Warnings: Contains shounen ai and mild yaoi (malexmale realtionships) Strong language

Pairings: harry/draco

Disclaimer: no matter how much I'd like to, I do not own Harry potter

Avarice

Chapter 2: It was Malfoy

Harry's eyes abruptly snapped open. His body was covered in a sheen of cold sweat that made his skin cool to the touch. His chest hurt, like he had actually taken the killing curse to the heart. Madam Pomfrey was on him the moment he opened his eyes. She took in Harry's fearful expression and sent look over to Dumbledore who had not long re-entered the room. The head master walked over swiftly.

"What ever is the matter, my boy?" Harry took a shuddering breath at the question.

"I had another nightmare, I couldn't wake up." No matter how much he tried to hide it, he couldn't keep an edge of accusation from entering his voice as he looked at madam Pomfrey. She looked forlorn as her face turned slightly red with shame.

"I'm so sorry, Harry I had no idea." She muttered her face lowering. Harry sent her a watery smile and shook his head at her.

"It's okay, I should have told you before I drank the potions." Dumbledore studied Harry for a little while before deciding to speak again.

"Harry, dear boy, you said you had a nightmare?" the head master probed. Harry turned back to the older wizard. A look of recollection shone in his startled emerald eyes.

"I was in a river, I was chained to… something. Voldemort was there…" Harry trailed off as he tried to recollect the rest of his dream. "But then it was Draco instead. And then he laughed and cast 'avada kedavera on Me." Harry shuddered at the thought.

It had hurt when Draco cast the spell on him, almost like it had been real. Harry tentatively reached a hand up to touch his own chest right over his heart. It was beating wildly in fear.

"Young Mr. Malfoy did?" Harry nodded mutely. "You've never had a dream, or rather, nightmare about him before" Dumbledore stated knowingly

"No sir, I know. I think maybe he's up to something, I'll have to be careful." Harry thought out loud, mumbling to himself more than to the older wizard that stood at the side of his bed.

"Sometimes it is unwise to assume the worst of people, young Mr. Potter." Harry shook his head slightly in refusal.

"I'm not assuming the worst." He stated defiantly. "I'm being cautious." Dumbledore nodded, he couldn't blame Harry for being defensive. Just from looking at the boy like this, taking in the rigid frame and slight sheen of sweat over his body, Albus knew that the boy was terrified..

Albus had to agree; maybe it was better to be 'cautious'. Especially in this case, it was a well-known fact that the older wizard felt responsible for Harry, he couldn't have him being injured now, could he? He took in the bruise that adorned Harry's temple. It was nearly time to hear young Mr. Malfoy's side of the story.

The aged wizard glanced outside of the window, it was getting light it must've been around six thirty, no later and the sun was steadily rising, as it should.

"Okay Harry," started Madam. Pomfrey returning to Harry's bedside. "Your condition has stabilized not that you've gotten some rest. I'll have one of the house elves bring you some food and something to drink as soon as I can. Make sure you keep your strength up to refrain from any reenactments of last night, okay?" Harry smiled and nodded at the woman, all previous mistakes forgotten.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey, I'll be careful. Thank you very much." She smiled at him as she swept toward her office, supposedly to call the house elves in the kitchens.

None other than dobby quickly delivered Harry's food. Dobby who was, as always, over come with emotion when he saw 'master Harry potter sir.' Harry couldn't help but smile at the ecstatic elf. Dobby, however quickly departed after much crying to return to the kitchens and begin preparations for tonight's dinner.

Harry showered and changed down in the medical ward using the clothes that madam Pomfrey had provided had he needed them. At Madam Pomfreys orders he had obediently climbed back into bed to rest further.

At around lunchtime Ron and Himiorne showed up at the medical ward after hearing that Harry was 'sick'. Ron, with many chocolate frogs and Himiorne, with the homework Harry had left in the dorm. Harry accepted the homework and shared a pained glance with Ron, who's facial features seemed to say loud and clear as any crystal ball; 'she threatened me.' Harry chuckled at her enthusiasm and accepted both of their 'get well soon' gifts.

"What's wrong with you anyway mate?" Ron managed to mumble through bites of the chocolate frogs that he had originally brought for Harry. The brown haired bow couldn't help but laugh at his friend.

"Just lack of sleep, nothing I won't bounce back from." He eyed Himiorne's still concerned stare and sighed a little "seriously, I'm fine. Madam Pomfrey said so, I just can't be discharged yet, is all." Himiorne still looked quizzical but Harry merely shook her off. He didn't need to tell his friends absolutely everything.

"Harry," Himiorne's voice came through the conversation he was having with Ron about quidditch strategy. "How on earth did you get that awful bruise?" she said motioning toward his head. Harry raised his hand to cover it.

"Well, last night, in the hall with Malfoy-" Ron cut him off abruptly.

"Malfoy did that to you?" Harry turned his head quickly to him looking like Ron had just slapped him round the face.

"He did no such thing, what I was going to say was-" Ron cut off Harry's attempt to explain again.

"He did, didn't he? He hit you or something! You don't have to stand up for him, Harry. That's it. I'm going to tell Dumbledore on the slimy bastard!" Ron fumed and both of the other two occupants in the room had a hard time trying to calm him down. .

The duo only stayed a short while after Ron had calmed down stating that they didn't want to miss dinner. Harry managed somehow to assure Himiorne that dobby would bring him his dinner when he asked for it and would stay to make sure he ate it too. When she was satisfied the two left Harry alone in the ward again.

Soon enough after the two left, dobby appeared at the door with a tray of food. Dobby stayed right there with him, stating that he had to stay and watch Harry eat all of the food provided. Harry, in his defense, stated that not even a family of trolls could eat that much food between them. Dobby refused to listen.

After all of Dobby's flapping, worrying, crying and general mother hen-ing, Harry gave in and said that he would eat as much as he could and that was the best he could do.

After dobby returned to the kitchens Harry finally had time to mull over what had happened last night. His hand went up again to touch the purpling bruise that adorned his head.

Malfoy had kicked him, insulted him and put him down, and still, Harry couldn't bring himself to get the infuriating git in to trouble. He reclined against the bed feeling a little sleepy, all previous nights catching up with him. All thoughts on nightmares or not ran unbidden from his mind. He closed his eyes to the bright sunlight of midday.

Ron sat impatiently at the Gryffindor table, his food sat untouched in front of him. He kept a keen eye on Dumbledore, needing to catch him and talk to him about Harry 'injury' induced by Malfoy, of course. Malfoy had always had it in for Harry, ever since first year.

Ron saw the man stand and exchange a few words with professor Snape before exiting the great hall. Ron stood as soon as the door started to swing closed.

"Ron, where are you going?" Himiorne interjected. Ron turned to her nervously. "You're not going to talk to Dumbledore are you?" Ron took in Himiorne's expression and decided he couldn't lie, but he couldn't let Dumbledore get away.

He shot Himiorne a pained glance and then turned away from her with a quick apology. The girl stood and hurried out after him. "Ron!" she called after him as she rounded the corner. She saw him talking with Dumbledore a guilty expression on his face. She suddenly found she was embarrassed about calling out as the two turned to look at her. She inclined her head respectfully.

"Professor." Dumbledore took in the two and smiled politely.

"Miss. Granger." He greeted. "Shall we go to my office then?" the two followed silently behind him. She gave Ron a warning glance but he just shrugged her off. He wouldn't be deterred, it was Malfoy and he knew it.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk observing Ron and Himiorne carefully as they stood awkwardly in front of him.

"Now then, Mr. Weasely. I believe there is something you wish to talk to me about?" ron nodded quickly

"Malfoy hurt Harry!" Himiorne glared at him.

"Harry said it wasn't Malfoy" she stared calmly.

"Well, I know that it bloody well was!" Ron retorted and sent a scathing look to the girl.

"Enough!" Dumbledore cut through the argument. He turned a warning glance on them "let me remind you that this is my office not a hall way and shouting is now allowed here." The two looked ashamed.

"But sir," Ron continued. "You saw the bruise on Harry's head surely?" Dumbledore nodded his affirmation.

"Yes, I saw it. Harry never got around to telling me how he got it though." Himiorne stepped forward.

"Sir, may I say something?" he nodded "when we were in the ward with Harry, he didn't tell us how he got the bruise, but he did specifically say that it wasn't Malfoy." Ron butted in again.

"But he didn't actually say how he got it either. I think he's just sticking up for him." Dumbledore nodded.

"And why, Mr. Weasely, would Harry cover for Mr. Malfoy?" when Ron didn't answer Dumbledore stared at him impassively. "Innocent until proven guilty, Mr. Weasely." Ron fumed and asked to be excused. He swept out of the room in a rage quickly followed by Himiorne after excusing herself.

Dumbledore stayed impassive behind his desk.

Draco Malfoy was in his room at the same moment Harry was falling asleep in the medical ward. He expected someone to have come and visited him by now, but leave it up to the professors to really over do the whole 'suspense' thing.

His plan to get him self out of hot water was not as impressive as he would have hoped. He could just say that he didn't trust the other prefects to do a good job, but one, that would get the others in trouble, no, he didn't care. But there was no need for unnecessary punishment. Plus, no one would think to do prefect rounds at two thirty in the morning.

So, that left him with one possible option that he could see, he had heard Harry and came looking, but, he needed more than that, he needed a good motive and the reason behind Harry's screaming.

He had a good motive all set up, full proof as he hoped for, but. He still wasn't sure where the screaming came in, and there was the bruise he was sure adorned the side of potter's face, that would have to be dealt with.

He really didn't know why Harry had screamed in the first place. No body screams like that from just a kick and a couple of insults, do they? He remembered how Harry had screamed last night and it sent icy shudders down his spine. He decided, against his better judgment that he never wanted to head Harry scream like that ever again. I wonder if he'll scream like that when he dies though?

Draco sat back in his chair, he still needed to perfect the plan for his father, he was hoping to send the owl in the morning giving his father a briefing. He no longer had to worry about the professors, they would buy his story, they had no reason not to.

He could see no problems in his plan, as long as Harry reacted the way Draco wanted him too, and to be honest, he wasn't sure that would be so hard, although it was risky, this plan relied totally on Harry's reaction. Draco had a feeling that his father would be highly displeased at first.

An owl flew through Draco's open window and dropped a letter into his lap; he didn't recognize the owl, which meant that it had to be one of the schools. He looked at the letter knowingly before opening it. He knew what it was. It was a summons from one of the professors.

His plan was about to come in to action before he had even had the chance to owl his father.

Draco read the letter once; unexpectedly it was from Dumbledore. He had expected it to be from someone like Snape. This works slightly in my favor I suppose he slipped the parchment in to his robes and swept out of his room.

The letter said that Draco was to meet Dumbledore at the end of the main staircase where they would move to Dumbledore's office to go over the events of last night. Draco ran his speech over and over in his head, checking for flaws and making notes of what his facial expression should be, or show when he said certain lines.

He was ready, as ready as he'd ever be.

Harry opened his eyes as the door slowly opened, Himiorne stood there quickly glancing around the room before stepping inside. She swept over to Harry swiftly. He gave her a smile but it disappeared as he took in her anxious face.

"Harry," she whispered, he looked at her worriedly.

"What's up herm?"

"Ron went to Dumbledore." She stated exasperatedly. Harry's eyes went slightly wide at that.

"What did he say?" he questioned and Himiorne sighed again.

"He said that your bruise was caused by Malfoy." Harry looked troubled as she sat down on the end of the bed. "Harry," she began. "How did you really get that bruise?" Harry looked down at his hands.

All this for one bruise, anyone would think I was dying. He hated lying to his friends, but he couldn't get Malfoy in trouble, for reasons unknown to himself. He chuckled nervously.

"Well, when I was going out of the common room, I got a little excited," anxious, scared. "And tried to leave when it wasn't fully open." Himiorne looked quizzical.

"You walked in to the door?"

"The door frame, yeah." He mumbled lamely. There was a moment of silence until Himiorne burst out laughing. Harry couldn't help it, he burst out laughing too.. as the laughter died down she regarded Harry again.

"Still, I wonder if Dumbledore will believe that?" Harry smiled.

"Of course, he knows that Draco wouldn't hurt me." Himiorne raised an eyebrow. 'Draco'? This is sure to be interesting.

"Harry, he's been insulting and trying to get you in to trouble since first year." She stated obviously. Harry looked almost… disappointed at the memory.

"I know Himiorne, but he's different now." Himiorne had to bite back a laugh. Oh Harry, you make this too easy. "He hasn't hurt me at all recently." He added. She studied him shocked.

"Harry, did that bump on the head scatter your brain cells? He insulted you yesterday in potions class." Harry looked around uncomfortably.

"Yeah," he stated lamely. "But he hasn't hurt me." Himiorne sighed.

"Harry, you're hopeless." Hopelessly infatuated, that is. Harry quickly became tired and needing all the sleep he could get, went to sleep. Himiorne studied him in his sleep.

"I hope you know what you're doing Harry. This infatuation. Or more likely obsession you have with Draco Malfoy could become a very dangerous thing." Harry turned over in his sleep. Himiorne knew Harry knew what he was doing and Himiorne, and hopefully Ron, would always be there for Harry regardless of what he did.

She tucked the blanket up around Harry and smiled again. She sauntered silently out of the room knowing that Harry would be all right.

Draco walked to the aged wizard and bowed his head in respect and then looked straight into his eyes, the pose of someone who had absolutely nothing to hide.

"Sir," Draco greeted respectfully. The head master regarded him with kind eyes.

"Young Mr. Malfoy," the head master greeted back "shall we go?" Draco smiled and nodded; he wanted to look innocent after all. The duo soon reached the stone staircase that lead to Dumbledore's office.

Draco stood, feeling lost in the middle of the room. It wasn't that the room was overly large; he had a room bigger than this back at the manor that this room was, in comparison quite small to. It was that Draco had never been here before that unnerved and unsettled him.

"Well then, young Mr. Malfoy," the head master began, pausing to pour tea in to two china teacups. "I think there's been a little misunderstanding in the corridor, has there not?" Dumbledore's eyes were shining with a knowing light as he said this.

"That's correct sir." Draco mentally went over his speech again as he took the offered tea from the older wizard. Draco's speech was flawless, he was sure of it.

Draco took a sip of the offered beverage. He had expected the bitter acquired taste that he had back at the manor however this tea was countered with sugar. Sugared tea he mused. How trivial. Lucius had never allowed him to have tea back at the manor; he stated that it was 'unrefined' and muggle. He grimaced bitterly, he bet that Harry had sugared tea when he was little; god how he hated that boy.

"Harry seems to have acquired a large bruise on his temple," he took a sip of tea "do you know any thing of its origins?" Draco smirked inwardly. Perfect. It was a brilliant starting point for his plan.

"No sir, but I did notice it when I found his last night, that ugly thing marring his beautiful perfect face" Draco announced melodramatically. Shock showed in Dumbledore's eyes.

Strike one.

The head master regains his composure and continued.

"Some seem to think that that bruise was caused by none other that yourself." There was no hint of accusation in his voice and that reassured Draco the littlest bit Weasely he thought acidly to himself.

Still, may as well milk it for all it's worth. Draco looked entirely sincere as he said his next line.

"I would never hurt Harry." He replied slowly, trying hard not to laugh at his own words, this was almost too much. Dumbledore's eyes were wide with surprise and Draco could see it.

Strike two.

He continued as normally as possible when sitting across the way from a very out of character Draco Malfoy.

"Can you tell mw why he screamed my boy? You were the only one present at the time." Draco's face turned troubled and worried at once.

"Well sir, I'm a little embarrassed abut it," Draco paused for effect, he wanted the head masters full, undivided attention. "I didn't know he was ill see. I gave him some rather… startling news. It just confused him. I think that's why he screamed. Either that or he hates me terribly so." Draco sighed dramatically. Dumbledore nodded as he processed this information.

"And, what was the news?" the aged wizard probed.

"I told him the truth," Draco paused once again, building on the suspense "I told him I loved him."

Strike three.