~Take Care My Angel~
Draco peeked one eye open. The swirling darkness flooded his eyes until he blinked a few times to adjust them. He stretched and reached over for his wand flicking a light on. He noted a clock; four in the morning. That surprised him. He had gone to bed two, maybe three hours ago at that and yet he felt wide awake.
Seeing as there was no way he could get back to sleep Draco sat up and stretched again popping his back in the process. He stood up and walked over to his dresser and looked inside.
'School robes or comfortable muggle clothes?' Draco thought, 'Well Dumbledore doesn't really care if we wear other clothes on weekends and I don't feel like going anywhere so whatever.'
Draco grabbed a red shirt and black jeans. He grabbed a pair of boxers from a different drawer and headed for the bathroom. He set the clothes on the sink and turned around turning the shower on. He flung his shirt in a small hamper and slid his sweats and boxers off his waist all at once and placed them with the shirt.
Draco stepped into the steam filled shower closing the glass door behind him. The warm water cascaded down his back and set a tingle up his spin. It felt so good on his muscles which seem to be becoming sore. He rubbed at his shoulders for a second before reaching for the shampoo.
Squeezing some out of the bottle and into his hand he began running his fingers through his gel cracked hair. The old gel came off in flakes as he scrubbed harder to get his hair clean. Not a trace of grease was left when he flipped his hair back and let the warm stream of water wash the soap out.
He grabbed for the soap bar and lightly began lathering it in his hands. He ran it over his torso and down toward his stomach, which was a bit sensitive at the moment. He hissed as his muscles tightened.
Draco lightly ran the soap back over his stomach and over his arms. By the time he got to his feet his lower back was burning with pain. He quickly rinsed his body and grabbed for a towel. He wrapped it around his waste and stepped out, trying not to cause himself anymore pain.
Another towel rubbed through his hair and soon it was wild and very messy. Draco smirked in the mirror, 'Almost exactly like Potter's. I wonder if he just runs a towel over his head and leaves.' Draco couldn't help but laugh.
He didn't even feel like slicking gel in his hair so he let it fall around his forehead and above his ears. He grabbed a small gray comb and worked the few knots out of it and left it alone.
Draco grabbed his boxers and stuck one leg in and then the other and gradually slid them up to his waist. He took the towel and wiped a little more water from his legs before he pulled his pants on. He grabbed the shirt and stuck his arms through then pulled it over his head. He hung the towel on the shower door leaving it for a house elf to gather and discard of.
Draco clung onto the doorway as his headache came back. The dizziness overpowered him and seeing became an issue. Everything started to swirl and his back hollered in burning pain. He fought his way to his bed and laid down closing his eyes trying to clear his head.
A knock on his door sent a searing pain through his head. He didn't have the strength to answer and he hoped whoever was there would just go away. Another knock and more pain. Draco just wanted them to leave.
He heard somebody call his name from the other side, but he couldn't really hear who. Draco tried to speak loud enough to tell them to go away, but he couldn't get his voice above a hoarse whisper.
Draco heard the click of his door being unlocked.
'Goddamn can't people leave me alone?'
"Draco?" a voice asked.
Draco gave a small grunt.
He felt a figure loom over him and felt a hand on his forehead and tender fingers on his cheek. The touch was so gentle he felt he had imagined it.
Draco slowly opened his eyes and a familiar figure stood over him, "Harry?" He winced at how dry his voice sounded.
"God, Draco, you're burning up. Can you stand?"
Draco lifted his head a few centimeters off the pillow before grunting in both pain and frustration as he laid back down, "No."
"How am I suppose to get you to the hospital wing? Do you think you would be ok if I elevated you with my wand?"
"I don't think so," Draco cracked, "It hurts to move. I'll be ok, just go away."
"How can you say that?!!" Draco winced at the loud noise. Harry noted that and spoke softly again, "Sorry, but, Draco your face is burning. How can you say you're ok?"
Draco stayed silent. He closed his eyes again trying to control the spinning. He heard rustling farther away more toward his bathroom. Then footsteps coming closer again. Something cool was placed on his forehead. Small drops of water ran off his face mixing in with hot sweat.
A damp cloth ran to his cheeks moistening them with cold water that quickly became warm against his body heat. It moved down to his neck then back up to his forehead.
Draco heard Harry leave again for a few seconds, and then his footsteps noted his return.
"Can you try to sit up?" Harry whispered.
Draco placed his hands steadily beside him and raised the upper half of his body. He got about halfway up before the dizziness grew to be too much. He groaned and laid back down.
Harry worked his hand underneath Draco's neck and tilted his head up. He placed a glass to the sick boy's lips and tipped it upwards.
"Drink," Harry instructed.
Draco swallowed as much as he could before he was allowed to rest his head again. His throat thanked Harry. Harry took the now warm cloth from Draco's head and left again giving Draco a few moments to think.
'What is going on? Why is Potter here and why is he helping me? And why am I accepting his help? Ok, maybe I am too tired to fight him off, but I could at least put up a struggle! God I feel too horrible. I don't want to think.'
The wet cloth was firmly pressed against Draco's forehead again. His stomach churned and he felt like he was gonna be sick. He swallowed hard trying to stop the knot that threatened to form in his throat. Sweat fell over his eyelids and ran down his neck, damping the neckline of his shirt.
Draco felt his shirt being tugged upwards. He opened his eyes and rasped, "Potter, what are you doing?"
"Your shirt is getting soaked and this will help you cool down."
Draco felt his shirt being slowly pulled over his head and then it was gone, "Why are you helping me?"
Harry let out a small chuckle, "You were always one to put up a fight. I can't just leave you here, now can I?"
Draco's lips caught into a small smirk, "Yes."
Harry smiled down at him, "I could, couldn't I?"
Draco slowly nodded the smirk never leaving, "You are too much of a Gryffindor, Potter."
"Can't help it."
Another dizzy spell came over Draco. He shut his eyes and groaned. Harry took the cloth and ran it over Draco's very flushed cheeks. Draco shut his eyes as the cloth ran down his neck. It just felt so good at the moment and he was too tired to care that it was Harry.
Draco felt the cloth lower onto his torso. He gasped and opened his eyes staring at the raven-haired.
Harry looked down at him, "Relax. Damn, Draco, you're burning up. I need to cool you down. Close your eyes or you'll never get better."
"D-Don't tell me what to do," Draco grumbled.
Harry gritted his teeth trying not to lose his patients. He was just irritable form being sick... no... Draco was like this all the time.
"Just try to sleep."
Draco closed his eyes as another dizzy spell passed over him. He began to relax under Harry's touch. The cool cloth ran across his chest and down onto his stomach, which was still sore. He tensed his muscles and hissed as pain ran through his body at the slight touch.
Harry removed the cloth, "Hurt?"
Draco just nodded, keeping his eyes shut.
"Sorry," Harry continued to rub his chest and face. Draco felt a finger brush a stray strand of hair off his forehead and tuck it behind his ear.
The coolness felt so good, combined with such a light touch, and soon Draco let sleep overtake him.
|~*~|
Draco's eyes slowly blinked open. His head hurt and his body ached all over.
'It was all a dream,' Draco thought, 'I dreamt my enemy came over here and actually helped me. I'm losing my mind.'
He heard shuffling over at the foot of his bed. Draco lifted his head for a better view.
"How are you feeling?"
"Potter?"
"The one and only. How's your head?"
"Hurts like hell. What time is it?"
"Six at night."
"I've been asleep all that time!" Draco shouted which really wasn't a good idea. It caused his head more pain and he had to lie back down.
Harry walked over to the side of the bed, "You were pretty sick. Your fever broke about two hours ago."
"And how'd you learn to heal sick people?" Draco raised an eyebrow at him.
"I don't know how many times I had to take care of Dudley when he was ill. I just sort of picked it up."
Draco huffed.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Can you sit up now?"
Draco struggled to sit upward again. His body screamed in pain, but he ignored it and continued. Harry pulled a few pillows up against the headboard and helped Draco sit up further.
Harry walked over and took a tray off the nearby table. He laid it on Draco's lap much to his surprise.
"Careful, I put a warming spell on it so I don't know how hot it is."
Draco lifted the lid to find a bowl of chicken soup underneath; his favorite. He took the spoon and dipped it bringing it to his mouth and tasting it. Perfect.
Draco had a question on his mind, "Why did you do all of this?"
"You had a hundred and four degree fever. I don't think you would have made it well enough on your own. I may be your supposed enemy, but I'm not heartless."
"Why'd you even come over here in the first place?" Draco asked as he took another sip of the broth.
Harry smirked, "You have a very small memory, Draco. Remember, last night I told you I'd put a concealing charm on your lip? That's what I came over here to do until I saw you half conscience on your bed."
Draco finished up his soup. He was even hungrier than he thought. "Did you stay here the whole day?"
"I had dinner about an hour ago," Harry removed the tray and set it back down on the table. "Still tired?"
"Not so much anymore."
A few seconds of silence past by before Harry spoke up again, "You want to play wizard chess or something?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, "Do I what?"
"Well you've been cooped up in bed all day. I'm just trying to be nice."
"Trust me, Potter. You're being overly nice," he smirked, giving it away.
Harry chuckled, "You know when you're sick your sarcasm is ruined?"
"I know. Pretty soon I'll be well again and then you can have all the sarcastic remarks you want."
"Can't wait... So, still want to play?"
"There's a set under my bed."
Harry bent down and retrieved the chess set. He walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down crossing his legs. He set the board up near Draco's waist and the two began to play; Harry white and Draco black.
Now more than five moves into the game Draco called out, "Checkmate."
"No way!" Harry eyed the board like Draco had cheated, "Damit."
Draco smirked, "Two out of three?"
Harry reset the chessboard and studied his pieces this time before he moved. This time the game got to eleven moves before Draco called out, "Checkmate," once again.
"You're better than Ron!"
Draco gave him a look that clearly stated 'And you thought otherwise?'.
Harry shook his head smiling and reset the chessboard again, "Three out of five."
The games slowly progressed to longer turns, but none the less Harry kept losing. About an hour later Draco yawned. He laid down while Harry had his chin in his palm thinking about the next move.
"Come on, Potter, I don't have all night!"
"I'm thinking! Don't rush me!"
"I'll rush you until you make a damn move."
Harry moved his castle capturing Draco's knight, but Draco tossed it back at him by capturing his castle with his bishop.
"Your turn."
"I know I know!" Harry grumbled.
Another half hour went by as Draco's eyelids slowly began to droop. His brain was shutting off again. It was once more Harry's turn and he too looked like he was gonna fall asleep. Draco yawned again which made Harry yawn which made Draco yawn again.
"Give it up, Potter, you'll never win," Draco said eyes half closed.
"Yes I will. Just give me time."
Harry finally made his move and Draco moved his hand toward the board setting his castle near his queen. Draco shut his eyes fully letting Harry think for another five minutes.
Harry's eyes lit up with excitement as he moved his knight around near Draco's king, "Checkmate!"
Too late, Draco had already fallen asleep and Harry wasn't too far behind him.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Author's Note: I guess it would be helpful to know the whole Voldemort thing going on. Thanks alle! Ok Voldemort is still around. The big battle hasn't ensued yet, but Voldemort's disappeared mysteriously. In later chapters I might discuss how people might be stressed out about it wondering what's going on.
Draco peeked one eye open. The swirling darkness flooded his eyes until he blinked a few times to adjust them. He stretched and reached over for his wand flicking a light on. He noted a clock; four in the morning. That surprised him. He had gone to bed two, maybe three hours ago at that and yet he felt wide awake.
Seeing as there was no way he could get back to sleep Draco sat up and stretched again popping his back in the process. He stood up and walked over to his dresser and looked inside.
'School robes or comfortable muggle clothes?' Draco thought, 'Well Dumbledore doesn't really care if we wear other clothes on weekends and I don't feel like going anywhere so whatever.'
Draco grabbed a red shirt and black jeans. He grabbed a pair of boxers from a different drawer and headed for the bathroom. He set the clothes on the sink and turned around turning the shower on. He flung his shirt in a small hamper and slid his sweats and boxers off his waist all at once and placed them with the shirt.
Draco stepped into the steam filled shower closing the glass door behind him. The warm water cascaded down his back and set a tingle up his spin. It felt so good on his muscles which seem to be becoming sore. He rubbed at his shoulders for a second before reaching for the shampoo.
Squeezing some out of the bottle and into his hand he began running his fingers through his gel cracked hair. The old gel came off in flakes as he scrubbed harder to get his hair clean. Not a trace of grease was left when he flipped his hair back and let the warm stream of water wash the soap out.
He grabbed for the soap bar and lightly began lathering it in his hands. He ran it over his torso and down toward his stomach, which was a bit sensitive at the moment. He hissed as his muscles tightened.
Draco lightly ran the soap back over his stomach and over his arms. By the time he got to his feet his lower back was burning with pain. He quickly rinsed his body and grabbed for a towel. He wrapped it around his waste and stepped out, trying not to cause himself anymore pain.
Another towel rubbed through his hair and soon it was wild and very messy. Draco smirked in the mirror, 'Almost exactly like Potter's. I wonder if he just runs a towel over his head and leaves.' Draco couldn't help but laugh.
He didn't even feel like slicking gel in his hair so he let it fall around his forehead and above his ears. He grabbed a small gray comb and worked the few knots out of it and left it alone.
Draco grabbed his boxers and stuck one leg in and then the other and gradually slid them up to his waist. He took the towel and wiped a little more water from his legs before he pulled his pants on. He grabbed the shirt and stuck his arms through then pulled it over his head. He hung the towel on the shower door leaving it for a house elf to gather and discard of.
Draco clung onto the doorway as his headache came back. The dizziness overpowered him and seeing became an issue. Everything started to swirl and his back hollered in burning pain. He fought his way to his bed and laid down closing his eyes trying to clear his head.
A knock on his door sent a searing pain through his head. He didn't have the strength to answer and he hoped whoever was there would just go away. Another knock and more pain. Draco just wanted them to leave.
He heard somebody call his name from the other side, but he couldn't really hear who. Draco tried to speak loud enough to tell them to go away, but he couldn't get his voice above a hoarse whisper.
Draco heard the click of his door being unlocked.
'Goddamn can't people leave me alone?'
"Draco?" a voice asked.
Draco gave a small grunt.
He felt a figure loom over him and felt a hand on his forehead and tender fingers on his cheek. The touch was so gentle he felt he had imagined it.
Draco slowly opened his eyes and a familiar figure stood over him, "Harry?" He winced at how dry his voice sounded.
"God, Draco, you're burning up. Can you stand?"
Draco lifted his head a few centimeters off the pillow before grunting in both pain and frustration as he laid back down, "No."
"How am I suppose to get you to the hospital wing? Do you think you would be ok if I elevated you with my wand?"
"I don't think so," Draco cracked, "It hurts to move. I'll be ok, just go away."
"How can you say that?!!" Draco winced at the loud noise. Harry noted that and spoke softly again, "Sorry, but, Draco your face is burning. How can you say you're ok?"
Draco stayed silent. He closed his eyes again trying to control the spinning. He heard rustling farther away more toward his bathroom. Then footsteps coming closer again. Something cool was placed on his forehead. Small drops of water ran off his face mixing in with hot sweat.
A damp cloth ran to his cheeks moistening them with cold water that quickly became warm against his body heat. It moved down to his neck then back up to his forehead.
Draco heard Harry leave again for a few seconds, and then his footsteps noted his return.
"Can you try to sit up?" Harry whispered.
Draco placed his hands steadily beside him and raised the upper half of his body. He got about halfway up before the dizziness grew to be too much. He groaned and laid back down.
Harry worked his hand underneath Draco's neck and tilted his head up. He placed a glass to the sick boy's lips and tipped it upwards.
"Drink," Harry instructed.
Draco swallowed as much as he could before he was allowed to rest his head again. His throat thanked Harry. Harry took the now warm cloth from Draco's head and left again giving Draco a few moments to think.
'What is going on? Why is Potter here and why is he helping me? And why am I accepting his help? Ok, maybe I am too tired to fight him off, but I could at least put up a struggle! God I feel too horrible. I don't want to think.'
The wet cloth was firmly pressed against Draco's forehead again. His stomach churned and he felt like he was gonna be sick. He swallowed hard trying to stop the knot that threatened to form in his throat. Sweat fell over his eyelids and ran down his neck, damping the neckline of his shirt.
Draco felt his shirt being tugged upwards. He opened his eyes and rasped, "Potter, what are you doing?"
"Your shirt is getting soaked and this will help you cool down."
Draco felt his shirt being slowly pulled over his head and then it was gone, "Why are you helping me?"
Harry let out a small chuckle, "You were always one to put up a fight. I can't just leave you here, now can I?"
Draco's lips caught into a small smirk, "Yes."
Harry smiled down at him, "I could, couldn't I?"
Draco slowly nodded the smirk never leaving, "You are too much of a Gryffindor, Potter."
"Can't help it."
Another dizzy spell came over Draco. He shut his eyes and groaned. Harry took the cloth and ran it over Draco's very flushed cheeks. Draco shut his eyes as the cloth ran down his neck. It just felt so good at the moment and he was too tired to care that it was Harry.
Draco felt the cloth lower onto his torso. He gasped and opened his eyes staring at the raven-haired.
Harry looked down at him, "Relax. Damn, Draco, you're burning up. I need to cool you down. Close your eyes or you'll never get better."
"D-Don't tell me what to do," Draco grumbled.
Harry gritted his teeth trying not to lose his patients. He was just irritable form being sick... no... Draco was like this all the time.
"Just try to sleep."
Draco closed his eyes as another dizzy spell passed over him. He began to relax under Harry's touch. The cool cloth ran across his chest and down onto his stomach, which was still sore. He tensed his muscles and hissed as pain ran through his body at the slight touch.
Harry removed the cloth, "Hurt?"
Draco just nodded, keeping his eyes shut.
"Sorry," Harry continued to rub his chest and face. Draco felt a finger brush a stray strand of hair off his forehead and tuck it behind his ear.
The coolness felt so good, combined with such a light touch, and soon Draco let sleep overtake him.
|~*~|
Draco's eyes slowly blinked open. His head hurt and his body ached all over.
'It was all a dream,' Draco thought, 'I dreamt my enemy came over here and actually helped me. I'm losing my mind.'
He heard shuffling over at the foot of his bed. Draco lifted his head for a better view.
"How are you feeling?"
"Potter?"
"The one and only. How's your head?"
"Hurts like hell. What time is it?"
"Six at night."
"I've been asleep all that time!" Draco shouted which really wasn't a good idea. It caused his head more pain and he had to lie back down.
Harry walked over to the side of the bed, "You were pretty sick. Your fever broke about two hours ago."
"And how'd you learn to heal sick people?" Draco raised an eyebrow at him.
"I don't know how many times I had to take care of Dudley when he was ill. I just sort of picked it up."
Draco huffed.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Can you sit up now?"
Draco struggled to sit upward again. His body screamed in pain, but he ignored it and continued. Harry pulled a few pillows up against the headboard and helped Draco sit up further.
Harry walked over and took a tray off the nearby table. He laid it on Draco's lap much to his surprise.
"Careful, I put a warming spell on it so I don't know how hot it is."
Draco lifted the lid to find a bowl of chicken soup underneath; his favorite. He took the spoon and dipped it bringing it to his mouth and tasting it. Perfect.
Draco had a question on his mind, "Why did you do all of this?"
"You had a hundred and four degree fever. I don't think you would have made it well enough on your own. I may be your supposed enemy, but I'm not heartless."
"Why'd you even come over here in the first place?" Draco asked as he took another sip of the broth.
Harry smirked, "You have a very small memory, Draco. Remember, last night I told you I'd put a concealing charm on your lip? That's what I came over here to do until I saw you half conscience on your bed."
Draco finished up his soup. He was even hungrier than he thought. "Did you stay here the whole day?"
"I had dinner about an hour ago," Harry removed the tray and set it back down on the table. "Still tired?"
"Not so much anymore."
A few seconds of silence past by before Harry spoke up again, "You want to play wizard chess or something?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, "Do I what?"
"Well you've been cooped up in bed all day. I'm just trying to be nice."
"Trust me, Potter. You're being overly nice," he smirked, giving it away.
Harry chuckled, "You know when you're sick your sarcasm is ruined?"
"I know. Pretty soon I'll be well again and then you can have all the sarcastic remarks you want."
"Can't wait... So, still want to play?"
"There's a set under my bed."
Harry bent down and retrieved the chess set. He walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down crossing his legs. He set the board up near Draco's waist and the two began to play; Harry white and Draco black.
Now more than five moves into the game Draco called out, "Checkmate."
"No way!" Harry eyed the board like Draco had cheated, "Damit."
Draco smirked, "Two out of three?"
Harry reset the chessboard and studied his pieces this time before he moved. This time the game got to eleven moves before Draco called out, "Checkmate," once again.
"You're better than Ron!"
Draco gave him a look that clearly stated 'And you thought otherwise?'.
Harry shook his head smiling and reset the chessboard again, "Three out of five."
The games slowly progressed to longer turns, but none the less Harry kept losing. About an hour later Draco yawned. He laid down while Harry had his chin in his palm thinking about the next move.
"Come on, Potter, I don't have all night!"
"I'm thinking! Don't rush me!"
"I'll rush you until you make a damn move."
Harry moved his castle capturing Draco's knight, but Draco tossed it back at him by capturing his castle with his bishop.
"Your turn."
"I know I know!" Harry grumbled.
Another half hour went by as Draco's eyelids slowly began to droop. His brain was shutting off again. It was once more Harry's turn and he too looked like he was gonna fall asleep. Draco yawned again which made Harry yawn which made Draco yawn again.
"Give it up, Potter, you'll never win," Draco said eyes half closed.
"Yes I will. Just give me time."
Harry finally made his move and Draco moved his hand toward the board setting his castle near his queen. Draco shut his eyes fully letting Harry think for another five minutes.
Harry's eyes lit up with excitement as he moved his knight around near Draco's king, "Checkmate!"
Too late, Draco had already fallen asleep and Harry wasn't too far behind him.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Author's Note: I guess it would be helpful to know the whole Voldemort thing going on. Thanks alle! Ok Voldemort is still around. The big battle hasn't ensued yet, but Voldemort's disappeared mysteriously. In later chapters I might discuss how people might be stressed out about it wondering what's going on.