Hermione ran out of the great hall trying hard to keep up with Blaise who was very clearly trying to get away from her.
"Blaise, wait up a moment." She shouted as she tried in vain to catch up with the Slytherin.
"Sorry Hermione, can't talk at the moment." He replied mindlessly over his shoulder.
"Cant or wont?" she stopped running and stood in the corridor pouting. Blaise stopped and turned around to look at her.
"Hermione, I have something I need to do. Can we talk later?" Hermione wasn't stupid; she could see the nervous look Blaise had in his eyes.
"No, we can talk now. You know something Blaise, and if you don't tell me what it is right now I swear to god I will bind you to the quidditch goals in nothing but your underpants." She scowled at him hard. "You have been avoiding me all morning and I don't like it one bit." Blaise sighed loudly, his nervous expression turning sad.
"Hermione, please listen to me. I can't tell you what I know. I just can't." Hermione grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the side.
"You will tell me now Blaise Zabini." Hermione softened her glare when she noticed just how upset Blaise looked.
"Fine, I will tell you. But please listen carefully Hermione, and please don't judge me."
It was the night the Gryffindor tower was broken into and Blaise and Pansy were sat in the Slytherin common room going over their plan once more. Or rather, their fathers plan. Mr Zabini and Mr Parkinson had got it into their heads that Harry Potter needed to be destroyed. They couldn't care less who did it, or how it was done, as long as he was not alive anymore. This is where Blaise and Pansy come into their wicked plan. Blaise wasn't stupid; he knew full well that the dark lord wouldn't be pleased to know someone had killed Harry and had not let him do it himself. But his father didn't care one bit. He thought he would easily be forgiven. Blaise on the other hand, had no intention of stepping on the dark lord toes.
Blaise and Pansy's fathers had found a spell that they believed would easily kill Harry Potter; they just needed someone to cast it. They had both hoped that Harry would bond to someone who couldn't love him, and then he would be no more.
The two men had made it perfectly clear that it was Blaise who had to cast it. Pansy's father wasn't comfortable with it being Pansy, and Blaise's father was adamant that it must be Blaise. He had made it perfectly clear that if Pansy did it, then they would both suffer consequences. They were also kindly informed that if they did not do as they were told, then they would be in serious trouble. To put it simply, Blaise was terrified of both the fathers and he didn't want to do anything to anger them. But the thought of doing something so stupid and downright horrid, made him feel sick. He had obviously told his father that he would do it once he was back at Hogwarts and Pansy was told that she had to go with him to make sure everything went smoothly. Blaise thought that if he just told them that he was going to do it, then they would back off. Then once he was back at Hogwarts, he would just forget it and not bother to cast the curse. He would deal with his father when he goes home. That plan went down the drain as Pansy was always on his case about it.
Therefore that brings us to the two Slytherins' now, sat in the common room going over the plan once more. Blaise was listening to Pansy drone on and on about how they had to do it or they would be in trouble. Blaise wasn't really listening and to be honest, he was just thinking of ways to break the news to the stupid bitch that he was NOT going to cast the stupid spell on Harry.
"Blaise, you have to do this. If we don't do this then our necks are going to be on the line. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want an ear bashing and an unforgivable curse from my father. Now grow a pair." Blaise looked at her outraged. Sure, he did not want to be on the wrong side of his father if he failed this, but he was having a very hard time coming to terms with what he had been asked to do.
He nodded once and followed Pansy out of the common room.
Once he was stood outside the Gryffindor common room, his stomach clenched tight and he could feel himself shaking.
"I can't do this Pansy; I don't care about my father anymore. I will not do this." Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Do not be so ridiculous Blaise, get in there now." Pansy lifted her wand high just in case it was needed for protection and spoke the password that she had got of Longbottom earlier that morning.
Once the pair were inside the common room, Blaise and Pansy walked carefully up the stone steps and entered Harry's dorm room.
"Right, now you know what you have to do Blaise, now hurry up so we can get out of here." Blaise shook his head hard. Pansy was stood by the open door, every so often looking out to make sure the coast was clear.
"No. I am not going to do this. I will not do it." Blaise was almost in tears, but he held them back. No way was he going to let Pansy see him cry.
"Don't be ridiculous." She hissed. "Get on with it now." She turned her attention back outside the door.
"Did you not hear me Pansy? I said I am not going to do it." Pansy snapped her head round and glared at him hard.
"Blaise, stop being a fucking stupid Gryffindor and cast the bloody spell already." Blaise shook his head again.
"Merlin Blaise." She marched up to him and smacked him round the face. "Fine. I will do it."
"No, Pansy please. Don't hurt him." Pansy held her wand high. Blaise went to knock it out of her hand but it was too late. A bright red light was coming out of the end of Pansy's wand and was making its way over to Harry. It curled around him a few times before disappearing into nothing. Blaise knew the curse had been set.
"Pansy, you idiot. How could you do that to someone? You heartless bitch!" He snapped. Pansy looked horrified.
"Shut up Blaise. He deserves it." Blaise shook his head hard. What had she done? "Listen, we will tell our parents that you did it, and that everything went to plan ok? If your father finds out it was me who cast it, you would be dead meat, not to mention me too. Your father would probably have me for dinner." She turned around sharply. "Now come on. We act as if nothing has happened ok?"
Blaise and Pansy made their way back down the stone steps to the common room. Pansy smiled a wicked grin as she looked around the room.
"Let's have some fun before we leave." Before Blaise could stop her, she was pulling things of shelves and making a right mess.
"Pansy, stop it. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you even all there in the head?" he glared at the dark haired witch. "Come on. Let's get out of here." He grabbed pansy by the arm and pulled her out of the portrait hole.
It was at that moment that Blaise knew he was going to try everything in his power to help Harry out.
Hermione gasped loudly.
"Blaise." She whimpered. Hermione could feel tears forming in her eyes. She couldn't believe it. "You had something to do with it the whole time?" Hermione was furious. "You wanted to harm Harry, and the only reason you didn't is because you chickened out at the last minute."
Blaise gasped loudly and he felt his stomach turn. He knew Hermione wouldn't understand.
"I didn't want to hurt Harry I swear Hermione. That is why I didn't do it. I had no intention of doing it at all. I just didn't know how to stop it. I just thought that once me and Pansy were back at Hogwarts, I could just forget it and never do it. Then I would deal with my father later. But Pansy was so demanding and I kept getting owls from my father." Blaise could feel tears in his eyes. He was a coward; he should have said no right from the start.
Hermione clenched her fist at her side. "I can't believe I even trusted you Blaise. You are probably lying to me." tears were streaming down her face. She felt like such an idiot. "All this time you have been pretending to help me when really, you couldn't care less." That wasn't all that had upset Hermione. She really liked Blaise, and the thought that he didn't really like her upset her so much.
"Hermione, I am NOT lying. I am trying to help. I have been on Pansy's case trying to get her to get rid of the spell but she won't. She is too scared." He paused for a moment. "I have been trying to find a way to get rid of the spell without putting me and Pansy in danger with our fathers. I know that is selfish." Blaise felt ashamed, but he was truly terrified of what might happen to them. Not that he cared about Pansy, she was a bitch. But he didn't want to see her receive the punishment they were sure to get.
"Why should I believe you Blaise?" Hermione wiped her eyes quickly.
"Because I care about Harry, and Draco." He paused for a moment. "And you." Hermione was starting to believe Blaise. It did make sense. She just couldn't help but be hurt that Blaise had lied to her all along. Why didn't he just confess right from the start? Hermione had to admit that she wouldn't know what to do if she was put in Blaise's situation. She would have been petrified. Oh god, she thought. Now she started to sympathise with Blaise. She truly cared about Blaise and the thought of him being in danger made her stomach clench.
"Why did they pick that spell to kill him?" She asked quietly. She had always wanted to know that from the moment she found out about it.
"Because they are evil bastards." Blaise shouted angrily. "They wanted something that would kill him slowly; they wanted him to know he was going to die. Of course they knew that it might not work and the person he bonds with might actually love him, but they were desperately hoping that he would bond to someone he hates and doesn't love. Which happened." He sighed heavily. "Well, they obviously don't hate each other quite so much now." He smiled slightly and he felt his anger slip away. "Not that I think they ever did. I just think they both angered each other a lot." Blaise stopped and coughed slightly when he realised he was getting off track.
"Oh Blaise, what are we going to do? If we can convince Pansy to dissolve the spell then that is putting you in danger with your father as he would be rather annoyed about Pansy getting rid of the bond. You would be in so much danger. But if we don't, then Harry might die." Hermione had never felt her heart hurt so much. She knew she hadn't known Blaise for very long, but she knew that she liked him very much, and the thought of putting him in danger was very troubling. She gasped loudly again. "Blaise, we announced yesterday that you were helping. What if your father finds out?" she started to panic.
"It's ok Hermione. I have already worked out what I will say if that is the case. I will tell him I am working close by you to stop you from working it out." He ran his hand through his hair roughly. "How are we going to convince her to get rid of the spell? She is too selfish. It will put her in danger so she isn't going to do it." Hermione sighed loudly.
"We will think of something."
"Hermione, I do not expect you to keep this a secret. Go to Dumbledore and tell him everything. You have to. You have to do it for Harry. Don't worry about me." Hermione could feel the tears pricking in her eyes again. She had just managed to stop herself from crying after hearing Blaise talk about how he thought Harry and Draco never really hated each other. Oh, she thought. I have an idea.
"Blaise. I am not going to do that. That is putting you in danger. We just have to come up with a plan, and I think I have just the thing." she leaned closer to Blaise.
"What if we just give Draco and Harry a gentle shove in the right direction?" Blaise stared at her blankly. "Harry told me he wants Draco, Draco told you he wants Harry. Personally, I believe the solution is staring us right in the face. Pansy and you won't get in trouble with your father because you can't help it if they fall in love as that is out of your control. Harry and Draco fall in love and stop being the stupid pair of fools that they are, so it benefits them as well. Simple solution." Hermione blushed slightly. "Oh, and I apologise for intruding in on your conversation. I am just a good lip reader and when you asked him if he wanted Harry, I just couldn't look away. " She smiled wickedly.
"It does seem like a good plan." Mused Blaise. "But they are both stubborn people. This will be hard to do."
"You insult me Blaise." Hermione grinned. "And yourself. We will bring them together Blaise."
"What happens if they don't fall in love? What happens if Harry…if he…well you know. What if that happens and this whole time we knew it was Pansy." Hermione was still smiling.
"If they don't fall in love within a couple of months, then we will re-think our plan. Trust me Blaise, they will fall in love. They already like each other, and with us pushing them together at every opportunity, they will have to."
"You have a very Slytherin type of mind Hermione Granger. I like it." He smiled. Hermione blushed.
"We will cross the bridge of trying to convince Pansy to break the bond if we come to it. We will also sort out you being in trouble with your father if we have to. But it won't come to that." She looked around the corridor and laughed. She noticed all the students stumbling around and she realised she was meant to be interrogating them about the incident. "We will have to make it look like we are still looking for to culprit though. So I am very sorry, but we will still have to meet up."
"Hermione Granger. You say that as if I don't enjoy spending my time with you?"
"Well don't you? I am an annoying Gryffindor and part of the golden trio, as you and Draco so kindly call it." Blaise laughed.
"Draco calls it that, and only out of jealousy. He wanted to be part of it. And I do enjoy spending my time with you Hermione. Anyway, we will have to keep meeting up to come up with some more lovely plans to bring together two very stubborn people."
"Mm…I believe it will be a bit of a struggle, and quite frustrating at times, but we can do it."
Blaise lunged forward and engulfed Hermione in a hug.
"Thank you." he said quietly. "I'm so sorry about all of this. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her. I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm so sorry. Am I forgiven?" he asked hopefully.
"It is quite alright Blaise. You are certainly forgiven." They both pulled away and Hermione smiled at him. "I am not exactly going to go around shouting and demanding for Pansy to sort this mess out. It will get you hurt, and would mean that Harry and Draco would go back to how they normally would be. They might want to stay friends, but they wouldn't. We both know that. They would be too stubborn to tell each other they want to stay friends. Personally I think waiting for them to fall in love is a much better option than forcing them apart."
"It would also mean that we wouldn't have any excuse to meet up, and we would have to admit to each other that we are friends." Hermione blushed again. Oh merlin Blaise, she thought.
"Well, you are my friend weather you like it or not." She tried to hide her blushing face but was failing terribly. "Now come on. Let's go back into the great hall. I know you haven't finished your breakfast and only left because I came in." she put a hand on his shoulder. "And if you ever ignore me like that again, I will hex you." Blaise laughed happily.
Hermione sighed as she tried to digest all the information she had just been given. Instead of being angry with Blaise, she should have been thankful. He wasn't going to curse Harry, and he did try to stop Pansy, even if he didn't quite manage it. She smiled to herself when she thought about her new friend. She defiantly liked Blaise.
"As you wish." He let himself be led back into the Great hall. For once in his sorry little life, Blaise felt happy. Things were going to work out ok. He could stop feeling guilty about being a failure, and not being able to stop Pansy. He could finally feel happy and enjoy his new friends.
Hermione and Blaise walked back into the Great Hall and Hermione plonked back down in her seat.
"So come on then Hermione. What was that about?" Harry lifted his eyebrow. Hermione picked up her pumpkin juice.
"Nothing." She smirked over her cup.
"I don't like that look." Announced Ron as he studied her face. "What were you doing with Blaise?" he asked.
"Oh Ronald. Mind your own business. We were talking about Harry and Draco if you must know." Harry laughed.
"Of course you were. So why do you look so happy?" Harry knew very well what that look meant in her eye. She had planned something. "What the hell have you done?" he scowled.
"Harry stop worrying. I haven't done anything." She glanced around the room looking for something, anything, to change the subject to. She found what she was looking for. "Oh goodness, Ron doesn't lavender look lovely this morning?" she smirked when Ron blushed. He sighed pleasantly.
"Oh doesn't she just." Hermione laughed slightly. Thank goodness for the subject change.
"I thought you were leaving." Mumbled Draco as Blaise plonked down next to him.
"Well, I decided to come back. Is that a problem?" Draco glared at him.
"Yes, it is when you have just got back from talking to Granger. You wanted to leave, and then decided to come back after talking to Granger. Forgive me for instantly jumping to the conclusion you and her are clearly planning something." Blaise patted him on the back.
"Draco, relax." He picked up his cup of pumpkin juice and drank. "Now tell me, where on earth did you and Harry go this morning?" he asked curiously.
"To his aunt and uncle's." Draco shrugged casually. Blaise nearly choked on his drink.
"Excuse me?" he set his cup down and started at Draco in disbelief. "You mean you went and introduced yourself to his family?" Draco tensed.
"They are NOT his family. They are disgusting human beings. I went so that I could tell them that. I just made it perfectly clear that if they do anything to Harry again, they would seriously regret it." Blaise was utterly confused.
"Why would they do anything to him?" Draco knew he had said too much. Harry had trusted him with the information about his neglect; he shouldn't really pass it on. He sighed.
"Oh nothing." He waved his hand aimlessly.
"Well I wish you would have told me. I would have come too. Two scary Slytherins would have been better than one." He smirked to himself. Plus, he was now feeling a bit angry at the thought of someone being cruel to Harry. He would have quite liked to give them a piece of his mind.
"Don't tell anyone about it though." Draco knew he could trust Blaise not to say anything.
"No, of course not." He smiled.
Maybe this pulling them closer thing wasn't going to be so hard. Draco really did care about Harry. He went and threatened his relatives for merlin sake. Blaise was so oblivious to this the whole time. All those years he thought Draco had meant every nasty thing he had done to Harry. But now Blaise could see that he was just hurt and rejected and reacted in the only way he knew how. He just acted like it hadn't bothered him, and that he didn't care if Harry had rejected him. That he didn't care if Harry didn't like him. He would just act like he didn't like him. Blaise had realised that all of those over the top things Draco did was just because he went a bit over board and was trying far too hard to make it look like he hated Harry. Blaise knew every day that the rejection had hurt him, but he thought it was just because of pride. Not for one minute did he think it was because he actually wanted to be his friend. Now it all made perfect sense. The reason Draco Malfoy had been so hostile with Harry Potter was because he was trying so desperately to hide the fact he just wanted to be his friend and was hurt.
"Oh Draco." He whispered softly. "You are stupid." He smiled.
"Where did that come from?" Draco scowled.
"You idiot. Why did you give up on Harry all those years ago you stupid prat." He laughed to himself. "Instead of moping around trying to pretend you hated Harry because you were hurt. You should have marched up to Harry and change his opinion on you. You should have shown him the Draco I know and like. The kind Draco who cares about his friends. Why did you just give up?" Blaise could see that Draco looked sad and hurt.
"I-I…he was safer not being my friend." He whispered quietly. "Being my friend would have done more damage than good. I had to give up for his own safety. My father would have used the friendship against him, and me being the pathetic idiot I am, would have no choice but to obey my father." Blaise watched his friend closely. All this time and he hadn't even noticed. He felt like a bad friend.
"Oh Draco. I'm sorry." Draco smiled.
"Don't be. I learned to live with it. Just admired him from afar." He smirked slightly and went back to his breakfast.
Now Blaise really was sure this was going to be easier than he thought.
The next morning Harry was lying in bed, with no other thoughts on his mind, than those of Draco Malfoy. He just wanted to jump out of bed instantly and go to Draco. He wanted to talk to him, and just be near him. He still couldn't believe how protective Draco was over him, and his heart melted every time he thought about it. He was trying so hard to resist the urge to talk to Draco telepathically. He had been on the verge of talking to him on about 6 different occasions already, and he had only been up no more than 5 minutes.
On the other side of the castle in the Slytherin dungeons, Draco Malfoy was having a very similar problem. Draco just wanted to be with Harry. He too was trying very hard to resist talking to Harry. He didn't want to look too keen. Oh stuff it; he was going to talk to Harry. He could not wait a second longer.
'Harry.' he decided not to say too much. He didn't want to wake him up if he was asleep. Draco instantly felt the excitement and relief pour into him from Harry. Draco smiled slightly at the thought of Harry laying in his bed wanting to talk to him as much as Draco wanted to talk to him.
'Draco.' Draco could hear that Harry was trying hard not to sound too overly keen, but he could feel Harry's emotions just as good as his own.
'You awake?' Draco wasn't sure why he asked such a stupid question. Of course Harry was awake.
'No. I'm talking in my sleep. Merlin, you are stupid Draco.' Draco smiled widely; despite the fact Harry had just called him stupid.
'Well sorry for checking you were awake before bombarding you with my worried questions.'
'Questions?' Harry asked confused.
'Yes, like; Are you ok? Did you sleep ok? Did you have any bad dreams? Are you feeling tired? Do you need me to come and help you? Did anyone try and hurt you again? Is Ron driving you mad? Do you need me to come and help you out of bed like the defenceless little Gryffindor you are? Is there…'
'Yes ok. I get the idea.' Harry interrupted. He laughed lightly.
'Well? Are you going to answer my questions Harry?' Draco couldn't help worrying. It was the stupid bond. He did not want to worry about Harry, but he just did. Ok so maybe it wasn't the bond, but it made Draco feel better to blame it.
'Draco I'm fine. Although I am feeling rather more tired than usual.' Draco clutched at his bed covers worriedly. He sat up quickly and pushed himself out of bed.
'Right, ok. I'm coming as quick as I can.' He spelled some clothes on and headed for the door.
'Draco. Don't be stupid.' Laughed Harry. 'You don't need to rush. I will just meet you outside the great Hall ok?' Draco smiled as he realised he was being stupid. Although the thought of Harry being tired and he wasn't there to help him did make his stomach clench.
'Ok. See you there.'
Draco wasn't rushing; he was just simply not taking his time. He wondered through the castle scuffing his feet on the floor, hands in pockets and whistling a little tune. He turned the last corner and found himself stood outside the Great hall.
Harry on the other hand, WAS rushing. When he finally decided to get out of bed, after talking to Draco, he realised just how tired he was. It was terrible. He could hardly even stand. He tried to tell himself not to panic, that he would be with Draco before long and everything would be ok. But he couldn't help thinking something was wrong. He found it hard to rush around Hogwarts due to his fatigue, but he knew he needed to get to Draco quick. Running slightly, Harry turned the corner in the hall and saw Draco stood leaning against the wall. Picking up his pace a bit, Harry ran to Draco and smacked into him hard, hugging him like he had never hugged anyone before. He had wrapped his hands around Draco's waist and rested his check on Draco's chest. Harry was sure that Draco would make a sarcastic comment and push him away, but he didn't. He just wrapped his arms around Harry and rested his check on the top of Harry's head.
Harry thought he would only have to do it for a few minutes to get his energy back. His brow knitted in confusion as he couldn't feel any energy running through him like he usually did when he touched Draco. They stood in that position for a good 10 minutes not even saying a word. Harry knew he was not going to gain any energy from Draco. He was still just so tired.
"Harry, is everything ok?" Draco asked worriedly. Harry didn't want to worry him anymore. He pulled away quickly and straightened himself out.
"Yeah I'm fine. I regained my energy almost straight away. I just liked hugging you." he lied. Draco looked at him with concerned eyes, Harry was sure he wouldn't believe him. But then, Draco smirked.
"Good. It was rather nice." Draco's smile soon faded. "You are not lying to me are you Harry? You are not just saying you have regained energy because you are a stupid noble Gryffindor and you don't want to worry me?" Harry clutched at the hem of his robes nervously.
"No, I am not lying. I am fine. Come on, let's go and get some breakfast." Harry knew he hadn't convinced Draco, because he was still gazing at him concerned. Draco nodded slightly and followed Harry through into the great hall.
Draco knew that Harry was hiding something. The way he held on to Draco almost desperately, had Draco worrying. He hoped he was worrying over nothing, and that Harry was fine. As they walked into the great Hall on a rainy Monday morning, Draco noticed that not many students were there yet. Harry and Draco had kept waking up early, just simply because they couldn't be without each other for long. When Harry started to walk towards his own table, Draco panicked. He grabbed Harry's arm quickly.
"Wait." He protested. The thought of Harry sitting over on his own table with his two best friends sent a very familiar emotion through Draco. Jealousy. He had on many occasions just wanted to go and sit and join in on their stupid conversations, but knew he would not have been welcomed. And that was entirely his own fault. If he wasn't such an arse then he could have been friends with them all. "I don't want to sit without you." He blushed instantly. Now he was looking like some sort of needy husband. Harry smiled at him warmly.
"Draco, I don't want to sit without you either, but we have to." He whispered quietly. The small amount of students that were there started to look at them oddly. "We don't want people to find out." Draco didn't really care anymore if people found out. Sure, his father would be annoyed but he really couldn't care less.
"I don't care if they find out, I don't care if they all go and tell my father. I don't care." All he wanted was to sit with Harry and his friends. Was that too much to ask?
"Well I do care." Draco suddenly felt gutted. His face fell. He didn't think that Harry would have been embarrassed of him, ashamed of him. "No, no Draco. I didn't mean it like that." Harry had obviously noticed the expression on Draco's face. "I mean I care if your father finds out. I don't want you to get hurt." Relief washed over Draco. He smiled.
"Fine. Why do you have to be such a bloody Gryffindor Harry?" he sighed heavily and let go of Harry's arm. Harry just smirked at him.
Harry felt warm all over as he walked to his table. Despite the fact that he felt like he was going to fall over any second, Harry was happy. He really did like this possessive Draco that he found himself bonded too.
He plonked down next to Hermione, opposite Ron.
"Morning mate. How is married life?" He joked. Harry scowled at him. Hermione snorted next to him, before smacking her hand over her mouth to stop herself. He directed his scowl towards her.
"Joke all you like Ron but it is far from funny." He felt his lips twitch until his mouth crafted a perfect smile. "Ok, maybe a little bit."
"Ok, all joking aside Harry, how are you and Draco actually getting on?" Asked Hermione as she searched his face for the answer. She needed to know how hard it was going to be to get them together. She knew they had kissed. She remembered from the conversations she was shamelessly intruding on.
"How do you mean?" Harry felt a wave of tiredness wash over him. This was getting worse. He tried not to make it obvious, but Ron had clearly noticed and gave him an odd look, but said nothing.
"I mean, like are you acting as friends now? Or are you still arguing over stupid things?" Harry smiled. They certainly were not arguing over stupid things.
"Oh, we are friends. I think. We don't argue anymore." He looked up from Hermione and directed his gaze at Ron. He was still looking at him oddly.
"Ron, why are you looking at Harry like that?" Hermione asked out of interest.
"Why? Well just look at him Hermione. He is tired." Hermione gasped.
"Merlin. Now you mention it Ron, he does look awfully tired." Harry groaned loudly.
"Guys, I am still here you know." Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and forced him to look at her.
"Harry, have you touched Draco this morning?" she asked seriously.
"Yes I have, and I'm perfectly fine thank you." Another wave of tiredness swept over him and he was finding it very difficult indeed to keep himself from falling head first into his breakfast.
He felt himself sway slightly, left to right. His eyes slid shut, and his head plonked down hard onto the table.
"Harry!" shrieked Hermione.
Draco heard his husband's name being shrieked by none other than Hermione Granger. Draco was talking to Blaise at the time, and Blaise had fixed a worried glance on him before he turned to see what was going on. Draco did the same and fixed his eyes on Harry with his head in his breakfast.
"Oh god." He whispered. He wanted to jump up at once. In fact, he did. But a firm hand found its way to his arm and yanked him back down. He looked down at his arm, and then followed the hand up to look at its owner. "Blaise." He said desperately.
"I know, I know. Just sit tight. Please. You just cannot go running over there Draco." Draco felt his stomach clench as he looked back over to find Hermione and Ron panicking around a collapsed Harry. He didn't know what to do. He wanted so desperately to go over to Harry and help him, but he knew instantly how that would look. He just didn't care. He really didn't.
"I don't care Blaise. Just please let me go." He struggled against Blaise's firm grip. "Now!" he almost shouted. Blaise was having none of it.
"You might not care about your own safety Draco, but I do." he held on tighter. Blaise knew that this was going to do nothing, if he didn't think of something quick, then Draco would be over there quicker than he could say stop. He had to change tactics. "Think about Harry's safety Draco. Your father finding out wouldn't just put you in danger." That did it. Draco calmed instantly. Blaise could see the painful look in Draco's eyes. It was the same look he had every time he found out that Harry could be in danger. Every year when Harry did his hero act and put himself in danger, Draco would be beside himself with worry. He hid it well, so Blaise wasn't ever sure if he really was worried all that time. But now looking at Draco, Blaise knew instantly that he had worried all those years. It was the same horrified look.
"Listen to me Draco. I will go over and check everything is ok. But I can't do that if you don't promise me you will stay here." Draco looked at Blaise.
"I promise I will stay here." If Draco couldn't go over and see him, then he was pleased that Blaise could.
"Good. Now stay here. I will be back in a minute." He patted Draco on the back and made his way over to the Gryffindor table.
"Harry. Harry come on, wake up." Cried Hermione as she shook Harry violently. She looked around frantically. No one was coming to help her and Ron. Everyone was just sat watching. Finally her eyes meet Blaise as he practically ran over.
"What is going on?" he asked frantically.
"I don't know. He just looked really tired, and then he collapsed." She looked over and saw that Draco was sat looking over worriedly, biting on his lip hard. "Why isn't he coming over?" she whispered into Blaise's ear quietly.
"Because that would look strange. But trust me Hermione; he is beside himself with worry. I had to practically pin him down. Now come on Ron. Help me carry him to the hospital wing."
Ron and Blaise struggled with Harry in their arms as they carried him to the hospital wing. Hermione had given Draco a small understanding nod before following them out of the great hall.
Once they were in the hospital ward, Blaise and Ron put Harry carefully down in one of the hospital beds.
"I'm going to go and get Draco." Blaise announced as he made his way out.
Madam Pomfrey was faffing around Harry, making him comfortable in the bed and waving her wand around him humming every so often.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Oh it's nothing serious." Smiled Madam Pomfrey. "It is just Harry's body reacting to him being tired all the time." she tucked Harry in and faced Hermione. "He should wake up within a few days, and then he will be back to normal. Well, as normal as he was. Draco will still have to touch him. He just needs to catch up on some sleep. He might even possibly wake up tonight. You know how stubborn he is." Hermione nodded. "I trust he is safe here with you." she looked around as if she was searching for someone. "Where on earth is Draco? Does he not even care?" she asked disappointed.
"Oh no. He does care. He was very worried. He is now on his way over." Madam Pomfrey nodded once before going back into her office.
Hermione and Ron sat in the chairs that had been placed next to Harry's bed. Harry started to stir slightly. Hermione jumped up out of the chair and held Harry's hand.
"Where-" he said quietly, as his eyes opened slightly. "Where is Draco?" he groaned. Hermione smiled to herself. The thought that Harry wanted Draco warmed her heart.
"He is coming Harry. He will be here any minute." Harry's eyes instantly closed again and he was back in his deep sleep.
Hermione settled herself back into her seat, just as Draco and Blaise had entered the hospital wing.
"Is ok?" He asked frantically. He rushed instantly over to Harry's side.
"He is fine. He is just a bit tired. Madam Pomfrey said he will wake up within a few days. Possibly, he could wake up by tonight. He woke up for a few minutes just now, but I reckon that will be the last time until a few days." She smiled at Draco. "He woke up for about a minute. He just asked where you were, waited for the answer and went straight back to sleep." Hermione could tell that had affected Draco. Draco's face softened and he looked like he wanted to pounce on Harry. "I will leave you too It." she added. She glanced a knowing look at Ron and Blaise. They both nodded and followed her out.
Now that it was just Harry and Draco in the hospital wing, Draco didn't care about his actions. He climbed into the bed next to Harry and laid down next to him. He grabbed hold of Harry's hand and held it tight. He knew that he was tired; he knew that he wasn't able to give Harry energy. He knew that Harry was being his stupid noble self and only said that to stop him worrying.
"And you called me stupid." He mumbled under his breath, mainly to himself than Harry. He hoped Harry would wake up. Draco was worried sick. He knew everyone had said Harry was ok, but Draco couldn't help but worry. Here he was lying helplessly in a hospital bed, how could he not worry? "Wake up whenever you feel like it potter. It's not like I'm here worrying about you or anything." He let go of Harry's hand reluctantly. He lifted Harry up slightly and slid his arm underneath him and pulled him close.
Draco had laid there for quite some time before madam Pomfrey had left her office. She wondered over to the bed to check on her sleeping patient and was pleasantly surprised to see Draco lying next to him, holding Harry very closely. She smiled widely.
"O-Oh sorry." Mumbled Draco quickly as he tried to get up. "I was-"
"It is quite alright Draco. Lay back down. It does not bother me." she shuffled closer as she observed Harry. "I trust Hermione told you what was wrong with him?" she said as she sat down in the chair Hermione had sat in. Draco just nodded. "He will be perfectly fine Draco. There is no need to worry. Which I know you are doing. Although you would probably never admit it to anyone but Harry." Draco laughed quietly. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about you two anymore. I can clearly see things are going swimmingly between you to." She smirked to herself. "Are you going to actually take part in this conversation Draco or should I continue to have this conversation with a one of the stone walls?"
"Sorry. Yes, I believe me and Harry are making progress."
"Explain to me how you feel about Harry Draco." Madam Pomfrey wanted to know how far along they were, and how much longer it would take before they both fell in love. She knew it was a when not an if. She only had to look at the two now to know that it was going to happen.
"Well, I really like him." He lifted a finger and brushed it slowly over Harry's cheek. "I worry about him all the time and then worry about him roughly 100 times more when I'm not with him. I struggle to sleep at night because I am not with him to make sure he is ok. I then wake up at a ridiculous time just so I can be with him." He laughed slightly, as he pieced together everything he felt. "All in all, I think I am well on my way to achieving what we want here." He could not bring himself to say he was falling in love with Harry sodding Potter.
"Mm…it does sound rather promising." She mused. "Well, I have disturbed you for long enough. You should probably get a little bit of sleep before you have to go to your first lesson. I will wake you when it is time." Draco felt himself panic. He forgot that he needed to be in his lesson soon. He didn't want to leave Harry. Madam Pomfrey instantly noticed Draco panicking. "I'm sorry Draco, but you do have to go to your lessons. Harry will be perfectly fine here. You can come straight back whenever you are free." She smiled at him before disappearing back into her office.
Draco wanted to kiss Harry, right here, right now, right on those lovely lips of his. But he thought better of it. Instead he kissed him on the cheek softly. Draco knew that if anyone, including Harry, saw him like this, he would be mortified. He promised himself that he would tell no one about getting into bed with Harry bloody Potter and kissing him on the cheek. Not even Harry himself. He promised himself that when he gets out of the bed a little later on for lessons, he would not get back in it. He would just sit in one of those nice looking chairs by the bed and would not get in the bed and cuddle Harry Potter. Smiling to himself, Draco drifted off to sleep.