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Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

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Chapter Six

It was two days before Malfoy woke up. Two long days in which Harry could feel something happening to him. What, he didn't know. He also didn't know if it was because of the Unicorns or binding himself to Malfoy, and he didn't care. Whatever it was it did not feel wrong...just different. He himself had slept for 27 hours before his body decided that using the bathroom was imperative to his continued well being and dryness.

He had checked briefly in on Malfoy to find him still asleep and then went to have a late dinner in the Great Hall. He ignored the questioning looks from the Headmaster and his best friend just saying his usual quiet way that he was fine when the inevitable question was asked.

"Now that he is going to be fine, how long do you plan on staying, Mr. Potter?" The Headmaster asked with a sharp look that Harry missed because he refused to look at either of them.

"A few more days, Headmaster." Harry replied softly. Since he had kept his head down he missed the look that passed between the red head on one side of him and the Headmaster on the other.

"Do you think that is wise?" Snape asked smoothly not giving away the concern he felt for the quiet man beside him.

Harry glanced quizzically at the former Potions Master before nodding his head slowly. "He is out of the woods now. In a few days he will be up and about as before, though he will be extremely weak. I will leave then."

"Will you be able to leave Harry?" Ron asked the question that was on the minds of all those that were in the know of the situation between the two men. A question that weighed heavily on the one that it would impact the most.

Harry felt a fissure of fear course down his spine and he froze. Just the thought of leaving made him break out in a cold sweat and want to vomit violently. What would happen if he couldn't leave?

"I will." He said softly but with a tone that clearly said he was telling himself that just as much as he was telling them.

Sharing a look the other two decided to drop the question as it was becoming apparent that Harry was in deep pain over it. They each finished their food in silence. Harry left a few minutes later to make his way to the infirmary to check on his patient.

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So caught up in his painful thoughts he didn't notice the narrowed eyes staring at him as he walked into the infirmary room and started checking the chart at the foot of the bed. Silver eyes that bore into him as his brow furrowed in concentration as he stared at the chart he really couldn't see. God!, what if he couldn't leave? He couldn't handle much more and his tired mind was not processing anything as it should right now. All Harry wanted to do was go back to his apartment in Alabama and sleep for days.

Madam Pomfrey walked in and he asked her quietly, "has he woken up yet, Pom?"

"Not yet Harry. I checked him an hour ago like you showed me. You know this muggle way isn't half bad." She admitted with a chagrined look.

Harry chuckled softly before running a tired hand through his perpetually messy hair and down over his tired face. "Keep it up Pom, and I will make a muggle out of you."

"You hush boy!" She laughed as she smacked him lightly on the arm. They shared a laugh before both of their faces grew grim.

"He should have been awake by now."

"I know....is there something you missed?"

"No, I am sure that I have checked everything." Harry sighed and his shoulders slumped for a second before he straightened up again. "He has suffered a lot of internal trauma and the Unicorn Blood will only speed the process of healing, not make it instantaneous. We will give him another few hours and then check again."

"Are you okay?" Pom asked as she eyed him with great concern.

He gave her a small smile before whispering, "I am fine."

"Are you?" She asked with a knowing look, he would not tell her if he wasn't, she knew this.

"Pom...please not now." He said gently but a little bit more forcibly.

"Harry, you slept for over 27 hours but you sill have not recovered from what they did to you. You need to rest, son."

"They did not hurt me Pom. I will be fine."

"Didn't hurt you! Well, maybe not." She agreed reluctantly. "But you do seem different."

"I am but I think it is a good kind of different." Harry said softly. He smiled at her and pulled her into a gentle hug. "If it will make you feel an better I will rest here until he wakes."

"Right here?" She said with a raised eyebrow and a knowing look.

Harry could feel his face flush as he tried to answer but nothing seemed to come out. Pom laughed at his red face and giving him a hug walked away still chuckling. Harry drew a chair up beside Malfoy's bed and settled down comfortably. Minutes later soft snores could be heard from the slumped figure in the chair.

Sharp silver eyes studied the sleeping man. Occasionally he glanced around the room but he always came back to rest his gaze on the man sitting so close to his bed. He stiffened when Harry muttered in his sleep, leaned sideways, and rested his head on the bed beside his hip.

He waited until the mans breathing had evened out again before slowly lifting his hand and placing it, gently, on the raven locks resting against his thigh. He ran trembling fingers through the silky hair before resting his hand against the man's neck and drifting off to sleep.

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Harry was woken by the sound of Ron softly calling his name. He opened his heavy eyelids to see Ron standing at the end of the bed. He was momentarily confused before he realized where he was. He had fallen asleep in the infirmary next to Malfoy's, oh hell who was he kidding here, Draco's bed.

He must have leaned over in his sleep because his head was laying on the bed and there was a warmth across his neck that he had never felt before. He stared sleepily into his best friends eyes as he lifted his hand to the warm place on his neck. His eyes grew wide in astonishment when he encountered flesh.

He saw Ron grin at him as he gently traced his hand over Draco's hand. Ron started to chuckle and shake his head as Harry's face flushed and his eyes darkened with desire just from the fact that the man he loved was touching his neck. Harry shifted in his chair uncomfortably, which only made Ron laugh harder.

To his credit, the red haired man was trying to be quiet. Harry glared at him, if he woke Draco up he would remove his hand in disgust and Harry would lose the pleasure of Draco touching him.

"Ssshhhh..." Harry hissed at Ron.

Ron quieted down some but was sill grinning like a loon. Harry knew he needed to move before Draco woke up. He didn't want the other man to accuse him of molesting him while he was unconscious, something he was sure the blonde would do. With a deep sigh and sad eyes, Harry gently removed Draco's hand from his neck and placed it against the taut stomach.

With his hand gently caressing the others hand unconsciously, he sat back and stared at the man on the bed for a long moment. Face red and eyes unreadable he watched Draco sleep before he stood and walked from the room followed closely by a still maniacally grinning Ron.

Harry did not stop walking until he got to his room. He closed the door behind Ron and turned to stare at him. He growled softly, "one minute."

That was all that Ron needed to hear as the other man laughed out loud. He crowed in delight at Harry's red face. He giggled, he cried, he snorted, and finally he calmed down enough to sit up from his place on the floor.

"You done?" Harry asked with a grin though he really was not amused to be caught in that situation.

Ron nodded, his grin still wide, before his face softened as he eyed his best friend. "You okay?"

Harry nodded absently, "I am fine."

"That was, I mean you're face. Harry," Ron grew serious, "don't let him see that. He will only hurt you."

Harry shrugged his shoulders dejectedly before saying sadly, "I know. I do not know how his hand got there. I did not put it there."

"Didn't think you did mate." Ron said his grin back on his face. "Did you know your eyes could bug out like that?"

Harry snorted, "Ron!" before Ron fell into laugher once again followed closely by Harry.

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Harry thought about it after Ron left. How had Draco's hand gotten onto Harry's neck? He had not put it there, he knew Pom or Ron hadn't, so the only person that that left was Malfoy himself. Did he put his hand on Harry's neck?

He scoffed at that idea. The only way that Draco would willing touch him was in anger. He would never lay his hand gently on Harry's neck like that while he was sleeping. Would he?

His thoughts were interrupted by the fire and a frantic Pom yelling at him to get his skinny arse down here now.

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I have another story I am co writing with Merlin. The name of it is The Wishmasters. Here's the link:

I would like everyone to go and read it and let us know what you think.

ENJOY!

LMG