Chapter 12: On The 10th Day of Christmas...

December 23.

Headmistress McGonagall excused Draco from all his classes so he could stay with Harry, who was still alternating between feverish hallucinations and shivering cold delusions.

At one point, Harry had grabbed his wand and had tried to hex Draco for the Norbert incident from first year.

Draco knew it was Harry's fever making him do it, but it still hurt a little that deep down inside, Harry never forgave him for that. He understood Harry's reasons, but it didn't mean he had to like it. But the more Draco thought about it, the more he realized that their relationship the last 7 years had always been...unique. If Harry could get over it, then so could he.

In one of Harry's lucid moments, he apologized for his outburst and Draco simply kissed his forehead in reply. It was so sweet and tender it brought tears to Harry's eyes.

"Don't cry, Harry. You'll dehydrate yourself."

"I hate this, Draco. I hate being sick. And you're being so nice to me. I feel so pathetic. My aunt and uncle would never have helped me. Dudley would have laughed." Harry whined.

"Oh, Harry. You silly fool." Draco chuckled, hugging the other boy as much as Harry would allow him to until his sore and achy body made him pull back. "Don't think about those idiots any longer. You're beyond them now." Harry nodded in agreement.

He gave Harry some more medicine and Harry went back to sleep. Draco watched him, rubbing his eyes. Draco was beyond exhausted. He hadn't had more than 3 hours sleep and it was starting to show.

He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. He whirled around in his chair to see Ron looking at him, concern in his blue eyes.

"How is he?" he whispered, glancing at a sleeping Harry.

"Still feverish but it's going down some. Where's Hermione?"

"Poppy said because she's muggleborn, there's a good chance she could catch the flu, too, so she's been ordered to stay away until Harry's better. She sends her love, though."

"Why are you here?"

"You look like you could use a shower, some sleep and a hot meal, so I'm here to give you a bit of a break. I also brought your homework." He pointed to a stack of books and parchments on Harry's desk near the bathroom door. "And Pansy sent a change of clothes." He handed the folded clothing to Draco.

"Thanks, Weasley." Draco sighed, getting to his feet. Ron took his spot in the chair and pulled out a well-worn book. Draco looked at the title and was surprised to see it was Frank Herbert's Dune.

"Anything I need to know while you're gone?" Ron wondered.

"Harry gets another dose of the Advil in about an hour. And he needs to drink plenty of fluids. He keeps waking up and crying and that's not good for his system, as dehydrated as he is. Madame Pomfrey said if he's feeling up to it, he can try having some broth for lunch later."

"All right. You go on then. You look like you're about to drop and you won't be any good to Harry if you're ill as well. I'll owl you or floo you if anything happens."

"Thanks, Weasley. I see now why Harry picked you first." And with that, Draco left the room.

He felt a little better after cleaning up and washing his hair and managed to eat some steak and potatoes Dobby had brought for him before curling up in his bed. He did not remember falling asleep.

When he awoke, he was shocked to discover it was near dinner time and he was ravenous. He was also worried about Harry.

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and spied the package on the end of his bed. He snatched it up and opened it. It was a book. Childhood illnesses and How to Cure Them: A Common Guide to Muggle Illnesses in the Wizarding World. He spotted the note that had come attached.

Thought you could use this. I hope it helps.

Grinning and feeling better than he had in days, he took the book with him to dinner.

While he was eating, Caedmon brought him another gift. Frowning, he opened the package to discover it was a silver comb and brush set, complete with a mirror. It appealed to his vanity and he smiled. There was no note but he knew it was from his mystery person all the same.

He quickly finished his dinner and headed back to check on Harry.

Ron had levitated Harry's sofa into the bedroom and was sleeping on it when Draco returned. He checked on Harry first. His forehead was still warm but he was no longer sweating and shivering. That was a good sign. He shook Ron awake, gently. Ron sat up with a yawn.

"How is he?" Draco whispered.

"Good. He's been asleep the whole time. Madame Pomfrey came to check on him about 2 hours ago. She said he's fever has gone down a lot. Those muggle medicines seem to be doing an excellent job." He looked Draco up and down, noticing his improved appearance. "You look better than you did this morning."

"Thanks for that. I feel better." he smiled. "You go on now. I'm sure you've got homework to catch up on."

"No problem, mate. Harry's like a brother to me. I'd do anything for him." Ron stated. "Harry got a package while he was asleep. I left it on the bed table. I'm assuming it's his 10th Day present."

"You're a good friend, Mr Weasley. I'm glad I got the chance to find that out for myself." Draco put his hand out and Ron didn't hesitate to shake it before leaving. Draco took up Ron's spot on the couch and started doing some of his homework.

He'd just come out of the bathroom when he saw Harry sitting up in bed, his back resting against the headboard. Draco immediately went to his side.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Like I've been run over by a herd of hippogriffs." Harry laughed, weakly. Draco felt his forehead. It was less warmer than before.

"Fever's almost gone. That's a good sign." Draco nodded, satisfied with Harry's progress.

"You stayed." It was a statement. The blonde stared into those famous green eyes, still dull with sickness.

"I didn't want to leave."

"Ron made you."

"You heard?"

"I wasn't that far gone. I was aware the whole time." Harry smiled. Draco didn't realize how much he'd missed that smile until then.

"Do you think you can eat? Poppy said you could have broth."

"Um...maybe a little. My stomach is still kind of queasy."

"Take it slow then." Draco called for Dobby, who gushed all over Harry when he saw him.

"Dobby glad Harry Potter feeling well again." Dobby smiled.

"As well as can be, Dobby." Harry told the little elf. Dobby nodded and left.

Harry reached for the spoon and was surprised when his whole arm shook with the effort. Draco took the trembling hand and kissed it gently.

"Let me help, Harry." Draco pleaded. Harry nodded without argument, knowing he was as weak as a baby and hating every minute of it. If Voldemort were still alive, he could have picked Harry off like a fly.

Draco spoon-fed Harry his dinner. The bowl was ¾ empty when Harry announced he was full. He sat back with a sigh and closed his eyes.

"Thank you." Harry sighed.

"How's your stomach?"

"No longer queasy. I guess I just needed something to eat." Harry yawned.

"Go back to sleep, Potter." Draco chuckled.

"I'm not sleepy yet." Harry said, then ruined it by yawing again.

"Tell me that again?" Draco smirked. Harry opened an eye and looked at him.

"I missed that smirk."

"Then get better soon or you'll see it a lot more."

"Very funny, Drake." Harry smiled, closing his eyes again. Draco thought he'd gone to sleep when Harry reached out and touched the package on the night table. "What's this?" He opened his eyes again.

"Ron said it came while you were asleep. He thinks it's your 10th day gift." Harry's eyes lit up with undisguised glee as he ripped open the package. Inside was an amulet.

"What's this?" Harry frowned.

"Looks like a protection amulet."

"Protection from what?"

"Let me see it." Draco held out his hand and Harry dropped it. Draco pretended to examine it carefully, but he already knew what it was, seeing how he was the one who crafted it in the first place.

"Looks like it protects the wearer from illness. See these runes here?" He pointed to a crescent shaped heart inside an octagon. "That's a very strong protection charm. Druid magic at its best, I think. I think it's to keep something like this flu from happening to you again."

"Think I should wear it?"

"Do you want a repeat of the last 2 days again next winter?" Draco asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Good point." Harry agreed, slipping the charm around his neck. Then he yawned again and snuggled down into his bed.

"Want a shower?"

"Later." answered the Gryffindor before dropping off to sleep. Smiling softly, Draco went back to his homework.

He must have fallen asleep because when he awoke, it was just after midnight. The second thing he noticed was that he was no longer on the couch. He was in bed. Harry's bed to be exact. There was a comforting weight on his chest and he risked a glance. His eyes raked over a familiar head of black unruly hair and he smiled. He kissed the top of Harry's head and went back to sleep. Harry, feeling the light touch, muttered something and snuggled closer to the blonde, sighing in his sleep.

That was how McGonagall, Remus and Snape found them the next morning.

To be continued...