A/N: This chapter has lots of important stuff in it, to be followed by some fluff in the next chapter. I don’t know why, but I really like when people in stories get really hurt or sick, and everyone else has to look after them. Hence, the following events.
P.S. One of the beaters names is real, the other I had to make up. I made up the Jeremy kid.

Thanks to: Picc136—slow is what I do ;) green eyed dragon, Thanks much! 6 and to Catmint, I believe, who sent me an email review! Sorry this is later than I meant.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Harry Potter. Last chappie I forgot this, but I didn't own any then either. I made up some names.

Chapter 4:

Harry was sitting between his two friends at lunch the next day before they started questioning. They had been a bit wary to ask anything last night, given his mood, and this morning he had been both sleepy and thoughtful.

"Harry, where did you disappear to last night? You, you don't really look so good," Hermione asked, careful in case he was going to blow up at her.

"I just decided to walk around the castle," Harry said with a shrug.

"After curfew, without your cloak?" said Ron. "You're braver than me. But then, I had more homework left than you."

Harry looked like he was considering something, and Hermione and Ron let him think. "Did you think yesterday was kind of weird?" Harry asked them a minute later.

"Not really," said Hermione.

"Yeah, a bit," said Ron. "I mean, everyone was still so excited about Gryffindor's win, and you, well, you were in an odd mood, mate." Ron's face was a bit red, and he was watching Harry with an embarrassed look.

"Yeah, I was," said Harry. "Maybe that's what it was." He picked up his food and began eating. The thoughtful look came back to his face; Ron and Hermione exchanged looks.

Ron and Hermione talked back and forth for the rest of lunch with Harry half listening to them. He got up as soon as he had finished. "I have a few things I want to get from the tower before class," he told them. "I'll just go and get them while you finish. And don't forget, Ron," he called out as he walked toward the entrance, "we have Quidditch practice later." Behind him Ron groaned.

Harry climbed up the stairs, all the way to the seventh floor. There weren't many other students the halls. Everyone was intent on getting their lunch, or looking in the library for their next class. When Harry reached Gryffindor tower, the common room was completely deserted. He ran up the steps to his dormitory, and began searching his belongings for some needed papers.

Draco and Harry had talked for a long time the night before. Harry had returned to the common room much later than he expected. Hermione and Ron were waiting up for him, but he didn't have much to tell them. With nothing to say, and all their homework finished, they went up to bed almost right away. But Harry couldn't sleep. He heard Ron drift off beside him, and the other boys snoring, but he had an awful case of insomnia. His conversation with Draco played over and over again in his head. He examined all of it, wondering over almost every sentence. Had he said the right thing, did Draco really use that tone of voice? Harry couldn't believe that he had just a complete, more than friendly conversation with Malfoy. Except he hadn't been talking with Malfoy, not the Malfoy he knew. He had been talking to Draco. He had been talking to the actual person inside that blonde body, not the façade kept up for others.

He wondered what his friends would say if they knew. Well, he didn't really wonder, he knew that they would be rather disgusted, and kind of confused. He knew that he could probably never tell them what was going on, not matter how long he and Draco...hung out, were together? What were they anyway, he wondered. Hermione might be able to accept that Harry was now interested in guys, even if she didn't understand about Draco, but Ron...Ron wouldn't get it at all.

All these thoughts had whirled around Harry's head for hours the night before. He hadn't fallen asleep until two or three in the morning. And ever since he had woken up, he had spent most of his time thinking about it as well. Classes had been hard to concentrate on this morning, and he was going to have to ask Hermione for some of her notes. He was mostly just glad that he didn't have any classes with Draco until Thursday. That would have been a little too distracting this morning.

Harry grabbed the papers he needed for Transfiguration and left the tower. On the way back to the Great Hall, he saw Draco with Zabini, walking the other way, talking about Quidditch. Their eyes met for just a moment before they both moved on.

At 4:00 Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the rest of the Gryffindor team met in the Quidditch locker rooms. There was a cold rain coming down outside, and the sky looked stormy. Harry had a few things that he wanted to show the team on the board. He had a new flight strategy for his Chasers, and a few techniques he wanted to point out to the Beaters. Besides Ginny, there were two 3rd year Chasers. They were pretty good, but inexperienced. Harry had also had to get rid of one of the Beaters Alicia had picked out last year; he wasn't improving enough, and when Harry held try-outs he had found a second year who was much better. The second year was also inexperienced, so Harry had to get him trained up as soon as possible. Fifteen minutes later the team left the locker room to practice on the pitch.

"You know," said Ron, "I'm glad they made you the captain, Harry."

"Well, it only makes sense," said Ginny. "He's played longer than any of us."

"Yeah, but I would hate having to do all that work and figure out everything all the time," said Ron.

"Why do you think I always talk about Quidditch with you? I'm using you to help me figure out the next game," said Harry, getting on his broom. He raised his voice so the rest of the team could hear him. "I want the chasers to all go down to the Gryffindor end. Jeremy, Andrew, and I will come toward you; Ron will be guarding the opposite end. Use our new flight pattern I showed you." He flew to the opposite end of the pitch with the Beaters, and all the Chasers flew to the Gryffindor end. He used a hand signal to start them, and everyone took off.

The Chasers had a good idea of what they were doing, and they didn't need as much practice, so Harry had Jeremy and Andrew practice their Beating skills, and pulled Ron off the goal posts to take their place. The rain was coming down harder than ever and turning into sleet. Visibility was bad. Harry flew with the Chasers and tried to keep an eye on the Beaters. They knew what they were supposed to be practicing, but they were clumsy fliers and it took them a lot of tries to get it right. Harry noticed and flew up to help them while having one of the third year girls fly on Ron's side.

Harry tried to focus on his Beaters, but an argument broke out between Ron and Ginny, and play had stopped. The third years hovered off to the side, not wanting to get in the middle of anything.

Harry was about to fly down to them when a Bludger came hurling out of nowhere and thudded into his right side. He was nearly thrown off his broom. He was leaning over the handle gasping for breath and resettling his glasses when the second Bludger pelted him on the other side, nearly unseating him a second time.

He drifted down to the ground in a slow spiral, not really aware of what he was doing. He felt rather than saw Ron fly down beside him.

"Harry? Harry! Are you all right, mate?" Ron asked bending over him. His face was paler than usual. Ginny, the Chasers and the Beaters crowded around.

"I'm fine," said Harry. He'd wrapped his arms around his chest.

"Come off it, mate," said Ron. "You're not fine! Those Bludgers hit you damn hard!" His head swung around and he glared at Jeremy and Andrew.

"Leave them alone," said Harry roughly. He stood up. "That's what practice is for, to make sure this happens now, not during a game. Let's keep at it, we've got about half an hour before we have to head back. Let's go!"

Ron was shaking his head, but mounted his broom anyway. The team flew up into the air and started practicing again.

Half an hour later they met back on the ground and as a group made their way back to the castle. They had all decided there was no point stopping for a shower or changing their robes since they would be drenched long before they got indoors. By the time they reached the castle steps, almost everyone's teeth were chattering.

"I wish the wind wasn't so bad," Ron muttered to Harry. "It would have been quicker to fly back."

"No kidding."

Supper was just beginning in the Great Hall, so they all went inside to join their fellow students. Harry, Ron and Ginny broke off from the younger four, and went to sit with Hermione and some others. Hermione stared at them. "You guys are really soaked," she said scooting over and looking concerned.

"The weather's awful," said Ron brightly, reaching for food.

Ginny rolled her eyes as she filled her plate, but more slowly than her brother. "There wasn't any time to change before dinner," she said.

"You could all get really sick," Hermione said, still worried.

"Come on, Hermione, I think we'll survive for half an hour," said Ron around a mouthful of meatloaf. "You know what I really would like right now, Harry?" he asked.

"A hot shower with absolutely nothing you need to think about or do afterwards?"

"Yep," said Ron with a blissful look.

"Look, I hate to ruin your hopes, but do you realize how much homework we have to finish by tomorrow? We have Potions without the Slytherins tomorrow, and double Potions with them the next day," said Hermione.

"Oh good, just what we need, double Potions with Malfoy," growled Ron.

"I'd be more worried about three Potion classes with Snape without your homework finished," said Hermione pointedly. Ron and Harry groaned.

"All right, all right, we'll work on the homework," Ron said.

"Looks like the hot shower's going to have to wait, mate," said Harry to Ron.

"Yep." The rest of dinner didn't take long, and soon Ron, Hermione and Harry were marching up to the tower. Ron and Harry went straight to their dormitory for dry clothes and to find their homework. Then they went back down the stairs to meet Hermione.

"Uh, why don't you two go along without me? I have to go to the bathroom. I'll meet you two in the library in a few minutes," said Harry.

"Sure," said Ron without arguing, "we'll see you in a bit, Harry." Ron pulled on Hermione's elbow without seeming too, and Harry got the feeling they were going to talk about him. He didn't care much, and there wasn't a lot he could do about it. He ran back up the stairs to use the bathroom, but not the toilet. He turned the lights on full, stood in front of the mirror, slipped out of his robes, and pulled off his shirt.

He was a bit shocked by what he found even without turning. He had two huge new bruises, one on each side, overlapping with the purpling ones he already had. He turned slowly, and looked over his shoulder. Big bruises were spread out over his muscles. They were fresh and very sore. Harry was glad the lights had been out in the dormitory. If Ron had seen these, he would have made Harry go straight to the infirmary.

Harry pulled his shirt and his robes back on and left the bathroom. Passing through the common room, several people called out to him. He smiled and nodded, but climbed out the portrait hole.

Harry was about to take the staircase that would take him closest to the library when he changed his mind. He walked further along the seventh floor, and took another staircase. Then took another and another. At the fourth floor, he wandered around until he found the winding corridor. He turned the first corner. Then a second. And the third. Then a little bit further on, the fourth and fifth. After the seventh corner, he found what he was looking for.

Draco was sitting in the same window seat, working on homework. He was facing the same direction as the last night, but Harry had approached from the opposite direction tonight. He had a perfect view. Draco's head snapped up when Harry came around the corner, and there was a startled look on his face. That vanished and was replaced by a smile.

"So," Draco said. "You found me."

"I was wondering if you'd be here tonight. I just thought I'd check," said Harry.

"I'm here almost every night. We set it up ages ago. Trying to do my homework in the Slytherin common room annoyed me, so I spoke with Professor Snape. He and Dumbledore set it up so I could use this corner of the hall without being disturbed and breaking curfew. I can stay here till midnight. A little longer if no one's around to check. I meant to tell you last night, but I forgot."

"This is your night refuge," said Harry.

"Away from Slytherin, and anything I don't want to be. You can come and find me here almost any night."

Harry moved over to lean against the window edge at Draco's side. "That's good to know," he said. "I...I'd like to have a constant place where we can meet."

"I'm not here every night," Draco said hurriedly. "Some nights when I have no homework, or when something is happening, I don't come."

"That's all right. It's good enough," said Harry.

"Settled then," said Draco. He shifted so he could lean his head against Harry and wrap an arm around his waist. He pulled back quickly when Harry flinched and gasped. He stared up into Harry's face. "Harry, what is it?"

"Nothing," said Harry, "Quidditch bruises." Nonetheless his face was drawn, and his hands were clenched.

"They seem pretty bad," said Draco cautiously. "Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey."

"I already have, remember?" Harry snapped. He was silent for a moment then looked over Draco ruefully. "Sorry, but Ron and Hermione have been bothering me about it."

"What are friends for?" said Draco sounding amused. But the feeling didn't quite reach his eyes. Hermione and Ron were allowed to bother him about his Quidditch wounds, but Draco couldn't. Couldn't yet.

"Speaking of them—"Draco groaned inwardly—"I should be going. I said I would meet them in the library, and I'm already really late." Sure, Draco thought, they get to spend more time with you. They get to keep you away from me.

"Too bad for me then," Draco said. "Maybe I'll come to the library just so I can watch you."

"What would my friends say?" Harry joked.

"I'll make sure to walk in after you do. And if they ask why I'm staring I'll just tell them I'm coming up with my next diabolical plan to get you all," Draco retorted.

"Well, all right then," said Harry, standing straight.

"Will you be back tomorrow?" Draco asked. He knew it didn't sound anxious, but he felt it all the same. He felt odd asking anyway. He was considering following Harry, but here they were, almost saying a goodbye. Because they could never speak anywhere else, not words that meant something.

"I can't," said Harry, and Draco's heart sank just a little bit. "We've got an extra long astronomy class, so I'll be busy."

"Thursday, then," said Draco.

"Yeah, Thursday," said Harry, taking a few steps. He couldn't think of anything to say, and Draco wasn't offering anything; his head was bent over his work, and the smile had gone from his face. So Harry kept walking. Draco didn't stop him.

Harry reached the library much later than he had intended too. Ron and Hermione were busy with their homework and the look on their faces when he walked up...the only word that came to his mind was disbelief.

"What happened, mate, did you fall in?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Sorry, I ended up taking the long way. There were some people in the common who wanted to talk to me." Both of these statements were true, they just didn't explain every thing that had gone on.

"Harry, sit down, I'll have to explain this bit to you, Ron didn't understand it at all," Hermione motioned him over and the homework began.

All the time Harry was in the library, Draco Malfoy didn't show up.

Late, late that night Harry reflected on it while he took his very soothing, very relaxing hot shower. Everyone was asleep, so there was no one but Ron to contend with for the hot water.

Harry wondered why Draco hadn't shown up. Harry had been there for hours, there would have been plenty of time to make a casual entrance. On the way to the library Harry had been imagining the scene in the library with Malfoy sitting at a table on the other side of the library from theirs. It had been just a joke, and Harry knew nothing was necessarily going to happen, but it had sounded like a good idea.

Maybe Draco didn't care anymore. Maybe Harry had said something to turn him off without realizing. That would be a shame because Harry was just starting to like him.

Harry worried it about in his mind as he got out of the shower. He was trying to get back into the dorm before Ron had finished his shower. He didn't want Ron to notice the new bruises. Still, he took his time drying off and getting into his pajamas. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't even hear the other shower turn off. Harry left the room without seeing Ron standing in the doorway, a towel wrapped around his waist and water dripping onto the floor with his mouth hanging open.

The next morning Ron woke up very early. He crept down to the common room. There were few people around, but Ron saw a fifth year girl he sort of knew. He went up to her.

"Will you do me a favor?" he asked.

"I guess," the girl said, a little confused.

"Go wake up Hermione Granger. Tell her Ron needs to see her in the common room, it's important," Ron said.

"All right," said the girl. She got up from her chair and climbed the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Ron paced back and forth anxiously with his hands in his pockets. A few minutes later Hermione appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in her robes, with the girl following. Ron walked quickly toward the stairs, and met Hermione near the middle of the room.

"Why did you want to meet me, Ron?" Hermione asked, concerned for her friend.

"It's about Harry," said Ron. Hermione's anxious look increased. "He did get hurt, like I thought. I saw him last night when he was getting dressed after his shower. He's got two awful new bruises."

"Oh no," said Hermione. "Are you sure?"

"Come look," Ron urged, pulling her toward the boys' dormitory steps. The fifth year girl had a strange look on her face as she watched them climb the stairs.

Inside the dormitory everyone else was still sleeping. Hermione whispered a spell.

"What will that do?" Ron whispered.

"It will keep everyone in the room in their state of consciousness while the charm is still on. We'll stay awake and they'll all stay asleep until I take the charm off."

"Cool," whispered Ron. They proceeded to Harry's bed. Hermione wasn't sure where to look, and Ron wasn't moving. "Hermione," he said, "are you sure we should do it this way? I mean, he's asleep, isn't it, I dunno...."

"Oh come on, Ron, we're his best friends. You wouldn't care if we were playing a practical joke."

"I guess you're right," Ron sighed. "Let's just hurry up." He pulled the blankets half off Harry and carefully pulled up the shirt of his pajamas.

"Oh my. Oh, sweet Merlin, that's really bad, Ron," said Hermione sort of helplessly.

"I know," said Ron grimly.

"We've got to get him to the hospital wing. We've got to convince him to see Madame Pomfrey."

"That's part of why I woke you up so early, you we would have plenty of time," said Ron. "I think we should wake him up, and take him there now, before breakfast. He won't be able to think of as many good arguments if he's half awake."

"All right," said Hermione. She said the words that would lift the charm. Ron shook Harry awake gently by the shoulders. Harry was confused when he found the two of them waking him up.

"Hermione, go wait in the common room. I'll help him get dressed," said Ron when Harry was sitting up. Hermione nodded and left. Harry put on his glasses, then Ron made him dress quickly without explaining why.

Down in the common room, Hermione was waiting. As soon as they had left the portrait hole, they stood on either side of him to make sure he wouldn't try to get out of it. When Harry realized they were in the corridor outside the infirmary, he tried to pull away. Hermione and Ron grabbed his arms and practically dragged him into the infirmary wing.

Madame Pomfrey was in her office at the back of the ward. She was surprised to find the three students knocking at her door at such an early hour. "What have you done now?" she said with a note of disapproval.

"It's Harry, ma'am," said Ron. "There was an incident at Quidditch practice yesterday afternoon."

"Tsk tsk. Come on, Potter, let's see." She led them to the last window of the ward where the light was better. Harry reluctantly slipped off his robes and pulled off his shirt so Madame Pomfrey could see.

She wasted no time with surprised remarks, but she pursed her lips tightly at the sight. "How did you come by these bruises, Potter?" she asked in a professional tone.

"A Bludger on both side, Professor," said Harry dully.

"Hold out your arms, Potter, so I can see better," Madame Pomfrey instructed. She probed his chest with her fingers; he tried not to flinch. Not only did it hurt, her fingers were ice cold. She examined his right side first, then moved to his back, feeling all the different muscles there, noting the places where he winced. Then she examined his left side, and finally prodded his stomach a few times.

"Well, Potter," she said. "You've done a lot of damage to yourself in only a few days time. I expect you have some internal wounds, it feels as if you do, and you've fractured a few ribs along with the bruises. Now, normally I could heal the bones right away, and ease the bruises, but there's the internal stuff. If I heal the fractures now, the internal injuries won't heal properly."

Harry waited.

"I'll need to make up a potion for the internal hurts. I may have to have Professor Snape help me. Naturally I'll tell him what it's for." Harry groaned inwardly. "It should be ready by lunch time, so you'll need to hold on till then. I will bring it too you. But I can ease the outer bruises right now. Not heal, mind you, but they will feel better."

Madame Pomfrey bustled around her office and the ward for a minute before she returned. She had a jar of ointment that she rubbed onto the bruises, then she touched her wand to Harry's skin and said a spell. The soreness on the surface lessened immensely. Harry let out a sigh of relief.

"There you go, Potter, that will do for now. Now you three head to breakfast now. I'll see you at lunch remember." The three left the ward and headed for the great hall.

Draco was sandwiched in between two Slytherins in the Great Hall, trying not to watch Harry Potter at the Gryffindor table. It was lunchtime of the Wednesday when Harry couldn't visit him in the fourth floor corridor.

"Malfoy, Malfoy, were you listening?" one of the seventh years was trying to talk to him: the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. "Practice is moved till tomorrow. The Gryffindors are using the pitch as well, but we'll use it after them."