AN: So this chapter is nearly two weeks late but it's also quite long (I've been trying to increase the length of my chapters), so enjoy! :)

Harry's heart jumped in his throat, was Malfoy dead? But no he wasn't, Harry could see his chest moving softly. So he was just stunned. The whole right side of his face was disfigured by what looked like stinging hexes. He had obviously come off worse in a fight, yet with whom? Malfoy's wand was lying next to his hand, had he not defended himself or was he not able to? And where were Zabini and Parkinson who normally stuck to Malfoy like warts since Crabbe's death and Goyle's departure from school?

"Rennervate." Harry muttered with his wand pointed at Malfoy who stirred feebly but didn't seem to really wake up. Clearly he was more hurt than Harry had first thought. Harry reached out a hand and shook Malfoy's shoulder. Malfoy's eyes fluttered slightly but he didn't seem to be aware of his surroundings. Harry tried the rennervate charm again but it didn't make a difference. Because they were in one of the many shortcuts in Hogwarts, no one could see in and Harry couldn't see people passing by and get help.

"Well here goes nothing." Harry said as he reached over Malfoy's wand and slid it in his back pocket, picked himself off the ground and pulled the semi-conscious Malfoy up with him. Having had practice lugging around his cousin didn't make this too difficult; Malfoy was taller than him but was surprisingly light. Luckily they were close to the hospital wing. The hallway was surprisingly empty save for a few first years who stared with open mouths as Harry walked by dragging and the now quietly mumbling Malfoy with him. Harry reached the hospital wing and called for Madam Pomfrey who had been standing nearby. She jumped at his shout and dropped the heavy tablet full of potion bottles she had been levitating in front of her which crashed to the ground.

"Mr. Potter! What happened?" She hurried over, ignoring the spilled potion in favor for using her wand to levitate Malfoy onto the nearest bed. "Well", thought Harry, "Why didn't I think of that?" He turned around and cast "reparo" to repair the broken potion bottles. Madam Pomfrey was busy muttering spells while she waved her wand over Malfoy as a check-up.

"What happened to him Harry?"

"I found him like this. I think he was…ambushed or something by another student."

"So you know?" Madam Pomfrey asked, her eyes never leaving Malfoy's pale face, his eyes closed shut tightly and his hands were clutching the pillow.

"I…er…I don't know." Harry said truthfully.

Madam Pomfrey seemed to pull herself together a bit and walked over to the potions cabinet. Harry decided to follow her since he felt uncomfortable being around a vulnerable, unconscious Malfoy. His hand had started throbbing quite a bit.

"Has this happened more often than the other two times?" Harry asked her carefully.

Madam Pomfrey gave him a sharp look before returning to the potions. "Technically I shouldn't be telling you but yes, last Monday actually. We're running out of potions again…Professor Slughorn doesn't have the time anymore…" Madam Pomfrey was sorting through potions and seemed to have found what she was looking for because she turned abruptly and walked back to Malfoy. Harry followed thinking hard; last Monday he and Malfoy had, tentatively, agreed to meet and work on the essay but Malfoy hadn't shown up…because he had been in the hospital wing. Zabini and Parkinson had been looking for him but probably wouldn't have thought to look in the Hospital Wing. But Malfoy had returned much later and probably come across the sleeping Harry with his pathetic attempt to write a potions essay without Hermione's help and…helped him. That part didn't make any sense to Harry but the rest did and he realized that Hermione had been right (as usual), people where out to get Malfoy, the questions wasn't why (that much was obvious) but who.

Madam Pomfrey was busy waving her wand again and muttering what sounded like healing spells. Did Malfoy have broken bones? Should he have been more careful while dragging him here?

"Two fractured ribs, nothing too bad. He won't have too much pain when he wakes up." Madam Pomfrey seemed to read his mind on that one.

A timid-looking second year ran into the Hospital Wing shouting, "There's been an accident! In Care of Magical Creatures and several others are hurt!"

Madam Pomfrey straightened up, thrust two jars into Harry's hands; "The red one is for the Draco's burns and then green one is for your hands. The purple potion is for Draco when he wakes up. He should also take one spoonful, not more, of the white potion if he needs it. I'll be back in a few minutes." Madam Pomfrey was gone in a flash, leaving Harry alone with a bunch of potions and his former arch-enemy who was mumbling in his sleep. Harry placed Malfoy's wand on the table next to him along with the potions. He pulled up a chair to the bed and looked down at Malfoy. This was the closest he had ever been to the other boy without them yelling or glaring at each other and he felt like he was seeing him for the first time clearly. Malfoy's skin was too pale, but looked smooth and unblemished. His eyelashes were long and his hair absent of gel. His once pointy features didn't look so pointy anymore, quite beautiful actually. Wait-had he actually just thought that, about Malfoy?! Harry gave himself a mental push and opened the red jar. A sticky, thick paste was inside that smelled strongly of mint. Harry scooped some up and bent over Malfoy; he hesitated but gave himself another push and began spreading the paste (with the very tips of his fingers) on Malfoy's face. The burns covered the whole right side of his face, even his lips. After a pause, Harry dipped his fingers back into the paste and used his little finger to spread it on Draco-er Malfoy's lips. Harry felt mesmerized by being so close to Malfoy, that is until Malfoys eyes fluttered open and looked straight at Harry. Harry blushed and quickly removed his finger from Malfoy's lips. He sat back in the chair and avoided Malfoy's eyes. Instead he looked at the curtain around the bed, what a pretty curtain it was; as he attempted to return his face back to its usual color. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Malfoy push himself into a seating position while wincing slightly.

"Er, you need to take, I think, one spoonful of the purple potion and, er, drink the white potion." Harry said while picking up the potions and handing them to Malfoy.

"It's the other way around actually." Malfoy said with a raised eyebrow. Clearly he wasn't feeling too bad. He took the potions, while lightly brushing Harry's hand which just made the other blush more, and swallowed a spoonful of the white potion. He hesitated before taking the purple potion; "This is a potion for Dreamless Sleep; before I take this I want to know where you are here with me."

Harry glanced at him, for once his grey eyes weren't narrowed by hatred but Harry was struck by how exhausted he looked. "Do you know why you are here?"

Malfoy looked down at his folded hands, "Of course I do."

Harry swallowed uncomfortably and resumed his staring at the curtains. "I found you and brought you here."

"Why?" Malfoy asked sharply.

"You needed help." Harry shifted in his seat.

Malfoy tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes, "I don't need pity; especially not from the Golden Boy." He spat the last two words at Harry who winced but was spared a response by the arrival of Madam Pomfrey.

"Ah Mr. Malfoy, you're awake, good, good. Has he had some pain reliever?" Malfoy nodded. "And thank you Mr. Potter for applying the burn paste-" Malfoy furrowed his brow and gingerly touched his face "-don't wipe it off Mr. Malfoy. I also healed two fractured ribs, there will be some bruising and soreness but that'll go away in a few days. It would be best for you to take the Dreamless Sleep potion now so your body can rest."

Malfoy nodded and drained the potion in one gulp. He settled down into the bed, facing away from Madam Pomfrey and quietly said, "Make sure Potter uses the healing paste, his hand is really swollen." before dropping off to a peaceful sleep. Harry looked at his sleeping form in surprise.

"He doesn't hate you, Mr. Potter, but you two are so used to arguing that he doesn't know how to act around you." Madam Pomfrey said while lightly pressing the red jar back into his hands. "If this doesn't work, come back in a few hours for some essence of murtlap."

Harry nodded and headed to the door but not before glancing back at Malfoy who looked calmer and more at rest than Harry had ever seen him. As he left the Hospital Wing he noticed a tall, lean figure walking towards it. Though the hood of her cloak cast a shadow on her face, a few strands of fine, tell-tale silvery-blonde were swinging around her face.

"Er-hello Mrs. Malfoy." Harry said awkwardly. He spared himself the "how are you?"; her husband was in jail, the family reputation in the bin, and her only son had recently become a victim and pariah of his school. Obviously the answer would not be "I'm doing great!". Yet Narcissa Malfoy still walked with perfect posture and her head held high. As she drew nearer, Harry could make out fine lines on her face and the Malfoy-mask had slipped slightly revealing that she was worried about her son and had come as soon as she had heard about his condition. Not so different than when Ron had been poisoned and his parents had visited him. Though Harry wondered what Malfoy would tell his mum, would he push her away like everyone else?

"Hello Mr. Potter." Mrs. Malfoy smiled slightly at him. He had never had a true conversation with her unless one counted their argument in Madam Malkins' or, almost two years later, her saving Harry's life before Voldemort. The same thought was probably crossing her head at the same time but she continued on, "Madam Promfrey informed me that you were the one to find my Draco and help him. I thank you for that. I suppose we are indebted to you, especially after the trial…" Her voice trailed off as Trelawney walked by shuffling her tarot cards and muttering to herself. She seemed not to notice Harry or Mrs. Malfoy which suited them both perfectly. Narcissa Malfoy scrunched up her nose at either Trelawney's get-up or the ever present smell of sherry that followed her. "I've been meaning to thank you for that as well, Mr. Potter." Narcissa Malfoy may have the Black- and Malfoy-Pride and be a little vain, but Harry figured she had her heart in the right place and loved her family deeply.

"You saved my life, I haven't forgotten that. It was the least I could do. And I nearly killed Draco-" Did I just call him Draco?! "-in sixth year so we're even." Mrs. Malfoy smiled at him and reached out a slender hand to him. Harry grasped it lightly as they shook hands and returned the smile.

They both headed their separate ways, but as Harry reached the end of the hallway he called back, "I'll keep an eye on Draco and make sure this doesn't happen again." Mrs. Malfoy paused and turned back, "You would be a good friend to him." She smiled again before finally entering the Hospital Wing.

Harry walked back to the eighth year common room deep in thought wondering how he should fulfill his promise to Mrs. Malfoy and if Malfoy wouldn't hate him more for it.

AN: What do you think about Harry's (a little rash) promise? Reviews are always appreciated. :)