"Mr. Harry Potter sir, Dobby has bought you food, please wake up Harry Potter, sir or it will be cold, sir." Harry awoke to a high pitch voiced and several nudges to the side of the head.

"What's the matter?" he muttered, sleepily, rolling over and trying to avoid the now more insistent poking.

"Dobby has brought you food Harry Potter sir." Harry rolled over again and opened his eyes, taking in the blurry house elf holding a large tray piled high with food. He stuck out a hand and retrieved his glasses, fumbling to put them on as he sat up and stretched his aching muscles, groaning.

"Are you alright Mr. Harry Potter sir? Is there anything I can do to help Mr. Harry Potter, sir?" Dobby asked eyes wide with concern as he placed the loaded tray on the table next to Harry's bed.

"No, I'm fine Dobby. Did Dumbledore send you up here with the food?" Harry asked, heaving the tray with great difficulty onto his lap. His arms felt so weak, like he hadn't used them in ages. He must ask Madam Pomfrey about that the next time she came to view him.

"No sir, young master Malfoy... I mean Mr. Malfoy did sir. He came down and chose all the things to go on the tray and said to bring you up breakfast tomorrow to Harry Potter sir, I asked him why he didn't want to take it up himself and he got very angry sir and stormed out, I was naughty to question Mr. Malfoy sir… so I got Winky to drop a sauce pan on my foot." Dobby stuck his heavily bandaged foot out so Harry could see.

"Dobby, you've got to stop doing that to yourself," Harry groaned. He wasn't sure how he felt about Draco at that moment. He was lightened by the fact that he took the trouble to make sure he had some proper food to eat but it hurt that he hadn't forgiven him enough to bring the food up himself.

"Its ok Harry Potter sir, Dobby hardly feels his broken toes any more." The elf half grinned, half grimaced.

"Well thanks Dobby. Thanks a lot for bringing this up to me. Maybe you should ask Madam Pomfrey if she can mend your foot for you." Harry asked as he manoeuvred a large chunk of sausage into his mouth, chewing frantically.

"No sir, Dobby must accept his punishment. Goodbye Harry Potter, sir, I will see you in the morning with breakfast sir," Dobby bowed and, with a louder pop then Harry was expecting, disappeared.

Harry consumed his meal in silence, glancing occasionally out the window at the cloudy night outside. The sky looked heavy with darkness, as though it was about to break free from its bindings and come crashing to the ground. A huge storm was brewing and Harry couldn't wait. He always slept better with the thunder crashing outside and rain splattering the windows to serenade him off to sleep.

After he ate all he could the plates magically cleaned themselves. Harry grinned and placed the tray on the table next to his bed. This form of simple magic always amused him. Stretching again Harry allowed his body to flop onto the bed, his head sinking into the pillow. Harry pulled the covers right up to his chin and snuggled deep into the bed just as the first drops of rain fell. Harry rolled over to face the window and watched the storm build momentum. The flashes of lightening flashed so brilliantly the whole room lit up and was accompanied seconds later by bursts of deafening thunder. Harry grinned as the rain threw itself against the windowpane. He was so caught up in the rain he didn't notice Hedwig flutter into the room until she landed softly on his hip. Starting and nearly knocking Hedwig off again he untied the envelope from her foot, stroking her softly as he read the now familiar scrawl on the slightly wet envelope.

Dear you,

You didn't reply to my last email… I hope I didn't freak you out with all that stuff…perhaps your just busy with homework. I know I have been…and with other stuff. I hate this teenage hormone thing that's going around where you suddenly develop a fondness for people.

In case you didn't guess I think I have a crush. But it's one of those crush's were nothing can come of it. We're in different houses and different worlds. But they're such a special… beautiful person. An aggravating fuck, but beautiful.

My worlds a little hectic at the moment… so if I don't reply right away give me some time. I need to sort out my head and I wish I could tell you everything but I can't… because to be honest I don't know everything. The people in my life want so much from me and I can only give what I have. Nothing more. I have to do something terrible to this beauty I'm crushing on and I don't know whether I will have the strength to do it. Any way… enough of my senseless babbling. Please reply. I miss your words.

From me.

Harry sighed and leant back into the pillow. The rain was still pelting down. Harry suddenly remembered the familiar envelope he noticed in the Slytherin common room. The one he had bent down to pick up but had to leave it. His pen pal was a Slytherin.

Dear Mr. Pen pal.

I found out something about you that I don't like. You're a Slytherin and all the Slytherins I know are assholes. You seem to be different but how can I be sure. I'm sorry you're having all these problems but this revelation has left me confused. I'm also sorry I didn't write earlier… your right… school has gotten in the way a little bit.

You seem a really great person… and I do want to continue to write to you. You're like a comfort I can't find with my other friends. An anonymous (well not as anonymous as you were) person who I can vent to and who vents back. You're almost like a diary I write in, but your write back to me. (Sorry to compare you to an inanimate object.)

Any way. I dunno. I suppose we just keep writing. We have to anyway to fill Dumbledore's requirements.

I hope enjoying the storm. It really is incredible.

From me.

Harry jotted this down quickly with the pen and pad he found in his drawer, quickly tying it to Hedwig's leg with the big of string the other letter was tied to and sent her on her way, stroking her head several times before she took off. Harry snuggled down into his bed again to watch the storm raging outside, thinking of his pen pal; of whether Draco would ever forgive him and how alone he felt lying in the hospital bed. Madam Pomfrey bustled in half an hour later, checking his stats and watching as he gulped down a potion she handed to him. It was chunky and warm…almost like vomit. Harry had this thought it mid swallow and almost wretched but forced himself to swallow, not wanting to experience Madam Pomfrey's reaction if he spat it all over the clean white sheets.

To Harry's surprise moments later Hedwig fluttered past Madam Pomfrey and landed on the bedside table look wet and bedraggled, holding out her foot obediently. Harry raised his eyebrows and untied the surprisingly bone dry envelope opening it quickly and unfolding the note inside

Dear You,

I can't help what house I am in and the reputation we have. I am a proud Slytherin and proud of the attributes that make the house what it is. I'm glad it won't get into the way of our pen pal...thing. I'm so glad you wrote back quickly.. I thought you had gone a bit off me after the whole long letter about my life. I like it…being compared to a diary. It makes me feel like you trust me and I haven't felt someone place their trust in me for a long time.

I'm so tired at the moment though. I keep trying to please everyone and I don't mind doing so… it's just when it backfires or goes unappreciated that I get so tired of it. I wish I could just be the person I was last year, the year before that. Carefree. But I suppose that's never going to happen.

When you write letters and its stormy outside you need to charm them so they repel water sir. I could just make out your writing after several repair charms and the owl you borrowed seemed to be getting incredibly impatient with me. Moody thing.

Any way I hope this finds you well. Don't reply tonight. Get some sleep. Big day of schoolness tomorrow.

From me.

Harry grinned and added the letter to the other in the draw of his bedside table. It was good to hear from his pen pal. Like the comforting words of an old friend almost. But he missed Draco. It was Harry's fault he was gone. If only he could just talk to him. Explain to him that he appreciated his help and kindness and the fact that he actually gave a shit about him. Harry, for the last time that night, snuggled deep down into his bed and rested his head on his pillow. Perhaps the rain would wash away all the shit from Harry's life and he would awake to find a fresh, new chance.

When Harry did awake the next morning he didn't wake to find a fresh new start, but a slightly soggy Draco holding a tray of breakfast foods, standing at the edge of his bed.

"Bloody Peeves. He seems to go even nuttier when its raining, he was pelting everyone with water bombs again, the crazy git, until the Bloody Baron walked in that is. Um... here's your breakfast. How are you feeling?"

Harry looked up at Draco in surprise, rubbed his eyes and looked up at him again… he was still there… it wasn't a dream.

" Fine. Really cramped and a bit sore but fine. I'm so sorry Draco. I'm sorry for fucking up." Harry added tentatively, wanting to tell Draco he was sorry but not wanting Draco to get annoyed.

" It's alright… I suppose I realized I wasn't the reason you fell of the wagon. I wasn't enough help for you but that's neither of our faults. You're in the right hands now and I can be an innocent bystander and observe your recovery… instead of trying to control it. Any way I best be off. I need to have breakfast to before lessons start. I'll try and come back during break though." Draco said all this very fast as he set down Harry's tray, collected his book bag and nodded his goodbye at Harry before walking out of the hospital wing.

Draco did come back at lunch time… and at dinner he even enlisted the help of one of the elves to bring up a dinner tray of his own so they could eat together.

" I hate to ask this Draco," Harry said, his mouth half food of chicken, " but do Ron and Hermione know what happened." Draco, who had been smiling contently, suddenly looked incredibly pissed off.

" I told them the morning after it happened, after I found out you were alright. All that blood traitor Ron said was 'A shame he didn't die,' So I hexed him. The mudblood seemed a bit more sympathetic… until her boyfriend sprouted 8 extra ears." Draco grinned coyly at Harry, who returned the smile reluctantly. Ron wished he had died. His friendship with his two once best friends was really over.

Seeing the look on Harry's face Draco stopped grinning and tried to think of something to say, but no words came to him. Eventually he settled with, "You don't need friends like that Harry. Not if they're going to desert you just because you go through a rough patch."

Harry just nodded and continued eating. When he finished he placed the tray on his bedside table and crossed his legs. He could feel Draco staring at him but he looked over his shoulder, pretending to take great interest in the empty bed across from him.

" You know what you need," Said Draco wisely, gulping down the remainder of his beverage.

" What's that?" Harry asked, sighing, wandering what words of wisdom Draco was about to impart upon him.

" A shower and some clean clothes, you filthy bitch," Draco said, grinning and throwing a towel at Harry.

"I'm not sure wether to be offended or not." Harry grinned back and took the towel and a change of clothes to the infirmary bathroom, smiling at Madam Pomfrey as she past.

" He's just having a shower," Draco told her as she approached and she nodded, sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the bed.

" I'm glad you forgave him, Draco. He could really use some genuine friends right now," Madam Pomfrey smiled one of her rare smiles at Draco, genuinely proud of his maturity in the situation.

" It wasn't a case of forgiving him, it was a case of accepting I wasn't enough to help him. I thought because I had been through some bad stuff I had enough insight to help him, but I suppose it was actually more selfish then that. I wanted to control the situation and be the reason he got healthy and gave up that liquid shit." Draco glanced up at Madam Pomfrey who ignored his swearing and was concentrating more on what he said… rather then how he said it.

" You know I think very highly of you... and I hope you do of me also… which is why I feel I can say this to you. If you like him so much tell him. He already knows your preferred sexuality… why not see if he possibly feels the same way? I very much doubt you would lose his friendship if he didn't… not after what you two have already been through. Take a chance and for once in your life step out of your comfort zone." Madam Pomfrey shot him one last smile before groaning to her feet and bustling off to restock her potions cabinet with fresh supplies from Professor Snape.

Draco sat for a few moments more, contemplating what Madam Pomfrey had just told him. Seizing the pad and pen on Harry's bedside table and scrawled him a quick note to say he had gone for a walk but would be back later… he needed time to think.

By the time Harry got out of the shower the mirror was so fogged up Harry could barely see the outline of his body, let alone distinguish any features. With the corner of his towel Harry wiped down the mirror until he could see himself before standing back and taking a good look. The first word that came to mind was gaunt. He looked gaunt and stretched. Like his skin had shrunk one size and was slightly too small for his body now. He knew it was from lack of sleep and stress but it creeped him out. He could barely recognize himself any more. Like he had completely changed physically without anyone telling him. He kind of missed looking into the mirror and seeing the slightly nerdy, messy haired, but smiling kid he used to see instead of this mere shadow of his former self. But he supposed everything had just caught up to him, all the pain, all the shit, just like the drugs had been lurking inside his body and where now being flushed out, but before that could happen he knew he needed to treat the cause…otherwise nothing would change. He'd just be clean and depressed instead of drugfucked and depressed. Harry changed into the black boxers and white t-shirt that had been sitting on his bed. All his clothing had been removed from the Room of Requirement and though he could no longer stay there, Dumbledore had sent a letter explaining that they would find him alternative accommodation for when he got out of the Hospital Wing.

After he finished dressing Harry returned to the main section of the infirmary, only to find it empty. He knew Madam Pomfrey would be in her office but he had expected Draco to wait for him to finish his shower so they could talk some more… or at least say goodbye.

Crestfallen, Harry sat on his bed cross-legged again until he noticed the note on his bedside table. Picking it up he read,

Dear Harry,

I hope you enjoy your shower. Sorry I didn't wait for you but I needed some fresh air so I could think.

I'll be back later but if you get tired don't wait up for me to come back though.

At some stage I think you and me need to have a talk.

Any way, see you soon,

Draco

Harry re folded the letter and put it back on his bedside table. What on earth could Draco possibly need to discuss with him? He wished he could leave. Go for a walk or to the library or something, just to get out of the damn infirmary but he knew that wasn't an option. Madam Pomfrey had made it clear to him he wasn't to leave the hospital wing until Dumbledore decided he was ready to, so until then he would just have to suffer never ending boredom.

It was after curfew when Draco finally found himself heading down the familiar hallway to the Hospital Wing. He had been wondering for hours. He had received a letter from his father congratulating him on his progress. It had been the first letter he had ever received at Hogwarts in which his father actually seemed proud to have him as a son. He felt torn on the inside, not sure what to do. He knew it was his duty to complete his mission but he never thought that getting close to Potter would feel like it did. Harry had changed from the pompous up himself asshole to a genuine friend and someone who needed him. Draco stopped outside the door to the infirmary and neatened himself up before going in, he was a Malfoy after all, and Malfoys always needed to look their best.

Harry was lying down with his eyes closed when Draco re entered the hospital wing. He had sat up waiting for Draco to return for hours and decided he probably wasn't going to come back so was surprised when he heard the hospital wing door open quietly and almost giggled when Draco swore loudly as the door slammed shut.

" Glad you find it amusing. Madam Pomfrey won't if she catches me in here this late." Draco said, making his way over to Harry and sitting down on the edge of his bed.

" She'll get over it… what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Harry asked, comforted by Draco being so close, he obviously wasn't angry any more.

" Nothing terribly important. It's just that… I'm all confused… you know?" Draco knew he was making no sense what so ever but wasn't really sure how to express the terrible weight in his chest that seemed to lift every time he was near Harry. Except for the times he was throwing up all over him and calling him a beached whale, that is.

" Not really, no. " Harry confessed before falling silent, allowing Draco to say whatever it is he wanted to say.

" You know what? It's to late to have such serious discussions. How about I let you get to sleep and we'll continue in the morning huh?" Draco stood and Harry opened his mouth to stop him but realized Draco was going to leave him here alone tonight, whether he wanted him to or not.

"Alright, don't think you're getting off that easily though, we're continuing this conversation in the morning… night Draco." Draco smiled and turned to leave as Harry snuggled down deep into his bed. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Harry awoke to find a plate of scrambled eggs, toast and sausages next to his bed, sitting on a tray with a tall glass of orange juice. He grinned widely and sat up, pulling the tray onto his lap and searching his bedside table for a knife and fork, just as the hospital wing door opened.

" I forgot the cutlery!" Draco declared, holding the knife and fork over his head in victory.

Harry laughed and Draco threw the cutlery to him.

" About last night. What I wanted to say is I don't hate you. Far from it. I enjoy your company immensely and I hope you enjoy mine the same. It feel so ridiculous in this situation. Me being a Malfoy and you being the boy, I'm meant to hate you, but that's the way it is. I'm not going to change though Harry… I'm not going to suddenly become a muggle loving, Dumbledore admiring good boy such as yourself… but I can't hate you any more. Not after what we've been through." Draco said this all very quickly and Harry had the sneaking suspicion it had been well rehearsed.

" I like you for who you are, not for being a Malfoy. I like your snide remarks, sarcastic sense of humour. And I'm glad you don't hate me. I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship," Harry grinned, chucking in the cliché muggle line expecting Draco to look either confused or horrified.

" Here's looking at you kid," Draco replied, stealing a swig of Harry's orange juice.

A/N ok, its done. It took forever and I'm so sorry but it is done. The next chapter won't take so long to get finished. I had horrible writers block and then got really busy so yeah. Ok kids, love you all, special thanks to all those who reviewed, you all make me smile and make me want to write more. In case you guys where hanging out for one of those fics where Harry changes Draco into " one of the good guys" you should stop reading cause that's not going to happen. We all love Draco cause he's a smart-ass badass guy and I'm keeping him that way. Any way, happy reading.