The name of this story is: Apologetic Realizations

Author: Cruelty of the Snow

Fandom: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Pairing: Harry Potter x Draco Malfoy

Here it is, Chapter Two! I owe my dear readers an apology myself, it would seem. I wasn't expecting chapter two to take this long! Things have been a bit crazy for me, of late and I've finally found the time to write again. Of course, wouldn't you know it, I was hit with the most horrible bought of writers block while working on this chapter. It's not as long as I'd like it to be, but I couldn't keep my dear readers waiting any longer, now could I? Now remember, dears, R&R is love. :)

Chapter Two

Draco lay in the infirmary bed aching and more than a bit confused. Harry's visit had unnerved him. The blonde boy couldn't put his finger on exactly what about the incident had disturbed him. Harry was an honorable boy. It was logical that he would apologize for such a thing. It was no secret, but it still seemed out of character for Potter to apologize to him. The thought of Potter sneaking around in the middle of the night to visit him, that was what was so unnerving. And what was with this sudden first name thing, anyway? When did that start?

He closed his gray eyes, wishing the throbbing dull pain in his chest and stomach would cease.

Throb.

Wince.

Throb.

Wince.

Potter's pressance had served as a distraction and he almost wished the other male had remained in the room. Which reminded him… That hair thing. He'd have to wash his hair eight times at least to get the filth off. Potter was acting weird and Draco was going to find out why, of that much he was determined.

As soon as he got out of this bed…

As soon as this pain went away.

It wasn't a well kept secret that Draco had a low pain tolerance, after all. He closed his eyes, clenching his fist as another spasm came over him and felt a small sob escape from the back of his throat. If it hadn't been for Snape, why, he'd be dead right now!

Then…

Why wasn't Snape here? Potter took the time to be here. Why couldn't Snape? No. What was he thinking? Snape had saved his life, by bringing him here.

There was so much Draco didn't understand, Harry's midnight visit being the least of it.

But what about Harry's midnight visit? It was just so odd. Potter was up to something, no doubt. Potter was always up to something, and more often than not, it interfered with Draco's life.

Growing bored with his current train of thought, Draco turned his head, straining his eyes to look around the room. The dim lit area proved to be little more interesting than his wonderings about Harry, however.

Growing bored with his current train of thought, Draco turned his head, his eyes wandering to look around the room. The dim lit area proved to be little more interesting than his wonderings about Harry, however, and he soon grew bored with the pastime.

If only he could make sense of things!

It was if everything in his life had suddenly decided to it was sick with monotony but, bloody hell, at least monotony was familiar! Ever since Voldemort's return… Perish the thought that anyone would ever hear him say this, but normality seemed to have thrown itself from a cliff.

Draco sighed, shifting about a bit and wishing he could at least get some sleep. A new morning neared and the last thing he wanted was for anyone to realize he was being kept up by such thoughts. Oh. That was nice. He'd just admitted to himself that such thoughts were keeping him awake.

It was about time he tossed self respect out the window, now wasn't it?

The blonde boy strained his ears for any sounds resembling signs of another person being nearby, as he tried to work his way out of bed. Despite the effort he put forward, his endeavor failed and Draco was left panting in pain, with tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.

They would fix him up in the morning, they'd said. Completely healing him when he had been brought to them would have put too much strain on his body. Nonetheless, he wished they had at least tried to numb the pain. If only Potter hadn't…

But wasn't that odd? Draco had already forgiven Harry. Moments before the other boy's visit, he had been livid, yet now Harry had apologized, Draco couldn't bear him any grudge. He calmed, now, his thoughts becoming more orderly and as he calmed, he felt sleep overtaking him.

"At last." He thought, his eyes closing as he drifted off. Whatever the morning would hold, whether a result of his already chaotic life, or Harry's apology, it could wait until the morning.