Pain came in longer spaced lapses as Malfoy slept. Every once in a while, the boy would whimper involuntarily and dig his nails into Potter's arm. The brunette tightened his grip on Draco. He too had fallen asleep to the warm crackle of the fire in Hagrid's sitting room. His long locks of brown hair flopped in front of his eyes, concealing his face. Bloody bandages and spilled disinfectant were sprawled about the room. Before he had dozed off, Potter cast a spell and redid Malfoy's bandages; yet small spots of blood were already forming on the clean white material.
The door slammed open, causing the weak Draco to stir slightly. In walked a loudly arguing couple, wrapped in thick cloaks and scarves.
"I told you Hermione! If I want to read, I have plenty of neglected textbooks lying around!"
"That doesn't mean you couldn't bother to help me find the earth-stone enchantment book I wanted instead of lazing about and falling asleep!" snapped the girl.
"Well if I had found the book, you would have made me read it!" the redhead retorted.
"I would not!"
"Oh yes you would!" Ron mimicked a high pitched girly voice, "Oooh Ron, you just have to see this stone! Ooh look this one is over a hundred years old! Ooooh-"
"They are a thousand years old thank you!" the blonde interjected, waving her curls about furiously. "You would have known that if you were paying atte-"
Both suddenly became aware of the dozing boys sprawled across Hagrid's chair.
"Erm, what is that?" Ron whispered to Hermione.
"I think its Harry and Malfoy," she whispered, her eyes wide.
"Naw! Two enemies, together…shirtless and all…" Ron shuddered.
"Look Ron!" Hermione punched him, "I think that Malfoy is injured."
"Ouch!" Ron rubbed his arm. "Why are we whispering anyways?" he asked quietly. "We were shouting just a minute ag-"
"Shh!" Hermione shushed him.
Harry's eyelids fluttered open. He yawned and stretched peacefully, then became aware of the two curious faces, pressed incredibly close to his own. "AAAAUGH!" he screamed.
"G'mornin mate," Ron smiled, still not moving his face out of Harry's personal bubble. "How was your erm, sleep?" He gestured meaningfully towards Malfoy, who was sleeping restlessly against his chest.
"Bloody hell Ron!" Harry growled, not taking his hint. "Move your watermelon head out of my face or I swear I'll-" Harry suddenly became aware that Hermione's face was also just inches from his. He turned angrily to her, "and you! Why the bloody hell did you have to spend five million hours at the library!" He glanced at the clock, "jeez Hermione! It's midnight!"
"Looks like you have some explaining of your own to do mate." Ron glanced meaningfully at the blonde fidgeting in his sleep on Harry's lap.
Harry took the hint. "Oh…Oh! Well this dumbass decided to go get himself attacked in the forest and I found him dying outside the hut…" he trailed off.
"Attacked in the forest?" Hermione queried.
"That doesn't explain why you," Ron pointed a shaky finger, "are sleeping half naked on a chair with your worst enemy!"
Draco gasped and cringed in his slumber. Harry unknowingly tightened his arms protectively around him. "I had to hold his stupid ass down because he was tossing and screaming like a pansy! The stupid bloke almost killed himself!" Harry cried defensively.
Ron said nothing as Hermione knelt down to inspect Malfoy's wounds. "This could only have been done by dark, dark magic." She shook her head, standing shakily.
"I really don't know what happened to him," Harry said quietly. "I just found him like this." He shifted out from under Malfoy, who twitched and clawed at his arm.
Ron remained silent, but eyed the claw marks running down his friend's arm worriedly.
Harry covered the boy with a blanket as Hermione came back with a clean washcloth. As the three exited the room, Hermione mumbled, "I hate that bastard, I really do, but seeing him like that…" she trailed off.
Harry turned to blow out the lamp, giving one last glance to the restless boy. He felt an odd pang in his chest, but quickly pushed it away and turned to leave.
A week passed. Draco lapsed in and out of consciousness. The three friends busied themselves with shopping trips and games, but Malfoy never seemed to leave Harry's mind. They had tried to feed him every time the Slytherin managed to regain consciousness, but the boy hardly ever managed to keep anything down. Draco was getting slimmer and weaker by the minute.
"C'mon Harry! Let's go!" Hermione called impatiently from the living room.
"You guys go ahead without me," Harry replied from the hallway.
"C'mon mate!" The tavern is accepting underage wizards today!" Ron yelled.
"But we are going just to hang out," Hermione eyed Ron distastefully. "Not to drink."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Ron grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door. "Harry we're leaving!"
Potter appeared in the kitchen doorway. Dark circles swam under his eyes. "You guys go ahead. I just have to check on some stuff." He glanced guiltily towards the bedroom Malfoy was staying in.
Hermione nodded. "Alright, looks like you could use some rest yourself," she eyed him seriously. "Come on Ron!" She tugged him towards the door, suddenly eager to leave.
"Woah, slow down," Ron griped. "I thought you said you didn't even want to go!"
Harry laughed halfheartedly and shut the door behind them. Stupid Malfoy, making me worry like this! Why am I even worried? Harry wondered, as he wandered into Malfoy's room. The sight made his chest ache. Draco had managed to weakly sit up; his skin was drawn tight across his pale, bony face. Harry quietly crossed the room as Draco's eyes followed him warily. Potter took the bowl of soup from Draco's bedside table and put a spoonful up to the boy's lips. The blonde ate slowly and unwillingly. Harry kept a waste bin close to the bed, but prayed the boy would be able to keep the food down. The smaller boy managed to finish the whole bowl and looked slightly more like the old Draco.
Harry noticed Malfoy's dirty, scraggly hair. His chest was beaded with sweat and smudged with dirt. Sighing, Harry knelt down and scooped the boy into his arms. Malfoy's sneer was hidden under his agonized expression. The brunette carried the boy into the bathroom, noticing to his displeasure that the Slytherin had grown even lighter.
Yeeeeehaw! Third chapter up and running! I'm on a roll! I think that I deserve a reward for such efforts *cough, cough, reviews!* Goodness, it seems as if a cold is coming on…could it be…the hideous and gruesome Bieber fever? Nah, I killed him years ago…
I really enjoyed this chapter, except the dialogue grammar/speech kinda kicked my keister. I really liked having Hermione and Ron in this chapter though, because they add some much needed comical relief. Please feel free to point out any errors or critique my work. It really does help me to become a better writer!
Please read/rate/review etc! It will inspire me to abandon homework and update my fanfiction a lot quicker (hooray for peer pressure!)