~A Turn for the Worst~

Anger surged through Harry's veins. How could anyone do this to Draco? The blond boy had stopped crying only because he had fallen asleep. Harry brushed back a loose lock of hair from Draco's forehead. He hated all of them, every person who caused Draco to become what he is. Harry knew it had a lot to do with Lucius; he had met the man and hated him instantly, his mother probably had something to do with it too, and he really hated that son of a bitch in the hallway.

Harry tensed, 'I should have done something else to that fucker then just beat the shit out of him.'

Harry cradled the fragile boy, rocking him slowly. He saw the small gash on his head where drying blood was beginning to crack. Carefully, he slipped Draco off his lap and into bed. Draco whimpered at the sudden loss of warmth and Harry didn't want to leave, even for a second. Reluctantly, Harry walked into the bathroom keeping an ear listening for any sounds Draco made. He grabbed another washcloth from under the sink and soaked it in warm water.

Draco was shifting uneasily in bed when Harry returned. He grabbed a hold of the Slytherin's hand squeezing it a little bringing the boy to a restful sleep once again. Harry brought the washcloth up to Draco's forehead and began wiping away the blood. The boy's eyes squeezed shut for a moment, then relaxed. Harry gently cleansed the wound then threw the rag on the nightstand.

Harry yawned, 'The hell if I'm going to class.'

He pulled Draco's wand from his pants and set it along the small table. As he let go of Draco's hand, a small whimper escaped the blonde's throat. Draco began to squirm restlessly trying to find some sort of comfort.

Harry walked to the other side of the bed and soundlessly climbed in, throwing the covers over himself. He set a hand on Draco's shoulders and watched as the Slytherin leaned into the touch. Harry moved his arm to around Draco's waist. Draco started to snuggle into Harry's chest trying to get as close as humanly possible. Harry noticed Draco calm down and relax a lot the closer he got. He was soon in a sound sleep.

Harry watched the blonde under his arm. His chest rising and falling slowly in a rhythmic pattern.

'Is this the real you Draco?' Harry began to think. Questions began to ponder in his mind, 'Who are you? You're one person one minute, then a totally different person the next. Do you even know?

Why are you so fragile all of a sudden? Surely no one else has seen you like this before. You were always the tough, cold-hearted one, but that isn't you is it? It's a well developed mask of insecurities, but what are you afraid of?'

"I'll help you, Draco," Harry whispered into his ear. He got a small whimper in reply. "I'll always be right here. Just let me see the real you."

Harry snuggled into Draco's neck and closed his eyes. His ex-enemy's heartbeat rang in his ears creating a soft rhythmic lullaby. In no time at all Harry fell asleep.

|~*~|

Pain surged through Draco's body making him shoot his eyes open. His head was pounding and a queasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He suddenly grew very nauseous as the feeling rose into his throat. He quickly jumped out of bed, startling Harry in the process, and stumbled into the bathroom where the most he did was cough up stomach acid.

Harry followed Draco, worried as hell. He sunk to his knees beside the blond boy, gently rubbing his back and tucking a few strands of hair behind his head.

Draco finally fell against the wall, sinking his head into his knees when he finished emptying out the contents of his stomach. He began to shake violently wrapping his arms around his knees, feeling as if a bucket of ice was just dumped into his body.

"Draco, are you ok?" Harry sat beside him slowly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mm hm," came the weak reply.

"Come on, I need to get you off this cold floor," Harry wrapped his arm around Draco's waist trying to pull him up.

Draco tried to shift his legs under himself, but he couldn't get them to move. His head began exploding with pain that started searing its way over his body. His muscles ached in a fiery rage, twitching occasionally. On the contrary, his blood felt a chilling numbness.

"I can't move," Draco began to go into a coughing fit.

Harry was looking more than alarmed, "We need to get to the hospital wing!"

Draco inhaled deeply, "B-But I can't get up."

Draco didn't have to say another word. He felt himself being lifted into Harry's arms and carried out of the bathroom. A slight pause in Harry's movement caused Draco to focus more. He noticed his weight being shifted as Harry bent down and grabbed something. Draco didn't have a chance to question as another nausea feeling rose in his throat. He tried to focus on not throwing up on his supporter.

The Slytherin shut his eyes as the feeling of movement passed through his body. He couldn't see, couldn't tell where he was going, but he could feel everything. Every sudden movement: Harry's clumsy steps, his irregular breathing, the continually tensing muscles beneath him. He could feel Harry quicken his pace as he walked.

Draco heard a door open and the familiar screech of Madam Pomfrey, "Merlin! It's at it again! Hurry, set him down on the bed!"

Draco felt himself being lowered onto a hospital bed once more. How he wished to be back in the comfort of his own king-sized bed.

Something annoying was prodding his body. He tried to open his eyes, but as soon as a ray of light hit his vision his head seared into an overwhelming headache. His eyes burned terribly and he quickly shut them again, still trying to be aware of the poking on his body.

Something warm crept into his right hand. Draco weakly clasped his hand around Harry's trying to ignore the burning sensation running through his chest. A finger brushed his forehead and a lock of hair was tucked gently behind his ear. A cold cloth was draped over his forehead.

Harry looked on horrified as another muscle spasm passed through Draco's body, 'Just hang on, Draco.' He watched as Madam Pomfrey hassled about trying to calm the Slytherin's body, "Is there anything you can give him?"

Pomfrey snapped her head up, startled to find another there. She had completely forgotten about the raven-haired boy, "I'm sorry. It is way too much of a risk."

Harry nodded pulling his gaze back on Draco, "Why does he keep having weak spells?"

Pomfrey sighed still rushing back and forth, "It's this virus. So strange, I've never seen anything like it. It started to go one way then completely turns around."

Students could be heard in the halls. Pomfrey nodded toward the door, "Why don't you go get dressed then have lunch Harry?"

Harry looked startled. He hadn't known it was that late already! Even so, Harry's gaze attached to the sick blonde, "I don't want to leave Draco."

Pomfrey started putting on her firm voice, "It will be of no help if you starve yourself. Now shoo!" She started shoving him out of the door. Before she pushed him through she added, "He'll be fine for now."

Harry was once again looking at the hospital door he had been shoved out of, 'For now? How long will that be?'

He sighed pushing his feet in the direction of the Gryffindor tower. Slowly trudging through the halls not even caring that he was being seen in his pajamas. Then again, nobody really paid him any mind.

There was the familiar portrait marking the entrance to the common room. He walked up to it getting a glare in return.

"Haven't seen you in a day or two," the Fat Lady frowned, "Where have you been?"

"Carmel apple," Harry ignored the look he was receiving and walked inside. The familiar vision of the common room was always a nice sight to see when it was empty. He lumbered up the stairs and into his room.

His room was exactly like Draco's except it was always brighter up here. The sunlight gazed into the room lighting every little nook. Harry walked over to his closet and grabbed one of his school robes and a pair of boxers and headed into his bathroom. After he took his wand and the little green and red box from his pants he flung his clothes on the sink and reached into the shower tapping the knob, watching the water stream out of the nozzle.

Harry stripped himself of his clothes and threw them in a hamper and stepped into the shower letting a pleasurable hum escape from his throat as the warm water streamed down his back, running off his ass, and swirling down his legs. The steam began to envelope him in a thick white cloud. He reached over for the shampoo dripping it into his hair and running his fingers through it scrubbing at his scalp.

'Draco,' the thought echoed in his mind, 'Stay strong. Please don't give up.'

Harry reached for the soap and began to lather himself.

'It's strange. A week ago I would have been dancing for joy, but I've gotten a chance to see the real you. The boy who could break any moment with things nobody else knows about, the boy who holds responsibility he doesn't want but was born with, the man who is so much like myself.'

Harry turned around and let the hot water rush over his face covering his ears to the sound of his own thinking.

'You can't die, Draco. We've wasted all those years fighting each other, then in the blink of an eye, one week, everything changed; you changed, and so have I. I won't let you die on me, not now, not ever.'

Harry tapped at the faucet and the water slowly stopped. He stepped out of the shower and grabbed for a towel wrapping it around his waste. Another one was thrown over his head and he scrubbed the extra water from his hair. He brushed the towel back and ran it over his chest and down to his stomach watching as a few droplets skimmed down his leg and onto the floor.

He let the towel from around his waste drop to the floor grabbing his boxers and pulling them on. He threw his school robes on and took a look in the foggy mirror. He could barely make out his reflection in the steamy glass, but he could tell his hair was even more of an unruly mess then usual. He grabbed for a comb and slid it through his hair trying to plaster his mane to his head, but failing. His hair had a mind of its own and there was nothing he could do about it. Flinging the comb down, he grabbed for his wand and the little box, placing them inside his robe.

Harry opened the bathroom door letting the cool air from his room wash over his face sending a chill down his spine. He opened his bedroom door and walked down the staircase and into the quiet common room where he escaped into the hallway.

He trudged to the Great Hall not really wanting to go there, but he had no other place to go to satisfy his growling stomach. As soon as he opened the door, the smell of food clouded his nose and all thoughts of wanting to eat vanished. He was about to leave, but he was spotted.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled.

Harry inhaled deeply and headed toward the Gryffindor table taking a seat across from Hermione and to the left of Ron.

"Where have you been, Harry?" Ron spoke through a forkful of food.

"Yes, Harry, you missed yesterday's classes and this morning's! What in Merlin's name have you been up too?!"

"I've been with Draco and..."

"I don't want to hear about it," Ron stuck his fingers in his ears.

Harry sighed pulling his friend's arms down, "He's really sick."

Hermione gasped, "Is it serious?"

"Yes, it's some new unmarked disease."

Hermione gasped, but Ron tilted his head to the side in confusion, "A what?"

"Oh, Ron, don't be so naïve! An unmarked disease has no cure!"

"He has a new virus," Harry cut in.

"We'll help in any way possible," Hermione leaned over the table and clasped her hand over Ron's mouth as he began to open it, "We will."

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry thought a moment, "There is something you can do."

"Anything."

"Could you maybe research the disease? See if there is anything in the history books that has similar side affects. He has severe back pains, gets high fevers, weak spells, and sometimes he convulses."

"Of course, I'll start on it after classes are over."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Harry pushed his empty plate back a little and stood up. A hand on his shoulder suddenly made him jump. He turned around to see Pansy.

"Dumbledore needs to see you in his office, Harry."

Harry gave her a questioning look, "What for?"

"It's about Draco."

He glanced back at his two best friends feeling sort of guilty for not spending time with them, "Sorry guys..."

"Don't apologize, Harry!" Hermione cut off.

"Yeah, besides, Harry, we'll always be here," Ron added.

Harry smiled at his wonderful friends, "Thanks."

Hermione nodded, "Now go! Dumbledore should not be kept waiting!"

Pansy pushed Harry toward the door and out into the hallway. The two started heading toward Dumbledore's office.

Harry turned to Pansy, "Do you have any idea what he wants?"

"No, Professor McGonagall just told me to come get you," there was a slight pause, "How is Draco?"

Harry sighed, "It's getting worse. He was getting better, but then it completely turned."

Pansy noticed the Gryffindor blinking rapidly, "Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure he'll be alright."

Harry didn't have time to reply. They were standing outside the entrance. Pansy took a step forward, "Sour twisters."

The two started up the staircase. Harry looked over at her, "How did you know the password?"

"Professor McGonagall told me."

"Oh." Harry reached up and knocked on the door.

A strong voice came from the other side, "Come in."

Harry and Pansy walked inside. Dumbledore sat at his desk, the twinkle lost from his eye, "May I speak to Harry alone, Ms. Parkinson?"

Pansy gave a nod and a small smile in Harry's direction. She turned around and left, closing the door behind her."

"Sit down, Harry."

Harry sat in an armchair but refused to relax. He sat rigid and upright. Whatever Dumbledore had to say was not going to be good.

"Harry," Dumbledore began, "You realize Draco's condition is growing worse."

Harry swallowed the knot building in his throat. His stomach gave a small twist and he could only manage a slight nod.

"We have no choice but to try to find an antidote. Professor Snape has been generous enough to offer his services and knowledge and I am sending you down there to help him."

Harry started to open his mouth to protest saying him and Snape will not work, cannot work together, but Dumbledore cut him off, "For Draco's sake of course."

Harry thought about it for a second, Draco needed him, "Of course."

"He'll be waiting for you down in his chambers."

Harry got up and moved toward the door.

"Oh, and, Harry."

Harry turned around.

"Try and ignore him as best as you can," Dumbledore gave a small wink, the sparkle returning to his eye.

A small smile crept onto Harry's lips. He shut the door behind him and made his way down the steps. Pansy was nowhere in sight.

Harry made his way downstairs to the newly familiar corridors. He remembered seeing Snape coming out of his chambers about a year ago.

A small, black, stone snake coiled on the wall that sat about eyelevel in front of Harry. He watched it; stared at it as the head departed from the stone and curled up no further then three inches from his face. Its glowing red eyes looked as though it pierced through anything it saw.

"Passs-word," it hissed in English.

"Shit!" Harry groaned.

"That is-sn't the passs-word," the snake inched closer, flicking Harry on the nose with its stone tongue.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"How about a mess-sage?"

"Yes, tell Professor Snape someone needs to talk to him."

"Very well," at this the stone snake coiled back onto the wall. It slowly began to disappear looking as though it was melting into the barricade.

'Good thing I didn't mention my name,' Harry thought, 'Otherwise Snape probably won't answer the door.'

The stone wall began to melt. The liquid began to gather until a door was transformed. The stone snake coiled on the front again and it slowly began to say, "Do not s-speak, do not dis-sturb, or it is detention you will s-serve. This-s is-s my warning."

Harry had to hold back a chuckle from the cliché of the poem.

The door slowly began to open, "Who are you?"

"Harry Potter, sir."

The door slammed shut.

Harry looked nothing less then annoyed. He began to bang on the door, "Professor Snape! Dumbledore sent me down here!"

"Alright, Potter!" the door opened up again, "Just stop causing that infernal racket!"

Snape stepped into the light and Harry had to hold back a gasp. His potions professor had a black left eye and his upper lip was busted. He had a long, slim bruise on his right cheek bone.

"What are you staring at?" Snape growled.

"Nothing," Harry's voice squeaked. 'Oh my God,' Harry took a step back, 'he tried to rape Draco.'

"Did you bother me just to stand outside my door or are you going to get in here?"

Harry took a deep breath; he had no choice but to go in; for Draco's sake.