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CHAPTER NINE

Two weeks of hell. Two weeks of utter, lonely, empty hell. Two weeks of not having the energy to bathe let alone eat. Harry was completely miserable and since he knew it was his fault he could blame no one but himself. He lay in his bed that Monday morning on his third week back from home and decided that he'd had enough. No more wallowing in self pity. He was going to get up, wash his stinky arse, eat something, and then . . . then, hell, DO something.

He moaned as he got up. Apparently laying in bed for two weeks was hell on back muscles. He stumbled to the shower and stood under the hot, soothing, water until he felt his muscles start to loosen. Well not all of them. He glared down at the offending appendage, determined to ignore it. Unfortunately, it had other ideas and continued to make its presence known. Growling in frustration, Harry grabbed it harshly and proceeded to give it what it wanted.

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Another week passed before Harry found himself a job he was comfortable doing. It was in the Muggle world, of course, at a small clinic right outside of the town he resided in. He'd had the Ministry fake his Muggle doctor's license and now he was Dr. Harry Potter, pediatrician. He had fallen into a routine of sleep, eat, and work. And it was working for him. The hurt had eased some but the emptiness had grown.

No matter what he did, it gnawed at him. He knew he would never find someone who could completely fill the void, besides Draco, but that didn't mean he couldn't find someone who could just make some of the emptiness ease.

He had become close with one of the other doctor's, a Sheila Peterson, and though he liked her he knew that nothing would ever happen between them. He had been truthful with her from the first and she agreed to just be friends. They had plans to meet tonight after work for dinner.

For the first time in weeks Harry was actually looking forward to the night. Most nights he cried himself to sleep like the lovesick fool that he was. Pathetic really. Come morning he would be so angry with himself he would vow to never do it again but come that night, he would begin to shake. The sobs would rake his body the second his head hit the pillow. It was bloody annoying.

It was a good thing he loved his job or he would still be laying in bed like a slug slowly wasting away into nothing. Hearing a tapping at the window he looked and saw Pom's owl waiting to be let in. At first he had ignored the letters from everyone, preferring to wallow alone in his misery. After a tense call from Ron, to see if he was still alive, he had dutifully answered each and every one of them.

If his answers were short and somewhat lacking in the information department, he really didn't care. He was alive and that was all they needed to know. Not wanting to read her letter right then he set it on his table, fed the owl, and then left for work.

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After a very stressful day of colds and broken bones, he met Sheila at the diner across the street from the clinic. He slid into the booth across from her with a grateful sigh. He grunted at her grin and she laughed out loud.

"Come on, Harry," she needled, her bright blue eyes sparkling with mirth. She pushed her bottle bleach blonde hair off her neck as she laughed at his put-out expression. "You know you love it."

Harry laughed and was startled by how forced it sounded. She could always make him laugh and had a good track record of bringing him out of his daily depression. "I do. But now, I have another reason to be happy I'm gay."

Sheila laughed at that, her eyes twinkling as she teased him. "What? No future little Potter's running around?"

Harry stopped smiling and felt his face go pale as a sharp pain laced through his chest. Sheila stopped laughed and watched him warily. She whispered softly into the tense silence their laughter had left. "Harry?"

Harry shook his head as he fought with the loneliness and despair that overwhelmed him. In his world he could have had children with the help of a potion and a few charms. But in the Muggle world, he was destined to be alone. Something he was going to have to get used too apparently because the only way he would have children was with Draco. And that was entirely out of the question. Forcing himself to calm down when he noticed his rapid breathing, he smiled weakly at his friend.

"No, no, little Potter's running around anytime soon." He said softly with an obviously forced smile.

Sheila eyed him in sympathy but let the matter drop as it was clear it pained him to talk about his past. They spent the next hour talking quietly and just getting to know each other better. By the end of the meal they were fast friends, something they both needed.

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Three more weeks passed as Harry dealt with the emptiness that was growing inside of him. He'd had to refuse Hagrid's suggestion that he come for a visit, not wanting to scare the locals. The fact that he rarely saw his neighbors was not mentioned. He just did not want to see anyone. He had finally told Ron about Sheila and then had to send Hedwig right back with the explanation that she was just a friend and that is all she would ever be. Ron seemed disappointed but let the matter drop.

Thankfully none of his friends had the guts to mention Draco to him. It was a relief in some ways and torture in others. He desperately wanted to know how he was. But he never asked. He had gotten another letter from the Headmaster just this morning but he had not opened it. For some reason he'd had a very bad night and the emptiness in him was threatening to engulf him. He set the letter aside and went to work knowing it was the only thing that was keeping him going.

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He stared in astonishment at the letter from Snape. How had he known? Pom must have told him. He read the letter over again, smashing the hope that rose in his chest. He was going to say no. He would have to say no. He couldn't go back home. Possibly never.

Dear Mr. Potter,

It seems that our esteemed colleges, Madam Pomfrey, has decided to retire and as such, we will need a new Professor of Medicine. It has come to my attention that you are a fully qualified, if Muggle, pediatrician. As well as a Level Nine Medi-Wizard. I would like to off the position to you. Please respond with your answer.

Sincerely,

Professor Severus Snape

Hogwarts Headmaster

Order of Merlin, First Class

Oder of Merlin, Third Class

P.S. Harry, I know it will be difficult for you but you are missed. We all want you to come home. Please, consider our request.

Home. Oh, he wanted to go home so bad it hurt. But he wouldn't, couldn't go.

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Dear Headmaster Snape,

Thank you for the kind offer but I am unable to accept at this time due to an existing contract. I extend my heartfelt thanks to you for the offer. But circumstances being what they are, and you know what I am referring too, I am unable to accept. Here is a list of associates whom I think would jump at the chance to work at Hogwarts.

Linda Rowlings, Level Four, Medi-Witch

Amile Birtchly, Level Four, MediWizard

Peter and Blanche Smythe, Lever Four, Medi-Wizard and Medi-Witch

Please consider them for your post.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

Severus Snape sighed as he read the letter. He had known that Harry would say no but he had promised he would ask, and he had.

"Well?" Demanded a rough, very tired, voice from the doorway.

"He declined." Snape said softly and then watched as the man in front of him crumbled in defeat. He barely managed to make it to a chair before his legs gave out and he slumped down like a rag doll.

"Why?" The whispered question was filled with bitterness.

"He says he has a previous contract that he cannot break."

"A contract?" Anger overrode the bitterness but it was there. "A contract? Tell him to break it."

"He won't." Snape said firmly. He knew the only way to get Harry back here was to do something drastic. A letter wasn't going to cut it.

Draco Malfoy stared at his Godfather in utter defeat. When he had first woke up, he didn't really understand what was going on. It had taken almost two months for him to fully recover from the accident. Two months of feeling empty and alone. Two months of thinking and realizing exactly what had happened to him. Two weeks of trying to desperately deal with it. Trying to desperately deal with feelings long since buried and forgotten. And he was having no luck at all.

Dreams had turned to nightmares. Daydreams ruled his day now and sleep was something he rarely attained. All thoughts centered around Harry. And it was slowly driving him mad.

He knew that what Harry had done had saved his life and bound them together but he didn't understand why it was affecting him like this. It should not have. It was only when he had confronted Severus, two weeks ago, that he had learned the truth about what Harry had done, to them both. That was the first night he'd had a panic attack strong enough to warrant time in the infirmary.

"He ... has too. I can't do this much longer. It's too ... I ... it's empty inside." Draco whispered brokenly.

"You will only hurt him more, Draco." Severus said with a pointed look.

"I won't." Draco insisted harshly.

"You will." Severus' voice was hard, inexorable. "Do you think you are the only one who feels this emptiness inside? He bound himself to you. I can assure you that what you are feeling comes nowhere near what he is feeling."

"That's why he needs to come back." Draco cried out fighting tears that he had been shedding for the last two moths every time he got upset. "How can he live like this? It's killing me!"

"Because he feels he must, Draco." Snape said wearily as a sudden headache overcame him. He had these attacks since the last battle and only Draco seemed to bring them on. Well, Draco and this situation with Harry.

"He doesn't have too." Draco said stubbornly. He crossed his arms and huffed in anger at Harry's actions. Why couldn't the bloody wanker just come back home? "If he would only come home-"

"He won't." Snape snapped angrily. Finally having had his fill of his Godson for the day.

"Why?" Draco cried out in frustration as he threw his hands up.

"Because he bloody loves you, you fool." Snape growled out as he pinched his nose trying to stop the sharp pain from shooting through his eyeballs at Draco's shrill tone.

"Well, I bloody love him, too!" Draco spoke harshly. Only after the words left his mouth did he realize what he had said. He stared at his Godfather, face pale, eyes wide as the realization of what he had just said hit him like a mack truck.

"I love him." He whispered to himself.

"About bloody time if you ask me." Snape said with a grin as he took in the expression of awe on Draco's pale face. His headache eased some with Draco's confession. He knew that it was only a matter of time now before Draco accepted everything that Harry had ever done for him. And once that happened, well, no, he really didn't want to think about that.

"What do I do now?" Draco asked thoughtfully as he stared absently out the window his chair was facing.

"This is what we do." Snape said conspiratorially as he leaned closer to Draco. He wasn't an ex-spy for nothing and he showed his true colors as he came up with a very simple plan to lure Harry Potter back to Hogwarts. All he needed was a sick and injured friend, a bunch of owls, and one very in love man.

Good thing he had access to all three things.

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Severus Snape was indeed a very sneaky man. It took him just six days to set everything up to his satisfaction and when he was done he leaned back in his chair in his Headmaster's Office and proceeded to Dumbledore-ize. In other words, his eyes twinkled, he smiled, and he steepled his hands as he leaned back and murmured, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Players were in place, all they needed now was the Snitch.

Suddenly a loud racket drew his attention to his door where a very upset Ron Weasley was standing holding a piece of parchment in his hand. He leaned against the door, face red, gasping for breath.

"Mr. Weasley?" He questioned silkily with a raised eyebrow.

"We ... have ... a ... problem." Ron ground out between gasps for air.

"Such as?" Snape demanded tersely. He waited impatiently for Ron to get control of his breathing before he could answer.

"Harry's met someone."

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Oh GOD! I just know I am going to get a lot of reviews stating I am evil.

Let me clue ya'll in. LOL I AM! HEHEHEHE

Merry Christmas to ALL and have a Happy New Year!

ENJOY!

LMG