When Draco woke for the second time, he was alone. Pulling the duvet up to his chest, he sat up slowly. Somehow the room did not seem anything like as comforting and homely as it had when Harry was there. Now it just felt empty and unfamiliar.

"Hello?" He called, embarrassed by the slight tremor in his voice. "Harry? Are you there?"

No reply.

Draco could feel his heartbeat increase as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood on slightly shaky legs.

"Harry?" he shuffled to the door, grasping desperately to the handle as dots swirled around the edges of his vision. Draco breathed in deeply, then let it out slowly.

Where was Harry? He thought desperately, struggling to keep him breathing even as he swayed slightly, still clutching the door handle like a lifeline.

Gathering his courage, Draco pulled open the door, and stepped out into the brightly-lit corridor.

It was eerily quiet. Aren't hospitals supposed to be filled with shouting orderlies pushing beds, and patients bleeding all over the place?

All Draco could see was a long line of doors on either side of the hallway, and he cautiously took a few steps down to his left, jumping slightly when the door to his room shut with a click.

Maybe he should just go back and wait in his room. Harry would come back for him. Wouldn't he? Surely he would.

Now Draco could hear his heart begin to beat faster, and he stumbled backwards towards his room. Was it his imagination or was the corridor getting longer, shadows lengthening in front of his eyes?

Stumbling backwards, Draco tripped over his own feet, his back slamming into a solid chest, strong arms coming round Draco to catch him safely.

"Hey, hey it's okay, it's okay, I've got you."

Draco instantly softened, sinking into the embrace of his master as he sighed, tears of irrational relief springing to his eyes. "Harry… I thought… Where were you?"

"Shush baby, come back and sit down, I'm here now," Harry guided Draco back into the room, supporting him over to the bed, lifting him to sit on it while he stood between his legs, and cradled Draco's fair head, looking deep into his eyes.

"What…what are you doing?" Draco quavered.

"You hit your head pretty bad Draco, I'm just checking, but you seem okay. I am a healer, remember." Harry murmured, stroking his lover's soft cheek with his thumb. "Why did you get out of bed?"

"Oh yeah", said Draco quietly, relishing the touch of his master. "I, I just wanted to find you. I didn't know if you were coming back."

"Hey. Look at me, come on Draco, look at me. I will always come back for you. Always. I just had to check in with some of my patients, since I've taken the next two weeks off work."

"Oh… okay" said Draco, too caught up in wonder at Harry's first words to really notice what had followed, but Harry soon reminded him.

"Two weeks, just for us baby. I'm gonna take you home and look after you the whole time, I promise," Harry whispered into Draco's ear, pressing himself closer to the blonde and wrapping his arms around his back, both men enjoying the warmth of the embrace. Draco moaned loudly, caught up the moment.

"Does that sound good to you, love?"

"Mhmm", Draco nodded his head against Harry's chest, hands fisted tightly in the back of his shirt.

Harry sighed, pulling back, with no little effort, and taking both of Draco's hands in his. "Come on, we need to get you dressed properly. Your clothes are here, do you think you can do that yourself?"

Draco's eyelashes flittered. He knew he was strong enough really, but there was a very strong temptation to deny that, and have Harry's hands on more than his back.

But then, suddenly, an irrational wave of self-doubt crashed over Draco. Sure his master had liked his body over the webcam. But that was when Draco could control the lighting, and the angles, and Draco had always been insecure about his skinny, pale body.

"I've got it," he said tightly, pushing Harry's hands away a little as he slid off the bed. "I'll meet you outside the door."

"Oh, okay," Harry said, retreating out of the door and closing it softly, trying not to let Draco see the disappointment on his face.

Alone, Draco paused, holding his hands over his eyes, trying to hold back tears of frustration. Logically, it was obvious that Harry wanted to see Draco's body, that he would worship him, as he always had before.

But still.

Groaning to himself, Draco walked to the cabinet where his clothes were folded. On the positive side, his vision was perfectly clear by now, and his legs relatively steady.

Pulling off the awful hospital gown, Draco dressed quickly and efficiently. Sheepishly, he opened the door, grinning shyly at Harry, who had been pacing silently, waiting for him.

As their eyes met, a great sense of calm settled over Draco. He knew he'd been wrong to hide from Harry, but he also knew that Harry would understand, and forgive him.

"Come on Draco, let's go home," Harry smiled, holding out his hand.

Grin broadening, Draco took it, and allowed himself to be led through the twisting corridors, and out through a side entrance.

"I'm sorry for taking you out the back way, love, I just thought, you know, given our history, and the way the bloody prophet is, it would probably be better, for now anyway."

"Yeah, no, that's probably a good idea, you're right," Draco agreed.

The two stepped out of the plain wall, straight into muggle London, blissfully unaware that, despite Harry's precautions, the flash of a camera followed them out of that door.

XXXXXXX

Their journey home was largely uneventful. Harry didn't think Draco was strong enough for apparition, so he hailed a cab, and keeping Draco safely tucked into his side, they were at his front door.

Draco stared up at the house before following Harry inside. The lights were off, and they stumbled a little in the pitch black before Harry groped his way to the switch, not once letting go of Draco's hand.

They made their way to the bedroom, and although Harry left the hallway light on and the door open, he didn't turn the bedroom light on.

"It's okay Harry, I was being silly, I know. You can…"

"Shush darling, you're alright, its fine. You need to rest. We both do. Falling asleep with you in my arms before, it was the best feeling ever. I want to do it again. Please baby." As he was saying this, Harry stripped off his shirt, toed off his shoes and pulled down his trousers.

"Of course", Draco murmured, barely able to breathe he was so entranced by the vision before him.

Harry chuckled, unconsciously flexing his defined muscles as he tried to catch Draco's gaze in his own. His voice deepened. "Something bothering you … Slave?"

"Ohh" Draco huffed, all the air rushing from his lungs as his knees went weak again. It was all he could do to stay upright as his Master padded across the thick carpet towards him, like a lion stalking its prey.

"Now, slave. It's time for you to undress for me." Harry turned his back on Draco, and slid onto the bed, leaning back against the headboard, and lifting his hands behind his head to rest comfortably.

"Oh, okay", Draco said, as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.

"Go slower, I want to enjoy watching you reveal yourself to me properly this time. It is long overdue."

"Yes master." Draco's movements were more assured now, more fluid, since he knew he was acting under orders to please his master.

He quickly moved through the buttons, and slid his shirt off first one, then the other pale shoulder. Letting it drop to the floor, he followed it, bending down to take off his shoes and socks. Looking back up he caught Harry's fiery gaze, and he could resist no longer.

Draco flung himself onto the bed, crawled up Harry's stretched out body and pulled their faces together desperately.

Roles temporarily forgotten, each man clawed at the other, Harry rucking down Draco's trousers, Draco fisting his hands in Harry's hair, gasping into his open mouth as their cocks finally slid against each other, separated only by the thin material of their black boxers.

Harry quickly twisted his their bodies, pulling Draco underneath him and pressing down, so they were connected at every possible point, absorbing each other's body heat as they burned together.

Draco's fingers stroked down Harry's firm back, and pushed underneath the waistband of his boxers tentatively.

"No darling, not tonight. Tonight is all about you. You need to rest, but you'll never sleep when you're wound up like this. All hot and bothered. Let me take care of you. You performed so beautifully for me."

Draco was so overwhelmed that all he could was nod furiously, and moan and Harry sat up on his knees and slowly, seductively, slid Draco's final piece of clothing off of him.

Draco's eyes flicked up to his right, embarrassed under Harry's gaze and nervous to see his reaction.

Harry curled his hand round Draco's flushed cheek, looking into his eyes. "You're perfect. Never doubt that. You know me, I would never settle for anything but the best. And you are mine, Draco Malfoy, my slave. Now. No more embarrassment, no more hiding from me. I won't allow it."

"Yes master", Draco agreed softly, finally letting go of his inhibitions and arching his hips upwards to grind himself against Harry.

"Good boy."

Harry slid down Draco's trembling body, placing kisses as he went, pausing to lick over his thin, barely visible scars. And then he reached his prize.

It was unlike anything Draco had felt before, the heat, the pressure, the pleasure. It was like lightning. But also like a wave, crashing over him and drowning him in love and pleasure, and more sensations than he knew how to put a name to.

When he came, Harry swallowed every drop, savouring the taste of his lover, and while objectively, it wasn't the best taste ever, what it meant, that was incomparable.

Panting, Harry crawled up the bed, leaning down to share Draco's come with him. Greedily, Draco licked into his mouth, and Harry knew that Draco could taste the same thing he could.

Finally, they both had a taste of victory, of happiness.

They fell asleep that night entwined tightly together, Draco's fist curled around Harry's thumb.

XXXXXXX

Harry woke slowly, surfacing from the deepest sleep of his life and reflexively tightening his hold on the man still in his arms.

"Mmmmm morning", Draco mumbled, snuggling deeper into their embrace.

"Good morning my love," Harry grinned, "mmm I hope every morning is like this," he chuckled, pushing one hand further down Draco's chest till Draco laughed, pushing his hand away. "Oh. Denying your master are you?" A devilish smirk took over Harry's face as he pulled Draco underneath him again, and began to mercilessly tickle his ribs.

"No! No!" Draco cried, breathless from being forced to laugh, and trying to fend Harry off. "I give up! I'm sorry!"

Finally, Harry had mercy and relented, flopping down next to Draco, both of them desperately trying to catch their breath through their giggles.

After they'd managed to get themselves under control, Harry looked over to Draco. "How does a shower before breakfast sound?"

"Fantastic," Draco agreed.

"Come on then," Harry pulled Draco out of bed, pushing him, still naked, into the ensuite.

Draco stumbled into the shower, turning the water on as Harry pulled off his boxers and crowded in behind him, reaching round to grab the shower gel, squirting it into his hand and wasting no time in soaping up the skin of his thin lover.

Harry luxuriated in the feel of his lover's smooth skin below his strong fingers. He knew it was moving fast, but they'd been talking for weeks, and every single bone in his body knew that this was right.

Sighing happily, he continued to clean every inch of the blonde, as Draco in turn ran his hands over Harry's chest and back.

Before long, Draco reached the one part of Harry he hadn't already encountered.

"Go on, you can touch me darling," Harry encouraged.

Hesitantly, reverently, Draco reached out, water splashing off his bent head as he gazed at Harry's long, proud, and very erect, cock. He trailed one finger along the length of it, gripping it firmly with his whole hand when he reached the base.

Harry groaned lowly, he'd never felt anything as good as this. Never.

"Stroke me. That's it, that's perfect. Fuck baby yes. You're doing so well." Harry groaned, fisting his hand in Draco's soaked hair, hauling him in for a wet kiss. Steam rose around the pair as they groped at each other, hands slippery and soft and so, so good.

Eventually, Harry's hand had reached Draco's cock too, and they were stroking each other rapidly. Seconds before they came Draco dropped to his knees, taking Harry's cock into his mouth, and swallowing all he could.

The combination of the heat, the passion, and the knowledge that he had pleased his master, had Draco cried out as his own come mixed with the shower water and spiralled into the drain.

Harry reached down, gripping Draco's chin and tilting his face up. "I'm so proud of you, my love. You're so good. That was amazing."

"Really?" Draco's face lit up, happy to have pleased his master, his lover.

"Really."

Draco grinned lazily, and Harry had to bite his lip at how fucking adorable it was. How could a person look so innocent, kneeling at the feet of his naked master, with their come smeared across his face, and on the floor between them.

Helping Draco to his feet, Harry rinsed them off, switched off the shower and grabbed a towel to wrap around them both.

"I'll put your clothes in to wash today, but for now, you'll have to borrow something of mine. As much as I'd love to keep you just like this," he groped Draco's pert bum for emphasis, "I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

Draco giggled, "that's okay, I'd like to wear your clothes."

"Alright then, well my clothes are all in that chest of drawers, help yourself to anything you want."

Draco went to the chest of drawers, leaving the towel behind. He certainly wasn't entirely body confident yet, but he was close enough to enjoy the feel of Harry's gaze on his skin as he bent over and opened the bottom drawer.

Harry groaned and had to tear his eyes away, lest he do something they weren't quite ready for yet. He took his sweatpants from the floor and pulled them on quickly, opting not to put on a shirt, the central heating was working well enough, and he relished the way Draco looked at his chest when he thought Harry wasn't paying attention.

"What's this?"

When Harry turned round, Draco was holding out the invisibility cloak he'd pulled from the bottom drawer.

"Oh, it's my father's invisibility cloak. How do you think I got up to those things in school you always suspected me of?"

"Oh, yeah? Huh. It's probably really valuable. Why is it stuffed in the bottom of your drawer?"

"Well I don't really have much time to get into trouble like I used to, and it's practically the only thing I have of my father's, so however valuable it is, I'd never sell it."

"Ah, that makes sense I guess. But what about all the jumpers? Surely they aren't valuable?" The disgust was palpable in Draco's voice.

"Those have sentimental value, Mrs Weasley made them for me, one every Christmas since first year," he chuckled.

"Hmm." It was clear Draco didn't approve, as he slid the bottom drawer back into place and took out an old, stretched out t-shirt and fresh boxers.

"Mmm, you look good in my clothes" Harry said, walking over to grasp Draco's hips, pressing himself against the slim back, nibbling at his neck.

"Come on, you promised me food, I'm starving!" Draco giggled, pulling away from Harry.

"Haha okay then, you got me, fair enough. Let's go then."

Hand in hand they descended the stairs and went into the kitchen, pulling together a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast, and while Draco made tea, Harry went to fetch the paper from the front door, where it arrived every morning by owl-post.

Draco hummed as he sat down at the table and tucked into the food. It was only once he started eating that he realised just how hungry he was.

When Harry came back, Draco immediately knew something was wrong. His normally bright face was stony, and as he looked up at Draco, his voice shook. "I'm, I'm so sorry baby, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Please, don't read it."

"What are you talking about Harry?" Food forgotten, Draco stood, and went to Harry, pulling the paper from his lax fingers. When he saw the headline, he dropped the paper in shock.

FILTHY DEATHER SCUM CORRUPTS THE SAVIOUR: IMPERIOUS AT WORK?

I am so so sorry. Again. Review? I promise I have a plan for where this is going, and I will get us there as soon as I can.