Title: To the Point of Exhaustion
Author: Yih
Disclaimer: This is slash, specifically HP/DM. 
Not beta'd read at your own risk.

~

4: Paid Companion (December 22, 2003)

He was starting to get used to Harry.  It irritated to a degree, and yet it didn't.  God, he wasn't making any sense anymore.  Ever since Harry had strolled into his life, it had tossed his life upside down.  He wasn't allowed to sulk in his bed anymore with his debilitating condition.  No, Harry made him do any recreational activities that his body could handle.  

They even snogged occasionally.  Well, he snogged Harry when Harry wouldn't stop lecturing him about how he needed to enjoy the happiness and joy of life instead of burying himself in self pity.  Who gave Harry the bloody right to tell him how to live?  Harry wasn't his father!  Bloody hell, Harry wasn't even Hermione, his bossy best friend!  He had absolutely no sodding right!

He did anyway and Draco found the only way to shut him up was to kiss him.  It amazed him that Harry didn't mind, and even seemed to like it even if he never outright encouraged Draco.  It only made sense to Draco that Hermione would pick someone like Harry--- that was so--- so absolutely tempting and perfect and glorious and so hard not to desire!  Damn her!  How did she know every fucking weakness of his?

"Draco," called Harry as he entered into the room carrying a tray, "would you like some tea?  Hermione sent over some of your favorite tea.  Japanese Wild Cherry.  She said you especially liked this brew." 

"I guess so"

Harry smiled brightly, setting the tray down on the table.  "You need to take your medication anyway."  He glanced over to where Draco was lounging on his daybed that overlooked the pastures where some of his horses were out in the pasture. 

One particular horse had his full attention, a dark bay mare that was grazing placidly.  He was never going to be able to ride Morgana competitively again.  First, she was already getting on in her years at 12 she was at the cusp of her career.  She might last two more years at most, but with her confirmation and athleticism--- she might be able to get him a good foal to train when he got back into the saddle again.  Not many were optimistic that he would, but he knew in his bones that he'd ride again.  It was his life. 

However, there was Nimue.  He must have this propensity for riding mares, he thought wryly, even if his preference for his sexual partner was male.  Every single one of his competitive riding horses had ended up being female.  He found he didn't have to exert a strong hand on them, and he liked the light touches that were especially important in dressage.  In that ballet like riding, it was all about the barely visible signals. 

"Your horses are very beautiful," Harry remarked, placing the teacup into Draco's hand.  He poured out the various pills that Draco was required to take and this he also handed to Draco.  "I wish I could learn to ride," he commented longingly.  "I never got the opportunity."

"It's not too late to start," Draco responded, his gaze shifting toward Harry.  With a critical eye he appraised the darly beautiful young man before him.  Harry was by no means tall, but tall enough that he didn't have a jockey's typical built even if he was on the slim side.  "I could ask Hermione to give you lessons." 

"I couldn't afford it," Harry answered. 

"You moronic prat," Draco muttered impatiently, dousing the medicine with the tea, which he noted was the perfect temperature--- not too hot and not too cold, "if you ask her, she'll teach you for free.  She doesn't need the money.  She's load.  Shouldn't you know that?  You're her friend." 

Harry shook his head.  "Why do you think I'm her friend?"

"Well, she did recommend you and from the way she talked about you I thought you two were really close friends."

Chuckling, Harry couldn't help but smile.  "I know Hermione, yes, but we're not friends exactly.  More like acquaintances.  Even if she doesn't have the snobby prejudice that most in her class have, she doesn't go slumming with my sort.  I'm from that side of London.  It's horrid and rank.  You wouldn't catch her anywhere near my neighborhood, but hopefully I'll be able to get out of it with a job like this.  Your father is paying more money than I've ever seen in my life." 

"So how do you know her?" Draco asked curiously.

"She ran me over." 

Draco's jaw dropped over.  "She what?" 

"She ran me over in her car." 

"Oh god, that would be something she would do." 

"That's what Blaise said." 

"When did she run you over?" Draco questioned. 

"A year ago," Harry remarked.  "She's been kind of keeping tabs on me ever since."

"Were you badly hurt?"

"Broken arm and fracture leg, nothing severe.  I got good medical care because of her insurance.  It was actually nice not to worry about having a place to stay and eat," Harry murmured, getting the tea pot and pouring Draco some more tea.  "But such is life." 

"You are still amazingly happy despite your sorry situation."

"Well, you can't let stuff like that get you down when tomorrow is another day," Harry retorted.  "If I did, I'd be constantly depressed and that would make life a tedium that it doesn't have to be." 

"I don't see how you do it." 

"I try to think about the positive thoughts in my life."

"What positive thoughts?"

Harry grinned and poured himself some tea.   "Why shouldn't I be happy?  I've got a good job, a roof over my head and food to eat where I don't have to scrape around the garbage bins.  And my future's looked better than it has in a long time." 

"You're nauseatingly optimistic." 

"I don't see you throwing up," Harry countered.

It had startled him in the first week when he'd discovered that Harry wasn't quite the malleable puppy that he'd first mistaken him for.  While it would have been nice to be able to bulldoze Harry into doing everything that he wanted, he was secretively glad that Harry wasn't a pushover.  Harry wasn't as forceful as his father nor as nagging as Hermione, he wasn't as overt about getting things his way--- but he did. 

He was really lucky that Hermione had run him over, Draco thought with vague amusement.  He ought to tell her that sometime when Harry wasn't around.  The problem was that Harry was constantly around.  There was always something he was doing.  It should have irritated him, but it didn't.  He could watch Harry work and twiddle around the room like he could watch his horses. 

"You know you have a lot in your life to be fortunate about."  Draco quirked up an eyebrow as if to say what in damnation are you talking about?  Can't you see I'm in a sodding state of misery?  "You are still more fortunate than most people could ever be, even given your situation," Harry stated adamantly.  "You at least have the capability to get treatment for yourself.  Other people don't." 

"I guess."

"Draco, you're a lucky bastard and you're stubborn enough I know it to fight and win."

Draco was at first ticked Harry had called him a bastard, it was the principle of the matter that Malfoys were never called bastards, but he immediately forgave him when Harry voiced his confidence in Draco's persistence.  "I'll be back riding in the Olympics in 5 years.  You watch me.  I'll do it." 

"I believe you." 

It felt so sweet to hear that someone believed that he could do it.  Even his father and Hermione didn't believe that he could do it, and that hurt him a lot.  He needed to know why Harry thought so.  Why?  "Tell me why." 

"Because," Harry answered thoughtfully, "you have this determination that drives you.  It will also wear you out, but if there's someone to help you not push yourself too hard but push you in just the right degree--- you'll get better." 

Oh how he wanted to believe in Harry.  Oh how he wanted to believe what Harry said. 

~

"How is he doing?" Lucius asked sharply, his steel eyes bearing down hard on Harry where they had been resting affectionately on his precious son.  Draco had taken a long time falling asleep.  No matter how long they had talked about nothingness, Draco had still refused to let sleep take him.  "Do you think he's getting worse?" 

Harry shook his head vehemently.  He definitely did not think that Draco was getting worse.  "I think he's staying the same, even getting better."

"The doctor said that he'd probably get worse before he gets better."

"It's a good sign that he's staying the same," Harry murmured throatily.  He had come to care for Draco a lot, too much, he sometimes thought.  He was secretively glad that Draco didn't realize that.  It was too hard thinking about how much pain Draco had to be in.  The pain of not being able to be out and do things. 

What he'd said early had been partially true.  Draco was lucky, but he was also gravely unlucky.  Harry knew he wouldn't have traded his life's vitality for all the wealth that Draco had.  But he needed still to reassure Draco that life wasn't that bad.  Positive thinking was much better for the soul than negative thoughts.  He didn't care if he was technically lying and sprouting untruths--- it was for a good cause. 

"Yes, it is," Lucius responded emotively, his hand reaching down to stroke his son's cheek gently.  "You've been very good for him, Harry."

"He's been very good to me."

"He's getting better because he's happier," Lucius remarked insightfully.  "And it's your presence that's made him happier." 

"I'm glad I can do that little bit for him."

Lucius smiled wryly.  "Draco's told me of your interest in horseback riding."

"I would like to learn," Harry whispered softly, hesitantly. 

"Draco suggested that Hermione would be a capable teacher, but I think she has other things to do with her time."  Harry nodded, a bit crestfallen but he deliberately put up a bland expression.  Draco's father had already done a lot for him.  Lucius had given him a wonderful room to stay in and freedom to go around the mansion however he pleased.  He couldn't ask for more than that.  "I think it'd be wiser to get you a private instructor."

Harry's mouth opened in surprised and he couldn't stop himself from blinking crazily.  "You don't have to do that!" 

"I know," Lucius responded silkily, "but I want to.  I think it'd make Draco happy if I fulfilled the request and I like making my son happy.  I enjoy indulging him and if that means indulging you, so be it." 

"But Mr. Malfoy, it's to much….."

Lucius pressed his fingers against Harry's lips to stop him from saying anything further.  "It's already been arranged.  The lessons will start tomorrow early in the morning.  The instructor has been paid to come out here.  There is only one horse however that you'll be able to ride, as he is not as high strung as the rest.  Be sure to ask the groom for Vig." 

"I will," Harry promised.  "Is Vig short for anything?"

Lucius smiled and his fingers dropped from Harry's lips.  "It's short for Vigilance."  Harry nodded and was about to leave Lucius alone with Draco, as Lucius liked to watch Draco sleep for whatever reason.  But just as he was about to leave the room, Lucius's voice stopped him, "Remember to be ready at 8:00.  Lupin will be waiting for you then at stables."

Harry nodded and he slipped out of the room quietly.  He made sure he walked back to his room with calm and tranquility even if his insides were bursting with unbearable excitement.  He'd always dreamed of learning to ride horses!  How was he going to thank Draco tomorrow?  Well, Draco was awfully fond of chocolate pancakes….. and….

~

Author's Note: I realize this is a random update.  I never said anything I discontinued wouldn't be coming back, it just has a very slim possibility.  I'm just a bit sick of all the magic AU's I've been doing and this is a nice break.  Enjoy!  And yes, nagging does work to get me to restart a fanfic.  Dunno… might end up picking this one back up. 

Thanks to Ice Lupus (can't please everyone), Aria Riddle (lack of interest in my part and the readers), PhoenixStar87, helva2260 (yeah, but then again no one has done a Make a Wish Foundation story either), VirginSuicide, Olusha, ShadowQuirk (yup, Harry is), Eaiva le Fay (no Harry isn't as naïve, just doesn't want to think about the bad stuff in life), Mistress Joy, crissy, TheTrueSilver, RaynieceMalfoy, palom, Shelli (Draco isn't a nice boy), Tempest8, newtypeshadow (Draco's 19, Harry's 18), DragonMage, Harry Malfoy, Rachel (no beta), Faby (no he wouldn't), Siderius Cimmerii, Janey (sorry took me so long), destinywriters, Malakai (you're not a DM/HP fan, not surprising), ttrinity, Ms. Padfoot.