Chapter 3

Malfoy made a choking noise and ran out of the room, pushing Ron aside on his way.

"His mother is dying?" Harry repeated stupidly.

"Honestly, Harry!? She's been slowly dying for the past few months. She had a stroke about 2 hours earlier so they bought her to the hospital. You can't barely hear her heartbeats anymore," replied Kingsley.

"Alright, now Ron, you can be the Deputy Head Auror for the day. Harry and I will go check on Narcissa," Kingsley glanced at him.

"Sweet!" said Ron. "I mean, I hope Malfoy's mum- I mean, Mrs. Malfoy will recover."

"We just finished restoring all the fireplaces this year. No one has really paid attention to the post of the Minister or the Deputies who are dead." He sighed wearily. "Harry, please pack up all of Draco's stuff – I don't think he would like to leave his mother right now. Meet me in my office in 5 minutes."

With that, he strode out of the room. After shooting a sympathetic look at Harry, Ron followed him.

As they walked down the hallway, Harry pondered over what to say. I'm sorry your mother's dying? It was going to happen at some point anyway? No, definitely not that. Merlin, he was so hopeless when it came to feelings.

"We're here. Room 493." Kingsley pushed open the door to a small, but cosy room. Harry put down Malfoy's bag in the corner, awkwardly closing the door behind him.

Lucius was standing on the far side of the room, holding Narcissa's hand. Malfoy was on the other side of the bed, closest to the door. He was sitting down, holding her other hand. Harry had never seen him with such a gentle expression on his face. Hm, he thought. I suppose he can be decent. He looks so much better when he smiles than when he's smirking. When I mean better, I mean more friendly. Yeah. Obviously.

"How is she?" Kingsley asked. No one replied, until Malfoy cleared his throat.

"Apparently she was thrashing about. She's losing her memory and her senses. Figuratively and also literally. She seems to be better now," He continued, sounding a bit choked. "You asked if I gave her a potion to postpone her- her death, until I could find a cure. I did. I gave her a bigger dose of it now, but based on what the healers say I'd say she has a month, at the most. We need to find a cure. Now. Not just for my mother, but for any other bastard who thinks he can –" Malfoy's voice had risen to a high octave, and his mother opened his eyes.

"Draco?" She asked, blinking several times. "Is that you?"

"Yes, mother. How are you?"

"What do you mean, dear? I'm fine. Why do you look so old, dear? Why am I in a hospital room?"

"You fainted, darling. It's alright, they say you can be released soon," Lucius cut in. "But I hear Draco has a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" "What?" They spoke at the same time.

Kingsley moved to stand next to Harry and pushed him forward.

"Oh, who is this?"

Harry locked eyes with Malfoy, who mouthed "memory loss" and that was when Harry saw how bright his eyes were. Oh, he thought. Malfoy was crying.

"Well?" asked Lucius.

"Oh-erm, I, I'm Dudley?" Harry questioned.

"Dudley?" repeated Narcissa and Malfoy.

"Dudley. Er, Dudley Dursley..." he trailed off, embarrassed. He saw Lucius smirking and heard a muffled laugh behind him. Seriously, Kingsley, you too?

"And who are you, Dudley Er Dursley?" inquired Narcissa.

"He's Draco's boyfriend, dear." Lucius interrupted, and Harry heard a real laugh behind him as he flushed bright red.

"Er," he said, while Malfoy rolled his eyes. Narcissa watched him amusedly as he approached them. When he was standing directly behind Malfoy, he saw how truly pale and bony she was. She looked almost lifeless, and the laughter had brought some colour to her cheeks, but she was thin. She looked like a dead corpse, he thought, then admonished the thought.

He realised they were all looking at him (except Malfoy), waiting for him to do something.

"Er," he repeated, and rapidly thought of something Ron would do if he was in his position and Malfoy was Hermione. But that's not possible, a voice in his head offered. Hermione's a girl. A woman, really but- oh, god, he was going to have to hug him, wasn't he?

He reached out tentatively, placing his hands on Malfoy's sides. Harry felt his body tense, but he didn't resist when Harry hugged him slowly. Kingsley and Narcissa chatted for a few moments and Harry sighed leaning forward and placing his chin on Malfoy's head. He realised how foolish he must look, hugging Malfoy-of all people- from behind while Malfoy was sitting on a stool. If only Rita Skeeter could see him now. The thought made him grin wryly and he relaxed, rubbing his fingers on the smooth fabric of Malfoy's shirt.

That was when he saw the tear stains down Malfoy's cheeks, and that was when he tightened his grip unknowingly. He saw the surprised look on Lucius' face, however, and knew it was probably mirrored on his own. Merlin, Malfoy was really crying. Why do all the people he shows any comfort start crying? First Cho, now Malfoy? Was he like a human onion? He felt Malfoy shudder, and he tried to think of something to say.

"Hey," he whispered to Malfoy. "She's going to be okay. I know you, and with this new information I promise we'll find something to help her. She'll be smiling and she'll remember you've grown up and she'll be proud of you for finding the cure and save all these people. I promise. Hey, I won't even come and disturb you with my stupidity - that sound alright?"

He heard a sniffle below him, and he brushed Malfoy's hair softly. "It's okay. Just cry it out." And Harry held him, not noticing that Lucius and Kingsley had left, not noticing the confusion on their faces, not knowing Narcissa's eyelids fluttered as she slept, not knowing why this was even happening but it was already happening and he couldn't stop now.

TWO DAYS LATER

"Harry! I feel like I haven't seen you in ages, come on in!" Hermione smiled, rolling her eyes and picking up her wand. "Scourgify. Why do you always get so dirty when you use the Floo? Nevermind, Ron's just finishing up dinner – have you eaten already?" Harry nodded.

"'Ello, 'Arry!" Ron called.

"Hey, Ron," Harry grinned as he sat down across from Hermione, who was placing the pillows on the floor so she can sit as well.

"So what brings you here, Harry?"

"Er, well, I just wanted to pay a visit?"

"…" she studied him.

"What?" he asked defensively.

"And you were lonely," she concluded. "Harry, you know Ginny misses you, too. If you just-"

"'Mione, I don't miss her! If I did, don't you think I'd have gone over to her house and not yours? Anyway, how's your case coming along?"

"It's going very well! My client – Mrs. Robbs – said she's never seen a finer young lawyer working for Magical Law Enforcement."

"You are very clever," Harry grinned.

"Well, I suppose that's how I know you're trying to change the subject."

"Alright, alright. Can we just talk about something else than my lonely love life?" he pleaded.

"Alright," she agreed, but the look on her face told him that this wasn't over. "How's your case? Ron told me Narcissa Malfoy was in a fatal condition two days ago?"

"Oh, she's alright now. Malfoy reckons she's got a month or so, though," Harry paused. "Hermione, he was crying. Malfoy crying."

"Harry, his mother was – is – dying. He's still a human being capable of human emotion," she replied, then raised her eyebrows. "Did you do anything?"

"What?"

"Weren't you pretending you're his partner or something?"

"Oh. Oh. I – er – I hugged him."

"You hugged Ferret-face?!" Ron exclaimed loudly.

"Ronald! Harry, what do you mean you hugged him?"

"I just hugged him? At some point Kingsley and his dad left so I just, er, hugged, um, Draco and then one of the nurses told us we had to leave so we walked out and he Apparated away without saying anything and I haven't seen him in 2 days and I'm worried if he thinks I'm being more of an idiot than usual, but I didn't know what else to do! So I just held him and I think he's avoiding me and I'm scared Kingsley's going to yell at me because now I've made Malfoy upset," He said in a rush.

"Draco."

"What?"

"You called him Draco," Hermione said faintly. "You hugged Draco Malfoy until a nurse kicked you out. And now you're on first-name basis. And you're worried what he thinks about you hugging him. I have no idea what to say."

"Bloody freaking hell," supplied Ron.

OOooh this is getting interesting.. I know it's a slow build up but I'm one of those people who doesn't think love develops overnight. Attraction, yes. Not loooove. Don't worry, guys, I feel like the slash is coming. (whenever I'm reading a drarry fanfic all I think is "So, are they going to fuck yet?" so yap. Tis gonna happen. just keep waiting ;)

as usual, cookies for anyone who reviews. pwetty pwetty please? I am updating like every day hehe (did anyone see the room 493 = page 394 thing yess more cookies to you if you did. also, if there's any mistakes don't be afraid to tell me! I mean I write these at like 4 in the morning so mistakes are unavoidable lol. (it's currently 4:20 am now)

Song for the day:

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud