After the End
Blonde Dragon

Disclaimers: I do not own the characters used, nor the recap plot used in this first chapter. All are © of J.K.Rowling. It is by her grace fanfictions writers are allowed to write about her world and characters.
Author Notes: This chapter is where Harry finally makes his appearance! Yay! Semi-dramatic chapter, I warn you. No slashly-ness just yet. That may take another couple chapters for the 'good stuff' to kick in. : I need to build up!
Reviews:
Dieu Anonyme – Yup! Sneaky Harry. Very Slytherin of him, no? Heehee. But yes, I was a little afraid of having Harry forgive him too fast. It's been 2 years (not to worry, I will definitely clear things up :D), but that doesn't mean Harry's forgotten! I still remember people who teased me in middle school, and I'm in college. Thank you for your review and dedication to reading my fic. o
Lone Wolf55 – It'll be … interesting when Draco wakes up. Rest assured! Heehee. And thanks again for reviewing, future betaing, and being a loyal reader.
Helloitsme-again – Well, not really that dense this time around (Heehee). He's still holding a grudge against Draco for all the things he's done to him in the past. He'll clear his head up better in this chapter, no worries!
Shadow DarknessDragon – Yup, they do! But, the best stories are the ones who can practically write themselves, I suppose. It makes it more interesting for both reader and writer. Thank you for your review:D
Penn – Aww! That's so sweet! Thank you so much for your review!
Morena Evensong – Harry hadn't seen the depths of Draco's injuries yet. He just knows they're not life threatening at the moment, so they're not worrisome yet. Thank you for your review:) More Harry in this chapter, naturally. He won't leave now that he's entered!
Spork Princess – You know, reading your username makes me giggle everytime. I love sporks. :D Heehee, anyway, we should all huggle the Draco! He needs love too! Heehee, Highschool will be time consuming, but it'll be a new experience! Thank you so much for the heads up and also you dedication to this fic:D
Pixiedora – I enjoyed the devious Harry! He was fun to write like that. And Draco will be taken care of, oh yes, in many ways over the course of this fic. Bwhahaaa. Thank you so much for your review!
JackStar – I tried to connect it. Looks like I succeeded! Thank you for your review!
Smokey2307 – Wow! You're review came at a time where I was kinda sulky and made my week! Thank you so much! And to be nice … I'm make sure I don't make this chapter a cliff-hanger. :D

I didn't dream that time. I knew this fact instantly as I felt awareness for my broken body come to the surface. I had been having nightmares or some form of dream since before I realized what they were, but I got the feeling of emptiness from my rest that could only result in a dreamless sleeping potion. I resisted the urge to smirk. 'That sneaky little bastard…'

As I gradually let myself come into consciousness, I made sure to keep my eyes shut. I couldn't fully remember where I was, being unconscious when I was brought here and then too engrossed in a conversation with Potter (though I never thought I'd see that day) to pay attention to the room, and I didn't want anyone to know I was awake. I didn't feel any eyes on me or anyone else in the room, but the habit of making sure to be fully aware of the surroundings before opening my eyes was a survival tactic that had been engrained in me for the last 10 or so years.

I began to take a toll of my body's injuries, before I decided there were just too many to count. I frowned lightly at that realization, but I couldn't change that fact at the moment. I was still in the same bed I was in the last which, knowing Potter, was probably either his own bed or a lush guest room. The sheets tickled my skin and I wrinkled my nose at the touch. 'Probably Polyester…Merlin.' (1) I suppress an undignified shudder, before reminded myself that I couldn't be too picky.

I shifted on the bed, biting my abused lower lip in pain. So, the injuries were still there; he hadn't tried to heal me yet. But there was a strange pressure in certain wounds, and the pain had diminished. Now that I thought about it, I didn't feel the grit and dried blood over my body as I had before. I opened my eyes, thankful that the room was still dark, and took a peek under the covers.

White bandages covered my torso from my waist up to my armpits. My wrists were also bandaged; some kind of ointment was also over my wrists, if the cool feeling pressed on my raw flesh was an indication. Without needing to look any further, I knew the rest of my injuries were bandaged. When I wrinkled my nose, I could feel and hear bandages on my features crinkling unpleasantly. I smirked softly – Potter may not know any healing charms, but he did know how to deal with wounds. I was so thankful that my wounds weren't exposed and risking infection anymore that I let it slide that the muggle form of healing was what had accomplished this feat.

I slowly became aware of noises beyond the hallway once the initial shock and gratitude of my state was discovered. As I strained my hearing to listen to the noises, I instantly began to recognize voices. A deep, smooth baritone was speaking calmly – 'That would be Potter,' my mind told me – before being interrupted by a louder voice of a higher pitch. I winced as that voice came to my ears. 'Weasel.' My mind supplied the information for me, even though I wasn't entirely sure. If the weasel was there, I could only assume the other of the Trio was there as well. I almost laughed as I heard her feminine voice moments later.

I heard footsteps slowly heading for the door, so I forced my body to relax and closed my eyes. I made sure that my face was towards the door and feigned sleep. I may not be able to see what was going on, but I could hear them better from this position and see their shapes. I wasn't going to be caught completely unaware by the bloody Golden Trio.

"…He asked for my help, Hermione! I didn't know what else to do!" Harry's voice came through clear as a bell. Apparently his hero-complex was in full swing when he was defending taking me in. He did a good job of not showing his worry to me, however. Bastard, I could use some pain-relieving potions right about now.

"Honestly, Harry, you're so compulsive! This is Draco Malfoy that you've taken into your home. Are you sure this is safe?" Hermione's voice came though as they stood outside the door. 'The voice of reason within the group,' I thought with an internal smirk. 'Pity she isn't a pureblood.' From how close her voice was and the way the light from the hallway danced against my closed eyelids after she spoke, I knew she was the one opening the door.

"Draco Bloody Malfoy, mate! The one who nearly killed Dumbledore, remember? The slimy git probably got what he deserved! If he's not gone by the time I see him, I'll finish it for him!" The Weasel's voice grew louder as the door was opened. I managed to keep up my pretense of sleep, but not without a large amount of willpower.

"Ronald Weasley!" Hermoine's voice scolded, reminding me freakishly of Professor McGonnell.

I heard the footsteps stop, so I assumed her scold scared him too. I felt an intense gaze on my broken body, and couldn't keep the pained expression off my bruised face at the thought of being in the same room with him in this weakened condition. It was pathetically embarrassing. Weasley scoffed. "Someone already got him anyway…" I commended myself as I restrained the smirk; he was trying to cover up for the fact he was shocked. I had heard the sharp little gasp when he finally saw me from the light in the hallway.

I heard their footsteps grow louder as they walked closer to the bed. I kept my act up rather well, using all my finite will to keep my eyes close and my features lax. I'd been sneering in the company of these three for so long that I found it hard to do anything else. The silence that overtook the trio as they finally were able to see the extent of my body was beginning to get unnerving. I couldn't stand having them look at me as if I were some sort of exhibit. I may be attractive, a fact that may have told me over the years, but I didn't like to be stared at so intensely.

Despite my try to pretend to be sleeping, I felt my brows knit together in distress, disturbing my peacefully sleeping face again. Wouldn't they stop looking at me? I could feel their eyes on me still and the intense stare was making me more nervous that I thought possible. I heard and felt two of the trio take steps back. I heard Granger's voice whisper. "Harry? I thought you gave him a dreamless sleep potion?"

Harry sighed softly. "I don't know what happened to him to wind him up in this situation," his voice was as soft as Granger's as he spoke to her. "But he still has nightmares on occasion even with the potion."

"Crinkey, mate…" The Weasel breathed out. Even now, I was able to get the Weasley to become speechless. Whether it be by words or, in this case, my very appearance.

I heard Harry's smile in his next whispered confession. "It's usually nothing serious. I just lay my hand on his head usually and he'll calm down. Sometimes he even calls for Narcissa…"

I heard Weasley snort at that comment and felt my features screw up even more. I soon felt a cool hand on my forehead and let my features relax. That did feel pretty comforting. I nuzzled into the pillow slightly and let out a soft sigh. Not wanting to disappoint the trio, or have them think I was awake (I really didn't feel like talking to them right now), I let my sigh form a word. "Mother…"

A soft giggle broke the silence. The hand on my forehead retreated, and I felt cheated for some reason. Granger's voice murmured out. "That's rather…sweet. Don't you think, Harry?"

"I never thought he'd be worried about her, but I'm not surprised. He was worried about his life and hers when I saw him on the tower…"

I nearly knitted my brows again. He was on the tower? But…I was pretty sure there was only Dumbledore and myself on that tower that night. I thought back to that horrible night – details, I must have missed something. I had had nightmares from that night for ages; it wasn't hard to recall the crisp details. There was Dumbledore before me, nothing was heard, so Potter must have been very quiet. There was no fabric – wait. The damned invisibility cloak! He must have been hiding under it for me not to have seen him. The same when he was listening in on my conversation in the compartment on Hogwarts Express earlier that school year. That must have been it, but he still should have left some evidence. 'Think, Draco, think you bloody git!' The tower scenery was once again in my mind's eye, nothing seemed out of place. Wait! There was the broomstick. 'That's it!' I yelled at myself. It was the broomstick that was his evidence. Why didn't I see that before?

I gasped as the revelation came to me. I opened my eyes before shutting them again at the dim light from the hallway sliding through the crack in the door. I blinked a few times and looked around the bedroom. The door was closed and there was no one in the room except for myself. I must have dozed off after I was soothed by Potter's hand.

That revelation in and of itself made my lip curl up into the familiar sneer it had taken back in Hogwarts. Potter's hand…had comforted me. It was almost sickening to think about. And the way he talked to Granger and Weasley about how I thought it was my mother in my sleep? It sounded too much like I'd done it before. I shuddered involuntarily at the thought. If I was asleep, when would I know when I had done that before?

I was lost in my own brooding thoughts for a few moments. If it weren't for the creaking I heard outside the door, I might have gotten caught awake. Once again, I forced myself to relax. If someone came in, I wanted them to announce themselves to me before I would choose to 'wake up'. I was getting good at acting, but I knew that already. I've been acting most of my life anyway; it was second nature to me by now.

The creaking continued up to the door, but thankfully continued onwards. I sighed softly in relief. I relax in the polyester sheets as much as I could, before letting myself doze. I couldn't believe how tired I was. I suppose all the shock of running away from the hell I had been forced to live through and finding solace, even in the hands of bloody Potter, was too comforting. The fact I was very injured and still had the dreamless sleep potion in my system couldn't have helped much, either.

I dozed then for a little while, half-in and half-out of a healing sleep. I vaguely heard the creaking beyond the doorway again, but it didn't seem important enough to pull me fully into the land of consciousness. In fact, considering the fact I was dozing, I wasn't sure if the creak was real or a byproduct of my overactive imagination. I continued my doze, pleased that no nightmares came to light during this time, when a strange odor came to my nose. It was so different from what I'd smelt before. 'Just a dirty house elf coming in,' I thought, pushing it out of my mind.

But that thought changed quickly. I heard something clicking along the floorboards, continuing at an increasing rate, before something large and furry landed on my abused stomach. My eyes flared open and I looked deep into the blue eyes of a furry animal. I screamed, before my vision turned black.

(A/N: You guys are so lucky I felt guilty about having another cliff hanger. )

When I came back around again, I was first aware that my ribs were not pleased in the least. I grunted softly as I shifted my weight around, raising a hand up to rest against them in an effort to alleviate the pain. As I began to take in the surroundings, I became aware distinctly of hot breath near my hand.

Wrinkling my nose, I started to flutter my eyes open. Even with my lids closed, I knew there were lights on in the room. I wasn't about to cause myself even more pain. I'm more of a sadist than a masochist, anyway.

"Welcome back." The familiar voice, and term, floated to my ears as I floated into the world of consciousness.

I let my lip lift in a sneer, but I didn't feel like keeping it up. I blinked several times to get rid of the blurriness my vision held, before looking over at Potter. "…Thought you could get rid of…" My high-and-mighty speech was interrupted by a coughing fit. Harry, once again, brought a cup of cool water to my lips. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him, but he seemed to get the 'This-had-BETTER-be-just-water' glare and nodded with a small smile.

I slowly allowed the liquid into my mouth, testing it before deciding it was just water and I swallowed the mouthful. I swallowed a few more mouthfuls afterwards; the water felt even better flowing through my throat than before. Once the glass was empty, I laid back against the pillows with a small smile. I felt a little better. But that warmth on my hand didn't go away. "Potter…What is … by my hand?"

He blinked, before looking down, then smirking back up at me. "Why don't you have a look?"

I frowned darkly – that just didn't sound right. I looked down towards my hand only to stare into those baby blue eyes I had seen before. I screamed again and struggled back away from it. The furry creature stood up on its four legs and opened its muzzle at me, issuing out a soft bark. I blinked in confusion as it stared back at me, pink tongue dangling out from a row of dangerously sharp teeth. "P … Potter?" No, I didn't stutter. Malfoy's don't stutter.

Potter had the audacity to laugh at me. He lowered his hand and rubbed the top of the strange black and white furred creature's head. "This is Hunter. He was curious about what you were. I'm surprised he didn't bite your hand off."

I sneered, looking down at Hunter. "…What is he?" He didn't look all that familiar. He looked almost like a wolf, but he wasn't.

"He's a dog. Siberian husky, to be precise. His temper isn't the best, however. He generally hates everyone but me."

I frowned a little bit, even as I looked up at him. He seemed to be in a fair better mood this time around. Maybe those prats he calls 'friends' helped alleviate his bad mood. Better for me, anyway. "You bandaged me?" I decided to live up to my reputation – a Malfoy does not dance around the bush. We're blunt and to the point. And the possibility he had his hands on me in ways I didn't know of while not even conscious disturbed me.

Emerald eyes flashed darker in annoyance behind his glasses, before he nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, I did. I didn't want you bleeding all over the comforters and all." He took a moment for his mood to readjust to the seriousness of the matter. "Malfoy, why were you out there?"

I frowned, looking away from those bright green eyes of his. "I escaped from Hell, Potter. I didn't think there could be worse things."

He frowned. "What are you talking about? For two years, Malfoy. This is probably some trick of Voldemort's - " I flinched at the name. " – to get to me. I wouldn't put it past him to put you in this state for that means -- "

I growled. Good Merlin was he ego-centric. "Merlin, Potter! Not everything in this world is about you, okay? I expected you to find me as much as you thought you'd find me! I'm not here to take you to V-Vo…HIM, okay!" I ended up screaming at him in the last part, emotions running high even through my rigid mask. The increasing volume of my voice caused the dog to start barking. Sensitive thing, I decided. I saw pink tint to Potter's cheeks and I knew his infamous temper was about to reign, like it had during fifth year. I sighed; my head was starting to pound. "Look, Potter, I don't want to talk about it right now."

He grumbled under his breath; I heard mentions of 'bloody git' in his rambles, much to my amusement. He walked over to a dresser I hadn't noticed on the other side of the room and pulled out a small vial, merely thrusting it in my direction without a word. I eyed it suspiciously, but it only made him become more insistent. I took it from him and made a big show of sniffing it. He rolled his eyes, and I drank it once deeming it worthy – and not another dreamless sleep potion. The pain in my head slowly dissipated and I barely suppressed a smile of pleasure.

Potter shook his head slowly, raising his hand to massage his temples. "You're nothing but a headache, Malfoy. The bathroom is over there - " He pointed off to the right. " – I'll be back up later to check on you." Without waiting for me to respond, he stood up and walked out the door. Hunter nuzzled my hand that lay at the end of the bed and gave it a slobber little lick before he padded off after him. The door closed with a definite click, and I heard the lock go.

I frowned darkly and put my hands behind my head as I leaned back against the pillows. '…That could have gone better…'

A/N: … I'm having a thought here. I'm only 6 chapters in to my first Harry Potter fic, but also my first story here on With all the loyal readers I'm receiving (go you guys!), I'm pondering if I should try to get ideas for fics individual readers would like me to write and reward them for their loyalties by dedicating a fic to them. And I do write other genres (or want to), but ideas are not all there. ;; Hmm…Thoughts, anyone? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Sorry about how late it is!

(1) I have nothing against polyester. However … being as Draco is used to, say, satin sheets and this is his P.O.V. … I couldn't help add this in.