~Results~

The soft sound of 'bleep', 'bleep', 'bleep' rang in Draco's ears. He made a small groan and rolled over, feeling too tired to wake up. Strangely it was cold; very cold. Draco wrapped himself more tightly in the blanket, but it was still freezing. His body started to shake and goosebumps rose on his arms. He could feel something being placed on top of him and that was when he opened his eyes. Draco stared up at Harry who was unwrapping another blanket on him.

Harry looked up and gave a nervous smile, "Morning."

"Morning," Draco mimicked, "What are you doing here?"

"I took the day off."

"Oh," That damn noise was still bothering him, "Where the hell is that coming from?"

Harry again gave an uneasy smile and pointed above Draco. A wand was slowly spinning in circles changing different colors.

Draco tilted his head to the side, "What's that for?"

"The results," Harry ended.

Draco stared at the wand very well challenging it to give him anything but the flu. So this was why Harry was so nervous. And Draco admitted, he was too.

"Oh good, he's awake," Madam Pomfrey walked over to the two boys. Her left eye was twitching. "The results should come in a second."

No sooner had she said that, the wand began to spin faster whirling up and down Draco's body. Its colors spun faster, changing quicker.

The wand quickly stopped and very slowly began to turn the opposite way. Its colors were slowly dieing. Slower the colors came: red, blue, purple, black, gray, white, then nothing. The wand stopped moving and dropped from the air landing on top of Draco.

Draco's wide-eyes slowly turned to Pomfrey, "What just happened?"

Pomfrey didn't even answer. She just picked up her wand and walked out of the hospital wing.

Draco turned to a shocked Harry, "I take it that's not a good sign?"

"I-I don't t-think so," Harry stuttered shaking his head.

A few minutes later, Pomfrey came back with Dumbledore traveling at her heels.

"And then it just dropped from the air!" Pomfrey exclaimed as the two walked up beside Draco, "That's never happened before!"

Dumbledore didn't say a word. Instead, he stared intently at Draco like he was trying to see inside him.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

He was ignored.

"What's going on?" Harry requested again, a little irritated.

Again he was disregarded.

"Goddammit, what the hell is going on?!" Harry shouted.

Both Dumbledore and Pomfrey shot their heads up. Dumbledore looked quite angry at the poor choice of words Harry used, but he saw the worried and confused look on the Gryffindor's expression and motioned Harry to follow him.

Pomfrey was still poking at Draco, taking his temperature, feeling his pulse, examining his throat, and all at the same time.

"Hey!" Draco shouted after the two, "*I'd* like to know what is going on! I'm the sick person here."

Dumbledore held up his hand and silenced the Slytherin. He led Harry just outside the hospital doors.

Harry's stomach felt queasy, "What's going on?" He really didn't know if he wanted an answer or not.

"Well, ya see, Harry," Dumbledore was never for one to beat around the bush. This must be really bad, "As you saw, Madam Pomfrey's wand gave quite... interesting results."

"What does it mean?"

"Well, Harry... it means that we have no idea exactly what Draco has."

"How could you not know?!"

"Harry, the wand was spinning indicating Draco was sick."

Harry nodded and listened closely.

"The color was suppose to determine which virus he had, but as you saw, it went haywire."

"And that means?" Harry knew he didn't want to hear the answer.

"It means that Draco has no known virus. Even the unknown diseases have names and colors, but Draco must have something... new."

"But it can be cured right?"

Harry did not like the look Dumbledore was giving him, "There's a problem."

Harry stared intently at the Headmaster, "What?"

Dumbledore gave a sad sigh, "Since we do not know what Draco has, Madam Pomfrey cannot even give him simple potions. There is no way to determine what reactions any medicine would bring whether good or bad."

"But he was fine with the headache potions and relaxers!"

"For now, Harry. There is no way to tell if these potions could make the situation worse later on."

Any hope that Harry had left just fell through the floor, "So what are our options?"

"The only option we have is to just let the virus run its course."

"But what if he doesn't get any better?!!"

Dumbledore's expression grew even more worried, "We shall deal with that if it is necessary."

Harry slowly nodded, "Why aren't you telling Draco?"

Harry didn't catch the split-second twinkle in the older man's eyes. In that all-knowing way of his, he knew about Harry's sudden concern for his Slytherin enemy. Instead of bothering the boy about it he just answered his question, "Because, Harry, I think you should be the one to break the news to him."

"You make it sound like he's already dieing!"

There was a pause in the older man that Harry didn't like before he continued, "I don't think we'll have to go that far."

"You don't *think*?!"

Dumbledore changed the subject, "You should get back in there."

After a reluctant pause, Harry nodded and walked back inside. Immediately, he walked over to Draco who looked rather annoyed at all of Pomfrey's poking. Harry couldn't help but chuckle when Draco rolled his eyes as the overly concerned nurse started pressing into his stomach.

"Oh, you think this is funny?" Draco eyed the Gryffindor. Pomfrey pushed into a rather sensitive spot and he flinched.

Pomfrey continued to examine.

Harry watched Draco, "You ok?"

"Just dandy," Draco sneered, "So what did Professor Dumbledore tell you?"

Like he knew, Dumbledore popped his head inside, "Madam Pomfrey, may I talk to you privately."

Harry swore the man was physic. Pomfrey nodded and walked outside.

Draco looked at Harry expectantly, "So?"

Harry gave a weak smile, "So what?"

"Come on, Harry. You know perfectly well what. What did he say?"

Harry swallowed a knot in his throat, "You have a new disease."

"A new disease?"

"Something undiscovered. He told me that you can't even have any medicines because no one knows how they'll react with the virus," there he said it.

Harry watched as Draco's eyes zoned out. How he wished it were him who was sick. Why Draco? Of all the people, why him?

"Draco?"

Draco unconsciously shook his head. He had a new disease? He can't have any medicine! What about the migraines, the burning muscles, the blurred vision?! He took a deep breath, 'I am a Slytherin. I will survive.'

"Draco?" Harry whispered.

"Hmm?" Draco looked at Harry, but he wasn't really staring. His eyes were empty; lost in thought.

"You alright?"

"Perfect," Draco sneered.

Harry didn't have time to reply. A large, black owl came swooping into the room. It hovered a bit in the air watching the two boys then began to fly in circles over Draco. The large owl landed abruptly on the Slytherin's stomach.

Harry got a second look at the magnificent bird. Almost as lovely as his Hedwig. Almost. Its body was of considerable size; roughly a forth size bigger than his snowy owl. Its feathers were dark, midnight black. Possibly, if the bird was any darker, it would take on a whole new color for itself only. Its eyes were piercing; a very noble bird this was, and well paid for.

Draco, on the other hand, was just glad to see it. Well, glad for Draco's standards, "Hey, Ashes."

"Is this your owl?" of course, Harry should have known.

"He's the family owl, so to say, but he likes me more than my parents," Draco reached up to stroke the statue owl. The bird hooted soothingly then hobbled up on Draco's chest and nudged his head with his own. Then the black fluff ball began to lightly nip on the boy's left ear.

Harry looked on in amusement, "What is he doing?"

"He knows something's wrong with me."

Finally, only after seeing he couldn't do anything did Ashes hold out his foot so Draco could take the letter. Draco unfolded it and read:

Dear Draco,

Sorry, but you cannot return home for Christmas. Your mother and I have decided to visit the Bermudas and will probably be gone by the time you read this. We are both terribly sorry for your inconvenience and hope you have a nice holiday.

Lucius Malfoy

P.S. Keep the damn bird. It's been driving me to the brink of insanity.

Draco scuffled his nose. The handwriting looked scribbled, like written at the last second. So he wasn't going home for the holidays. At least he got to keep Ashes.

He stroked his owl lovingly, while on the other hand, he crumpled the letter his 'father' gave him. Yeah, family was a joke.

Harry watched as Draco crushed the paper up in his fist, "Anything wrong?"

"No, just the fact that I can't go home for Christmas is all."

"Why not?"

"My parents are both off on another vacation. I don't give a shit. Less hassle."

Ashes hooted like he was agreeing. The black owl ruffled his feathers and took a step toward Harry. He turned his head slightly then nipped sharply at the Gryffindor's finger.

"Ow!" Harry pulled back his hand and stared accusingly at the owl. Draco just chuckled. "What's so funny?!"

"He likes you."

"Likes me? He just bit me!"

"That's his way of showing he likes you."

"Nice to know I have your owl's approval," Harry smirked.

Madam Pomfrey poked her head inside the door, "No animals in the hospital! What is it doing in here?!"

Draco looked more than aggravated at the woman's annoyance, "He was delivering a letter to me."

"Well let him deliver and move on!" Pomfrey strolled over to the bed and shooed at Ashes. The owl screeched angrily before flying out the window. The nurse now turned toward Harry, "And I think you should leave as well."

"But..." Harry tried to protest.

"No buts; Mr. Malfoy needs to rest," Pomfrey persisted. She led, or dragged, Harry to the door and pushed him out without even giving him a chance to say goodbye.

Draco noted the woman's particularly odd behavior. Well, it wasn't odd, just a little more uptight. She was more forceful and fidgety. Her paces were a lot faster and ungainly. Something wasn't right, and Draco didn't like it.

He passed the thought out of his head and stared intently at the ceiling. Other things clouded his mind. Well, one thing... Harry. Harry Potter. Harry 'Fucking Perfect' Potter. What was going on? Ok, so they kissed; big deal. It wasn't anything.

/You know that's a lie./

Draco groaned silently, 'Not you.'

/Who else? Do I have to remind you all the time to stop lying to yourself?/

'I'm not lying! It really didn't mean anything!'

/You kissed him and he kissed back. Hell, you even slept with him!/

'What?!! No I didn't!'

/Not that way you perverted idiot! He was here last night, remember?/

'Don't call me a perverted idiot, I remember!'

/About time./

'Shut the fuck up and go away!' Draco squeezed his eyes shut, 'God my conscious is annoying. Ok so maybe it meant something. Nothing much. Hell, maybe it's this sickness that has me acting like this. I don't know! Fuck! I'm Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son and soon to be Death Eater!' Draco shuddered at the thought, 'No one would feel anything for me.'

/Starting to doubt yourself?/

'No!'

/You really don't think anyone could love you?/

'Of course they could! I'm good-looking enough!'

/Yet you doubt yourself?/

'Shut up!'

/Why do you doubt yourself? Just because a few of your other relationships didn't work out doesn't mean this one won't./

'Shut up!'

/Face it, you're scared./

'I am not scared! I do not get scared!'

/You are scared./

'And what would I be scared of?!'

/You're scared to fall in love./

'Shut up,' Draco rolled over onto his right side and exhaled, 'Just shut up.'