Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by J.K. Rowling. I also do not share her homophobic views.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

.

"-his vitals are continuing to show signs of improvement. I'd discussed it with a healer at St. Mungo's and he said it should be safe to ease Harry out of the coma this afternoon."

The words were distorted and made little sense to Draco's sleep-addled brain. He pressed his face harder into Harry's thigh, not wanting to wake up yet. He was distantly aware of the temperature having risen, indicating it was very late in the day. His skin felt grotty and ill-fitting as he shifted his cheek against the blanket. His fingers tightened around Harry's hand, finding comfort in the still-warm skin.

He felt his insides jolt as the words sank into his brain. That was good news, that they were going to try and bring Harry around, right?

With a grunt, Draco pushed himself up onto his elbows and rubbed his hands roughly down his face, before resting them there and simply breathing. He could feel the presence of at least three other people on this side of the curtain, but other than Madame Pomphrey, he wasn't sure who. Clawing his hands through his hair, he cast a look over his shoulder with bleary eyes.

Madame Pomphrey stood a little way away, her head bowed towards Remus and Sirius. All of them had their shoulders hunched and looked as though they'd barely slept. How long had they been holed up like this? Surely the graduation ceremony had long since passed?

Sirius caught Draco's eye and pressed his lips into a grimace. He looked as rough as Draco felt. Breaking away from the other two, Sirius shuffled over to slump down on the chair on Harry's other side. He gently took Draco's hand in his own and squeezed.

"Did you get much sleep?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

Draco closed his eyes. "No. You?"

"Probably an hour, maybe two?"

"Is Mother … is she here?"

Sirius' mouth drooped at the corners. "She had to return back to the Chateau. She gave you a kiss before she left. You were sound asleep."

Draco's head suddenly ached with the need for his mother to be by his side, but Sirius' grip was strong and grounding. It did little to stop the hot prickling behind his eyelids.

"Do you want one of us to go with you to the bathroom the village? You can freshen up and get changed? It might make you more comfortable?"

Draco felt numb all over. If he couldn't feel his legs, how would he be able to stand up and walk all the way to the coaches that would take them down to Hogsmeade?

"Or, if you're still tired, how about up to our chambers? It's a lot closer?"

Before Draco could force the words out, Remus chimed in. "Go on, Draco. Twenty minutes to yourself will do you a world of good."

Casting a baleful look at the both of them, Draco forced himself to his feet. "Fine. I'll go. Twenty minutes only."

Smiling wanly, Remus held his arm out to escort Draco from the infirmary. As he was about to leave, Sirius cleared his throat to get his attention. "Moony … take care of him, okay?"

Remus smiled softly, inclined his head, before disappearing from the infirmary with Draco.

Poppy returned to Harry's bedside and, waving her wand over him, performed a diagnostic spell, the soft, blue light seeming blinding in the late morning daylight. "He seems to be as stable as possible," she stated, keeping her voice low and gentle. "I am going to slowly start removing the stasis charms that are keeping him under. If we're lucky, he will start to rouse sometime this afternoon."

"How soon will you be able to tell if there is any … extensive damage?" Sirius asked, his tongue sticking to his mouth.

"I can begin performing them in a few hours' time to see how he is reacting to waking up naturally."

"And if there is something wrong?"

"I can call in Dr. Rodrick? I take it he was Harry's optometrist at St. Mungo's?"

"Yes, he is."

"Very well, I shall send an owl asking for his assistance this afternoon, if that would set your mind at ease?"

"Thank you, Poppy."

"Always a cheeky scoundrel, aren't you?" she grinned at him, memories from a lifetime ago flitting across her face.

Sirius offered a half-smile.

"Sirius, I must ask you. How has Draco been coping? I've hardly a chance to see him. He avoids this castle as much as possible."

"Can you blame him?"

"Certainly not. However, I notice when one of my students isn't fairing well. Unfortunately, I cannot strap him down to the bed or accost him in the hallways."

Sirius raised his eyebrows, conceding her point. "For the most part he has been faring well, although he hasn't been seeing a psychiatrist since a few months ago. Remus and I have had several conversations with him, and he has definitely opened himself up a lot more but …"

"-But there are issues that he is still refusing to discuss?" Poppy frowned, pressing her lips together. "I imagine it is difficult to find an impartial psychiatrist so soon after the war."

Sirius scoffed, "Their entire job is about being impartial."

"Unfortunately, most people feel that being impartial is subjective to their own opinions. There is no such thing as being neutral, least of all where a war is concerned," she sighed softly, straightening up and tucking her wand into her holster. "I shall look into some psychiatrists further afield. I fear that St. Mungo's may be too close to home, in regard to Draco's care."

Heaving a sigh, Sirius looked over at Harry and gave his hand a squeeze. "I fear you might be right."

"Would you like a cup of tea, Sirius?"

"That would be lovely, Poppy. Thank you …"

~0~

All he ever seemed to be doing today was sighing. It was as though his lungs were unable to hold enough oxygen and it constantly frustrated him. The shower had helped, for all of the ten minutes he'd allowed himself. Despite how cosy and comforting Remus and Sirius' chambers were, it didn't hold a candle to Grimmauld place. He'd caught himself at the thought as he'd gently dragged the muggle razor along his jawline. To think that the dreary old place of nightmares was now one of his favourite places to be. A thin smile touched his lips but faded soon after. Most of those good memories had Harry in them. The visage of Harry in the infirmary bed, looking so small and powerless, made his insides clench painfully.

A soft tap at the door brought him out of his musings.

"Draco, are you almost ready?"

Rolling his eyes, his mouth twitched. "Remus, you can come in. You've seen a lot worse between Harry and Teddy combined. Besides, I'm fully dressed."

Remus chuckled as he opened the door, "Good to know. Did the shower help?"

"I just feel so tired."

"Worry will do that to a person," Remus offered a consoling smile. Reaching up, he adjusted the lay of Draco's shirt and smoothed the fabric down against his shoulders. He smiled a little brighter, the effect dimmed by the purple bruises under his eyes and the way everything about his person seemed to sag under the weight of the approaching full moon.

Tentatively, Draco placed quaking fingers atop Remus'. "You need Sirius with you tonight."

"He needs to be with Harry."

"He needs to be with you. Harry will understand," Draco stated firmly, jutting out his jaw. "You've taken the wolfsbane, you're safe, but you'll chew yourself to ribbons otherwise!"

Remus chuckled again. "Well, that's me told."

"Harry will be fine. He'll probably be groggy and tired if he manages to wake up today."

"When he wakes up," Remus amended.

"Yes … when."

"Good. Now, let's get back to the hospital wing. I reckon we've left Sirius at Poppy's mercy long enough."

Draco obediently followed Remus from his chambers.

As they strolled through the quiet corridors, Draco felt more at ease in his surroundings as he walked with his hands tucked into his pockets. Remus walked alongside him, stealing glances here and there. The place felt restful now that there were no students hurrying back and forth, and no stuck-up parents milling around, boasting about how their child deserved his or her honours far more than anyone else in their class. The was a gentle murmur from the portraits, but with summer well underway, there wasn't much gossip floating around the castle.

Summer sunlight filtered in from the courtyard and the tall windows lining the stone walls. Everything seemed bathed in gold, and it felt much freer, walking in the dappled sun, as the hospital wing came into view.

Draco halted, his breath hitching.

A hand in the small of his back reminded him to breathe.

"Go on," Remus coaxed softly. "I'll be right beside you."

Reaching for the handles, Draco eased the doors open. Nothing hand changed and for some reason this disappointed him. Why would anything have changed in such a short space of time? Only one bed was occupied with a single half-curtain drawn across, giving Harry some modicum of privacy if someone were to enter. It made Draco feel guilty that they had impeded upon Madame Pomphrey's summer holiday.

Rounding the curtain, they found Harry and Sirius in much the same position. Sirius' head snapped up, the daylight highlighting just how rough the sleepless night had been for him. The idea that he and Remus were to spend another sleepless night frolicking in the forbidden forest made Draco's heart sink lower.

"Feeling better?" Sirius rasped; his voice as rough as his stubble as Draco slipped into the seat he'd vacated earlier.

"A little."

"Good."

Draco briefly glanced at Harry. "Is … is there any change?"

"Not yet. Poppy said he might start to come around later this afternoon."

"We might be out by then," Remus reminded gently.

Sirius heaved a sigh, his head bowed. "I know. I just loathe the idea that he might wake up alone."

"He won't be alone," Remus chided gently. "Draco will be with him, won't you, Draco?"

"I don't plan on leaving, if I can help it."

Sirius offered a little smile. "I'm already so exhausted I could sleep for a hundred years."

"Don't fret, my prince. You'll have all the beauty sleep possible, come morning."

Draco watched the two men offer such adoring, exhausted looks of love that it made his heart twist. His gaze slid back to Harry, who had definitely shifted in his sleep at some point. He needed to wake up of his own accord, though it was difficult to do when he was right there. Taking Harry's closest hand into his own, he stroked the soft, warm skin and felt calmer at the contact.

The light clacking of heels drew their attention as Poppy rounded the curtain with a raised eyebrow. "I see most of us are freshened up," she eyed Sirius. "Now, perhaps one or two of you could pop down to the kitchens and get some lunch for yourselves."

"You'll allow us to eat in the infirmary?" Remus asked, in mock-shock.

Poppy shot him a scathing look before her face softened into a smile. "Just this once. Since it's a special circumstance."

"We'll get you something as well, Poppy," Sirius winked at her, though he was far too tired to entice a blush from her.

"Come on, Padfoot. Let's get you moving a little more. You look about ready to fall asleep."

Sirius tutted but heaved himself to his feet regardless. Remus slipped an arm around his waist and together they made their way around the half-curtain, calling back that they'd return as soon as possible with food. Poppy soon returned to her office with an affectionate tut and a smile. Draco shifted his chair closer and strengthened his hold on Harry's hand.

"We'll be waiting for you right here when you wake up," he promised.

~0~

The afternoon ebbed along like a gentle river. The light brightened by midday and, as the hours wore on towards dusk, the light darkened and dimmed to a heavy, comforting golden orange glow. All too soon dusk was creeping along, elongating shadows and cooling the heated earth, releasing aromas up into the air.

It was with great reluctance that Sirius took his leave, as Remus greyed at the edges, his breathing growing heavier as his irritability spiking like a live-wire. He mustered the energy to bid Draco, and Harry, one last 'goodbye' before he hurried from the room, Sirius hot on his heels.

By six o'clock Poppy bid them a pleasant evening and to call her if there was any change.

Draco relaxed into the chair, having toed off his shoes and tucked his feet up underneath him. He'd snuck one of the fiction books that had been crowded onto the bookshelf in Sirius' chambers. He needed something to do to occupy his evening. Despite the hopes of Harry come to, Draco new that medical maladies could not be diarised in such a manner. They were unpredictable.

He lost himself in the book and all too soon he felt his eyelids beginning to droop closed. He drifted off before the sky had completely darkened to nightfall.

.

He flinched awake without fully knowing why.

Something had woken him, he was sure of it, but he wasn't sure what. He had a sense of déjà vu as he rubbed a hand down his face and clawed his hair out of his eyes.

"You can't go on … sleeping at my b-bed side …"

The voice was hoarse, croaked and cracked with lack of use, yet it was unmistakably Harry who had spoken. Draco's head shot up, his eyes wide and disbelieving as he looked upon Harry's pale features. His eyes were open, bloodshot yet clear and his stubbled jaw twitched into a vague smile.

"Harry …" Draco choked. He didn't know what he was doing, until he was knelt on the bed and had Harry cuddled to his chest. "You're awake! You're awake! Thank Merlin!" Draco gasped out; his eyes hot with pent-up emotion.

Harry choked a weak laugh, his clumsy fingers grappling at Draco's shirt. "Let … g-go …"

"Madame Pomphrey!" Draco cried out against Harry's messy hair. "He's awake! Harry's awake!"

Draco knelt awkwardly on the bed, touching as much of Harry as he could, pressing wet kisses to the stubbly cheeks, the pale forehead, the greasy hair and the ever-present scar. Everything that was so wonderfully, uniquely Harry and he kissed as much of it as he could. Madame Pomphrey's heels clacked along the floor, and she appeared in her own clothes with a thin knit cardigan slung around her shoulders. Draco tried not to resist being pulled away from Harry, but it was difficult. Harry was awake and tired and looking at him, while Pomphrey fussed over him, as though Draco were the only person in the world.

Draco felt overwhelmed as he stood on the other side of the bed, his heart drumming wildly. He didn't bother trying to hide the grin that split his face in half, or the gleam of tears in his eyes.

Every choked gasp or cough Harry emitted while Madame Pomphrey poked and prodded at him, made Draco's body jolt instinctively to protect Harry from harm. However, the smiles Harry gave him in between pained grimaced, did enough to keep Draco at bay. For now.

It took forty minutes before Madame Pomphrey straightened back up and slipped her wand into her holster. "Well, Mr. Potter, it would seem that your magical core has replenished itself more than halfway. Looks like that rest did you some good after all."

Harry cracked a weak smile, exhaustion already creeping into the corners of his eyes.

Madame Pomphrey stuck him with a firm look, "I'm still recommending at least another two weeks bed rest. As Remus and Sirius are already going to spend most of tomorrow sleeping, I see no reason why you cannot take advantage of that as well. Now, dear, are you hungry?"

"A little …"

"I'll see that a house elf brings you some soup and soft bread. Your stomach isn't used to much, so you'll need to eat it slowly. We don't want you getting sick."

With an affectionate smile, Madame Pomphrey gave Draco an encouraging look, before moving away from the bed to her storage cupboard. She returned with a vial of bright pink, fizzing liquid. "Get that down you, Mr. Potter. It's meant to help increase your appetite and neutralise any excess acid."

Harry coughed as it went down, but his eyes seemed brighter as he handed the vial back.

"Now, I'll see to that dinner. For the both of you," she added, shooting a look at Draco. He refused to blush when his stomach rumbled lightly.

.

When the door of her office clicked shut, Harry turned his head to look up at Draco. He strained to lift his weighted arms, wiggling his fingers to beckon the blonde back to his bedside. "C'mere …"

Draco wasted no time in hurrying to Harry's bedside and taking the familiar hands in his own. Pressing his forehead to Harry's he exhaled in relief, "I thought I'd lost you …"

Harry smiled and shook his head weakly. "Can't get ridda me …"

Settling down on the edge of the bed, Draco threaded his fingers through Harry's greasy mop of hair. His hand trailed down to the back of Harry's neck and gripped him there, simply grateful to feel solid flesh and bone beneath his palm. Despite the ripe, musky smell clinging to Harry's skin, Draco leaned closer, gingerly pressing his nose along the soft skin, earning a chuckle from the brunette. He buried his nose in the crook of Harry's neck and looped an arm around his shoulders, drawing him close. He felt overwhelmed as Harry's hand snacked around his chest and clawed at his thin jumper to keep him close.

"Smell nice …" Harry croaked.

Draco choked on a laugh. "You could do with a bath. Do you think Madame Pomphrey will oblige?"

Harry frowned, his eyes going wide with fear at the idea of undressing before the medi-witch.

Smiling, Draco tucked a dark wave of hair behind Harry's ear. "I'm sorry that Remus and Sirius aren't here. It's a full moon so …"

"S-okay …" Harry croaked, eyelids closing and rubbing their noses together. "… See them tom-orrow … want you …"

Draco hesitated a moment before pressing a chaste kiss to Harry's cheek, "Food first. Then we'll get you clean and comfortable."

With a pout and a cheeky gleam in his tired eyes Harry's rasped, "Bossy …"

Chuckling, Draco slid back onto the seat beside Harry's bed, keeping their fingers linked as a 'crack!' resounded in the quiet infirmary. A house elf appeared carrying a large tray laden with two bowls of soup, warm, crunchy bread rolls and two bowls of cake and custard under a stasis charm. Draco relieved the elf of the tray and thanked her. She bowed and then disaparated with another 'crack!'. Summoning the rolling table, Draco set the tray on it and glided it up to rest over Harry's lap. He poured them two glasses of pumpkin juice and settled down with his own bowl of soup.

He hadn't realised how hungry he was until the first spoonful slid down his throat. He wasted no time in inhaling the soup, barely taking the time to tear the bread roll in half, dip it in and chew it. The meal was small and simple and didn't really fill him up, but it was better than nothing. Like Harry, he hadn't eaten much over the last few days so he didn't want to make himself sick.

Setting the bowl aside, he refocused his attention on Harry. He frowned; Harry was eating slowly and methodically, his arm quaking a little as he dipped his spoon into the bowl and slowly guided it to his mouth. He continued to wince, though he grit his teeth and continued on with his efforts.

"Here. Let me," Draco eased himself to his feet and gently took the bowl and spoon.

Harry looked torn between relief and wanting to argue that he was perfectly fine. However, one raised eyebrow from Draco soon had him slumping in defeat. If Harry felt embarrassed about being spoon fed, he didn't show it other than the slight crinkle between his eyebrows. Once the bowl was finished, Draco tore the bread roll up with his hands and used it to mop up the leftover soup.

Once everything was eaten, Harry slumped back on his raised pillows with a contented sigh. "Th-ank you."

Draco smiled up at him from his seat, squeezing his hand gently. Harry squeezed back, smiling tiredly.

.

Around half past eight, Madame Pomphrey returned and informed them that Healer Rodrik would be stopping by first thing in the morning, hopefully with both Remus and Sirius present. The sky had completely darkened by the time Madame Pomphrey had finished giving Harry a quick scrub down in the bathroom adjacent to the infirmary. He'd kept his boxers on, but his shoulders were still hunched and his ears red with embarrassment when he was returned to his bed, now clothed in borrowed pyjamas. Madame Pomphrey even left a fresh set for Draco to change into, should he decide to stay the night. She bade them goodnight before retiring to her chambers.

"Draco …" Harry patted the mattress beside him.

"Let me change quickly." Draco stood to go to the bathroom, pyjamas clutched in his arms.

"Change here … I d-don't mind …"

Draco arched an eyebrow and couldn't help a coy smirk as he glanced over his shoulder at the office door, before starting to claw off his clothes and folding them neatly over the top of his chair. When he was clad onto in his boxers, he noticed that Harry was tense, his jaw set and his cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. He eyed Draco hungrily, and if Draco happened to slide the soft cotton trousers up over his hips a little slower than normal, well, that wasn't anybody's business. Buttoning the shirt over his chest, he straightened himself up and made a shooing motion.

Wriggling to one side, Harry exhaled heavily as he tipped his head back on the pillow. "Stay with me … please?"

Draco slid onto the bed with ease and enveloped Harry in his arms, drawing him to rest his head against his chest. Now that he was clean, Draco buried his nose in Harry's hair and held him tightly. "I'm not leaving your side. I promise."

"Talk … to me …"

"About what?"

"A-anything …"

Draco chuckled weakly, "Not sure what to say, Harry. I guess … well, I did a lot of thinking these last two days."

"Oh?"

"I -I was so worried that I wouldn't get another chance to do this; to hold you, hug you, kiss you … it fucking terrified me. You have no idea of how much you've come to mean to me."

"Oh y-yeah?" Harry tipped his head back, nosing along Draco's jaw. "L-like me, eh?"

Draco frowned down at the brunette man in his arms. He tipped the younger man's head back, fingers trailing along his stubbly jaw before he pressed his lips against Harry's in a slow, aching kiss. He wanted more, needed more, craved it like oxygen, but Harry was weak and already struggling. The last thing he needed was to be overwhelmed. Sucking gently on Harry's bottom lip, Draco broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, fighting against the quiver that ran down his spine.

"I don't think I've ever felt for anyone as I feel for you," he breathed. "It's far more than love. I cherish the very bones of you. But if love is all I can say, then I'll say it until you're sick of me."

"Won't happen …"

"It will, I know it will. All your memories will hit you like a fucking stunner, and then where will I be? Watching on as you go about your life and I'm still on house arrest? Or better yet, a pet-project to show the world that Death Eaters can be reformed?"

"N-no! Wouldn't -wouldn't do that to y-you!"

Draco held Harry tighter, his face aching with the effort not to cry. "What can become of us? There's the press, the reporters, the hateful public who will sling any number of hexes my way the moment your head is turned. Believe me I want -I want nothing more to take that risk for you, but that's just what it is. A huge risk. How can you say, a hundred percent, that you want to be with me? I'm damaged, Harry. I'll damage you, in time, I'm sure. You'll either have to become a recluse like me, so as not to be around hateful people, or you'll grow to resent me, because we can't go out in public, or when we do, people will come for us. What sort of life is that?"

"Those things ... will happen either w-way. Whether -I'm there -or not."

Draco snorted derisively. "Not to the same extent."

"No, maybe not ..." Harry exhaled heavily, twining their hands together. "I want to try ..."

"Try what?"

"This. Us. Being -being w-with you."

"What about all the stuff I just mentioned?"

"I don't ... nor have I ever ... c-cared what the ... fucking p-prophet ... has to say about me." He twisted his head to peer up at the blonde, "As long ... as you don't e-either ... we should be f-fine."

Draco frowned, looking down into Harry's bright green eyes. His breath hitched in his throat. "Still not used to seeing you without glasses ..." he murmured, absently.

"I know ..." Harry screwed his face up a little. "Feels w-weird."

"Do you want them?"

"Nah ... don't w-wanna move," Harry murmured, snuggling his head against Draco's chest. The blonde hesitated before winding his arms around Harry's shoulders. "Like it r-right here ..."

Draco stroked soothing patterns across Harry's shoulders. The windows across from them were wide open, letting in the silvery moonlight. It was oddly soothing, even if faint howls could be heard in the far distance. It took them both a while to relax fully in the narrow bed, their legs slowly woven together under the thin cotton blanket. Harry stroked a hand gently over Draco's abdomen, almost as though checking that he was still there. Draco hadn't known how to relax, not since they'd arrived in Hogsmeade. It felt like another life-time ago.

"So ... have all your memories returned?" he asked hesitantly, feeling his muscles tense up in anticipation of the answer.

Harry shrugged, "A lot have, yeah. Some are fuzzy, or not completely concrete, but yeah ... for the most part."

"So you don't ... suddenly hate my guts?"

A wheezy little laugh rocked the bed a little as Harry clumsily swiped at his eyes, "No, you git! If I didn't ... w-want you here ... you wouldn't be here."

"No sudden urges for Ginny to be holding you instead of me?"

Harry rolled eyes though Draco couldn't see him. He waited a moment before answering, searching through his newly refreshed memories for a hint of the fiery feeling that had been there once before. There was an echo of them, fleeting as they were; like striking a match in a windy tunnel. "No," he said, definitively. "No f-feelings ... there."

Whether that reassured the blonde or not, it was hard to say. Harry did feel the muscles he was lying on, relax a fraction. Draco resumed carding his fingers lazily through Harry's hair, his chin resting atop the unruly nest. He cuddles up closer, an arm slung over Draco's middle as they watched the stars winking high above the forest in the distance, without really seeing it. Each lost in their own thoughts. There was something, though. Something that was niggling away at Harry's mind, a persistant thought that seemed to refuse to go away. It was like the words were physically crawling their way up his throat, and there was no real way to stop them from coming out.

"Don't th-think you're not ... worth it ..." he struggled against the rawness of his throat. "No-nothing worth keeping ... is easy ... all the t-time."

Draco sighed above him. "It shouldn't be difficult all the time, either."

"True ... S-Sirius and R-Remus manage."

"We're not them, Harry. You're a war hero and I'm a war criminal. Hardly a couple to aspire to."

"Stop it!" Harry croaked, squeezing his eyes shut. "P-please! I w-want to ... be w-with you! Past mistakes or n-not! I fuc -I love you and you're ... g-giving up before ... we-we've even tried!"

A strangled gasp came from above. Harry peeled his eyes open to peek up at Draco and was rewarded to the sight of a pink-faced Draco with damp, dark eyelashes and a tear track down his face. He wiped at the tear track and frowned as he wriggled upright to look at the blonde. As soon as his arms were freed, Draco covered his face with his hands and let out a single, gut-wrenching sob. It contained all the anguish and fear and turmoil that had accumulated over the last few days -had it really been days? -if his heaving chest was any indication.

"Draco?"

A loud sniff. "What?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Draco dropped his hands, his eyes red and watery as he glowered up at Harry. "Why on earth would you want to do that?"

"Because it feels like ages since I have."

"And you want to kiss now?"

Harry shrugged, "That's not an answer."

Draco rolled his eyes, "I'm a mess, Harry."

The younger man wriggled closer, leaning over Draco on his arms and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek before nuzzling close, "I don't mind. I think you're beautiful."

"Don't ..."

"You don't want me to?" Harry tried not to sound hurt, but it was difficult. He pressed his nose into the crook of Draco's neck and inhaled deeply. If that didn't send a shiver down Draco's body, well, that was no one's business.

"It's not that ..." came the weak protest as his head moved marginally to the side.

Harry tentatively touched his lips to the flushed skin. His lips tingled at the contact and he ached for more. Even though his body felt weak and his heart was working overtime, he was craving Draco's touch. "What is it then?"

"I'm not fooling about in the hospital wing, twenty feet from the school nurse!"

Harry laughed breathlessly before sitting back on heels and looking sheepish. "I guess it -it w-would be bad ..."

Draco looked at him, his features melting into a somewhat affectionate if exhausted smile. Leaning back on the pillows, he gave Harry's hand a gently tug. Harry sighed and lay down, half on-top of Draco, with his leg slotted between the blondes longer ones. He felt somewhat light-headed and his chest ached. Draco wrapped his arms loosely around Harry's body in a hug, tipping his head back onto the pillows.

"You've had a rough time of it," he whispered, rubbing soothing hands up and down Harry's back. "Try to get some rest."

Harry wanted to protest but was interrupted by a yawn. "Ah -f-fine," he grumbled. A moment of silence passed before he asked, "S-say it ... again?"

"Say what? About getting rest?"

"N-no ..."

"Ohh ... you mean ..."

"Please?"

Exhaling, Draco tipped his head and stared up at the ceiling. He hadn't thought about the words earlier, they'd just sort of slipped out as the emotions and wrung him out. His filter had vanished and he'd been vulnerable. Still, though, he found he didn't regret them. Harry was still here in his arms, cuddling him no less, and his feelings hadn't changed. Relief and trepidation warred within him, but that little bead of hope shone the brightest in that moment.

"I love you," he whispered breathlessly into the silvery quiet. "I love the very bones of you. But if love is all I can say ... let me say it until I can say it no more."

"I love you too, Draco," Harry smiled into the creases of Draco's flannel shirt, cuddling the blonde tighter. "Thank you for holding me."

"Try not to think. Get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up, okay?"

"M'Not tired ..."

Draco snorted quietly. "We've had this argument since you were seven, Potter. If I say you need to sleep, then you need to sleep."

"Hmph ... bossy."

Draco shook his head in amusement and all too soon Harry's weight shifted as he finally fell asleep, breathing heavily against Draco's chest as he slowly rubbed soothing hands up and down Harry. His mind was a jumbled mess from all the emotions and confessions over the last twenty-four hours alone, and he didn't even want to think about what the press were doing to besmirch Harry's name right now, but for now it didn't matter. All that mattered was the dark and the quiet, the silvery light of the moon softening the otherwise austere surroundings.

He knew they needed to think of a more long-term solution to things over the coming days. A vast number of people were going to need to be contacted, if they hadn't been already. He also needed to write his mother and update her on what had been happening since she'd been escorted back to France. All that could wait though. It was tomorrow's problem, and he wanted tonight, and their shared moments together, to last for as long as possible before the rest of the world interferred and ruined it all.

If he stayed awake and watched the moon fade from the sky and the sunrise over the distance, well, the only indication it happened at all were the heavy bags under his eyes the following day.

A/N: I have to ask; do people hate the pacing of the Drarry in this story, even though it was meant to be a slow-build? I thought it made sense, giving how the story has been written, but apparently some people disagree? X