Draco slowly opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the bright light that seemed to be coming from all directions. He turned his head to the side to see someone sitting in a chair beside him. They were sleeping with their head leaning back. "Harry?" Draco mumbled.

The boy stirred and lifted his head from the chair, then looked over at him. He smiled some. "You're finally awake."

"Where am I?" Draco asked.

"Hospital Wing," Harry replied. He sat up in the chair and began pulling it closer to Draco's bedside. "You passed out in the dorm about five hours ago."

"I... what?" Draco started to push himself up with his arms, but a sharp pain shot through him. Every muscle in his body felt like they were on fire. With a groan, he fell back onto the bed.

Harry's eyebrow's furrowed in concern. "What's wrong?"

Draco gritted his teeth, his hands gripping tightly onto the bed sheets. "Everything hurts like hell."

"Everything?" Harry asked nervously.

"Yes, everything!" Draco snapped. His eyes tightly closed when he saw white spots dancing in front of his eyes. He couldn't even move; all he'd been able to accomplish was turning his head to see that Harry was next to him.

Harry stood up, his fingers idly picking at the sheets. "Should I go fetch Madam Pomfrey?"

Draco thought for a moment, and when Harry began moving around the bed to go and get her, he sat up quickly to stop him. It felt like he was being torn apart, and the abruptness caused him to cry out and grasp tightly onto the bars beside him.

"Draco, I really think I should go get her!" Harry said, panicked.

"No, don't..." Draco said, barely able to speak loud enough He was breathing heavily. "I think... it was the letter..."

"Then I should go tell someone so they can figure out what's happened to you!"

"I don't anyone finding out," Draco said, his tone forceful. He looked over at Harry slowly. He could feel himself beginning to sweat; he still felt like he was throbbing all over.

The Gryffindor watched him silently for the next few moments, deciding on whether he should listen or go get help anyway. Draco looked like he was in bad condition, and seeing him like this made him scared. He hadn't kept his promise about keeping the boy safe...

"Ok, well can you at least lay down?" Harry pleaded, "Please?" He walked back over to the chair, standing and waiting for Draco to listen. And the boy finally did. He layed back down against the pillow, biting his lip to keep from crying out again.

Harry sat down as soon as he was sure Draco was positioned as before, and he rubbed distractedly at his forehead, looking tired.

"Aren't you supposed to be in the tower right now?" Draco asked. He kept his breathing steady.

"No, I have to stay here with you."

"It's probably midnight, Harry."

"So? I'll stay here for days if I have to."

Five minutes passed before anything else was said. The only sound was their soft breathing and the small opening and closing of cabinets back in the nurse's office. Draco wondered if he had to down any grotesque potions. He hoped not, because he knew no potion would help cure this.

"Thank you," Draco said quietly.

"For what?" Harry asked, sounding miserable, "I let this happen to you. I should've been there before you opened that letter."

Draco almost smiled, but even that was painful. He resulted to closing his eyes again. "Just for being here. Taking me here. I don't think anyone else would've."

It took a while for Draco's words to sink in. His mind seemed to be in another place; he wanted Draco to feel better... he hadn't wanted for him to be in any other kind of pain.

Harry sent a sad look the Slytherin's way, tempted to lay a hand on his arm as a gesture of comfort, but he kept back. He was sure it wouldn't do him any physical harm, but he didn't want the boy to get into any more trouble than he seemed to be in already.

"It's okay... I want to be here," Harry replied.

"Draco? No one followed you?"

"No, no one followed me."

"Draco!"

"I- I thought we've settled that already... You know I'm really sorry..."

"If you run, it'll only make it more painful, Draco. You run, and I will use an Unforgivable."

"Draco!"

"Let me do this, then. If you don't resist, I won't hurt you,"

"Please..."

"Don't fight me."

"Turn around."

"Mr. Malfoy! Wake up!"

Draco felt a rough shaking from his shoulders and his eyes snapped open; he sat up quickly in his bed, breathing heavily and feeling hot tears stinging his face. His hands were shaking... but... nothing hurt anymore.

Madam Pomfrey was hovering over him, putting her hand to his forehead to determine his temperature. "You're downright cold, Mr. Malfoy. Lay back down and cover yourself!"

Draco did what he was told, but looked quickly around as he did so. Harry was standing back a ways, watching him with worried eyes. He looked terrified. "Mr. Potter gave me a scare for a moment... when he said you were tossing and turning in your sleep... crying out..." The nurse muttered as she bustled over to a table and grabbed a vile of what looked like green swamp water.

"It... was... just a nightmare..." Draco breathed, trying to calm himself. The dream had been so vivid, like it had been happening all over again. For a moment he believed his father had been the one shaking him...

"Drink this!" Madam Pomfrey stuck a goblet above him, and before Draco could protest, she tilted the cup against his mouth and he was forced to swallow whatever it happened to be. As soon as it was empty, he nearly gagged it back up. He turned onto his side and coughed over the side of the bed.

"You will not cough that back up," she murmured, pushing him hurriedly back into bed. She straightened up his sheets. "You'll be feeling better in no time. Tomorrow morning you should be able to get back to schedule."

"What was wrong with me?" He asked, feeling on the verge of getting sick again.

"Mr. Potter informed me that you haven't been eating enough," she replied, looking sternly at him, "You must start eating. Each and every meal, or I suspect I'll be seeing much more of you." After cleaning up the tray of potions on the bedside table, she huffed tiredly and began walking back to her office.

When she was gone, Harry made his way forward, stopping to stand quietly by Draco's bedside. "Was it a nightmare?"

"Yes," Draco muttered. He turned around on the bed, so that his head was buried inside the pillow. "My father is haunting me..." He said, his voice muffled.

He heard Harry sigh and then the sound of the boy sitting down in the chair. This was the first night Draco had dreamed of his father, yet it was the third day he'd been in the Hospital Wing. Harry had stayed by his side the entire time, eating whatever the nurse brought them during the past few days. Draco supposed Dumbledore had informed her of the situation, which was why Harry was allowed to stay.

"I feel like I'm going to end up going crazy!" Draco exclaimed suddenly.

"It's okay," Harry responded with a hint of annoyance that wasn't there before. It caused Draco to look up at him. When he did, he saw Harry glaring at his feet.

"What's happened to you? Oh... and thanks for covering up for me," Draco added quickly, referring to how Harry had said this sickness was all because of his lack of eating.

"I wish they could hurry up and catch them," Harry growled, "And you're welcome."

Draco smiled slightly, somehow feeling better by hearing Harry say that. He looked genuinely angry about it, as well as for Draco's health. "I'm sorry..." Draco said quietly.

"You don't have to be sorry. They deserve to be caught, and given the dementor's kiss as well." Harry sighed again, falling irritably back in his chair. His gaze landed on Draco and it instantly softened. "You're not hurting anymore?"

"No, it's gone." Draco grinned. He was incredibly happy about this. The pain had been killing him. Not only did it feel like he was enduring one of the Unforgivables every time he moved, but he had to lay still for three whole days.

"Just like that?" Harry asked, sounding doubtful.

"Yes, and I don't feel any different from before," Draco said haughtily.

Harry watched him questionably before Draco answered what he must've wanted to ask. "My father said that it might help in changing my mind. It didn't. I don't care what he tries on me anymore."

Harry smiled. Draco returned the gesture, and then turned onto his side so that he'd be able to face the Gryffindor. "There might be something that'll make me feel a little bit better." Draco eyed him, an amused glint in his stare. Harry knew he was trying to divert his thoughts on something else other than his father.

"And what would that be?" Harry inquired, leaning forward with his arms on his knees.

There was a long pause before Draco spoke. "You can... kiss me."

Draco instantly saw a dark blush rise in Harry's cheeks. The boy leaned back again, looking a bit nervous. "How can that..."

"We've done it before," Draco said, "I don't see why you're so shy about it now."

"Oh... well... okay, I'll do it, I guess."

Quickly, since the boy seemed to find it better to get right to it rather than draw out the time to get even more nervous, Harry leaned forward and tilted his head to the side, pressing his lips against Draco's. It lasted more than a moment, and Harry could feel one of Draco's arms snaking its way around his neck.

Somehow, during that one moment, everything felt alright again.