Reluctant Cooperation

Draco rubbed his eyes. They felt like dry stones in sockets full of sand. He picked up his wand and cast a spell to banish his headache, knowing he would pay the price later. The clock chimed four times as if mocking him; only a few hours until daybreak and Merlin knew when he would be able to sleep.

The fire flared in the grate and Granger (Weasley's) head appeared in the flames. She had been at the Manor earlier to break the news to Lily Potter, but Draco had not left the library to play host to any of his guests.

"May I come through?" she asked politely.

Draco gave assent and she stepped into the room, looking as tired as Draco felt. She carried a book—the same volume that lay open before Draco, although her copy looked quite a lot shabbier.

"You found it," he commented.

She nodded. "At Harry's. Although what he was doing with a book on magic this Dark is beyond my comprehension." Her lips pursed with disapproval. Draco felt a flash of annoyance that had little to do with her words and more to do with the fact that she had free rein to come and go at Harry's residence as she pleased. He reminded himself that things would change once Harry was well. He hoped.

"He's an Auror. It's intelligent to know what spells you could be hit with in the field, don't you think? We're damned lucky Harry has been collecting these books, or it would have taken us weeks to locate this particular spell."

Her jaw tightened. She most likely itched to fight with him, but logic won and she nodded. "Do you think we can stop it?" she asked. "There is no counter-curse."

"There is no counter-curse yet," Draco corrected. "We will have to come up with one, won't we?" He gestured to the book. "Now, some of the elements are similar to the Aging Curse, with an unhealthy dose of a Degradation Charm…"

There followed an hour of intense discussion, diagramming, arguing, and even a round or two of yelling. When a house-elf popped into replenish the tea, Draco's companion did not even pause to give him a disapproving glare. He thought there might be hope for her, after all.

Draco found his son in Albus Potter's room shortly after daybreak. The boys were tangled together like lovers and Draco felt his heart wrench at the sight. He hoped they would have an easier time of it than he and Harry. He brushed a hand over his son's fine hair. It looked almost white next to Albus's raven-black locks.

A lump next to Albus shifted and a ginger head appeared. Draco noted with surprise that it was Lily Potter. Her eyes opened and she regarded him solemnly.

Draco walked around the bed and held out his arms. She stood up and climbed into them, even though she was nearly too big to comfortably carry. Her head rested against his shoulder.

"Score said you're going to help my dad," she mumbled.

"I am. Your Aunt and I are going back to the hospital shortly. Would you like to break fast with my mother? It's still early, but she's awake."

Lily nodded. "She's nice. She said she would show me her hairpin collection."

Draco grinned. "That should keep you busy most of the morning."

"Really?"

"She seemed to have an infinite supply, but perhaps I'm no judge."

He dropped Lily off in the dining room where his bushy-haired accomplice made polite but strained conversation with his mother. Granger (Weasley) hugged Lily and miraculously said nothing when the house-elves popped in to bring the child breakfast and beverages. Although she did manage to give Draco the expected glare of disgust this time.

"The boys are still sleeping. Best let them rest," he told his mother. She nodded and smiled at Lily, who gulped noisily at a cup of juice. Draco tried not to think about what else the boys might do when they awoke. Hypocrite, he told himself and grinned ruefully. What had he been doing at that age? Experimenting with Pansy and Blaise… Merlin, the Yule Ball… If only he had recognized his feelings for Harry back then, and if Harry had not hated him, of course…

Granger (Weasley) coughed slightly and obviously waited for him to answer whatever question he had ignored while he was lost in thought. He scowled and decided to forego the Weasley portion of her name. He would always think of her as Granger and there were too damned many Weasleys, anyway. And he would never call her Hermione.

"Pardon?" he asked politely.

"Are you ready?" Her voice was snappish and ragged, likely from studying archaic Dark tomes all night without rest. Either that or she simply did not like Draco. Perhaps both. He gave her his most charming smile.

"Of course. Let us be off to rescue our favourite Gryffindor," he said, then added, "Well, my favourite Gryffindor, at any rate."

Granger rolled her eyes and brushed past him, muttering something about, "When did Gryffindors make your list of favourites?"

Draco followed her to St. Mungo's.

The hospital was still and quiet at such an early hour. James Potter and George Weasley were asleep on small cots in the waiting room. Draco believed St. Mungo's purposefully made it difficult to sleep at the hospital to encourage family members to Apparate home rather than clogging up the rooms and corridors. Draco and Granger tracked down several staff members, and the Malfoy glare silenced those that dared to voice an opinion about their proposed unorthodox healing method. Granger's presence most likely helped. Malfoy glare or not, they might have tried to prevent a former Death Eater from casting spells on the Saviour of the Wizarding World, or at least delayed long enough to cause Harry's condition to worsen. Even though Draco was tired, he refused to allow them to wait. Blaise's spell had not been halted by the Stasis, only slowed.

Draco personally selected three of the staff he judged to be most competent—and by competent he felt they would shut up and take orders. Outside Harry's room, he quietly explained the procedure, with Granger adding details or answering questions. Once the Statis Spell was removed they would have to work quickly.

The head mediwitch was a burly woman with steely blue eyes and steely grey hair. Draco thought he would have trouble with her, but she seemed genuinely interested in helping Harry, regardless of the methods used. She allowed them into the room and they arranged themselves around Harry's bed. His condition seemed unchanged. Granger bit her lip and met Draco's eyes for a moment in shared pain. Draco longed to reach out and brush the black hair away from Potter's smooth forehead, but instead he drew his wand and gave the head mediwitch a curt nod.

When she judged they were in the appropriate positions, she cancelled the Stasis Spell. Draco and the others began to chant at once. The magic in the room flared and became almost tangible. Draco and Granger spoke evenly and without haste, standing on either side of Harry's bed. Their words rang together, identical in tone and inflection. They had practiced for nearly an hour to get it right. For the first time in his life, Draco was damned glad Hermione Granger was a quick study.

The healers frantically cast Healing Spells to slow the damage caused by Blaise's hex, no longer fettered by the Stasis. Draco stifled the urge to race through the complex words of the new counter-curse. One mispronunciation would be disastrous.

A bright yellow glow erupted simultaneously from the wands of Draco and his bushy-haired accomplice. The strange glow flowed over Harry and seemed to settle into his skin. Draco's and Hermione's words ended at the same moment. Draco dropped to his knees and took Harry's limp hand. He leaned close and murmured in the Auror's ear.

"We've done all we can, Potter. It's up to you now. Fight, Harry. Don't leave me after all we've been through."

He shut his eyes and listened to the healers chant as they continued to cast Healing Charms. Finally there was silence.

"Merlin," the head mediwitch breathed. "I think it's working."

One of the younger ones nodded. His voice was pitched high with excitement. "Yes, the effects are no longer spreading!"

They cast several spells that Draco recognized as diagnostic and checked Harry over carefully. The older witch shook her head with a heavy sigh.

"Mr. Potter suffered significant harm, in any case. Only time will tell what the consequences may be. The spell targeted his musculature and organs. We've managed to keep his heart healthy, but damage to his kidneys, lungs, and liver remain to be seen." She paused and rested a hand gently on Draco's shoulder. "Just to prepare you, he could have loss of some motor functions… or even brain damage. And that is if he regains consciousness at all. It is mainly up to his own physiology now. Magic can only do so much."

Draco swallowed hard and nodded, unwilling to acknowledge the cold knot of fear generated by her words. "Even if he's a bloody vegetable for the rest of his life, I'll take care of him," Draco said quietly and stroked the soft flesh between Harry's thumb and forefinger.

Before he knew what hit him, he was enveloped in soft female flesh. Granger was hugging him! She clung to him for a long moment and her wet cheek pressed against his face.

"I'm sorry," she said finally as she drew back. "Harry said you had changed. He spoke of you often, even though we refused to listen. His voice… when he talked about you his voice, well it was almost like he was infatuated. I admit I thought he was under a spell or the effects of a potion. Even after all these years I still did not want to trust you, even though he did. But if Harry lives at all, it will be because of you, so thank you. Draco."

He met her eyes sardonically for a moment and thought it was a peculiar Gryffindor trait that caused them to change their minds drastically in an instant, and then unload their newfound convictions on the nearest victim. He nodded solemnly, not quite willing to spoil her speech with sarcasm.

"I'm going home. Please let us know immediately if there is any change."

Granger went out, followed by two of the healers. The burly witch stayed behind for a while longer, casting spells and pursing her lips. She said nothing, however, and finally left Draco alone with Harry.

He sighed and half-stood to press a kiss on the still Auror's lips. Draco dragged a chair close and rested his head against Harry's arm, still holding his hand tightly. The gentle sound of Harry's breathing lulled him to sleep.

"Draco?"

The question penetrated the haze of sleep wrapped around Draco and he battled his way to wakefulness. The voice queried again and he raised his head. As he did so he realized he was damned uncomfortable.

His eyes met soft green and remembrance slammed home. He had fallen asleep slumped over Harry's bed.

"Merlin, Harry, you're awake!"

Draco wrenched upward, not caring that his stiff muscles twinged in protest. He enveloped the Auror in an exuberant embrace and pressed soft kisses onto his neck. Harry chuckled.

"Um… I don't seem to be able to move."

The sound of Harry's voice was intoxicating. It was not until that moment that Draco admitted to himself how anxious he had been that Harry might never awaken. He transferred kisses from Harry's neck to his lips. The Auror put up with it for a few moments, until Draco moved back slightly, somewhat annoyed at the lack of response.

"Seriously, Draco, I can't move," Harry said quietly.

Draco sat back in the chair with fresh alarm. He grabbed Harry's hand and squeezed.

"Can you feel this?" he asked.

Harry nodded. "Yes, I just can't move my fingers. Or anything else." Draco caught the note of panic in the Auror's voice.

"Now don't worry. The fact that you have sensation in your limbs is a good sign." Draco hoped. He slid his hands over Harry's arms and then moved them to different parts of his body, enjoying the examination far more than the situation warranted.

"Yes, I can feel that and my feet are ticklish, so please stop," Harry begged. The soft flesh behind Potter's knees provoked much the same response, but it was the gasp he made when Draco's lips fastened on one of his nipples that made Draco chuckle wickedly. He looked up and admired the hot blush decorating the Auror's cheeks.

"You know, I'd stop you doing that if I could move," Harry said.

Draco smiled wickedly. "Would you, now? Would you stop me doing this?" He moved his hand down to grasp Harry's cock. Harry gasped again and Draco chuckled.

"I'm beginning to see a lot of potential in this," Draco said and stroked lightly. Harry's shaft began to swell under Draco's movements and he purred slightly. "Well, something can still move, Potter."

A hand suddenly fastened in Draco's hair and drew him slowly upward until his lips met Harry's. The Auror kissed him long and hard and then pulled him back to look into his eyes.

"I refuse to be your immobile sex toy," Harry said.

"Will you be my partially mobile sex toy?" Draco asked. "How did you move your arm?"

"Superhuman effort," Harry said and Draco felt the hand in his hair shake almost violently. He reached up and took Harry's hand in his.

"All right, don't strain yourself, Potter. I won't molest you until you ask me to." He let go of Harry's cock and slid his palm over Harry's flat abdomen as he sat up. "Can you squeeze my hand now?'

A sheen of sweat slicked Potter's forehead, but he nodded. "I think so." The fingers clenched slightly around Draco's.

"What about the other hand?"

After a few moments of concentration, Harry managed to curl his left hand into a fist. Draco sighed with satisfaction.

"I think it is temporary, Potter, but I suppose an actual medical opinion might be in order." He marched to the door and sought out the mediwitch on duty. She agreed to summon some staff members to check on Harry. James Potter looked up when Draco entered the waiting room. He noticed Draco's smile and bolted for Harry's room. Draco entered to find the boy sobbing in Harry's arms. He shut the door quietly to give father and son some privacy, and turned to see George Weasley beside him. He informed the redhead of Harry's condition and George immediately sent a Patronus shooting off to Granger. Within minutes, the place was packed with ginger, so Draco offered to take the news to Albus and Lily. He Apparated home and hoped one of the Weasleys would have the foresight to let Teddy know. Family emergency or not, Teddy was still an Auror and they were currently short-staffed. The poor boy had gone to work, even with his hero languishing in the hospital.

Before seeking out the boys, Draco Floo-called the Ministy and let Kingsley know, just in case.