VI-
"Malfoy?" Harry whispered nervously. "Malfoy-"
"What!" Draco sat up angrily, blankets twisting around him.
"You looked cold-"
"No shit." Draco returned, pulling the covers around his naked body tightly. His teeth were shaking, body trembling. The air was warm in the room and yet Draco was freezing, lips turning blue.
"I-"
"You will stay the hell away from-" He coughed, blood dribbling down his chin. He wiped it with the back of his hand, a look of disgust on his face. "You didn't seem to like me too much the other day so why the hell is it-" He coughed again, harder, eyes shut. He continued to cough, his body shaking with the effort. Harry stood, hands out helplessly. What should I do? Draco had stopped coughing though and was now simply rocking back and forth.
"I think..."
"I think you should shut up! This is none of your business." He snapped.
"None of my business? You're going to give Voldemort an heir!" He cringed, bowing his head in embarrassment. But he continued, had to continue. "I won't let that happen." He whispered. Draco laughed insanely, pointing at Harry.
"You! What are you going to do? Huh? What!" Harry blushed and Draco continued to laugh until he broke down, hands going to his face. He's sobbing. Uncontrollable, gut-wrenching sobs escaped Draco, who fell forward on the bed, sobbing bitterly into the blankets.
"Malfoy... I'll do something. I have to. I promise. I'll stop this." But he continued to cry, shoulders shaking. Harry hesitated but climbed onto his bed, looking down at his defeated enemy with pity. "I'll help." Malfoy stopped crying, simply laying flat, spirit crushed. His teeth were still chattering, muscles tight. Harry lay next to him, moving close to keep him warm. "I promise." Draco stared blankly back, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"It's hopeless." He whispered, voice hard.
Harry didn't reply. Sadness enveloped his soul, hope a distant memory. Maybe it was hopeless. But he had to try. He wouldn't let Voldemort succeed, even if it meant saving Draco Malfoy. He pulled the covers over them both and turned his back to Draco, who had already blacked-out.
"Hermione?" Ron entered slowly. It was midnight and the air in the room was hot. They shouldn't be at Hogwarts in the summer. But this wasn't the Hogwarts they knew and times were different. He sunk onto her bed, watching her chest rise and fall as she slept. He lowered his head onto his hands, hair falling over his eyes.
"Ron...?" She said, voice muffled in sleep and eyes half opened.
"Sorry if I... I just... wanted to talk."
"About Harry?"
"No." He hesitated. "There's nothing we can do. At least not now. But... Hermione I just- was thinking." She nodded, propped up on one elbow. He continued nervously, head bent. "If I get sent away... like Harry did. If- something happens to me or you or- I just wanted..." He hesitated and she furrowed her brow, sitting up.
"What?"
"I love you Hermione."
"You're mine now... my pet... my pet..."
"No!"
"Yessss..."
"NO!"
"Yessss...! Can't you see?" Voldemort pointed and Draco looked down in horror at his swollen stomach. He screamed, ripping into his flesh with his fingers, wailing and crying. He pulled at his skin, blood gushing out from the deepening gash. His body was on fire but he couldn't let this happen. Never never never...
"NO!" He lifted his fingers to his eyes, nails torn and bleeding, chunks of muscle stuck to the ragged tips. He screamed, pain encompassing him.
"It's too late... too late... too late..."
"NO!"
"It's ok-" He heard a soft voice whisper. He couldn't relax though, muscles tight and aching. "It was a nightmare. Just a nightmare." The voice said calmly. Draco's eyes opened slowly, trembling. He first thing he saw was a vivid scar, forest green eyes beneath. He was surprisingly warm and he realized that in his sleep, he had been seeking warmth. Draco's legs were wrapped around Harry's and he lie beneath him, arms around his neck. His eyes widened and he pulled away, Harry pretending not to notice. They shifted away from each other, blushing. It was a moment before Harry spoke;
"What was it about...?"
"Nothing." Draco replied coldly. "The future." He added cruelly, a grimace on his face. Harry gulped and turned over.
"You look hungry."
"I'm not."
"Neither am I..." He hesitated again, eyes searching the contours of the dark room. Finally he breathed, "Was it bad?" He felt Draco nod. All of a sudden he felt cold. Cold and alone. He imagined the sensation to be that of death. Cold. Empty. And alone. Was Draco feeling it too? "Are you cold..." Harry whispered. After a while, Draco nodded again and Harry could feel him shifting closer. He sighed and finally said it. "I'm lonely."
"Me too." Draco said to Harry's surprise. He too shifted towards Draco until their backs were touching. He felt Draco's shoulders shaking.
"I don't want to die."
