A/N: -puts on a ton of protection- I got my armor, my metal helmet, my lance and shield… Hell yes. Lol. I'm not afraid of you!! :D

Thank you for the reviews!!

I think it's time we have some progress with Draco's back injury. Of course, he's not going to be up and running in two days ;x That type of injury takes time to heal, even with Harry's miracle potions and love. ;P

Warnings: Nonsense medical procedures because I'm not a doctor.

My medical procedures… Don't trust anything. I've watched enough shows to know what to put… somewhat. Haha.

Chapter 11

Progression

Harry smiled as Draco's eyebrows knitted together in his sleep; the man was probably dreaming. Harry gently brushed the blond fringe to the side, leaned down and kissed the arch of Draco's left eyebrow. He liked watching his lover sleep. It was the only time where Draco seemed at peace.

Malfoy mumbled and turned his head slightly in Harry's direction, seeking more touches. He was half awake and knew it was Harry that was kissing him, but he didn't want to wake up. Not just yet.

When Harry chuckled softly, Draco groaned. The corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly.

"Wake up, Draco," Harry whispered and kissed him. "We have lots to do today."

"'o away… Don't want to," Draco mumbled.

Harry had already been awake for at least fifteen minutes. He had watched his lover sleep; Draco would probably need the extra rest. Harry had planned to make another type of potion, one that would need to be injected, instead of being ingested. It was going to be painful, Harry knew. He had thought about it, thoroughly researched, and found that it was probably the best way to put the potion right at the source of problem.

After Draco was injected with the potion, he would have to stay put for a day or so. Having a needle inserted right into the spine wasn't a walk in the park.

Draco was now looking at Harry with hazy eyes. His lover looked too awake… and it looked like Harry was planning something. Draco could tell by the way Harry had his brows scrunched together. The blond smiled lightly and reached up, cupping the brunet's clean-shaven jaw.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? I could tell you've been watching me for quite some time," the blond murmured. "And you want to tell me something."

Harry's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "How-Why… Never mind, you know me too well." Harry rolled his eyes, smiling down at Draco. "But yes, I want to ask for your permission for something."

"Permission? For what?" Draco now had his hand behind Harry's neck. The latter got the message and bent down, letting Draco kiss him. When Harry resurfaced, he traced Draco's lips with his fingertip.

"I… I've been thinking about a new way to put those nerves regenerating potions into you. Last time, you felt me touching your lower back… I continued to work from that point."

"But I hardly see you go through books," Draco exclaimed. "Heck, I hardly see you write in your notebook."

Harry chuckled. "It's all in here." Harry tapped his temple. "Being a healer for so long… I just got used to storing information in my head instead of writing everything down.

"But anyways, I want to ask… tell you what I have in mind. The procedure will be much more direct, as well as painful."

"Pain…" Draco's eyes widened; he was completely awake now. "What… Not that I'm scared that you'll hurt me," Draco said quickly to Harry when the brunet frowned, "but… What other ways are there?"

Harry winced. Draco's going to freak out once he told his boyfriend what he had in mind. Draco might not be afraid of needles – he was sure of that because Draco did not complain about them during his stay at St. Mungo's – but the one he was going to use for the spine would be thick.

"I'm sure you've never heard of a procedure called the 'lumbar puncture'," Harry stated. Draco shook his head at him. "Well, it's a Muggle diagnostic process. Doctors do a lumbar puncture when they want to take a biopsy. A cerebrospinal fluid sample, if you will. But instead of using it to take samples, I'm going to put the potion right into…"

"Skip the medical terms, Harry," Draco said, cutting Harry off. "Just tell me what you want to do."

"You are not going to like it, but it's going to be better than taking potions. Let me help you sit up first…" He snaked his arm under Draco's back, and helped the blond sit, propped up against pillows. When Harry got Draco comfortable, he got off the bed. "Let me get… I'll be right back."

When Harry came back, Draco saw that his dark-haired boyfriend was holding a small package. One of those sterilized bags. Draco stared closely at the bag; Harry sat down on the edge of their bed and sort of fidgeted. Malfoy then let out a small laugh when he saw a syringe, with a long needle at the end. It looked harmless enough.

"Is that your great idea? A needle?" Draco asked skeptically. "You don't need my permission to inject the potion into my –"

"Not your veins, Draco," Harry interrupted. "Not… veins, but your spine." Harry closed his eyes and waited for the explosion. It never came.

Harry waited a few more seconds before opening his eyes again. Draco was still looking as calm as ever; his eyes weren't wide with fear or anger. Harry thought he was seeing things when Draco's lips formed a soft smile.

"Harry, is that all?"

"What do you mean, 'is that all'?!" Harry asked, shocked. "Draco… Are you even awake?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes and smacked Harry on his thigh. "Of course I am, you prat! I thought it was going to be something more painful, since you said it was going to be."

"What can be more painful than having a needle stuck in your spine? I'm talking about sticking it into the bone, Draco."

"I know… But if it's going to help me… Then I can withstand the pain that comes along with it," Draco said softly. He reached out and stroked Harry's cheek. "I know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose."

"No…" Harry murmured. "I'll never hurt you."

"Just as long you are not cutting me open, for whatever reason, I'm fine with it," Draco declared. Harry snickered at the 'cutting me open' part, but stopped when Draco sent him a glare. "Anyways," Draco continued, "from now on, you can use whatever treatment you think is best."

Harry grinned and kissed Draco. He waved his hand over the sealed syringe; it disappeared in a flash. "I'll be using it later, after you eat."

"You are going to numb me, right?" Draco asked. Sure, he wasn't scared of some old needle, but inserting it into bones? Fuck, it would hurt.

"Yes, I'll inject an anesthetic, right where I'll be inserting the potion. Of course, I'll also cast a spell for good measure. You'll feel uncomfortable when I have the needle in. You might… feel your bone give way to the needle. I'm not really going to poke the needle right into bones; it'll be right between the lumbar sections L3 and L4. That was where your spine was misaligned and most damaged."

"Oh Merlin…" Draco sure wanted to back out now, after hearing that.

"I know it sounds awful, love, but… if you don't want to do it, tell me now."

Draco licked his lips, set his jaw, and looked at Harry.

"No, I'll do it."

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked while putting on a pair of latex gloves.

Harry had everything set in their proper place. Cottons, gauze, a pair of forceps, antiseptic, the syringe filled with anesthetic, the sterilized needle for the lumbar puncture, another syringe filled with the regenerating potion, and a small vial of pain potion were all spread out in front of him. Draco was sitting by the edge of the bed, his upper torso was bare. His hands were gripping the edge of the mattress tightly; his legs could not support him so hands were needed for balance. From where he could see, Harry could tell that Draco was scared and nervous; his back muscles were tensed.

"I… I'm fine." Draco took in a deep breath. "Just tell me when you're inserting the needle."

"I'll work fast. Once I have the needle in, your cerebrospinal fluids will start dripping out." Harry picked up a cotton ball with the forceps and swirled it in the pan of antiseptic. "When that happens, I will have to say a spell to temporary stop the flow; the fluids will push the potion back out and I can't have that happening." The cotton ball was now soaked with the antiseptic.

"O… kay," Draco murmured as Harry cleaned the area on his back with the cotton puff.

"I'll start now." Harry dropped the cotton into a clean pan, along with the forceps. He took the anesthetic, flicked the syringe a couple of times to get rid of any air bubbles. "I'm going to give you the anesthetic now, alright?"

"Y-yeah," Draco stuttered.

"Relax, love…" Harry whispered soothingly as he brought the needle closer to Draco's spine. "Curve your back, Draco."

The blond did so, and Harry palpated the area until he found the spot, between L3 and L4. He carefully inserted the tip of the needle; Draco hissed as his skin was punctured. Since it wasn't his lower body, Draco felt the prick. The last time he took Harry's potion, it gave some feeling back.

"Okay?"

"Yes, Harry…" Draco licked his lips. He breathed through his nose.

When the anesthetic was done, Harry picked up the needle for the lumbar puncture. "It's time, Draco. You might feel a slight crack, but no pain."

"Mhmm…" Draco was starting to feel the numbing sensation. "Just get on with it."

Harry let out a long breath, braced himself by putting one gloved hand on Draco's back. With his right hand, he held the needle steady. One wrong move… Harry shook his head. Nothing shall go wrong. Harry pressed the tip right between the lumbar sections, and pushed.

Draco opened his mouth and let out a surprised gasp. He felt the needle go in, he felt the small crunch, and felt the pressure. He whimpered. It didn't hurt but it felt uncomfortable. Draco heard Harry whispering a spell to stop the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.

"I'm going to apply the potion now," Harry stated, "it'll only take a minute and we're done."

"When will I start feeling the effects?" Draco asked; Harry looked up from what he was doing.

"Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight, I'm not sure," Harry answered truthfully. "Now hold still."

Harry screwed the syringe on and injected the blue potion into Draco's spine. The blond whimpered as the cold liquid seeped into his bones, his nerves. There was a tingling sensation and nothing more. Harry was skilled and steady. When he said there wasn't going to be pain, he was telling the truth.

"There…" Harry pulled the needle out slowly and dropped it into the pan. With quick succession, Harry took another cotton ball and pressed it against the punctured wound. It was only bleeding a little. "I'll put on a gauze band-aid and you're going to have to lie on your side. Do not put pressure on your back for at least three hours." Harry removed the cotton ball and gently placed on the gauzy band-aid.

"Yes, Healer," Draco whispered. He was calm now; the procedure was over with. "Thanks, Harry."

"Draco, you don't have to thank me," Harry replied. He pushed all his equipments to the side and knelt on the mattress. "Let me help you lie down…"

When Draco was nicely settled and dressed – Harry spelled on a jumper for him – the brunet gathered his things, banished the dirtied syringes, and pulled the blanket over Draco.

"Rest for a bit, you'll feel sore later, I'm sure." Harry placed the vial of pain reliever on the bedside table, where Draco could easily reach for it. "Take it when the pain comes, or when you feel really sore. If you can, I suggest you not to take it. It might counteract the effects of the regenerating potion."

"Alright…"

It was four in the afternoon when Draco felt the first twinge of pain. It was a dull throbbed and it bothered him. He called out to Harry who rushed into the bedroom with a look of panic.

"What is it? Something wrong?" Harry asked; he sat down next to his boyfriend and pulled the blanket down.

"I-I don't know…" He shivered when Harry rolled up his jumper. "I didn't take the pain reliever… it didn't really bother me until now."

"Okay, let me check your back…"

Harry carefully rolled Draco onto his stomach. There was a small bruise right where he had inserted the needle earlier. That was to be expected. He pressed his fingers down near Draco's lower back. The blond giggled.

"Harry, your fingers are cold…" Draco's voice was muffled by his pillow. Grey eyes widened. "I felt that! Harry, I felt it!"

Harry was laughing with pure joy. "Yes, yes… Here…" Harry traced his fingers down to Draco's back thigh.

"Feathery touches… That felt… Oh sweet Merlin…" Draco was getting excited now. "Press your finger down, Harry." The green-eyed man did, and Draco felt the pressure.

Harry was getting jittery. They were getting somewhere! It might not be long before his love could walk again.

"This is great, Draco…" Harry whispered. "I was worried that this procedure might not work… but now it seems… You can feel. You can feel…" Harry repeated. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Harry didn't know if he should bring his hopes up but… "Draco, try moving your right leg."

"Roll me over first; I can't breathe," Draco muttered. Harry chuckled and helped his boyfriend. When Draco was looking up at Harry, the blond could see that Harry's eyes were watery. "Harry… Are those happy tears?"

"Yes," Harry said firmly. He wasn't even going to lie to his Draco. "I'm just glad… So happy…"

Draco brought his hand up and brushed his thumb right under Harry's eye. "I love you…"

"I love you, too," Harry whispered back. "Now, move your leg, Draco."

Draco tried. He closed his eyes and concentrated on moving his limb. When nothing moved, not even his small toe, Draco was close to crying. Just when he was about to give up, his big toe twitched. Draco's eyes snapped open and he glanced down the length of his body. He scrunched up his eyebrows. This time all five toes curled and straightened. Draco tried his left foot; the toes did the same thing.

Harry saw this and smiled brightly. "That's good… I think… I think we're getting somewhere. From now on, I might have to start giving you physical therapy, just so that we can keep your muscles from deteriorating."

Draco was teary now. After almost two months of just feeling brief feelings in his lower back, he could now actually move his toes!

"I'm going to have to do the procedure a couple more times," Harry told Draco. "The amount I used was small. If I want the whole spinal cord to heal, it would take at least four more times. It's a gradual process and we cannot rush things, do you understand, Draco?"

"Yes, I do," Draco smiled, "as long as it's working I don't care how many times we have to do it."

"Hmm…" Harry hummed. Suddenly there was a gleam in the depths of the emerald orbs. Draco could see Harry's eyes darkening with lust.

"Harry…?" Draco breathed; Harry smiled and pushed Draco's rolled up jumper higher, revealing Draco's pectoral muscles and collarbone.

"Let me help you take it off…" Harry muttered a spell; the jumper vanished. Draco squeaked but was silenced when Harry's mouth was on his.

Draco glared half-heartedly at the brunet on top of him. But he melted into a pile of goo when Harry's hand was placed on his chest, gently rubbing small circles. With his other hand, Harry moved one of Draco's leg, letting him settle between Draco's legs.

"Harry…" Draco mumbled. Harry lay down next to him, his head on Draco's chest.

"This is nice…" Harry whispered. His thumb and forefinger were pinching the hardening nub. Draco nodded and closed his eyes. Gods, it felt good.

"I wanted to do this for so long… but I was always afraid that I might hurt you," Harry said softly; his fingers moved away from Draco's nipple and his hand was now massaging Draco's side. "I was also scared that you wouldn't want me to…"

"I want this, too," Draco said, sounding sure. "I do, Harry. I didn't think I could though… Not with me half paralyzed."

"Let me do the work then," Harry said huskily. He rolled and was now looking down at his blond lover. "Let me…"

Harry slinked down Draco's body with the gracefulness of a snake. Draco's mouth became dry as he watched Harry kiss down his chest, his abdomen, his hips… He almost screamed when Harry pulled down his sweats, revealing his boxers.

"I know you're sensitive here…" Harry's warm breath ghosted over Malfoy's hipbone. He dipped his index finger under the waistband of Draco's boxers. "Such smooth skin…"

"Uh huh…" Draco gulped when Harry smirked up at him. Such a lusty smirk; he never saw that on Harry's face before.

"Beautiful and don't you dare say otherwise," Harry murmured. He yanked the boxers down. Pale, smooth skin revealed itself. Harry's mouth watered at the sight of the crisp blond curls that led to so much more.

Draco eyes rolled to the back when Harry touched him. He didn't know if he could still get hard after the accident, but it seemed like he could. He heard Harry whimpering, eyeing his crotch. Draco buried his fingers into Harry's nest of black hair, guiding Harry's head down to his throbbing erection.

"Harry… Please," Draco croaked.

"Yes…" Harry wrapped his hand around the hardened flesh. It was warm and pulsating in his hand. He took a deep breath. The smell of Draco was delicious.

"Harry!" Draco whined when all his boyfriend did was tug slowly up and down his shaft.

Potter chuckled deeply. "Draco, I love you."

"Huh –"

Harry opened his mouth and took Draco in, his lips stretched around the thick cock.

Draco panted as Harry put all his attention to his cock. The brunet hummed around his heated flesh; Draco pulled at Harry's dark tresses. His body was trembling with pleasure as Harry's tongue swirled around the head of his cock.

Draco was sure they would spend the rest of the day in bed.

Oh, how right he was.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

A/N: -whistles- Lemon? No, of course not! –ducks as objects fly through the air-

Man, do you want to kill the author?! No throwing knives! D: