Use Somebody Chapter 7: Workaholic, a harry potter fanfic

I own nothing.

A/N: I'm so very sorry for the delay in this chapter, I really feel just awful about it. I have a very legitimate reason why I've been so neglectful…namely, my son! As most of you probably know, I have a 4 year old who is coming to the end of his nursery career, and I have had to take part in a sports days, a toddler's fun run, parent's evening, a cinema day, 3 days of infant illness, his best friend's birthday party, A week of Torchwood on T.V (guilty pleasure, sorry.) a big school induction (my little man starts reception in September, booo he's getting too big.) Plus, my ex decided to call me and say 'I'm at the airport, got a last minute deal for a week in Turkey - Tell Arch I won't be having him this week…! So, as you can see, I've not really had a lot of time to myself since I last posted. The other thing I'm sorry for is that I promised answers in this chapter…and there aren't any. I've actually made Harry a little more fickle, however, I am working on the next chapter as soon as this is posted and will have an update up within a few days. Promise.

A/N 2: PLEASE READ!!! I'm actually very worried about this chapter. I feel it may put a few readers off, but I can guarantee that the stuff mentioned isn't going to become the most prominent thing about the story. It's just a character 'quirk'. Remember, these guys are still getting to know each other, and there will be unexpected thing along the way that aren't always…convenient for them. Let me know what you think.

Warning: Draco says 'Fuck' a lot because I say fuck a lot (I know, it's vulgar, but it always helps to drive a point home lol, hurrah for fuck.)

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Chapter 7 - Workaholic.

"Pansy? What the fuck are you doing in my bed?" Draco asked sleepily from within the depths of his duvet.

He had woken seconds before when a freezing cold foot had connected rather sharply with his calf muscle, rudely pulling him from the interesting dream he had been having. Harry and chocolate sauce….very interesting!

"I'm ill, and Blaise pissed off to work leaving me to die alone." Pansy's pathetic voice issued beneath Draco's mountain of pillows.

Draco rolled his eyes in irritation. "Pans' you really need to understand the difference between being ill and being hung…-" Draco paused in his grouchy rant as Pansy's words caused a red flag to fly up in his brain.

"Did you say that Blaise has gone to work?" He asked abruptly, sitting up so fast that his head spun. "How long ago? What's the fucking time?" He snapped, dizzily falling out of his bed and frantically searching for his phone that had been in his trouser pocket the night before.

"I don't know…" Pansy mumbled, obviously drifting back off to sleep. "I'm not his secretary…you've claimed that job title."

"I'm not a secretary!" Draco spat, momentarily side tracked from his mission to find his phone. He smacked his hand down on the mattress and felt a stab of satisfaction when he received a muffled moan in return. "I'm a personal assistant! There's a massive difference." He moaned, noticing his trousers peeking out from beneath his bed and swiping them. He fished his phone out of pocket and groaned when he found it switched off - The battery giving up on him as he constantly neglected to charge it - and he growled in frustration.

"Oh, for fuck sake! What's the fucking time?" He said loudly as he hauled himself to his feet and hurried through the flat into the kitchen. His stomach dropped when his bleary eyes focused on the digital clock on the microwave.

09:45.

"FUCK!!!" He yelled, his hands flying into his hair and he cringed when they connected with a glittery mass of cardboard. "Fuck!" He yelled again, turning and skidding his way back through to his bedroom. "Why the fuck did I let you spray fucking glitter in my hair? And I'm late! I'm fucking late, and I'm fucking glittery! Thank you very fucking much, Pans'" He ranted, tearing his wardrobe doors open and pulling out the first thing he saw, before thundering into the bathroom, praying to any god that would listen to make time stand still just long enough for him to be able take a shower without the risk of being fired when he eventually made it to work.

"Fleur, have you seen Draco this morning? Has he phoned in sick or anything?" Harry asked tiredly as he slumped a little against his door frame, his blurry emerald gaze eyeing Draco's unoccupied workstation with curiosity. It wasn't like Draco to be late, and it was nearing 10am - surely he would've called if he wasn't coming in.

"No, 'e 'asn't come in yet. Shall I call 'im?" The blonde woman asked, and a slight bubble of satisfaction swelled inside Harry's stomach at the knowledge Fleur was as ignorant to Draco's whereabouts as Harry was.

"No, I'll give him until lunchtime…" Harry sighed wearily, closing his eyes when the room became slightly hazy, and he shook his head a little to try and clear it. "Could you…take Draco's calls?"

"I already 'ave." Fleur smiled in self satisfaction. "Dolores 'as just informed me zat your 10 o'clock is 'ere."

Harry groaned to himself and thanked Fleur, and he began to make his way over to the doors that lead to the reception area.

To say he felt rough would have been a major understatement, and Harry was eternally grateful that Hermione was in court this morning. If she were there she would've taken one look at him and sent him home, that was a complete certainty, and the last thing Harry wanted was to be sat at home brooding.

Stepping into the reception, Harry plastered a smile across his face and greeted his clients, directing them back through the office area toward his office.

His eyes strayed to Draco's deserted desk and he frowned, a small portion of concern that he didn't want to acknowledge made itself prominent, instantly making him feel a bit worse than he already felt, and he shook his head to try and dispel it.

He hoped that Draco would be in the office by the time the hour long appointment with his clients ended, but all the while a distant, vague part of his mind hoped that he'd actually get through the appointment first.

---

Draco burst through the doors of Aurors, much like a marathon runner at the end of a 26 mile run, with a stitch tearing though his left side and he sucked in a gulp of much needed air. Christ, I'm unfit. I only ran three streets! Ignoring the Toad Woman who sneered at him as he passed her, he hastily made his way to his work station.

His hair, much to his chagrin, was still wet. He had reasoned with himself that taking an extra fifteen minutes to dry and style it probably wasn't a good idea considering he was already two and half hours late for work. So, he had left it - a decision he was now thoroughly regretting.

As soon as he walked into the office area, Fleur practically beamed from her position behind her desk. He smiled distractedly at her as he glanced at Harry's closed door, and he hoped and prayed that the other man was in court and hadn't noticed Draco's absence.

"Good afternoon, Draco. Nice of you to join us." Fleur smirked, swivelling her chair around to follow Draco as he passed her and watched as he threw his messenger bag down on his desk.

"Don't exaggerate, I already feel terrible. Is he in?" Draco asked, rearranging the mess that was his hair and pulling at the shirt that he had hurriedly thrown on. Unfortunately, the particular shirt he had blindly pulled from his wardrobe in a bid to save time was a size too small and was ever so slightly clingy.

"'e is with ze Finnegan's. I think 'e is mad at you 'cause he kept looking at your desk an' shakin' 'is 'ead." Fleur said sympathetically, causing Draco to sigh at his astounding bad luck. Of course Harry would be in the office, of course he would be pissed!!!

Draco grimaced as he walked over to Harry's office door, and taking a deep calming breath he resignedly knocked the door and opened it when he heard Harry invite him in.

Draco edged into the office, his expression apologetic, and was shocked by how ill Harry looked. The man was seriously pale with black rings just visible beneath his glasses. His entire being screamed exhaustion and the blonde was certain this was the look for people right before they usually dropped down dead.

Harry, who had been witnessing a quite indecent argument between his clients, breathed a small sigh of relief when a knock came at his door and he vowed to later kiss whoever it was that had interrupted the stream of vulgar profanities that had been assaulting his eardrums. He almost fell off his chair when it was Draco that stepped through the door, and for a fraction of a second he forgot that he felt unwell - especially when his eyes lingered over Draco's chest that was more visible than usual beneath his close fitting shirt. Harry decided that whoever designed, made and produced that shirt should be knighted. Perfection, utter perfection.

A small amused smile that he couldn't quite suppress pulled at the corner of Harry's mouth when his eyes met Draco's, a look of complete remorse painted across his angular face.

Draco cleared his throat as Harry's eyes swept over him, self- consciousness slamming into him from the knowledge that he looked an utter mess. The brunette didn't look especially annoyed though, quite the contrary actually - he looked more amused…and ill.

"Can I get anyone a drink?" Draco asked politely, his eyes sweeping over the other two occupants of the room simply for an excuse to look away from Harry ghostly face.

The man and woman who were sat in front of Harry's desk both turned and shook their heads, refusing his offer, and he felt his eyes widen as he stared at the woman with incredulous disbelief. He could feel his mouth hanging open in shock, and he thanked every god there was that the woman had turned away and begun bickering with her husband, and his gaze flickered to a concerned looking Harry.

Harry eyed Draco with curiosity, slightly worried that the other man might be having an aneurism. His silver eyes were extremely wide as the switched from looking at Mrs Finnegan to himself, and he seemed to be trying to communicate something to him. The blonde began gesturing wildly, pointing at Lavender and then rubbing his nose looking much like a lunatic.

Glancing at his clients who had begun arguing (again!) he felt it probably wasn't wise to leave the room, however Draco looked as though he were on the verge of having a fit.

"Would you excuse me for a moment, please?" Harry said to the bickering couple, and he shook his head when they just continued to argue, neither acknowledging that they had heard him at all.

Pulling himself into a standing position, Harry felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, and he stumbled against the desk slightly, clamping his eyes shut in the process. For a moment the world spun around him and he was almost convinced that he was going to pass out. Thankfully, after taking a deep breath, he managed to gather back some control and as he straightened up and glanced at his clients, he found that his small blunder had gone by unnoticed. Thank heavens for small mercies.

Draco, on the other hand, had definitely noticed it. The look on his face was one that Harry hated to see - concern. The blonde looked as though he dearly wanted to offer some assistance, and Harry sent him an expression that clearly said no. He did not want Draco Malfoy mothering him in the way that Hermione did. He did not want the man before him to view him as weak, absolutely not.

When they were both outside the office, Harry, pulled the door over, and though he tried to appear casual, he leaned heavily against the frame; his eyes travelling to Draco's flushed face.

"What is it, Lassie? Is someone trapped in a well?" He asked, his attempt at sounding amused coming out more exhausted than anything.

Draco, who had been quite sure that Harry was going to faint as soon as he was out of the room, was momentarily stunned by his boss' comment, and forgetting why he had called the other man out of his meeting, Draco chuckled at Harry. "Funny." He commented, crossing his arms against his chest to try and cover the tightness of his shirt. He didn't miss Harry's emerald eyes travelled down and linger on his defensive stance.

"What was with all the miming?" Harry asked wearily, taking in a deep breath as a bout of dizziness assaulted him, and he knew that his situation was becoming slightly dire. 'I definitely have to take an early lunch', he thought and his stomach dropped slightly when he remembered that his snack drawer in his desk was practically empty. Damn it!

"Who's that woman in there?" Draco asked quietly, his eyes locked on Harry's drawn face. The other man really looked as though he were going to pass out, and every instinct Draco had was telling him to get the brunette into bed, or perhaps to a doctor. A qualified one.

"Lavender Finnegan. She's the mother of Parvati, the baby from your interview." Harry answered, eyeing Draco with curiosity.

"That's Red Baby's mother?!" Draco exclaimed in an urgent whisper, looking around Harry to the sliver of office that could be seen between the door and the frame.

Harry's eyebrows shot up and he smiled at Draco's name for the baby that had been left in his charge during his interview. "Red Baby? Yes, that's Parvati's mother"

Harry suppressed the urge to laugh as Draco's expression contorted into mild disgust "Parvati?! What an awful name." He said, shaking his head in obvious incredulity.

As amusing as the encounter was, Harry really was supposed to be doing his job "Draco, do you have a point?" He asked slowly, and he swallowed when Draco's eyes strayed away from the office and connected with his own.

"Oh yeah, well I know her - that woman…she's coked to the eyeballs." Draco said solemnly, and as much as Harry tried to convince his slow working brain to process what the other man was saying, it just couldn't seem to catch up.

"Coked to the eyeballs?" He asked blankly, staring at the man before him through narrowed eyes.

"Yes. She was in The Ministry last night - I accidentally barged into her…well O.K, It probably wasn't exactly an accident - she was in my way and I didn't realise her heels were so high. How was I supposed to know that she'd fall -" Draco prattled, apparently loosing himself in his tale.

"Draco!" Harry cut him off, his voice stern, prompting the blonde to get to the point.

"Right, sorry. Anyway, later when I went into the toilets I found her in there, you know -" He said and proceeded to sniff his nose pointedly, his eyes wide as though he were being completely obvious.

"No, I don't know." Harry informed, taking a deep breath when he was, once again, assaulted with a bout of dizziness.

"Well her head was over the toilet seat and she wasn't throwing up!" Draco said slowly, and Harry was struck by the impression that the other man had noticed something was off. He could practically see the cogs turning in the blonde's head "Plus, I doubt she sneezes £20 notes, and there was one definitely stuck up her nose-…Harry, are you-" He added slowly.

"I'm fine. " He said before Draco could even finish his question, and the pressing matter of Draco's allegation slammed into him like a brick. "Are you certain it was her…?" he asked the blonde forcefully.

"Absolutely. Look -" Draco replied, and all of a sudden he was flush against Harry's body, pressing him against the wooden door frame. Harry didn't even register the wood digging into his spine as he felt Draco's defined chest align with his own, and he felt an army of butterflies explode into his stomach. Good god, I'm in Heaven.

Draco, who appeared to be looking back through the crack in the door frame, seemed totally oblivious to Harry's moment of euphoria as he began commenting on the woman inside the office, and Harry, whose nose was a fraction away from Draco's wet hair held his breath when the scent of fresh, clean shampoo invaded his senses.

"Look at her, she can't sit still - I'd say she's still buzzing, which probably means she's taken more since last night..." The blonde whispered, and Harry let his eyes drift close as he felt Draco's words rumble against his chest, the vibration sending a ripple of pleasure through his body, and he swallowed down hard as he willed his body not to become too excited.

He felt air wash over his face, the smell of mint mingling with the warm breeze, and opening his eyes he found himself staring into pools of silver, and his heart skipped a beat when he noticed flecks of crystal blue scattered inside Draco's metallic irises. Holy shit, is he going to kiss me?

"Are you O.K?" Draco asked, and as though he realised how close he was standing to Harry, he took a step back, his expression apologetic. "Sorry -" he began.

"Its fine, I'm fine -" Harry said quickly, clearing his throat and glancing at Lavender who was indeed fidgeting rather incessantly. "You really think she's taken drugs?" He asked quietly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Draco nod solemnly, and the butterflies danced a little more when the blonde inched closer to look in the office again. The scent of shampoo and aftershave assaulted Harry's senses once again, and he reasoned that in this instance he had an excuse for being light headed. Draco smelled amazing.

"Definitely. " The blonde whispered, gazing at Lavender with a disgusted expression. Harry figured that it was only due to his distraction that Draco continued. "Even if I hadn't seen her snorting it, I'd be able to tell…I'd know. You learn to read the signs when -" Abruptly Draco turned and gazed at Harry, his preoccupied mumblings instantly halting as though he had just realised he were still speaking, and he seemed to flounder for a moment.

Harry's eyes probed the blonde man's face, his entire being screaming at Draco to continue, to actually give him a tiny insight into his life, his past "Go on." He said gently.

"Nothing, it doesn't matter." Draco replied, his expression angry, and he took a rigid step away from Harry "That woman's on drugs, Harry, and she's after custody of Red Baby. I believe that's your cue to make sure that doesn't happen." He said, his tone harsh, and Harry was momentarily taken aback. He had never heard Draco speak in such a haughty manner, and for a fraction of a second he could see the Draco that he knew be replaced by something alarmingly aristocratic. The command in his voice seemed entirely out of place for a P.A to be directing at his boss, and Harry was instantly overcome with desire. He liked affirmative Draco!

"Right." Harry whispered, shaking his head when his eyes blurred a little. "Thank you, Draco." he added, and he watched as the blonde sighed, shedding the odd façade that had settled over him.

"Harry, are you O.K? You look -" He began, his eyes narrowed, and Harry once again cut him off.

"I'm fine." The brunette said sharply, and instantly regretted snapping when he watched Draco's eyes widen a little. "Look, it's nothing a cup of tea won't sort out…three sugars." He smiled weakly, before slipping into the office and closing the door before Draco could become too suspicious.

Little did he know that his parting request was enough to confirm Draco's fears that something was out of place.

'Three sugars? What happened to being "sweet enough"?'

"Is Harry busy?" Hermione's voice floated through Draco's consciousness, pulling him from a rather nice daydream concerning Harry and a particular couch in the staff lounge that was most definitely comfortable enough to…make themselves comfortable on…! Trust Hermione to ruin it with her ever impeccable timing!

"He's just finishing up." Draco replied, focusing his attention on the bushy haired woman before him. He could tell instantly that she was in a bad mood by the condition of her hair. Curls generally equalled a cool, calm Hermione. Frizz equalled The Woman Possessed. Frizz meant she was going to piss Harry off.

"Good. Draco, may I ask you something?" She asked, throwing Draco by her abrupt change in tone. She had gone from bossy to polite in one sentence, and Draco had a bad feeling he wasn't going to like the question she was about to ask. Without waiting for his response, Hermione continued. "Could you keep an eye on Harry for me? I mean to say, he never tells me anything for fear of being coddled, and I am genuinely worried about him. I was hoping, perhaps, that you might let me know if you think there is anything…untoward…"

Draco watched the woman before him carefully. He had the distinct feeling that she was asking him to engage in espionage, and he didn't like it at all. Hermione Weasley was the last person he would wish to commit such an act for - He couldn't stand the woman. Besides, she and Harry were supposed to be good friends. Surely, if Harry wanted her to know anything then he would tell her himself.

The frizzy haired woman's eyes seemed to be boring into him like laser scanners, and he was feeling more and more compelled to tell her to go to hell. Fortunately for Draco, Harry chose that moment to open his office door, and the furious brassy blonde Lavender stormed through the office area towards the exit causing the most absolute distraction.

Harry stood in his doorway, shaking hands with an extremely relieved man that Draco took to be Mr Finnegan. The man spoke with a distinct Irish accent as he thanked Harry, and he seemed to almost float after his wife, an air of absolute joy spilling out around him.

Harry's eyes travelled from the Irish man to Draco, and when his emerald orbs connected with the blonde's, a tired but grateful smile spread across his drawn face. He didn't even seem to notice Hermione.

"Thank you. You were right. Seamus wants Lavender to be tested, she was furious -" Harry said quietly, leaning against the door frame.

Hermione, whose hair was growing wilder the longer she was being ignored, suddenly made her presence known. "Hello, Harry." She said, crossing her arms against her chest.

Harry finally seemed to realise his friend was also stood at Draco's desk, and a puzzled expression crossed his face, causing Draco to frown to himself. Surely Harry hadn't actually missed Hermione standing directly in front of him?!

"Hermione-" The brunette acknowledged, a small crease of confusion appearing between his eyebrows. "I didn't see you there. Everything O.K?" He asked, obviously trying hard to appear normal. However, there was something very abnormal about Harry's behaviour, and Draco couldn't put his finger on it. One glance at Hermione's face told him that she was thinking the same thing.

"You tell me." She said slowly, her arms falling to her sides as she gazed intently at Harry's face. Draco couldn't help but also scrutinize the brunette's face, and what he found was worrying even to him. Harry looked as though he were dying.

Harry tried to give off an air of casualness, but he was failing miserably. "Nothing to tell." He whispered.

Hermione seemed to stare at him for a fraction of a second before she did a lot of things at once. Her gazed switched instantly from Harry to Fleur, who was sat looking rather bored at her desk. "Fleur, can you please get the jar of honey that is in the staff lounge and a tablespoon, then go to the vending machine and fetch me a salad sandwich. Draco! Can you please help Harry to his desk? Thank you." She ordered. Harry, who was obviously about to protest was instantly cut off as Hermione rushed passed him into his office. "Don't you even complain Harry James Potter, or so help me god I will castrate you."

Draco jumped up from his chair as soon as his direction had been given, and he apologetically drew up to Harry. "Do you really need my help?" the blonde asked, feeling more than a little sympathetic to his boss.

Harry sighed, his eyelids dropping a little, and shook his head. "She over reacts." He breathed before turning and drifting in to his office.

Draco was more than a little disconcerted by how wet the back of Harry's shirt was, especially considering it was the beginning of November and even with the heating on it was freezing. Following Harry into the room, Draco watched the other man sink wearily into his chair, as Hermione rummaged about in his desk drawers.

"When did you eat last?" She demanded quietly, and obviously finding what she was looking for, she sat on the edge of Harry's desk and began fumbling with something.

"This morning." Harry whispered, his head falling back against his chair.

"Harry, what's the point in lying? You're practically hypoglycaemic, I know you're lying." Hermione's voice whipped out, absolute fury in her tone.

The puzzle pieces instantly fell into place for Draco, and as Harry's tired eyes slowly opened and focused on him, the blonde finally understood. A look of complete devastation appeared on the brunette's ghostly pale face, and Draco found himself unable to keep eye contact. Looking away toward Hermione who was now busy with Harry's hand, Draco spoke. "Harry's diabetic?" He asked, as he watched the woman.

He heard a click, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Harry flinch slightly as Hermione punctured his finger in order to test his blood. Harry was diabetic?! How had Draco not been told about this? How had he not noticed?

"Yes, Harry's diabetic. And he finds it absolutely necessary to make life as difficult as possible for himself." Hermione snapped, fiddling with the buttons of a device in her hand.

Harry, as exhausted as he was, seemed to be completely aggravated with the treatment he was receiving. "I'm still here…don't talk about me as though…I'm not!" He slurred slightly, his breathing laboured as he struggled to gather some composure. His focus appeared to lie solely on Draco as he spoke. "I expect it from her…" He said "Not you, too."

It was as though Harry were pleading with Draco to fight his corner, as though he were afraid that Draco's knowledge of his condition would turn him into another Hermione-like control freak.

Was this why Harry had kept it from him? Was the brunette afraid that Draco would treat him differently, mother him the way his friends did? Was his diabetes the reason Hermione and her husband kept Harry on such a tight leash?

So many questions spun around Draco's head, that he was only vaguely aware when Fleur entered the room her arms filled with Hermione's shopping list.

"Thank you Fleur, you can go back to your desk." Hermione ordered as she gathered up the honey and spoon that the French woman had placed on the desk. Fleur rolled her eyes at Draco as she passed him, and he wondered why he hadn't been told to leave too. His eyes flickered back and forth between Harry and Hermione, watching every move they made. Waiting.

"You don't have to stay." Harry whispered gently, and Draco's eyes met his for a moment. The statement seemed significant, but he wasn't sure why. He had the distinct impression that Harry wasn't just giving him permission to leave the room. It was like the brunette was letting him know that it was O.K to walk away.

Did Draco want to walk away from Harry? Absolutely not. So what if the brunette fancied Fleur? So what if he was diabetic? So what?!

"I'm good." Draco breathed, a small amount of anxiety washing over him as he saw Hermione rummaging around in Harry's desk drawers again, however he suppressed it as he smiled gently at Harry, who tried his best to return it.

The interaction was swiftly cut off as Hermione jammed a spoonful of honey in Harry's mouth, and Draco winced as the brunette gagged on the spoon.

"Swallow it, Harry. Your sugar level is alarmingly low." Hermione declared, and the amount of concern in her tone caused Draco to worry slightly. He knew that the woman before him had a tendency to over react when it came to Harry; however he also knew how serious sugar levels were to diabetics.

The bushy haired woman began stuffing her hands in Harry's trouser pockets, and Draco felt his eyes widen. Surely, a married woman shouldn't be so close to a man, who most definitely was not her husband, and his…intimate area. The fact that Harry's eyes flew open at about the same time Draco's did showed that he was thinking the exact same thing.

"Personal space, 'Mione." He yelped, only to receive a withering glare in return. She had pulled something from Harry's pocket and seemed to be studying what looked like a pager. She frowned to herself and then at Harry.

"Well, your pump is fine. And you say you've eaten…why are you practically comatose?" Hermione asked with an air of someone who believed they were holding the moral high ground. Harry gently shook his head, his eyes sliding open and focusing on Draco. The blonde was pleased to note that the honey was at least keeping Harry from passing out, however he still looked desperately ill.

"You look like you're going to throw up." Harry noted with a small smile, completely ignoring Hermione's huffing. Draco's hand flew up into his hair and he felt it was probably necessary to make a point clear.

"I have an aversion to…needles." He whispered, clearing his throat as his eyes found a spot on Harry's desk absolutely fascinating. "Will you be using any…?" He felt his face heat up as both Hermione and Harry's gazes fixed onto him, and he dearly wished he had kept his mouth shut.

Harry, even though he felt completely wretched and quite close to throwing up himself, couldn't help but feel a rush of sympathy for Draco. The blonde looked truly embarrassed as he refused to make eye contact, and the small blush that had appeared on his pale face was really quite adorable.

"You don't have to worry about needles, Draco. I'm not particularly keen on them either. I think I drew the short straw." Harry smiled, awareness beginning to seep back into him, the confused fog that had drifted over dissipating slowly. "I have an insulin pump." He announced, pointing to the device in Hermione's hands, and sensing a chance to teach something, she held it up to show him.

"Harry has type 1 diabetes - he's insulin dependant. His pancreas doesn't-"

"I know what diabetes is." Draco announced cutting her off mid-sentence. The scowl that sprang to the frizzy haired woman's face was quickly replaced by smugness.

"Well, the pump is already attached to his skin and it gives him doses of insulin throughout the day, and if he needs more he just has to press a button rather than inject." Hermione explained, holding up a thin line of tubing that was attached to the pump. Draco tried not to think about which part of Harry's body that the line connected with.

"Well, now that you know, Harry will have an extra pair of eyes on him." Hermione declared, puncturing Harry's finger again and testing the drop of blood it produced in another device. "I should probably show you what to do if Harry becomes so bad that he needs a glucagon shot."

Draco felt his blush drain from his face, and Harry's head snapped in Hermione's direction as he processed her remark. "You'll do no such thing. You just heard him say that he doesn't like needles, we'll respect that, thank you very much."

Hermione seemed as though she were going to argue, but a glare from Harry stopped her in her tracks. Shaking her head, she twisted on the edge of the desk and swiped the sandwich that Fleur had deposited and shoved it at Harry. "Your levels are rising, eat this and I'll check again once you're done." She ordered, ignoring Harry's protests that he was feeling well enough to test his own levels, and she slid off the desk, beckoning Draco toward Harry's side of the desk.

Draco felt his stomach turn as he made his way forward. He knew that if she showed him a needle he'd likely pass out, and for some reason he got the impression that Hermione would get some sadistic sort of pleasure from that.

"This is Harry's 'snack' drawer. It's usually filled with a bunch of diabetic friendly food, however because you were unaware of his condition his supplies are depleted." She said indicating the deep bottom drawer of the desk. Harry seemed to be chewing on his bottom lip with irritation, and he looked up and shook his head at Draco as though telling him to ignore her.

"This drawer-" She announced, pulling open the one above the snack drawer "-is where the blood monitor is kept, the emergency glucagon shots, and usually a bunch of glucose tablets. There is also a spare infusion set for the insulin pump and a spare insulin pen in case his pump was to fail. The insulin is kept in the drawer at the bottom of the fridge in the staff lounge."

Draco nodded, keeping is eyes firmly away from the ominous looking box that most definitely contained a syringe, and mentally noted to get Harry's snack drawer filled as soon as possible.

"Are you quite done? Or would you like me to call a nurse in so she can come and tutor him?" Harry sniped at Hermione's back, self-consciously chewing his sandwich behind his hand.

Hermione rolled her eyes without turning around, and shook her head wearily. Draco suppressed the urge to sneer at her. Anyone would think it was her that had the condition, not Harry. "Are you clear on everything so far? I know it's daunting, but the more people that know, the less likely this sort of situation will happen. I have a bunch of information on diabetes in my office if you'd like to -" She asked, only to be cut off by Harry.

"Hermione, enough. Give the guy a break." He ordered. He was growing more tired of her as the seconds wore on, and he could tell that Draco was feeling out of his depth. His expression was enough to tell anyone that, he looked as though he wanted to be sick.

Draco glanced at Harry and then to Hermione, and when he spoke he surprised Harry by how controlled his voice was. "I'm clear on everything. I'll have the drawer filled by the end of lunch, and I'll make sure the glucose tablets are replaced."

Harry felt his eyebrows shoot up, and he was sure Hermione's expression mirrored his own. Draco, although obviously afraid of needles, seemed quite at ease with the entire situation, and Harry felt a bubble of unwelcome hope appear in his stomach. Draco really was like a book that, with the more time Harry spent reading, the more he uncovered about his character.

"Right, good." Hermione breathed, a small frown on her face. "Harry, of course, won't be here this afternoon. He's going home, can you make sure that his appointments are distributed by Fleur." she ordered, before turning to cut off Harry's protests. "Go home. Draco, take him home please. Make sure he stays there, and that he takes no work with him-" She said with a stern glance at Draco, whose eyes widened slightly. Take Harry home? Done, and done!

"Hermione, my levels are rising, I have no need to go home." Harry protested, scowling at his friend. How dare she order Draco to take him home! What if he didn't want Draco at his place…well, he did, but it should be his decision. He hadn't even made his bed this morning. Wonderful!

"And make sure he eats, because he obviously didn't eat this morning." The bushy haired woman continued, completely ignoring Harry.

"Erm…Harry?" Draco asked gently, watching as Harry's face became a shade brighter than it had been before. "What…?" He wasn't sure whether he should follow Hermione's instructions or not, he had a feeling that Harry wouldn't leave without a fight.

With an exasperated sigh, Harry stabbed his finger with his puncture pen and pressed the droplets of blood against a small tab before thrusting into its testing device. He looked thoroughly annoyed by being told what to do, and seemed to be trying to ignore the other two that were in the room. A small beeping noise sounded, and Harry unconsciously pressed a button on the pager like pump that was now sitting on the desk beside his sandwich. It was obviously a motion he had carried out a hundred times before, and Draco was struck by the simplicity of the gesture.

That one press of a button had just saved Harry's life. O.K, maybe that was stretching it a little, Draco thought. But it was kind of true. If Harry hadn't just reached across and pressed the button, releasing a chemical that he depended on, then he could possibly, if left long enough, die.

Draco couldn't help but watch in awe. Yes, he knew about diabetes, had read up on it, knew the theory of it, but seeing it in action was more than a little daunting. He wondered how Harry had managed to keep it such a secret from him.

"You'd better do as she says, she'll only send in the cavalry and I really can't be doing with Ron at the moment." Harry groaned, sending a smug Hermione the dirtiest of looks. "I'll meet you by my car once Hermione has stopped giving me the third degree, so I'll be about 10 minutes." He added, shoving his pump in his pocket and pushing his chair back, causing Hermione to have to jump out of the way or be crushed against the window behind Harry's seat.

With a small smile that he was sure only Draco could see, Harry slowly stood as though testing his balance. "Well, look at that, I can walk - it must be a miracle." He said, rolling his eyes, and smiling slightly wider when Draco pressed his lips together to stop from laughing.

"Hallelujah" The blonde quipped and Harry couldn't help the laugh that burst from him as he processed Draco's remark. "I'll make sure Fleur knows what's going on." Draco added, backing out of the office.

"Let her know that she's working for a regular little Florence Nightingale. Hermione's next mission is to solve global warming; she's very excited about it." Harry smirked, ignoring the glare that was being directed at him from a bushy haired Hermione.

"I will do." Draco laughed, and left Harry to an irate looking Hermione.

In 10 minutes he'd be taking Harry home…the day was certainly looking up.

To Be Continued…

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. I love you all x

A/N: Another reason this chapter took so long was because of the whole diabetes storyline (Harry was originally only going to collapse with exhaustion. How these things snowball…). Anyway, when I do something like this, I research the hell out of it which takes a heap of time. I'm sorry if it's not accurate.