Wonny: ...Yeah...Um...Hope you all like...this chapter...zzz...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Erin and the plot. So nyah.

Mending the Conections

"I think it's just a symptom of pregnancy."

"Whatever it was, it scared the hell out of me, Hermione."

"It happened to the other pair I associated with before. A lot. I wouldn't worry; unless it continues, it's absolutely normal."

"What do you mean if it continues?"

"I mean if he wakes up and he's still in pain."

"Ah."

A groan sounded, and the three teens looked over. Erin was back to her human form, her blue and yellow eyes raking endlessly over poor Draco, who was snuggled deep into the covers of Harry's bed. The Gryffindor dorms had been closer at the time. Harry stood just to the cat girl's left, watching worriedly. Hermione had been called from the library to have a look at the poor Malfoy. After a few minutes, she declared he would be okay.

Draco opened his silver eyes and, instead of the usual green, calm bedroom he knew, a sea of eccentric red and yellow met his eyes. He shut his eyes again. The brightness was giving him a headache, and, in the process, was making him nauseous. He groaned again.

"Draco? Are you awake?" The voice was very foggy, and it made it hard for Draco to figure out who was speaking. Another voice came, higher then the first.

"Draco, please answer her." That sounded a bit like that Granger girl...

'Granger Girl!' Draco's eyes shot open. He sat up, looking all over the room. His eyes rested on a trio of people at the side of his bed. No, not his bed, but then, who's?

"What happened?"

The red-headed shadow-person leaned over a little, checking his forehead before saying "You passed out from pain."

Draco rubbed his eyes like a sleepy child. "Oh...Where am I? And why is this room so bloody bright?"

He took his hands away from his eyes. No longer were the people blurry figures; now they took the shape of Erin, Potter, and Granger. Not a combination he wanted to see.

Pictures of lions and beds of red curtains and sheets decorated the room. From the looks of things, he was in the Gryffindor boys' dorm. But how'd he get here?

"You're in the Gryffindor House." Granger explained. Man, she should be the one with the glasses, not Potter. She would look like more of a bookworm if she had a pair of glasses to push up her nose. "Harry and Erin brought you up here." She continued, reading the look on his face.

"It was the closest place." Harry said softly.

Erin nodded, sitting on the edge of the 4-poster bed and watching her charge. "You're lucky we didn't take you else where. We didn't think you'd make it." One black, furry ear twitched at this.

Draco muttered something under his breath. He then realized that this was not his bed, an obvious thing, but it had been over looked in the excitement. "...Whose bed is this?" He knew the answer already, but he just wanted to hear it said.

Harry shuffled uncomfortably. "Mine."

Draco snorted at the look on Potter's face. "I won't say anything now, but expect it later." He swung his feet over the edge of the bed, stretching a little. "Well, I'd better get back to my own bed. Potter looks temped to throw me down." He was only teasing, but Harry looked flustered all the same.

"What!"

Draco held in a laugh. "Only joking, Potter; don't blush on me."

Erin snickered a little, and Granger covered her mouth, trying her best not to laugh at her friend. Harry glared at them both. To Draco's surprise, the green-eyed boy glared at him, too.

"I thought you would be the last person to say something like that, but I guess you haven't changed very much, have you?"

The girls stopped giggling, looking very shocked. They backed away slightly, eyeing Harry wearily.

Draco gaped. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me. You went on and on in front of your folks, but now it's alright to joke about it? You really haven't changed; you think this is some way to make everyone feel sorry for you and so I can look like the fool. It's the same game. I get it. Fuck you very much, too." Harry turned on heel and stormed from the room. Erin and Hermione watched him, looking worried. Draco just stared blankly.

Erin turned to him. "Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what to think right now. Much like yourself."

Hermione said nothing, although Draco got the feeling that she disagreed with Erin.

Draco sat there, for a moment. After what seemed to be eternity, he stood, grabbing his things that Harry had so thoughtfully brought up. "As I said, I'll be on my way."

Erin turned back into her cat form, jumping on his shoulder as the fair-haired boy walked briskly from the room, head bowed low. It was the first time Hermione had ever seen him in such a way.

Draco felt a hand on his shoulder. "I never asked you to touch me, Granger." She let go, and looked behind him to face her. "What?"

"I realize that Harry is mostly to blame for this...problem. And I know you're having some troubles yourself, but..." She twirled a lock of her bushy hair around her finger. "...This is all just as hard on him as it is for you. He's just as upset as you are. Could you at least try to...control yourself a little? It would make it easier on both of you."

Draco blinked, then scowled. She had a point, but that didn't mean he had to admit it. "I didn't ask for your suggestions, either. Mind your own business, Granger." He turned again and ran from the room, down the stairs, and out the large portrait hole. Hermione was not fazed.

"He'll take the advice." She said to herself. "He thought he was slick, but I saw it. He'll take it." She then went down the stairs calmly and sat by the fire, propping open a large book. She curled up, reading. The title was 'Male Pregnancies and How to Care for Them'.

There was a party going on.

Invites had been sent days, weeks ago. With so many students just duplicating them, though, the plans were changed so that everyone could attend. The occasion was that Nearly-Headless Nick had been accepted into the Headless Hunt. That was the original cause, anyway.

Now there were reasons like Pansy's birthday, Pre-Graduation, est., est. Dumbledore had no problem with throwing a huge party in the Great Hall at all. In fact, he encouraged it.

"The students need something to take their minds off the tragedy inflicted by Lord Voldemort over the course of last summer and this school year.", he had stated at breakfast two weeks prior, "Why not let them dance, party, and eat? It's a wonderful idea."

Word spread like wild fire. Girls went on ever Hogsmade trip, swarming into boutiques and dress shops for the perfect outfit. Of course, many people were asked to go with someone else. Neville Longbottom asked Hermione, but she was already going with Ron, for example. Even Erin, Draco's guard, was showing up; as a special guest, for secrecy's sake.

Even with all this excitement, however, Draco was still gloomy. Like there was any way he'd show up like he was. Now four months pregnant, he was getting a bit obvious. Not that everyone didn't know already, but the rest of the school was so preoccupied with the party that no one had said or gossiped about it yet. Draco wasn't too fond of his appearance, though, and that was a good enough reason for him not to attend.

Another thing was that Draco was monstrously depressed. He just received word via owl that his parents were expecting a visit with the Dark Lord, soon. Worse was that His Vileness wanted Draco to be present. As if that weren't enough, it appeared that the icing on the cake was that this was the most difficult part of his pregnancy, according to Granger. She said that he was at risk of losing his child more then ever now, and that toeing the line wasn't good enough: he had to keep as far away from the line as possible.

Naturally, Draco couldn't be at most of his classes, most certainly Potions. Unfortunately, this meant twice the load of homework. Draco was stressed enough as it was, let alone with homework.

So, as the Cat Guard fixed her make-up and hair, he sat in one of the chairs in his room, scratching out the last few words of his homework from Defense Against the Dark Arts. There would be nothing else to do afterwards but sit around and wait for his guard to return. He sighed, putting his quill and parchment away. It was going to be a lonely night.

Erin noticed his forlornness. "You know, the party doesn't exclude you." She attached a large hoop earring to her left ear.

"I'm not going. Do you think I want to go to that looking like this?" He got up, walking over to the door. "I'll just find something to keep me occupied."

The red-head adorned the other earring and turned to her charge. "Suit yourself. If you need me, you know where I'll be. Ja." She swept past him and down the hall. Draco shut the door and sighed heavily. He almost wished Potter was here to keep him company.

'What would he come down here for? Especially after he blew up a month ago...'

Draco hadn't heard much from Harry since then. Usually it was just a ''lo' or 'Hey'. Draco slumped onto his bed, careful not to roll over onto his stomach. He felt so alone at times like these.

Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, the party was already in full swing. The Weird Sisters were on stage, tonight. Girls were dressed in the hottest fashions, flirting with every boy that looked their way. The guys were showing off, break-dancing and pulling off tricky moves. The secret to doing those was to take an Adrenaline Potion before the party.

Harry was with Ron and Hermione. Mostly, though, it was just Ron and Hermione snogging and doing other things. Harry tagged along like a fifth wheel. He was expecting something a little more exciting, but nothing of the sort seemed to want to meet his eyes. While his two friends started another snog-fest, he saw Erin, Draco's guard, chatting with a couple of fifth year students. She noticed him and waved him over.

Harry excused himself, knowing that Hermione and Ron were too preoccupied with each other to notice. He weaved his way through the throngs of other students.

"What's happening?" Erin handed him a butter beer when Harry reached her.

Harry shrugged, looking around as he opened the bottle. "Nothing worth while." He frowned. "Where's Malfoy?"

Erin flicked her long, red hair behind her shoulder. "He said he didn't want to go. Shame. I thought he'd be alright by himself." She took a swing of something in a metal can labeled 'Mountain Dew'. "He's going to be lonely, and I told him so, but he wouldn't listen. Don't blame him, though. He's worried sick about you-know-what."

Harry felt something grow brighter in his mind. "Hmm. You think he'll be in his room the whole time?"

"Wouldn't doubt it. He's been self-conscience about his condition, lately." She took another swing, tapped the can with her wand, and downed more. "Why do you ask?"

"Just was wondering..." Harry fell silent as Erin shrugged and drifted off with the other girls. He tapped his fingers on the neck of the bottle, frowning. Finally, he turned on heel and marched out of the Great Hall. Several times, people stopped him to ask if he was turning in early for the night. He would nod politely and excuse himself. There was someone he needed to see...

Draco was going to say 'Fuck waiting' and fall asleep. It was eleven at night, and he was tired. His stomach had ceased cramping for the night, he hoped, and he felt incredibly exhausted.

The Slytherin curled up on his side, the curtains drawn around his bed. He was snuggled into the silky, emerald sheets. He yawned and closed his eyes.

'Knock knock'.

Draco groaned, burrowing himself further into the covers. It figured that the hyper active cat had to come back just when he was starting to nod off. He let out a muffled "It's open."

The door opened slowly. "Draco?"

The blonde's eyes shot open. He sat up, crawling quickly the other end of the bed and ripping the curtains back. Harry stood there, a bottle of butter beer in his hands, looking surprised at the sudden movement.

"Potter?" Draco rubbed his eyes. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Harry sighed. "Yes."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"...I was bored."

Draco snorted. "So you came here, of all places?" He watched Harry sit in one of the armchairs. "What are you here for, Potter?"

Harry fiddled with the bottle, biting his lip as he frowned. He really didn't have a reason. He had just...come. That's it. He opened his mouth to say exactly that, but the look on Draco's face stopped him. Harry chuckled.

Draco looked like a five-year-old child, awoken from a pleasant sleep. The blonde yawned, eyes too heavy to keep open. He rubbed his silver eyes and whined. It was terribly cute. He frowned as Harry snickered.

"Excuse me, Potter, but I don't think waking me just to laugh at me is a logical reason. Talk. Now." He glared, but yawned on accident. Harry laughed a little more.

"Well, I didn't. You look...cute. Like that, anyway. Like a child. Anyway..."

Draco held up a hand. "Wait, wait, WAIT. You did not just say that I'm cute."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "And what if I did?"

"Don't you fuck with me, Potter. I'm not in a good mood." Draco growled. He leaned on the foot of the bed, eyes glittering as they caught the fire-light. He reminded Harry of a large cat. "You have five minutes."

The emerald-eyed boy just shrugged. "I just...came. That's all."

"Potter..."

"No, really! That's my reason! I don't know exactly why. I just wanted to."

Draco looked at the other teen intently. Harry frowned, looking into the fireplace. He looked confused.

"That's all?"

"That's all." Harry answered.

Draco watched him a little more. "Come here. Sit."

Harry was startled at this, but got up and came over anyway. He sat on the edge, looking into the fire.

"Potter...Harry...what in the Hell is screwing you up?" Draco asked after a moment of silence.

Harry shrugged. "Too many things."

"Like?"

"Well, for one- wait, why do you care?" Harry asked, shooting Draco a look that said he didn't trust him.

The blonde Slytherin gazed back at him coolly. "You came. You'll talk. You showed up here without any purpose, and I intent to get something out of you waking me up." He rested his chin on his hands. "So talk, Harry."

Harry again started fiddling with the neck of the Butter-beer bottle. "Why do you want to know? So you can brag?"

"No." Draco said, simply. "Why do you not want to tell me?"

Bad question.

"Let's think, Malfoy. What have you been doing over the past, oh, I dunno, seven years? Putting me down, right? Why should I tell you anything at all?" Harry turned back to the fire, looking steamed.

"Because...I don't know, because I feel bad." Harry gave him a funny look, "Look, I know it's crazy, but I've lost my fucking mind being fucking preggers, so don't push me..." Draco pushed his fingers through his bangs, slicking them back, but leaving the fingers there, "Besides... we should at least know a little about each other. Face it, if your folks knew nothing about each other, how'd that make you feel?" He turned his gaze away at these words.

"How would you know what that feels like? You're parents seem to be pretty close." Harry asked, snorting.

Draco stayed quiet for a moment.

"...My mum, she never met my dad before they were married."

Harry looked back to the other. Draco seemed to be deep in thought.

"When they had me, they had to know each other. They failed. Miserably. It was like living in two different houses. Sometimes I was spending time with mum, sometimes with dad, and..." He bowed his head, "Sometimes by myself. They went out so many places to 'fall in love'. They left me behind."

"...I'm sorry to hear that." Harry touched Draco's shoulder briefly.

"Yeah. But, Why should I complain? You don't even remember yours..." Draco replied, softly. Harry hesitated.

"That's better then having them and not having a family togetherness." Harry added. Draco nodded.

"I suppose." The blonde sighed, "Well, that makes that part of us even." There was another awkward silence.

Harry finally uncorked the bottle and took a swig. He handed to the other. "Here."

Draco eyed the bottle, and then Harry.

"It's not poisoned. Why would I poison both of you?" Harry reasoned. Draco accepted this and gulped down some of the butter beer. He smiled contently.

"I never get tired of that stuff..."

Harry shrugged. "Not like I could being you Firewhisky."

Draco chuckled. "No, you couldn't. Then I would be poisoning you." They shared a soft laugh. "By the way, where's Granger and the Weasel?"

Harry frowned. "If you mean Ron and Hermione, they're enjoying themselves. Why do you ask?"

Draco shrugged and downed more of the drink. "Those two are always around you. I didn't think they'd let you out of their sight."

"Yeah, well, guess so, huh?"

Draco noticed the touchiness in Harry's voice. "Oi, no offense, Harry."

Harry eyed the blonde, who was trying to stifle a yawn. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"Oh, don't be. I haven't talked this much to anybody. It's nice once in a while, you know?" Draco leaned onto Harry's shoulder with another yawn, "You should wake me up more often."

Harry tensed, then relaxed and drifted an arm over the Slytherin. "You wouldn't mind?"

Draco sighed, looked frustrated. "I don't know, really. With the moods I've been having, I'd probably curse you or cry all over you. Depends, Potter."

Harry chuckled. "Well, at least you offered." He leaned back into the pillows of the bed, Draco curling up onto his chest, "You never struck me as the cuddling type." He mused.

Draco closed his eyes, frowning. "Fuck off Potter. I'm tired. I'll cuddle you if I damn well want." He felt a hand in his hair.

"I'm not saying you can't. Just remember you were the one that wanted it." Harry whispered. Draco nodded sleepily.

"Sure, whatever. Now do me and Junior a favor and shut the bloody Hell up."

Harry laughed again. "Sure thing. Night."

Draco opened one eye. "You're...not leaving?"

"No. I don't think I can, Draco." He gestured to the blonde.

Draco sighed, closing his eyes again. "You could always force me off, Potter."

"Draco, I'm not going to force you off. Call it being soft, but no."

The Slytherin smiled a little. "Good, because this is very comfortable." He felt the Gryffindor's chest rumble with chuckles.

"You amaze me."

"I thought I told you to shut up, Potter?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Right. Night then." He took off his glasses and set them on the nightstand.

Draco yawned. "Night..."

Harry closed his green eyes.

"...Harry."

The dark-haired boy smiled and fell asleep.