Author's Note: Again, I'm loving the reviews.
*author gives each and every one of the gorgeous, sexy, talented reviewers big noisy kisses on each cheek*
(You guys should probably know that I'm starting to develop a strange addiction for compliments and other forms of positive reinforcement. I expect this might lead to some therapy in future and at least a few awkward moments with my boss. But I'm trying not to think about this.)
Some current/overdue special thanks: Thanks to Fin-Phoenix & Darragh Tieraneux, who referred to me as a 'writer'. I am awestruck and humbled by the association- you have no idea... SnippyandSnarky: Yes, it does me give some sort of motivation to write faster. Hugs to Hippy Flower=Voldie's Kid, your enthusiasm is wonderful. & hugs to zipzoey, thanks for the cookie and your great feedback on that scene, I was worried people wouldn't appreciate the gore - which I have an affinity for myself.
Chapter 5: Reunion
Soon after Madam Pomfrey had recovered from her shock of seeing Harry awake, she immediately dragged him back into his bed and forced him into it before flying down the corridor.
Not long after that, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall entered the room and rushed over to his bedside, beaming at him, and showering him with reassurances that everything was all right and he'd be back to his classes very soon, his friends were missing him terribly and that the Quidditch matches had been postponed until further notice.
The headmaster had acted a little strangely, he kept asking Harry a few times if he'd felt any different. Which Harry thought was an odd thing to ask to someone who'd recently almost died and been in a coma for a week. *He must've been really worried, I guess* he thought as he brushed it off his mind.
Hagrid had also come with them and gave Harry such an enormous bear hug before he left that Harry was afraid his ribs would break again.
They were still not allowed to go to classes or go back to their dorms. Madam Pomfrey had insisted on keeping an eye on her two invalids for a couple of days.
Harry sighed and leaned back and he rested against his pillow. He was sitting up on his bed. It had been wonderful to see everyone so concerned about him but truthfully it had also worn him out.
"Tired?"
Harry turned at sound of the voice. He had almost forgotten that Draco was still in the bed next to his; he'd been so quiet the entire time. Also Hagrid had effectively blocked any view of the boy with his large frame.
Harry looked at Draco who was sitting cross-legged on his bed, and noticed for the first time how skinny he was. And his skin and blonde hair were so fair that the combination of it it made him appear all the more fragile and delicate.
"Hmmm."
"What are you looking at?" Draco asked, a little defensively as he noticed how Harry's eyes were appraising him all of a sudden.
"Oh, nothing. You should eat more. You're too thin."
"Ha! You're one to talk..." Draco sniffed slightly, looking pointedly at Harry's own skinny frame.
Harry looked down at himself and shrugged.
Suddenly he felt a dull throb on his chest right over his wound, and he winced visibly at the pain and placed his hand over his chest. He could feel the bandages underneath the thin material of his silk pajama top. The pain only lasted for a second though and he curiously started to lift up the bottom of his shirt to look at the bandages that bound him.
The wide strips of cotton had been wrapped from his upper chest, beginning from underneath his armpits and several times over where it ended a couple of inches above his navel. He tentatively fingered the area right over the area where the spike had exited and entered Draco.
He wondered briefly what the wound must look like underneath and remembered he had another one in his back where the spike had run through first.
"I keep forgetting how bad it was." he said absentmindedly to Draco, his eyes still on the bandages, prodding it with his fingers with all the curiosity of a child.
When he didn't hear a response, he looked up and saw Draco looking at him with his mouth slightly open.
He suddenly realised that he'd been sitting there all this time with his shirt flap tucked under his chin, exposing himself to Draco, and hastily pushed his shirt back down.
That move made Draco quickly avert his eyes, trying to cover up his embarrassment for having been caught staring at his enemy's chest. *Well, it was a rather nice chest.*
He groaned inwardly and started to pick at the coverlet on his bed, his fingers finding a loose thread and pulling it out.
"Errr..." Harry started, noticing Draco's obvious discomfort and feeling a little guilty for somehow causing it.
He didn't get to finish however, because at that moment the doors burst open and Ron and Hermione came tearing into the room.
"Harry!!!"
"Ron! Hermione!" Harry exclaimed in surprise.
He didn't manage to get anymore out because he was suddenly being enveloped by two pairs of arms hugging him. Harry laughed and hugged them back.
Hermione squeezed him hard, and planted a big loud kiss on his cheek, before hugging him again.
"All right, Hermione...." Ron said jokingly, he'd already pulled back and had plopped himself on the foot of Harry's bed "Errr...I think you might be squeezing the life out him."
"Oh!" Hermione stood back quickly, looking a little flustered and concerned. "Did I hurt you, Harry?" she asked worriedly, looking at her friend.
"No, no, Hermione, I'm fine. Ron's just kidding." he said, laughing. It felt so good to be with his two best friends in the world again. He hadn't realised how much he missed being with them.
"Ah." she said, shooting Ron a look, who was completely oblivious or at least pretending to be.
He was still smiling at Harry and couldn't help it. It felt like such a huge relief to see his best friend awake and himself again.
The past week of going to classes alone, not seeing him at the Great Hall at mealtimes, and not being able to hang out together in the Gryffindor common room like they always did, had been very lonely for Ron. Hermione had been a great friend, but she's not nearly as much fun as Harry, and her idea of hanging out comprised mostly of going to the library and getting a head start on homework.
Although Ron had to admit that he managed to do some of his best work last week. But not that he wanted to make a habit out of it or anything.
"So, when are you getting out of here, then?" he asked impatiently.
"Not for a couple of days. Pomfrey still wants to keep an eye on us, I guess." Harry sighed.
At the mention of 'us', Ron instinctively looked over at Draco, who seemed to be busy doing something to his coverlet. He frowned and opened his mouth to say something to Malfoy, when Hermione interrupted him.
"Well, don't you worry about all the homework you've missed, Harry. I've been keeping tabs on all the assignments that you need to do." she continued thoughtfully, "Some of them are due quite soon, so you might want to get started on them right away. Would you like me to bring them over to you? You can get started on them here." she looked at Harry expectantly.
For once Harry was thankful for Hermione's enthusiasm for schoolwork. He had seen the look on Ron's face and was afraid that his best friend was about to say something mean to Draco and he didn't want that.
*Not now, not when everything's changed.*
Hearing Hermione's little speech, Ron, distracted, turned away from Draco to her, "Hermione, Harry doesn't need to do his homework right now. There's more important things to think about!"
"Like what?" Hermione frowned, hands on her hips.
"Well, like..like....Everything!!!" Ron said, throwing his hands up in the air to prove his point.
"Oh... really? Well, that wasn't what you said when Professor McGonagall gave you that mark for your Transfiguration paper a few days ago..." Hermione said slyly.
Ron turned red and managed an embarrassed half-smirk.
"Er, what's she on about, Ron?" Harry asked, wondering what other secrets the two were keeping from him.
"I got a 78!"
"Wow, that's great!" "But How??? I mean, I don't mean to be bad but..." he teased.
Which promptly earned him a pillow on his face. He threw it back at Ron, who clearly wasn't expecting this and got it full on his face. Laughter from Hermione. Ron playfully lunged at Harry and a mock struggle ensued. After a few minutes of play, both boys finally gave up and slumped next to each other in defeat.
"Harry."
"Yes, Ron."
"I'm glad you're back." and he put his arm behind Harry and ruffled his already messy hair.
"Me too." He grinned at Ron and then at Hermione who practically fell on top of Harry and hugged him again.
Nobody noticed Draco had left.
*author gives each and every one of the gorgeous, sexy, talented reviewers big noisy kisses on each cheek*
(You guys should probably know that I'm starting to develop a strange addiction for compliments and other forms of positive reinforcement. I expect this might lead to some therapy in future and at least a few awkward moments with my boss. But I'm trying not to think about this.)
Some current/overdue special thanks: Thanks to Fin-Phoenix & Darragh Tieraneux, who referred to me as a 'writer'. I am awestruck and humbled by the association- you have no idea... SnippyandSnarky: Yes, it does me give some sort of motivation to write faster. Hugs to Hippy Flower=Voldie's Kid, your enthusiasm is wonderful. & hugs to zipzoey, thanks for the cookie and your great feedback on that scene, I was worried people wouldn't appreciate the gore - which I have an affinity for myself.
Chapter 5: Reunion
Soon after Madam Pomfrey had recovered from her shock of seeing Harry awake, she immediately dragged him back into his bed and forced him into it before flying down the corridor.
Not long after that, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall entered the room and rushed over to his bedside, beaming at him, and showering him with reassurances that everything was all right and he'd be back to his classes very soon, his friends were missing him terribly and that the Quidditch matches had been postponed until further notice.
The headmaster had acted a little strangely, he kept asking Harry a few times if he'd felt any different. Which Harry thought was an odd thing to ask to someone who'd recently almost died and been in a coma for a week. *He must've been really worried, I guess* he thought as he brushed it off his mind.
Hagrid had also come with them and gave Harry such an enormous bear hug before he left that Harry was afraid his ribs would break again.
They were still not allowed to go to classes or go back to their dorms. Madam Pomfrey had insisted on keeping an eye on her two invalids for a couple of days.
Harry sighed and leaned back and he rested against his pillow. He was sitting up on his bed. It had been wonderful to see everyone so concerned about him but truthfully it had also worn him out.
"Tired?"
Harry turned at sound of the voice. He had almost forgotten that Draco was still in the bed next to his; he'd been so quiet the entire time. Also Hagrid had effectively blocked any view of the boy with his large frame.
Harry looked at Draco who was sitting cross-legged on his bed, and noticed for the first time how skinny he was. And his skin and blonde hair were so fair that the combination of it it made him appear all the more fragile and delicate.
"Hmmm."
"What are you looking at?" Draco asked, a little defensively as he noticed how Harry's eyes were appraising him all of a sudden.
"Oh, nothing. You should eat more. You're too thin."
"Ha! You're one to talk..." Draco sniffed slightly, looking pointedly at Harry's own skinny frame.
Harry looked down at himself and shrugged.
Suddenly he felt a dull throb on his chest right over his wound, and he winced visibly at the pain and placed his hand over his chest. He could feel the bandages underneath the thin material of his silk pajama top. The pain only lasted for a second though and he curiously started to lift up the bottom of his shirt to look at the bandages that bound him.
The wide strips of cotton had been wrapped from his upper chest, beginning from underneath his armpits and several times over where it ended a couple of inches above his navel. He tentatively fingered the area right over the area where the spike had exited and entered Draco.
He wondered briefly what the wound must look like underneath and remembered he had another one in his back where the spike had run through first.
"I keep forgetting how bad it was." he said absentmindedly to Draco, his eyes still on the bandages, prodding it with his fingers with all the curiosity of a child.
When he didn't hear a response, he looked up and saw Draco looking at him with his mouth slightly open.
He suddenly realised that he'd been sitting there all this time with his shirt flap tucked under his chin, exposing himself to Draco, and hastily pushed his shirt back down.
That move made Draco quickly avert his eyes, trying to cover up his embarrassment for having been caught staring at his enemy's chest. *Well, it was a rather nice chest.*
He groaned inwardly and started to pick at the coverlet on his bed, his fingers finding a loose thread and pulling it out.
"Errr..." Harry started, noticing Draco's obvious discomfort and feeling a little guilty for somehow causing it.
He didn't get to finish however, because at that moment the doors burst open and Ron and Hermione came tearing into the room.
"Harry!!!"
"Ron! Hermione!" Harry exclaimed in surprise.
He didn't manage to get anymore out because he was suddenly being enveloped by two pairs of arms hugging him. Harry laughed and hugged them back.
Hermione squeezed him hard, and planted a big loud kiss on his cheek, before hugging him again.
"All right, Hermione...." Ron said jokingly, he'd already pulled back and had plopped himself on the foot of Harry's bed "Errr...I think you might be squeezing the life out him."
"Oh!" Hermione stood back quickly, looking a little flustered and concerned. "Did I hurt you, Harry?" she asked worriedly, looking at her friend.
"No, no, Hermione, I'm fine. Ron's just kidding." he said, laughing. It felt so good to be with his two best friends in the world again. He hadn't realised how much he missed being with them.
"Ah." she said, shooting Ron a look, who was completely oblivious or at least pretending to be.
He was still smiling at Harry and couldn't help it. It felt like such a huge relief to see his best friend awake and himself again.
The past week of going to classes alone, not seeing him at the Great Hall at mealtimes, and not being able to hang out together in the Gryffindor common room like they always did, had been very lonely for Ron. Hermione had been a great friend, but she's not nearly as much fun as Harry, and her idea of hanging out comprised mostly of going to the library and getting a head start on homework.
Although Ron had to admit that he managed to do some of his best work last week. But not that he wanted to make a habit out of it or anything.
"So, when are you getting out of here, then?" he asked impatiently.
"Not for a couple of days. Pomfrey still wants to keep an eye on us, I guess." Harry sighed.
At the mention of 'us', Ron instinctively looked over at Draco, who seemed to be busy doing something to his coverlet. He frowned and opened his mouth to say something to Malfoy, when Hermione interrupted him.
"Well, don't you worry about all the homework you've missed, Harry. I've been keeping tabs on all the assignments that you need to do." she continued thoughtfully, "Some of them are due quite soon, so you might want to get started on them right away. Would you like me to bring them over to you? You can get started on them here." she looked at Harry expectantly.
For once Harry was thankful for Hermione's enthusiasm for schoolwork. He had seen the look on Ron's face and was afraid that his best friend was about to say something mean to Draco and he didn't want that.
*Not now, not when everything's changed.*
Hearing Hermione's little speech, Ron, distracted, turned away from Draco to her, "Hermione, Harry doesn't need to do his homework right now. There's more important things to think about!"
"Like what?" Hermione frowned, hands on her hips.
"Well, like..like....Everything!!!" Ron said, throwing his hands up in the air to prove his point.
"Oh... really? Well, that wasn't what you said when Professor McGonagall gave you that mark for your Transfiguration paper a few days ago..." Hermione said slyly.
Ron turned red and managed an embarrassed half-smirk.
"Er, what's she on about, Ron?" Harry asked, wondering what other secrets the two were keeping from him.
"I got a 78!"
"Wow, that's great!" "But How??? I mean, I don't mean to be bad but..." he teased.
Which promptly earned him a pillow on his face. He threw it back at Ron, who clearly wasn't expecting this and got it full on his face. Laughter from Hermione. Ron playfully lunged at Harry and a mock struggle ensued. After a few minutes of play, both boys finally gave up and slumped next to each other in defeat.
"Harry."
"Yes, Ron."
"I'm glad you're back." and he put his arm behind Harry and ruffled his already messy hair.
"Me too." He grinned at Ron and then at Hermione who practically fell on top of Harry and hugged him again.
Nobody noticed Draco had left.
