Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters associated belong to JK Rowling, this author is not capitalizing on them, nothing belongs to her but the plot ^__^ Warning: (Do I still need to do this? SLASH!!! Harry/Draco and other couples, too, somewhere. If you don't like it then please do not *read* it! Also, it's rated R, though this chapter is more of a PG-13. Sorry this chapter took so long, I really didn't mean it to! heh, I recommend reading this while listening to Radiohead's "I might be wrong" on the Amnesiac album. That's what I did when writing this, it seems to capture some of the urgency I was trying to get across... Thank you's at the end, and enjoy:
My Fire, My Love: Part Eight
Draco ran through the corridors of Hogwarts as fast as he could. He arrived at Gryffindor Tower and skidded to a halt.
"Sphinx!" he yelled at the confused Fat Lady, and rushed past her. The red-and-gold-decorated room flashed by in a blur, as did the startled faces of its occupants. Draco didn't care. He sped up the stairs and threw open the door to Harry's dorm. There he paused, chest heaving, and took in the scene before him.
Harry Oh God oh God was crumpled on the ground, curled up in pain and screaming. Three of his housemates were clustered around him, terrified and bewildered.
"Harry!" the name tore from Draco's throat, a desperate plea. He sprinted forward and snatched him up. please God, oh Love *please* and half carried, half-dragged him down the stairs. Ron and Neville looked after him in shock, while Seamus just looked concerned.
Once Draco arrived at the bottom of the stairs, he picked the Seeker up completely and crossed the common room. However, Fred, George, and Dean were coming through the portrait hole at that moment.
"Hey!" exclaimed Fred when he saw the snake in lion territory.
"What're you doing, Malfoy?" yelled George. Eyes wide, Dean placed a restraining hand on Fred's forearm.
"Let him pass!" he whispered urgently. Fred looked at him, confused, and Draco took this opportunity to push past the redheads and stumble out into the corridor. He took off at a dead run towards the Infirmary, clutching the precious black-haired creature in his arms tightly. Harry had stopped screaming and was now moaning softly.
Draco arrived at the Infirmary, finally *finally*, and nearly bowled poor Madam Pomfrey over.
"What's this?" she cried in surprise.
"Please..." Draco gasped, but he couldn't breathe, couldn't get the words out. "Harry's been poisoned!"
Madam Pomfrey looked skeptical. "Poisoned?" she repeated dubiously.
"Please!" Draco cried desperately. Why won't she believe me please believe me Harry Harry Madam Pomfrey glanced up at the distraught Slytherin's face and saw the *real* fear in his stormy gray eyes. Her own eyes widened.
"Set him on the bed!" she said brusquely. Draco did as he was told and pulled a chair up next to the bedside. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the prone figure in the bed. His brain was panicking. He'd lost all sense of when and where except for the *now* of Harry.
"... what it is? Draco!" Madam Pomfrey's voice called him back to reality.
"What?" he asked, confused.
Infinitely patient, she repeated her question. "I asked you, do you have any idea what this is?" she gestured to Harry. Draco snapped back in time and he heard Pansy's voice, almost an eternity away...
"-causes him to be violently ill, then feel fine." mind-numbing fear sent him reeling "-continues this way until eventually the organs liquefy-" he repeated , eyes scrunched up to hold back tears. Madam Pomfrey looked aghast, but Draco didn't see. Neither did Harry, who was now throwing his head from side to side, eyes wide open and glassy. Draco clutched Harry's hand for all he was worth, and from very far away he heard the mediwitch whisper,
"Enchantyola..." and hurry away.
She may have been gone for hours or just 15 minutes, Draco didn't know. But suddenly she was back, with Headmaster Dumbledore in tow.
"- Enchantyola." she was saying. The elderly professor stepped forward and placed a wizened hand on Harry's chest. Madam Pomfrey magicked a cool compress and pressed it against the teen's forehead.
"The cure, I'm afraid, is incredibly expensive. Some key ingredients are exceeding rare. And the potion is very complex. We'll need quite a bit of money."
Draco, (who had been listening with rapt attention) upon hearing this, leapt up from Harry's bedside and dashed off. Dumbledore stared after him.
"What is Mr. Malfoy doing here, Poppy?"
"I don't know, Professor. He brought Harry in here, though, poor lad, and hasn't left his side since."
"Curious." mumbled the old man as he attended to the sick Gryffindor.
Draco arrived back at the Infirmary a few minutes later, carrying what looked to be a very heavy, ornate sack. He dumped out its contents on another bed. Galleons and Sickles rolled everywhere, clinking and glistening in the light.
"Here. You can use it all. Will it be enough? I was saving up for a broom," he added almost as an afterthought, to nobody in particular. The adults looked at him in astonishment, but Draco was seated next to Harry again, tenderly stroking back his unruly hair.
Dumbledore finally moved. He scooped up the money. "This should be sufficient. I shall send for the ingredients immediately. Mr. Malfoy, will you please come with me?"
"But-" he protested.
"Come." said the Headmaster firmly, and reluctantly the blonde Slytherin followed him out of the Infirmary, casting worried glances behind him. They walked in silence for a while, Draco worried beyond coherent thought.
"Draco." said the Headmaster gently, finally stopping and facing the student. "Pull yourself together, boy. People will notice something -ah- unusual, if they haven't already. And I am sure you do not want that."
Draco looked up at him. "Is he going to be all right, Professor?" he asked, sounding like a lost little boy.
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, yes, I believe so. I think you discovered his... illness in time." Draco seemed to collapse, sagging against the wall in relief. "Draco!" the teen looked up. "You need to calm down. Harry will be fine. But you will not be if anyone else discovers the source of your concern." The Slytherin blinked.
"Yes." he whispered, and with visible effort, he drew himself up straight and schooled his features into their usual impassiveness. Dumbledore winked. "That's my Slytherin. Now I need you to do something for me. Go to Professor Snape and tell him that I'm asking him to start preparing the Reviticus Potion, and that he will have the other ingredients he needs in 36 hours at the most. And then I want you to get a relaxing tablet and take it. Severus should have it in stock. All right, Draco?" He nodded. "This has been quite a shock to us all," he continued, "after you take the medicine you should return to the Infirmary and stay there for, oh, two days or so. Quarantine, you see." and he winked at the 5th year again. Draco looked up into the kindly Professor's face.
"Thanks." he said, his voice almost normal. He left and went hurriedly to Snape's dungeons.
Dumbledore went up to the owlery and sent off the package with Draco's money, labeled "Urgent".
*************
30 hours later.
"It's for *Potter*?" Snape looked disgusted. "What did the little troublemaker get into this time?" he sneered, not noticing his pet student bristle up. Madam Pomfrey sighed in exasperation as Snape handed her the potion.
Dumbledore said quietly, "Harry's done nothing, Severus. He was poisoned."
"Poisoned?" Snape scoffed disbelievingly. "By whom?"
Draco sat up in the other bed, still glaring at the Potions Master. Thankfully, he recovered enough from his shock *not* to be staring at Harry the entire time.
"Pansy." he said shortly, causing the adults to all look at him. He knew this disclosure would get him in trouble later on, but right now he didn't care. He wanted to *hurt* her bitch, hurt her very badly, make her scream for what she did.
"We'll look into that, Mr. Malfoy. Thank you." Dumbledore replied. Snape looked back and forth between his student and the headmaster. There was something he was missing...
"Enough of this. I'm going to take care of Harry now." Madam Pomfrey announced. She poured the expensive liquid down the youth's throat, and everyone in the room waited with bated breath.
Harry stopped writhing and lay still for several long moments. Then, he shifted slightly and opened his eyes, to Draco's great joy.
"Ooooh." he groaned, and promptly leaned over and vomited all over the floor.
"Harry." whispered Draco, slipping out of his bed and crossing to him. The Gryffindor raised his head and his face went from miserable to excruciatingly happy in the space of three seconds. But then he saw Snape, watching him like a hawk. He nodded a little in the Professor's direction, and Draco jerked back.
"We're glad to see you back, Mr. Potter." Madam Pomfrey said, a little teary-eyed but trying not to show it.
"Ah, yes." said Dumbledore. "But now I think we should let the invalids rest. Come, Severus, Poppy, dinner awaits us." and the trio left the room. Dumbledore poked his head in briefly. "Harry, my boy, you've had many visitors. They've been told to come back tomorrow." Harry nodded, and then he was gone. He turned his sparkling green eyes to the waiting Slytherin, who was finally able to collapse on his lover.
"Harry..." he breathed.
"What happened?" he asked. "I just remember feeling really sick, and then you came in and-" Harry's eyes widened. "Does- does everybody know?" he asked fearfully. Draco laughed a little.
"I don't know and I really don't care. God, Harry, I've been so worried for the past two days, people knowing about us was the last thing on my mind. I'm just so glad you're okay." The raven-haired teen's eyebrows shot up.
"Two days?!" he exclaimed. Then he sort of wobbled.
"Lie back down Harry." Draco ordered. "I'll tell you what happened. Pansy Parkinson," he said through gritted teeth, "decided to please me by *poisoning* you." Harry gasped. "Yes, that was pretty much my reaction, too. I told Dumbledore. That little whore better watch out, her days are numbered." his eyes narrowed and his voice was cold, calculating.
"Don't." Harry pleaded. "Don't get like that, it's not you. Draco." he said softly. The blonde was crying silently in rage. "I'm okay, I'm okay! Please."
Angrily, Draco wiped his face. How could he let this happen to Harry? His most precious thing in the world? Perhaps... Oh this was going to be painful, but it would be better for Harry in the long run...
"Harry." he said stiffly. Immediately, the Gryffindor sat up. He knew that voice. It was Draco's "I'm-doing-this-for-your-own-good" voice. "Maybe we should stop seeing-"
"Don't even think about it, Drac," Harry said sharply. "If you walk away, I'll go back to Pansy for more poison. Don't think you can protect me by leaving me. It doesn't work that way." Even though Draco was upset, he smiled. I should've known he wouldn't tolerate *that* idea. And I'm glad.
"Okay. Okay, Harry." he said, giving in. His beautiful Gryffindor smiled, relieved.
"Good." he settled back with a sigh. "God, I don't even wanna *think* about all the rumors floating around after two *days*."
"Don't worry about it." Draco said, running his fingers through silvery-blonde locks. "I'll take care of everything." Harry smiled sleepily as his eyelids drooped.
"I know." then he yawned, and was asleep.
To Be Continued....
THANK YOU!!! 130 REVIEWS!!!
Destiny, (yes I am evil. :( Sowry), Di-Chan (I happen to think Pansy is quite an airhead), Moonbyrd (yes poor Seamus :( but he'll be getting some action later, I think!), Goddess (coming up with the plot is the hardest part!), Eternal Haven (thanks, I've been going for believability here! ^__^), Pepperjack Candy (ooo yes Posessive!Draco is *always* fun *evil grin*), CrystalStarGuardian (mwa ha ha here it is! And please do continue Changing Houses. I'm loving "breaking the rules" too! ^__^), supergirl (eep! I should've gotten a howler for taking so long!), j (thanks!), MiniMe, (hello, faithful reviewer!! hope you enjoy this part, and yes, Draco *definitely* would have cursed Pansy for calling him "muffin"!), Holly (silly muse! ^__^), StorytellingStar (I intend to email you, I hope when I put this up that I didn't forget!!), JediCosmos, Padfoot Lover, Mac (), Harry84, Rube, Wyvern (oh my goodness, a pillow fight over killing Pansy, scary! ^__^ Thanks for reviewing guys, and I hope you like this part!), Courteney, Sandra Solaria Dees (Hopefully Pansy will get her just desserts... we all know dear Draco won't let her get away with *that*! ^__^), Juliana Black (here's more for you... *hides behind table* *whimpers* enjoy ^__^), yeah81 (here ya go!), audrie (thanks! ), Cat Samwise (eeep! here's the next part!), dark vampire (*laughing* well I'm glad you like MFML so much!), Rashelana Lupin, (heh. Draco will take down Pansy, rest assured!), wow (), pixy, Kasey, clarkeraven (I *hate* school. Seamus is great!), Morien Alexander, Kyohaku Celestiale Vespertina (pretty name, not sure I can pronounce it, but pretty! I'm glad you like this!), MoonShadow (you *also* have a nice name *grin* And see, there's no reason to get angry! ^__^), Oceana (here's MORE! ^__^), Pythia, A-nondescript-Slytherin-girl (yes *shudders* i would *never* subject dear Seamus to Snape!), Prophetess of Hearts (waaah! don't be mad at me! *sniffle*), Violetrose (Harry got better!), Meep (hi stephanie), aishadao (Seamus is great! I worship him! ^__^), yolande (you reviewed! that's never irritating! ^___^), androgeny (erm... monkeys and shakespeare...okie.... ^__^ hope you like this part!), Erin (mwa haha, wait and see!), black no. 1, LadyStar (hee hee *attempts to stop laughing* ... *doesn't work* hahahaha! that's great! sleeping with a horse's ass! I'll try and incorporate that! hee *giggle*), Kotone (you-you'd like this *without* a plot?! Thank you! *weeps* ^__^), angelstar, Sev's-Gurl, Evil Windstar, Lirra (don't cry! if you cry, *sniffle* I'll cry!), phoenixtears24601 (I will try and email ya ^__^), kari89 (stupid muse! *grumbles* are you happy? you woke me up and forced me to write this. are you happy? *Now* can I get back to sleeping with the enemy? Huh? *grumble grumble*)
WOW! A LOT OF REVIEWS! WHEW! anyway, I've got a site now, a private archive if you will, Smearedsilver.8m.com its still under construction though. I have a couple of new fics up... go check out "Sleeping With the Enemy" it's very similar to this, but slightly darker. I will definitely have the next chapter of MFML out by New Year's.
Peace,
~RainShadow