Chapter 2 – Day Dream

Professor Black's eyes scanned the class and inevitably rested on the blond who was wincing at the back of the class. He had been late again even though she knew he hadn't been with Harry that morning. Harry had visited her first thing feeling as though he hadn't come to see her as much as he usually had and so had popped in for a chat and butterbeer. Unless he could be in two places at once Harry would be hard pushed to distract his lover from his classes.

Malfoy winced as he walked though she had to admit he hid it extremely well turning it into more of a limping motion so that nobody caught. On the other hand and completely unrelated to his activities with Harry he was holding his stomach and so pale he looked like he was going to be sick. His usually pale face was now blanched white with discomfort but he managed to complete the work anyway.

"Malfoy!" she called at the end of the lesson as the class started leaving. She waited for the last person to shut the door before she turned to him, "Are you alright?" she asked, "You look like you're about to be sick."

He nodded, "I'm alright professor," though he didn't sound it. "I think it was something I ate."

She nodded but didn't look convinced, "If it keeps up go and see Madam Pomfrey or so help me I'll drag you there you hear? I'm damned if I'm losing students to food poisoning this early in the term!"

Malfoy smiled, "I will Professor."

He turned to leave but as he reached the door she called out to him again this time it was softly, almost apologetically, "Draco? You were late again today. Third time in a row love, sorry but I'll have to give you detention."

Malfoy shrugged and nodded, "It's alright Professor," he muttered and slipped through the door.

He stepped out of the door and straight into Harry's arms. He must have been waiting for him for ages seeing as Harry hadn't had any lessons that morning. Malfoy smiled despite himself; the pain in his stomach forgotten as he let himself melt into the other's embrace. The detention with Black lay forgotten as Harry decided that they needed to treat each other to a decent romantic meal and so they lunched out at a café in Hogsmeade.

The grounds of Hogwarts were beautiful carpeted by the snow. Harry regretted not bringing a coat to protect him against the cold air that seemed to bite at him out of spite. Malfoy wrapped his arm around his young lover and pulled him closer and they both walked across the snow wrapped up against each other to protect themselves against the cold as well as for the comfort they drew from each other's embrace. Hogsmeade was just as beautiful; looking like something out of a Christmas card with its traditional houses and shops coated with snowflakes with icicles hanging from gutters, reflecting the sun and sparkling at the passers by. Harry smiled and resting his head on Draco's shoulder he closed his eyes and wondered how lucky he was to be here with him like this.

They found a small café and sat in a corner where anyone who came in would not have seen them unless they looked for them. It was only when they had been sitting down for a while that Harry noticed Draco was looking pale even though his cheeks should have gone bright red with the sudden change from cold to warm so rapidly. "Are you alright?" Harry asked leaning over and cupping the blond boy's hand with his own, "You don't look well."

Malfoy smiled affectionately, determined to not spoil the moment, "No, I'm alright," he could see from the look Harry was giving him that he didn't believe him, "It's just a bad stomach that's all."

Still Harry didn't look convinced, "Are you sure?"

"Positive!" Malfoy said trying to make light of it, "let's just eat, I missed you today…" he said changing the subject. Harry was still wary even while they ate and it soon became apparent that he had every reason to worry as a moment later Malfoy ran to the toilet and threw up the contents of his stomach including everything he had just eaten. When he came back his face was flushed to the palest shades of white and beyond, "Sorry," he mumbled, he made to sit down but Harry had already taken his arm.

"Come on," he said sternly, "We're going back and you are going to get some rest and then if you're not feeling better I am dragging you to see Madam Pomfrey." Even though Malfoy didn't want to leave Hogsmeade when it was looking this romantic he didn't really have much of a choice when Harry cupped his hand in his own and refused to let him go.

He walked him to the very door of the Slytheryn common room before he turned and said anything. "You go to bed and get some rest and if you're not better tomorrow I'll come with you to see Madam Pomfrey. He noticed that Malfoy shuddered when he remembered what had happened the last time he had gone to see the nurse. He wouldn't tell Harry that he had no intention of going to see her no matter how much pain he was in or Harry would probably frogmarch him back down there that very minute.

"You don't have to," Malfoy mumbled when he realised that Harry was waiting for a response.

"No I know that I don't have to. I want to though," Harry said smiling broadly. "I'll see you tomorrow," he leant forward and kissed Malfoy gently before turning to his own common room before he was seen by Slytheryns outside theirs.

The following day Malfoy was no better. He felt as though his entire stomach was being torn apart from inside. It hurt to walk but it hurt just as much to stay put so he resolved that he would try and make it through the day without drawing any attention to it and hope that it was gone by the following day. He couldn't go to Madam Pomfrey and tell her that he had a bad stomach it was the lamest excuse in the history of skipping lessons; especially when he had double Defence Against the Dark Arts first thing in the morning.

Harry didn't find Malfoy until lunch time. He was outside curled up under the tree they always sat under. At first Harry panicked thinking he had passed out but then he realised that he was just sleeping so Harry dropped down next to him and stayed there until he woke up. It took a while; Malfoy slept through lunch without even having time to eat something.

"Hey there," he said to Harry, waking up before the dark haired boy noticed it. He tried to smile and managed it weakly; thankfully Harry took it as his disorientation from just waking up. He sat up and ignoring the searing pain that racked his stomach he leaned in and kissed his boyfriend. Harry was smiling and obviously suspected nothing, which Malfoy was thankful for. Although the pain was bordering on intense he still didn't fancy going to see the nurse. He didn't like to imagine what the other Slytheryns would say if he missed a lesson due to a bad stomach frankly he didn't want to give them more ammunition to use against him.

"How's your stomach?" Harry asked, resting a hand on it. Draco winced as he waited for more pain but it never came, it felt somewhat soothing in fact.

He smiled affectionately and shrugged, "Getting better," he said deciding that it wasn't a barefaced lie to tell. His stomach was feeling a little better compared to how bad it had been that morning.

They reclined back against the tree with Harry's head resting in Draco's lap. There was a time when this simple act had raised a wave of insults from any passing students whereas now nobody seemed to care. Lazily Draco ran his fingers through the dark hair before him and they both settled into the scene.

"Fancy some flying tonight?" Harry asked reaching up and brushing some stray blond hairs out of Malfoy's face.

"Can't I've got detention," Draco sighed. Harry nodded and suggested the following day; since their accident neither of them had been on a broomstick, then again there hadn't been any Quidditch matches over the Christmas holidays for obvious reasons.

"So I won't see you tonight?" Harry pulled his hand away and pretended to pout.

Malfoy leaned close to Harry's ear and whispered, "I'm sure you'll find a way." Harry shivered and smiled as he remembered the last time he and Draco had taken a walk through the school under the invisibility cloak just so they could spend time together…that had been a good night…he remembered with a slight flush creeping into his cheeks. Something that Malfoy didn't fail to notice but thought that he shouldn't take advantage of him and tease him some more…they were in the open after all.

They had to be practically torn apart to go to their lessons. Spending lunch time together was the only time that they really had to be together without having to worry about homework overdue or lessons. Added to that the way they had spent their time together, it was so romantic it was a shame to end it.

Draco didn't see Harry before he had to go down to his detention. He was beginning to think whether he should ask Black if he could skip the detention but he thought that he could always pop in after the detention; he had put it off all day what harm would another hour do?

"Welcome Mr Malfoy," Black said from the back of her classroom, "Nothing too taxing or degrading just some lines. I just want you to write why you were late and why you shouldn't be late in the first place…just try to enjoy it." She smiled sympathetically and gestured him to the front of the class where he could sit and she could keep an eye on him…not that he was doing anything in particular to keep an eye on.

Malfoy pulled out his quill and some parchment and started his essay on why he had been late, choosing to add that he had been putting other priorities above his work. It was uneventful for the most part. Every now and then Black would burst into random song and check that Malfoy was alright in his work but apart from that there was nothing.

That was until a searing pain shot through Malfoy's stomach so sharp that for a moment he couldn't breathe. It felt as though a burning sword had just slashed away at him from within. He couldn't cry out he just slumped over the desk and then slid of his chair onto the floor. Black was at his side in an instant, she rolled him over so he was lying on his back. His hands were clutched over his stomach and he managed to take a breath that he then used to cry out. The pain was intense and he now regretted not going to see Madam Pomfrey that morning. There was nothing after that…just the darkness and the bittersweet release from the pain.

TBC