"Have you seen her, then?" Hermione asks.
Harry shakes his head. The two of them are at a park, walking the puppy Harry's recently acquired in Draco's hopefully brief absence. It's a gangly Dalmatian he named Alvin but calls Al. "Draco didn't seem to want me to when he left. I can't believe I'm still angry at him. It's been over a week."
"It's understandable, really," says Hermione, putting a hand on her belly. She'd been pregnant for three months and it was a new habit she'd taken up. "If Molly got sick and Ron didn't want me around, I'd be furious."
"But you know Molly well," Harry says. "I hardly know Narcissa. In an odd way, it makes sense. But it doesn't make me less mad that he didn't want me around, if not for her, then for him."
"He's always been stubborn, Harry. This is just the rougher side of that."
"I suppose we'd been flawless for too long," says Harry, leaning down to scratch Al's back. Al gives a happy bark and immediately flops down to be pet. Harry complies, and Hermione crouches down to do the same.
"The dog was a good idea," Hermione says. "I hope he's been a distraction."
"You could say that. He was a nightmare to train."
"Don't remind me of what a baby will be like." Hermione mock shudders and Harry smiles.
"You'll be brilliant and you know it."
"I think you should visit her," says Hermione. "I don't think he'd mind. I really don't. I think you should go now, actually. I'll take Al back to yours."
"You sure?" asks Harry. "Obviously, I've been waiting for someone to tell me to go for over a week now. Two weeks, right?"
Hermione nods.
"And I don't see ... if this makes him angry, then I think we'll need to have a talk."
He and Hermione stand, and he hands Hermione Al's leash. She pulls him into a hug.
"It'll be alright," she says. "No talks needed. I'm sure."
"I hope you always being right continues to hold true," says Harry as he hugs her back before Disapparating. He's out in front of St. Mungo's in seconds, scared and hopeful in equal measure. It's a minute or two more before he's riding the elevator up to the level where modified Muggle diseases are treated.
He sees Draco as soon as he steps out of the elevator. His boyfriend, never not gorgeous, looks borderline terrible, dark circles under his eyes, hair askew and clothes rumpled. It's endearing, really, and Harry wonders when it was he fell this hard. Months ago, probably. Draco's standing in front of a table littered with empty cups and sugar packets, a single coffeepot sat on the very corner. It's as though he's seriously considering a cup but can't quite manage reaching over. Harry steps forward and does it for him, filling a cup and holding it out to Draco. Draco looks up and his tired eyes widen.
"Drink it," says Harry with a shaky smile. "Looks like you need it."
Draco looks from Harry's face to the cup and back again. "Put it down, Potter," he nearly growls. Harry complies, and Draco puts his arms around Harry, clinging in a way that feels desperate and so very welcome. Harry's anger dissipates and he acknowledges that all Draco needed was to feel strong on his own—something no one can really do, Harry thinks. Really, the way he's still here for his mother is brave, and it is strong. But everyone needs someone. And sometimes, if not always, they need each other.
"If you couldn't tell," Harry says into Draco's shoulder, enjoying, for perhaps the hundredth time, Draco's slightly taller height, "this is me forgiving you for your Batman-like faux heroism."
"Who's Batman?" Draco asks, sounding confused and holding ever tighter.
"We'll be reading some comics later," Harry promises. "You need a break from here. I think we should go and say hello to your mother and see how she's doing, and then we're going back to my place. You're meeting my new dog before you let me kiss you and then some, and then you're going back to work on Monday. It's what your mother would want and you know that." Harry pulls back slightly and examines Draco. "Also, you're eating something. You're always thin, and it's usually lovely, but not so much right now."
Draco nods, though he looks uncertain. "You really think I should leave?"
"Let's go see your mother. I do. And I think she'll agree." Seeing no need to let go completely, he leaves one arm around Draco as they walk down the hallway toward Narcissa's room. Once inside, Harry notices that, while Narcissa looks worn out, she also appears to be on the mend. There's color in her cheeks and the spotted skin associated with this strain of meningitis has all but faded. She's also asleep.
"I don't want to wake her," whispers Draco.
"Neither do I," Harry whispers. "Leave a note?"
"Don't worry about it," a third voice whispers. Harry looks over his shoulder at the Healer walking into the room. She smiles warmly. "I'll let Mrs. Malfoy know her son got kidnapped by Harry Potter."
Draco looks uncertain. Harry thanks the Healer and tugs on Draco's hand with his.
"It'll be alright, Draco," says Harry. "Really. And don't you want to meet Al?"
"You named your dog Al?" Draco nods at the Healer as he and Harry exit the room.
"Well, Alvin. It means 'friend' in some language or another, and I needed one."
"I didn't apologize, did I?" Draco leans over and swiftly kisses Harry on the cheek. Harry attempts to ignore the trio of female Healers who look quite giddy over seeing this happen. "I am sorry. I just ... I've never been close to someone this way when something horrible's happened, and I didn't want you to have to deal with it." They walk into the elevator together.
"Draco," Harry says, hesitating. "Well, first, it's OK. I mean, I was pissed, sure, but not anymore. Not for a little bit now. The thing is, part of a relationship is getting through the shit parts together."
"I've never really had to do that. Or gotten to, I suppose. Never had someone else to help shoulder the burden or what have you."
"I hope you'll let me now," says Harry.
Draco tightens his grip on Harry's hand. "I was going to come get you, you know. Not today, but soon. I ... It's weird, but I need you."
"Is that weird, then? Needing someone?" They step out of the elevator and head toward the door, where they nearly trip over Dean Thomas.
"Hi, Harry. Malfoy." Dean nods at the two of them.
"Feeling alright, Dean?" Harry asks.
"Oh, I'm not here for me," he says. "I'm here for Seamus. Broke his ankle in the most embarrassing way possible."
"What way's that?"
"Tripping jinx." Dean shakes his head. "I suppose anything that pulls me away from wedding planning's worthwhile, so I told him I'd stop by while they're still fixing him up."
"July's not so far away, is it? Sowing your wild oats, I take it?"
Dean laughs. "Yeah, haven't had much chance for it. I don't think Ginny cherishes the open relationship idea quite as much as I do. You two are coming to the wedding, then?"
"Course I am," says Harry. "And I'm sure I'll be able to persuade Draco to be there with me."
Draco smiles slightly and nods. "We should go."
"Right. Nice seeing you, Dean."
"You too."
Harry and Draco step out of the hospital and onto the sidewalk. Harry loops his arm around Draco's waist and Apparates the two of them into his flat. Al lopes over to the two of them and licks Harry's hand.
"This is Alvin, but you can call him Al," says Harry. "Al, this is Draco. Get used to his gorgeous face. You'll be seeing a lot of it."
Draco reaches forward and awkwardly pats Al on the head. Al nuzzles his head into Draco's palm.
"He likes you," Harry says. "But, unfortunately for him, so do I. Can we please go to my bedroom?"
"Can't think of anything else I'd like more," says Draco with a grin. "Oh, one thing. Thomas and Ginny have an open relationship?"
"You didn't think it was weird that she occasionally messed about with Blaise and he left the first Gryffindor-heavy party you went to with another girl?"
Draco cocks his head to the side and seems to consider the situation. "Well. Guess that makes slightly more sense, then."
"Don't get any ideas," says Harry. "I'm keeping you to myself."
"I'd never suggest it," Draco says solemnly. "Now, I believe you mentioned something about your bedroom?"
"I believe I did," says Harry, taking Draco in his arms and kissing him, hard and fast and wonderful, before pulling him toward their destination.