Author's note and review replies at bottom.
Snape looked around the study and sneered. "All right, the house elves appear to have remembered everything. You will be working on the draught of living death, so please do not screw it up, Potter! You may begin."
Harry began chopping his arrowroot, and hoped that he would not screw up too badly. The draught of living death was not something you wanted to screw up. Draco was working quietly next to him, occasionally reaching for his hand, or leaning against him for a brief moment. Snape was also quiet, marking some essays that he had given the second years for homework.
After they added the arrowroot to the spring water gently simmering, Draco had to grab out and stop Harry from disastrously adding too much ground ginger. The ginger was added whole, and only acted as a sort of catalyst, but too much could cause the potion to explode. Draco said as much, mentally to Harry, who grinned ruefully in response.
Sorry, didn't remember.
Silly idiot, Draco replied affectionately, pulling him around for a quick kiss. Time for the wormwood.
They sliced the long, wriggling roots, and Harry copied Draco in sprinkling them clockwise around the cauldron.
"Very good," Snape's smooth voice interrupted. "I'm glad to see that Potter seems to have learnt something from being partnered with you, Draco. Time to add the asphodel."
They reached for the container at the same time, and smiled as their fingers brushed. From behind them, Snape made a sound which could be interpreted as a snort. Harry could sense that Draco was trying to hold back laughter, so he bumped him gently with a shoulder. Draco retaliated with an elbow to Harry's side. It could have gone further, but Snape coughed meaningfully, so they turned their attention to the asphodel, which had to be ground into a powder.
All was going to plan, until Dobby appeared between the cauldrons with a crack. He made the two teens jump, Snape shout in annoyance, and the contents of Draco's cauldron hit Harry square in the face. The Gryffindor immediately topped over backwards, his face deathly pale.
Draco screamed, and fell to his knees beside his chosen mate. "Nooo!!!" the part-veela wailed, not noticing that the potion that had splashed onto the desk was dripping through several heaps of spare ingredients and into his hair, staining it a vivid pink.
Snape swore, and ordered the distraught Dobby to fetch Madam Pomfrey. He managed to organize Draco for long enough to get both teens into the main room, and Harry on the sofa, before Draco also collapsed, gripping Harry's chilled hand and sobbing.
"No, no, what will I do without you? It's so cold, and dark, and you're not there to hold back the demons any more…"
Snape knelt down at the weeping blond with a surprising look of concern and compassion on his sallow face. He put a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder, and whispered, "It will be all right, my Dragon. Be strong, Harry will be fine. He'll recover, and everything will be back as it was. The fates would not let one who is destined to destroy the Dark Lord die because of a misplaced potion."
If Harry had been awake, he would have marveled, not only at the empathetic speech, but also at the use of his true name.
Madame Pomfrey barreled into the room, followed by a concerned looking Professor Dumbledore.
"What happened?!" Poppy shrieked, taking in the scene.
"Potter received an almost complete draught of living death in the face, from Mister Malfoy's cauldron. Draco, when seeing what had happened, promptly collapsed into hysterics. I can't say I blame him. Now that you are here, I will return to my lab and see if I cannot prepare an antidote. I will hopefully be seeing you shortly."
He swept from the room, black robes billowing, and took a short cut down to the dungeons. He hoped that it would not take him long to come up with a solution, for Draco's sake, of course.
Dumbledore turned to Madam Pomfrey. "I suggest you see what you can do for Harry while I comfort Draco."
"All right, Albus. See if you can ask him… why is his hair pink?!"
The old wizard looked at her gravely. "I will see what I can ascertain."
The medi witch blinked at his seriousness, before turning to the still form of Harry lying on the sofa.
Dumbledore knelt beside the sobbing Slytherin and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Draco, Draco, listen to me. Harry is strong, he will be fine. But you need to be strong for him, so that he will not worry when he wakes. Can you do that? Stop crying, be strong for him, and you will both be fine. Professor Snape is looking into it; has he ever failed you before? Has Madam Pomfrey? No, they never have, and they won't this time. So… be strong, stop crying, for Harry's sake."
Dumbledore's words had the desired effect. Draco stopped sobbing, and raised his eyes. He gave the headmaster a long, calculating look, then looked over at Harry. "All right, Headmaster. What can I do to help him?"
"Well," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "You are soul mates after all. Go and see if your voice will break the coma."
"Coma?!"
"Sleep, I mean sleep," Dumbledore said hastily. "Sorry, when you get old, the mind slips, you know."
Draco glared suspiciously, but turned back to the boy he loved with all his heart. "Harry… Oh, I'm not saying this in front of Pomfrey and Dumbledore, however noble their intentions. I'll talk to you telepathically, ok?"
"You can do that already?" Madame Pomfrey interrupted.
"Yes, we can. Now, kindly shut up so that I can talk to Harry."
"Of- of course."
"Merci," Draco said sarcastically.
Harry… I love you, please come back to me. This was a stupid mistake, which should never have happened. Snape is working on it… I know that's not really a comfort to you, seeing as you never really seemed to get along, but he has never let me down before, as Dumbledore just reminded me. Come back to me. I miss you already. Open your big green eyes, even if they're narrowed in anger, it's better than- well- ok. Confession time. And don't expect me to repeat this when you're awake because you don't remember it.
I can feel you. I can feel when you're there, and right now, you're fading. Don't fade. You've seemed to stop now that I've started talking, but don't leave, come back, come back to stay with me. I think I'm starting to feel your emotions or something, and it scares me slightly, but it fills a hole that I didn't know was there. I used to, when this whole fiasco first started, just be able to sense you, like, I knew that you were in the room before I entered, that sort of thing. That started a few weeks before mating season. But, today, after- after you made me come, I found that I could feel you. I knew how you felt. I think, that as this continues, I will be able to anticipate you, and you me… we might even be able to read each other's thoughts! Not all of them, obviously, but the really strong ones. That would just be this telepathy developed slightly. Wouldn't that be cool?
So… if you don't come back, we'll never get that chance to do all those things, we'll never get the chance to kiss again, and I won't ever get a chance to repay that favour in kind. I'll never get to see if I can make you come. And I want to, oh I want to! I want to love you every way I can, whether in the little everyday things, or actual sex. I want to have you fuck me, and then I want to fuck you in turn, I want to make you scream in ecstasy, and come screaming my name. I want to tease you, make your beautiful body arch under my touch. I want to do daring things, like kiss you in the middle of the Great Hall and scream at the whole school, telling them that I love you, and if they have a problem with that, I'll hex their arses to hell and back. And then I want you to do the same to me. I want you to erase the marks that my mother made, and replace them with your own… scars that I will treasure dearly. I don't need a tattoo if I have your teeth marks on my shoulder!
This took rather a passionate and graphic turn, sorry. But I felt like I would burst if I didn't get that out. And you feel nearer now. Did you hear me?
Yes.
When Harry had received that faceful of potion, everything had started to fade. He felt that he was floating in a world where time did not matter. He vaguely heard Draco's anguished 'No!', but that only worried him for a moment. It felt like an eternity, before the next thing intruded on the dark peacefulness, and for a minute he was resentful. He never got any peace! But it was Draco talking to him again…
Harry smiled to himself in the darkness. He wouldn't talk in front of Dumbledore and Pomfrey? Typical Slytherin. Then Draco's familiar mind-voice seeped into his consciousness. It formed a life line around him, and it felt comfortable and familiar.
After a Draco had spoken to him for a while, he grabbed onto the lifeline, and let it pull him back to the old world. In that world, there was pain, and discomfort and duty, yes. But there was also Draco. And Harry didn't want to loose Draco.
So when Draco asked if he was listening, he replied.
Yes.
And let his eyes flicker open, even though they really didn't want to. He caught a glimpse of wide silver eyes, filling up with tears, before Draco's mouth was on his, desperately seeking a reaction.
So much sadness and tension in that kiss. Harry tried to sooth the frantic blond, moving his tongue in slow smooth movements, entwining it with Draco's. And after a while, they parted, breathing hard and looking deeply into each other's eyes. Dumbledore and Pomfrey slipped quietly away, to tell Snape that all was well.
"I thought I'd lost you."
Harry swallowed. "I almost was lost. Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have come back."
"You don't know that."
"I do… I expect Dumbledore and Pomfrey talked to me, yeah?"
"Pomfrey did."
"Well, I didn't hear her. I didn't hear anyone, but you. And your voice, your consciousness, it formed a life line. And still, I didn't have to use that lifeline. This life… it holds to much pain and suffering and destiny. It would have been nice to stay there, forever. But I couldn't leave you alone. I didn't even think of the fact that you would die if I didn't, so it wasn't out of a sense of honour, before you suggest that. I came back because you weren't in that world…. And I now know that I can't be happy if you're not there."
Draco's eyes darkened and became softer as the anguish left, to be replaced by love.
"Kiss me?"
"With pleasure."
A few kisses later, they were back to talking. Harry had too much to say, too many questions raised by Draco's speech. He needed the answers.
"Did you really mean it?"
"Which bit?"
"Ok… can you feel me?"
"Yes. It was all true. Can you feel me?"
Harry thought. "I can, actually. I never really realized it. I thought it was due to being your enemy for so many years. And after… what happened when Narcissa came… I guess I was too on edge to realize. But… yeah. I think I can. Ok… the, um, passionate stuff?"
Draco blushed. "Sorry about that," he coughed.
"Don't be."
"Huh?"
"I was going to ask… well… not now, I'm not that ready. But sometime in the future, could we do that?"
"You really want to?" Draco asked in amazement, staring at the Gryffindor with eyes as wide as saucers.
Harry smirked. "I really want to. Now… we'd better go find the teachers. They'll probably want to make absolutely sure I'm ok. After that… can we go to bed?"
Draco choked.
"I didn't mean it like that!!"
A.N – sorry this took so long, and sorry it's so short! I need to get my plot figured, (I've been working on whim so far, which is why the characters have changed with practically every chapter, and why there's hardly any consistency). I may also go back and re-write some chapters, to make them more consistent, I don't know. This story was never really meant to get this far – in fact, I'm amazed that it has. But seeing as it has, I might as well take it seriously. There's just the minor annoyance that I've just got the entire DVD collection of Yami no Matsuei (Hisoka = yum! And does anyone know any good sites for Hisoka/Tsuzuki??) so I have this urge to make them speak Japanese etc… even tho Draco actually speaks French occasionally. Not good. Yami no Matsuei is great, btw, I cried (which is a big compliment from me) and OMG-d all the time. Oh, and Ahh-d over Hisoka. That guy is just too cute! Ok, this is an AN, not a rant over Yami no Matsuei, so I will go email this to Tas, and get it out ASAP. Arigato!
Relle – ooh! Got me all inspired there! Yeah, I'm lazy, and I still haven't written the slashy bit. I think they're gonna take turns, seeing as I don't like it when one is sub all the time, and the other is dom. Variety is the spice of life! One of the reasons Magnetic Attraction started to pale for me towards then end. And now I have to have an explosion! Can't believe I didn't think of that…. I can see Snape's face… or I could combine the two… the potion and the pink… lol. Hm… brain working lmao. Lemmie see what I can come up with…'
Driven to insanity – that would be cool, lol. Thanks! I'm glad you're liking it!
Jerrica – yeah, I probably should have. Still, it's a bit late now. I might go along with Guns 'n' Roses later, I like them… lol. Thanks for the review!
Yana5 – Jen: don't worry she'll never succeed! Narcissa: Mwahahaa… Jen: shut up, this is my story not yours! Narcissa: that's what you think…
Malalani Astral – hehe! You will see… actually, I don't know myself, I'm being ambiguous on purpose… maybe Umbridge?? Hehe. No, Narcissa has more taste…
Dahlias – lol. Second time? Wow. People come back!! wide, astonished eyes
Insanechildfanfic – thanks!
Adventure diva – glad you like it! I feel all warm and happy inside! I'm kinda glad he's not freaking too…
Benjis VIP – well, the revelation won't be for a while, so you'll have that to look forward to! I'm glad you're still with me! I love seeing all the names again and again for different chapters!
Tasan15 – lol. I'll get writing as soon as I feel inspired! I think I'm gonna read over some slashy fics, and see if I can meld other people's ideas into a decent scene… hm….
Brenna8 – Glad you like it!
Jerrica – Um… I dunno… waves hand details, details! looks guilty As for the pensive idea… it would be nice, but slightly pointless. Sorry, I just don't think I'd be able to fit it in! And 'Reaper did the clothes bit, ask her!! autumnreaperhotmail.com. As for DS, well, I dunno why you can't get up to chapter 10, cos its all there, and 11 is now up. Like I've said, exams are in 4 weeks – 4 bloody weeks! Help! – and I'm kinda busy with revision and shit. As for the hate potion… we'll see, we'll see. I think I'm gonna use Relle's idea in this chapter… its such a good one! And 'Mione will come to her senses sometime… I think.
Adventure Diva – thanks! Glad I did ok this time… lol. More steam coming up, after the anxt!!
cRazy-GIrl-3000 – eww! That is dodgy. Both of them. Narcissa's mate is human, mostly. Lol. Draco in leather is just drool-worthy, in my opinion. Dumbledore did nothing of the sort! shudders My Easter was ok. How about yours? SS/HP is defiantly not my fave pairing… I don't know why, I think it's the age difference.
Shewolfe? – Lucius? He's back at the Manor, in the Library, brooding. Narcissa is flying solo, you see, and there's not much use for him during mating season. Narcissa's mate? We shall see… lol. Glad you're liking it!
Lady Phoenix Slytherin – Nice name! Um… I take that to mean that you've read up to 8 and are reading the rest later?? .
Siren of the Darknessflame – Cool, thanks. I will, as soon as I can get some free time from revising!
Kyra2 – I'd like to read that!! If you do it, anyhow. Narcissa getting her head chopped off (or whatever you plan to do with her) is always welcome. Kill them all! Lol. Yeah, they boys have some supporters, luckily. Still, this chapter's a bit of a shock… lol. Hope you like it!
Angelkitty77 – ah, but the question is: did you like the lemony bit?? looks insecure Glad you loved the rest of it!
Yana5 – I just got your e-mail. Here you go!