Thankyous for all the reviews!
Draco groaned, opening his eyes. He quickly shut them again when he found it was way too bright.
"But…it was night."
"It was. Three weeks ago." Draco jolted. He opened his eyes again and tried to sit up. But he was strapped down. "Be careful Mr. Malfoy!" Draco glared at Madame Pomfrey, who was looking worriedly at him. Draco looked wildly around the room, looking for Harry. He was nowhere to be seen. 'He must've just dumped me here and left.' He stopped thrashing. "There. That's better." Pomfrey smiled.
"Harry…"
"Yes. He's out flying. Trust you to come around today of all days. You know, that boy's been in here every second of every day for three weeks? Couldn't get him to leave! Had to bring up food for him so he wouldn't starve to death! Everyone who tried to get him to leave, he attacked! Never left a scratch, but he was so fierce! Very unlike any Incandeche I've ever seen." Draco frowned. Harry had been here?
"He…he didn't just leave me here?"
"No dear, far from it. He rushed in here carrying you drenched in blood and wouldn't leave for three weeks! Today is the first day he went out. It's taken me three weeks to persuade him to get out and have some fresh air. It doesn't do for an Incandeche not to use his wings."
"I'm back!" Harry walked through the door, trying to pull a twig out of his wing. "I flew into a tree, but I'm ok!" he looked up smiling. Then his eyes settled on Draco, who was looking straight back at him. "You have got to be kidding me…" he ran up to Draco's bed and got on his knees beside him, grabbing his hand. "I swear, I was here all the time! I only just left! I didn't leave you at all over three weeks up until now! You have to believe me!" Draco couldn't suppress a smile.
"Get off your knees, you fuckwit." He pulled his hand away half-heartedly. "I believe you. She just told me." He gestured in the direction of Madame Pomfrey, who muttered something about disrespect. She pulled Harry's wing towards her as he sat down next to Draco.
"I'm so sorry. I never knew you were this bad…you should've said something…" Draco snorted.
"And get the sympathy vote? Please…" he rolled his eyes. "No way." Harry smiled, running a hand through Draco's hair.
"I'm just glad you're ok." Draco stared at Harry. He was showing affection in public? He frowned, his eyes darting over to Madame Pomfrey before giving Harry a questioning look. Harry just smiled, continuing to run his hand through Draco's hair, his other hand holding Draco's gently.
"Oh Harry…what have you done to your wing?" Pomfrey gave him an annoyed look. "Look at how deep this is! Which tree did you fly into!"
"Um…the Whomping Willow…" Harry said, grinning sheepishly. Draco chuckled.
"Idiot." He muttered.
"Honestly Harry, why did you decide to do that?" Harry huffed, taking his hands away from Draco to cross them indignantly over his chest.
"I didn't decide to do it! I haven't been flying for a while and I didn't…have full control of my muscles." Pomfrey rolled her eyes.
"Well, this'll need some healing. And it'll be painful."
"Deep joy." Harry said sarcastically.
"On the upside, you'll finally have a reason for staying here with Mr. Malfoy." Harry grinned.
After fully examining Harry's bumps and scratches, Madame Pomfrey cuffed him lightly around the head.
"Ow! What was that for!" Harry snapped, rubbing his head.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to under-exaggerate!" Harry blinked. Draco was frowning. "You got beat up pretty badly by that god-forsaken tree! These are serious injuries Harry! Stop being such an Incandeche and tell me if it hurts!" Harry huffed and muttered something under his breath. Pomfrey rolled her eyes and strode away.
Draco smiled as Harry came back by his side, sitting down on the chair next to the bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"Crap." Draco said, smiling. Harry smiled almost sadly back.
"Don't ever do that again Draco…I…I couldn't bear it." Draco looked away awkwardly. He didn't like discussing things like this.
"Why did it take me so long wake up?"
"Well…you just didn't want to. Pomfrey said you'd fully healed, but in your mind…you just wanted to die."
"I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Don't worry about it…but Draco…there were a lot of scars all over you…did you do them all?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I…because I didn't want to live without you. It hurt mentally…so I had to hurt physically…" an uncomfortable silence settled over them. Harry looked away from Draco, focussing on the open window. He longed to be outside again. But he wouldn't leave Draco. The feeling was kind of like an extremely loyal pet owl's. The owl longed to be free and fly the night skies, but it wouldn't leave its owner alone.
Draco was wondering what was going to happen to him. Life would be hell after this. He was sure that by now, the whole school knew he was gay, and now suicidal. And what about Harry? He hadn't been out of this room in three weeks. What message did that send out to the students?
Harry stood by the open window, looking out into the night. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the early night air. He stared longingly out at the clouds, wishing he could fly through them. His wings ruffled, wrapping around Harry's form as a chill breeze swept into the room.
"You can go out if you want." Harry turned to Draco. The room was dark. Harry could just make out Draco's outline and a pair of bright grey eyes.
"No. I'll stay. I won't leave you. Besides, Ron and Hermione will be here soon."
"What?" Draco frowned. Harry smiled, turning back to the window.
A few minutes later, the Hospital Door opened and closed again. Both boys looked over at it, one in confusion, the other smiling.
"Hey guys." Harry said. Ron and Hermione appeared in the middle of the room. Draco's breath hitched and he coughed in surprise.
"I see he's finally awake." Hermione said. Her arms were full of books.
"Yeah. Woke up this morning. We'll be let out tomorrow."
"Good. Because I'm getting sick of carting all your homework up here for you." Hermione said, shoving all the books into Harry's arms.
"No one said you had to in the first place." Harry muttered. Ron chuckled, but was silenced by a murderous look from Hermione. He turned his laugh into a cough.
"How the bloody hell did you get here!" Draco asked, sounding angrier than he'd intended. He'd only meant to shield his shock, but he'd ended up sounding pissed off instead.
"Easy there lover boy." Ron muttered. Draco scowled. "We came with the help of Harry's invisibility cloak." Ron held up the shimmering material.
"Oh…"
"Harry, why don't you go out for a bit? I'll do your homework." Harry and Ron both stared at Hermione in disbelief.
"You'll WHAT! You never do my homework!" Ron said, offended.
"When you become an Incandeche and need exercise every night but refuse to leave a room, then I'll do your homework." Hermione snapped.
"I…I don't know…" Harry glanced at Draco.
"Oh for god's sake Potter I don't need 24 hour surveillance!" Draco snapped. "Bloody go!" Harry grinned. Without another word, he flew straight out of the window.
Harry felt so free and happy that it was almost painful. He stretched his wings as far as they would and flew through the skies at speeds he'd never reached before.
"Draco is awake. I can fly again. I'm free!" Harry swooped low to the ground, skimming the surface of the Lake with his wing tips. He couldn't resist running his hand through the freezing water before ascending again at breakneck speeds. Suddenly, something flew at him head on.
"So…does the entire school know about me yet?" Draco asked, trying to sound indifferent whilst examining his nails.
"Yep." Ron said. Hermione was in the corner busy with Harry's homework. Draco's heart sank, but his expression remained the same.
"I thought as much. What do they think of Potter being here all the time?"
"Well…Dumbledore didn't want any of this getting out. But when Harry refused to leave you, we came up with a plan."
"I came up with a plan." Hermione piped in from the corner.
"…We leaked information and told some people he was here because it was a special request from Dumbledore. We said he'd asked Harry to keep an eye on you because he thought someone had attacked you. So now the whole school thinks it's a big conspiracy."
"So they don't know I tried to kill myself?"
"Nope. They think you were attacked by something. So Dumbledore placed you under Harry's care so he could fend off anything who tried again." Draco shuddered at the mention of being 'placed under Harry.' "Only me and Hermione know what really happened. And what's really happening."
"And?"
"I think it's terrible." Ron sat back in his chair. "But it's Harry's life and if he wants to go out with the scum of the earth then I won't get in his way."
"Watch what you call me Weasley."
"Or you'll what? Slit your wrists?" Draco scowled. "Besides. You're tied to a bed. You're hardly a threat to me." Draco just sulked.
Harry read the parchment carefully.
Potter,
What is the current state of my son?
The owl will await your reply.
Lucius Malfoy
Harry raised an eyebrow. He had half a mind to write 'he's dead' on it. Either that or 'he's awake and we're getting married'. Either one would make Lucius equally as pissed. However, he took the enclosed pen out and scribbled
He woke up this morning. He seems ok.
On the back and shoved the paper back at the bird.
"Now piss off huh?" he said. The bird ruffled its feathers and took off. Harry sighed. He was still up in the air, but he'd lost the adrenaline rush flying gave him. So he turned back and headed for the Hospital Wing.
Hermione put the last piece of parchment down and sighed.
"It's all done. Lets go Ron." She turned to Draco. "Tell Harry that we have Double Potions and Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow. Bye Malfoy."
They left just as Harry came back.
"Have they left already?" Draco nodded. Harry looked disheartened.
"Granger did your work. She said you have Double Potions and Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow." Harry nodded distantly.
"Your father sent a letter. He asked how you were. I said you'd woken up."
"Ok." Draco muttered. He didn't really care. "Harry, come here?" Harry hesitated slightly before walking over to Draco's side. "Can you get these restraints off me?"
"I'm not supposed to."
"Please?" Harry sighed. He elongated one of his claws and sliced through the ropes with ease. Draco sighed in relief, sitting up and stretching his arms. He looked back at Harry. "What's going to happen to us?"
"How do you mean?"
"Do you still like me?"
"Yes…"
"Well…After we leave? Will you ever tell anyone about us?" Harry took a deep breath.
"No." Draco sighed. He looked away. Harry cupped his chin gently. "I won't have to. I'm not going to hide away. I'll show how I feel. Screw them if they can't handle it." Draco stared at him.
"Really?" Harry nodded. Draco smiled. Harry faked a recoil.
"My God! You smile!" Draco huffed and punched him playfully.
"Shut it you." Harry grinned.
Review?