Chapter Fifteen

Something made Leo jerk out of a sound, dreamless sleep, and it turned out that that something was Harry Potter. Leo had somehow heard Harry's voice and it roused him from his unconsciousness into the not as desirable waking world.

"It'll be my fault if he doesn't recover." He heard Harry say gloomily. Leo shifted, wondering if Harry had finally snapped and started talking to himself. It wouldn't have surprised him; one can't be The Boy Who Lived without a few consequences, loss of sanity among them. Harry wasn't alone, though, much to Leo's distaste. Hermione Granger was with him, wringing her hands nervously as she watched Leo struggle to awaken.

"Look, Harry, he's waking up," she said, poking Harry on the arm. Harry started to attention, tearing his gaze away from the window. He smiled widely upon seeing Leo, glanced at Hermione, then toned down his joy. Hermione didn't notice, however. She had stood up and was making her way to Leo's bedside. "How are you feeling, Leopold?"

"I'm feeling lucky to have such a beautiful face to wake up to," Leo replied, charmingly. Hermione blushed horribly, giggling like a schoolgirl. Harry stood up and joined her at Leo's side.

"You should feel lucky that Ron isn't here to hear you say that," Harry pointed out, sternly. Hermione blushed again, clearing her throat and Harry laughed, seeing her discomfort.

"You always know how to kill a mood, Potter," Leo said, trying to sit up. He winced and both Harry and Hermione reached for his shoulder to keep him down. Harry caught himself in mid action, though, and snatched his hand away, leaving Hermione to gently tuck Leo back in.

"Cho said your wounds are still partially open and you shouldn't try to move too much," Hermione said, adjusting his bed for him so he didn't have to exert himself.

"What did I do to deserve such fantastic treatment from someone I don't even know?" Leo asked, grinning at Hermione. She grinned back, fluffing his pillows. If this was all it took to get women to pay attention to him, Leo was going to have to consider being almost killed more often.

"You saved my best friend's life. I owe you so much."

"I didn't save his life. His life was never in danger," Leo muttered darkly, suddenly remembering everything Roger had shouted at him. He believed it, of course, because Roger had been too angry to lie. "How long was I asleep, do you know?"

"Probably about a day and a half," Harry answered, a little too quickly. Leo became very positive that Harry had been standing at the foot of his bed before he blacked out, after all. Leo again refused to let himself think about what that meant. "Cho knows for sure, if you want us to get her."

"No, that's all right. Has, uh, has Roger been around?"

"No. I mean—I'm not sure." Leo sighed. He had known the answer would be no before he asked the question, but that didn't make it any less painful to hear. Hermione looked from Leo to Harry then cleared her throat again.

"Excuse me. I'm going to go grab a cup of tea. You can come get me when you're ready to go, Harry." Harry nodded, watching her leave the room. He didn't say anything for a few minutes after she left, keeping his gaze away from Leo's by taking a lot of time to pull up a chair.

"Kingsley told me that the Death Eaters weren't going to kill me, but I think he was wrong."

"What makes you say that?" Harry hesitated, still looking at anything but Leopold. He let out a long, slow breath.

"They tortured me." Leo sat upright too hastily, breaking open his still healing wounds again. He could feel his hot blood seeping through the bandages, but he didn't care. "Merlin, Leo, you shouldn't move so fast—"

"Why didn't you tell that to Shacklebolt?" Leo interrupted him. "Their punishment is going to be lessened without proof of an intent to kill you!"

"It doesn't really matter."

"Yes it does, don't you want them to get what they deserve?"

"I'm fine, though. If anything, they came closer to killing you than me." Leo sat back, shaking his head. His chest burned terribly and he winced as he pushed the sheets aside to inspect the damage. Splotches of blood were clearly visible on the bandages. "Do you want me to call Cho?"

"No, I'm all right."

"But you're bleeding—"

"I'm all right, Harry," Leo snapped. They stared at each other, Harry still ready to argue and Leo ready to refute. "I'm telling Shacklebolt what you just told me."

"Well then, I'll tell him about your and Roger's creative time keeping." Harry smirked mischievously, but Leo was not amused. Where did Harry get off withholding information from the Ministry? Leo practically killed himself to rescue him, didn't that mean anything to Harry? Or was he just used to people laying down their lives for him that he just didn't care anymore? Maybe Roger was right; Leo didn't matter to Harry so suicidally running into that building was ridiculous in more ways than one.

"I'm not joking, Harry. They were planning on killing you, that's not something to be taken lightly." Harry leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of Leo's bed. He looked Leo directly in the eyes, making Leo both uncomfortable yet strangely lighthearted. It suddenly became too intense for him and he quickly turned his gaze away.

"Am I to understand that Leopold Anthony Ackerley was concerned about my life?"

"Only because Harry James Potter can't seem to save his own life."

"Yeah, I'm only good at saving the world." Leo chuckled, waving his arm dismissively. He turned back to Harry to find an unreadable expression in the other man's face. Leo abruptly became aware of how close Harry's face was to his.

"I knew you were going to say that. You've become so predictable in your old age, Potter." Harry laughed softly. Leo found himself noticing odd things about Harry due to his proximity; the curve of his jaw, the slight upturn of his nose, how his eyes were so green they almost looked fake. And then he found himself noticing how soft Harry's lips were, and how smooth Harry's unruly hair felt between his fingers.

They only kissed for no more than a minute, but all concept of time left Leo the moment his lips were pressed against Harry's. When they broke apart, they looked at each other in shock for a second before locking together again, this time with an air of desperation for more and apprehension for what they were doing. It was so mutual: they both pulled each other closer, both quickened their breath in excitement, both seemed to stop thinking and act through instinct.

The loud bang of the door opening snapped them back into reality and they flew apart so quickly no one would have ever known they had once been so close even air couldn't get between them.

"Hi, Harry. Oh Leo, you're awake! You must be starving. How are you feeling?" Cho bustled in cheerfully, carrying a tray of fresh bandages again.

"I suppose I could do with a bit of food," Leo replied absently. He could still feel Harry's lips against his and he looked at Harry to gauge his reaction to Cho's arrival. Harry's expression was blank as he watched Cho; his eyes were slightly unfocused as though he were in a completely different universe. Leo wanted to smirk and tell Harry not to worry; he had that effect on everyone he kissed.

"That's good. Having an appetite means you're healing nicely. Let me just change your bandages then I'll grab you some food, all right?" Cho put her tray down with a clang, pushing back Leo's bed sheets to inspect the damage.

"Yeah, all right."

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," she said, unwrapping Leo. If only she knew. "I actually forgot you were here, Harry, I'm sorry." There was no reply and both Leo and Cho turned to where Harry had been sitting to find him gone.

"Merlin," Leo mumbled. The moment Leo thought he understood one thing something else came along and confused the holy hell out of him. Harry's vanishing act felt almost as bad as Roger's murdering of a ten-year friendship. Harry hadn't even thanked Leo for saving his life. Bitterness began flowing through him, overriding the confusion. Leo realized that that was it; Harry didn't belong to him. He could steal kisses all he wanted, but Harry's heart was property of a ferocious red haired woman with incredible aim.

"I didn't even hear him leave. Did you?"

"No. But I think the visit was over, anyway."