when she saw that Draco was awake.
"Oh my! You're up!"
Draco frowned slightly at her as she turned and fled out of the room, obviously excited.
Less than a few minutes later, she came back with the headmaster, Professor Snape and McGonagall in tow.
All of them looked extremely pleased, even Snape; who was managing an actual smile.
*Wow, I'm actually touched.* thought Draco.
Dumbledore spoke first.
"Welcome back, Mr. Malfoy. We were afraid you would be sleeping until the term is over."
"Well, I'm up now. How long have I been asleep?"
"Oh, about a week now."
"Really?" Draco eyes widened slightly at this.
"Do you remember what happened?" Draco nodded silently at the headmaster who continued.
"Yes, both you and Harry had rather serious injuries and they had to heal slowly. We couldn't take any chances."
At the mention of Harry's name, Draco blurted out before he could stop himself.
"What about Harry? He hasn't woken up yet."
This time Madam Pomfrey answered.
"Well, Harry bore the brunt of the fall and he suffered much more blood loss than you did. It just takes a bit longer for him, dear." she said kindly as she saw the worry etched deep in Draco's eyes.
"Yes, Draco. Potter will be fine. He always is." interrupted Snape as he moved closer to Draco's bed and put an awkward hand on his shoulder. "Meanwhile, your housemates send their regards. You've been missed in Potions."
Draco smiled weakly at the Potions Master and mumbled his thanks.
"And now that you're awake, I expect you'll be wanting something to eat." The headmaster noted with a twinkle in his eye.
"No, no. I'm not hungry." protested Draco before the low grumble of his stomach gave him away.
After a few more minutes of small talk and Draco reassuring them that he was feeling very much alive, they left the room and Madam Pomfrey conjured up a dinner of steaming stew, chocolate pudding, pumpkin juice and complete with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.
Draco dug into his food lustily. He hadn't felt this ravenous since, well ever.
Next to him, Harry's eyes fluttered. And slowly opened.
"Draco?"
The spoon stopped in mid-air, inches from Draco's mouth as he heard his name being spoken. His heart skipped a beat in his chest and he took a small gulp before turning to face Harry's bed.
Harry had turned on his side to face Draco. His half-opened eyes were still heavy lidded and he looked extremely weak.
"Where.. are we?" he managed out slowly.
Draco put down his spoon back into the bowl, his hunger forgotten.
He slowly slid his feet to the cold floor, biting back the pain shooting up his ribs and sat facing Harry's form that was still slumped in his pillow.
"Harry, we're in the hospital. Are you all right?" he asked, the concern betraying his otherwise steady voice. But Harry didn't seem to notice.
He had fallen back into slumber. His face looked so peaceful and vulnerable at the same time that before he knew what he was doing, Draco had taken a few steps and walked over to his bedside.
He reached out and touched Harry's hair, absentmindedly stroking it, frowning at the sleeping boy.
*Shit, what the heck am I doing?*
He let out a small startled gasp and took a step back as he tried to make sense of what he just did.
*It's just Potter. I'm supposed to hate him, for god's sake!*
His young mind was reeling with the implications. Made worse by the confusion coming deep from his heart. A dull ache not caused by his injury had settled there.
He took a few more steps back and sat down on the edge of his own bed. But he didn't turn around.
He just sat there, staring at Harry, until long after the sun had set. His dinner had been left cold and long forgotten by then.
