The Exchange – A New Year, A Final Night

She hadn't seen Draco at all last night. She was slightly worried, despite knowing that he was going to purposely keep his distance. So when Blaise walked up to her in the great hall looking slightly amused and more so annoyed, Haley was relieved, but also very surprised to hear what he had to say.

"The stupid buffoon is in the infirmary."

Haley blinked. "What?"

"Yes. Apparently, he was prancing around outside and caught himself another cold. Git." Blaise shook his head. "He was there over night which was why we didn't see him at supper or in the common room."

"Why on Earth was he roaming around outside in this weather?"

"Don't ask me. When I went to see him and he told me he was sick because he was outside for too long, I just called him an idiot and I left."

"You're not a very supportive friend, Blaise."

"I told you before, I don't support idiocy. Only a crazy man would be outside in this weather. Plus, he'll be fine. Just a day's rest and he'll be good as new."

Haley still frowned. "I'll go visit him."

"Hm. I thought you might. Give him a bonk on the head for me. Tell him the whole 'idiot' thing."

This made Haley chuckle. "All right. See you in a bit, then."

"See ya."

She made her way to the hospital wing and when Madame Pomfrey saw her enter her doors yet again, she had to laugh.

"My dear child, I see you here now more than ever. And considering your record, that's saying something."

Haley smiled. "I'm actually here to-"

"Visit young Mister Malfoy. Of course." Madame Pomfrey finished, smiling. "He's right in there."

Haley entered the room. She instinctively looked over at the bed where Leir had been recuperating. Relief washed over her. The bed was empty. He really was gone. And across the room, dozing off in the morning light, was Draco.

Haley smiled at the sight. She walked up next to him and leaned in.

"OW!" Growled the disgruntled boy. "What the hell?!" Angry grey eyes landed upon the girl standing next to his bed. Draco rubbed his head where she had hit him. "That's no way to wake people up, Jones."

"That was from Blaise. He called you an idiot and said that prancing around outside in this weather is for madmen."

"Still…" he frowned.

Then, Haley grabbed the pillow from the bed next to him and hit Draco squarely in the face.

"What. The. Hell?!" Draco was getting very agitated.

"That was from me. You really are an idiot."

"Fine! Then I suppose I won't give this back." Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out Haley's missing necklace.

"Hey that's my-"

"Well not anymore," he grumbled. "This belongs to the person who cherishes me. You clearly do not."

Haley just rolled her eyes before sitting on the edge of his bed. "Where did you find it?" She asked, calmly.

Draco scowled at the girl, but answered her anyway. "It was over by the greenhouse."

Haley blinked. "You mean… outside?"

The boy leaned forward, bringing his face closer to the girl's. "Yes."

Now Haley felt guilty. "I… Draco…"

"That's right, say it."

She pursed her lips together. "I'm sorry."

"You should be. I spent an afternoon looking for this thing in the cold, mind you, and this is the thanks I get?"

Haley felt really guilty. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace. "I'm really really sorry…"

"Good. That's more like it. Now tell me how brilliant I am."

"Ew, shut up. You're such a dork."

Draco just smiled and held Haley even tighter.

She sighed. "Thank you for finding it for me. And I didn't even have to ask."

"See how nice I am? You're lucky I'm sick right now or else I'd be out there trying to find myself a new best friend."

"No…" Haley whined. "You can't do that. I'm irreplaceable."

Draco was silent for a moment, mulling over the words. "…True…"

Haley pulled away, much to Draco's unseen disappointment. She looked at the necklace in his hand. "Oh no… the chain…"

"Yeah… it's broken in two different places," Draco said, pointing it out.

"Hmmm…" Haley studied the necklace. "It probably snapped when Leir-"

"Probably," Draco interjected, not wanting to think about the incident. "At any rate, it's broken. I'll have it replaced for you."

"You don't have to do that," Haley said, furrowing her brows. "I can get it fixed myself."

"No. I want to do it. Don't argue with me. You have a lot of sucking up to do."

Haley smiled. "Fine. If you insist. But I'm keeping this one in the mean time," she said, pulling out the ring from underneath her sweatshirt.

"Fine."

The girl stood up and stretched. "All right. I guess I'll be going then."

"What? Why?" He frowned, displeased.

"Well, you're sick. You need to rest."

"So? Stay with me. I'll be bored all day. You owe me that much for suffering the cold."

"I don't want to start the year by catching your cold."

"You only caught it last time cause you drank my soup. Now if you have any intentions of making any sort of mouth-to-mouth contact with me, I will say I don't have any problem with it, but it'll be at your own risk," Draco smirked.

"Ugh. You're incorrigible." She rolled her eyes and looked away. However, when she felt a hand wrap around her own, she looked back into Draco's grey eyes.

"Stay with me. Please?"

Her heart immediately leapt to her throat. This would be her last full day with him as Haley. After that, she wasn't so sure what would happen. So, after accepting what it was that she really wanted, Haley sat back down. "Okay."

Draco's face instantly lit up. "Great. My power over you is growing stronger, indeed."

"Ugh. Never mind."

Draco snatched Haley's wrist as she made to leave again. "Come here, Jones," he pulled her back to his side, scooting over in his bed to make room for her.

Obediently, she climbed in next to the boy, resting her head upon his chest as he lay back down upon his pillows. He wrapped his arms around his dear friend, enjoying the warmth of their proximity.

"So…" he trailed.

"So…"

"Monday sure came fast…"

She didn't respond.

"Can't you stay a little bit longer?"

"…I want to… but everything's all set. I leave on Monday. Plus… it's about time I go back anyway."

"Can't you take me with you?"

"I don't think you'll fit with all my luggage."

"… I could try…"

Haley chuckled at the mental image of Draco Malfoy trying to fit into her school trunk. "I think it would be quite uncomfortable."

"You don't know? I'm very flexible."

"Well then go ahead and try. I'll take you anywhere."

"Good. That's more like it."

Again, Haley laughed. "Well what about your mystery girl? I thought you were going to pursue her?"

This time, Draco sighed. "The only girl that's important to me right now, other than my mother of course, is already in my arms."

Though the words melted her heart, they were still bittersweet. "You know, when you say stuff like that, it's like you're playing with me."

"Does it? I don't mean it to be. It's how I honestly feel."

"If you keep saying such nice things to me, how am I supposed to get over you?"

"…Maybe I don't want you to."

"That's a little selfish, don't you think?"

"I have my reasons."

"And what might they be?"

Draco paused. Haley felt the arms around her tighten their hold. "I'm not ready to tell you just yet…"

She wasn't sure what to make of this. She briefly worried that he was plotting to humiliate her by exposing the fact that Harry Potter had fallen in love with Draco Malfoy. But that idea went away as soon as it had come when he started stroking her hair. The motions were soothing and she soon felt her eyes getting heavy."…Just what are plotting, Draco…?"

"Hmm…" It seemed sleep was taking a hold of him as well. "Isn't it obvious? I'm plotting out your inevitable demise…"

She half-heartedly smacked him on the chest. "You shouldn't say such things. I'm likely to believe them."

The light chuckle let her know that he was teasing her again. "I would never hurt you. You know that."

"…I want very much to believe that…" she closed her eyes, listening and feeling the calming sensation of Draco's breathing. Soon enough, sleep had overcome her.

Draco looked down at the girl in his arms, making sure that she was asleep, before kissing the bangs that hid her infamous scar. "Believe this…" Draco closed his eyes as well and whispered gently to her sleeping form. "…I love you, Harry Potter…more that you'll ever know…"

The figure in his arms nuzzled its makeshift pillow before settling back into slumber. Draco smiled softly before letting sleep take over him as well.

---

A few minutes after the pair had drifted off, Blaise came back into the infirmary with the intention of stealing Haley away from a bedridden Draco. He thought such an act would offer some amusement in seeing the almighty Draco whine and complain to keep his pet, even if the amusement lasted only for a little bit. After greeting the nurse for the second time that day, he walked into the ward and immediately spotted his two friends snuggled up to each other in Draco's bed. He smiled at the sight, but then shook his head in dismay.

"Idiots…"

He left the two as they were, hoping that by some odd miracle that they'd finally confess their undying love for one another as Harry and Draco. Knowing these two, it was mostly likely going to be a while before anything like that happened. He could only hope that it would happen sooner rather than later. Again, he shook his head.

"Idiots…"

---

Haley awoke feeling warm. She opened one lazy eye after another and took in her surroundings. They weren't her usual swarm of green and silver that she had somehow gotten used to. And the pillow she had wasn't as fluffy as she remembered. In fact, it was moving.

'That's right… I'm in the hospital wing…' She shifted herself so that she could look up at the person who held her so close. 'Draco…'

The boy was sleeping again. This time, though, she refrained from hitting him on the head. It was the least she could do seeing as she was mostly the reason why he was there in the first place.

Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was just about noon. Haley yawned.

'If I'm going to stay with him all day, we're going to need something to do…' Haley thought. Moving slowly as to not stir the boy, Haley slipped out of Draco's hold and made her way towards the exit.

She passed by an amused Madame Pomfrey and told her that she'd be back shortly. Madame Pomfrey just smiled. Ah, young love.

Though all of this seemed nice and well, it wasn't as so when Draco awoke. His body suddenly felt chilly and very much to his dismay he awoke to empty arms. Draco sat up and after he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, he looked around the room. Haley was nowhere to be seen. Feeling hot, but cold, and very alone, Draco stood, wrapped his blanket around his shoulders, and looked out the window. The first day of the New Year was heavy with snow, and Draco found he was very happy to be indoors today.

'Where did he go…?' Draco wondered. 'He said he was going to stay with me… Just once, I want to wake up and see him there. Every time, he's always already awake and out of my arms… just once, couldn't he stay put? Damn it, Harry. Why are you always so busy getting away from me?'

He leaned forward against the glass, feeling its chill run through him. 'Harry… Harry, Harry, Harry… Harry loves me.' He couldn't stop the grin from coming. 'And now I know what he really wants. He wants me to care for him as he is. And I will. So please, Harry… just keep on loving me until you're back. I'll show you just how much you really mean to me…'

"What are you doing out of bed?!"

Draco spun around and saw Haley standing in the doorway, a frown on her face. He plastered a frown on his own. "You left me."

"But it's not like I wasn't going to come back, you git. Get back in bed before you make yourself any worse."

Draco did as he was told, trying to hide the smile that was growing with her return. "Where did you go? I was cold."

"Well if I'm going to spend the rest of the day with you, we needed something to do." She sat down in front of him, summoning the tray-table to the bed. Pulling out a deck of cards, she began shuffling.

"What? My company and conversation aren't enough for you?"

"Hardly. You're boring after the first hour or so."

"Is this supposed to be you sucking up to me? Cause you're horrible at it."

"I apologize, oh great and wonderful Draco."

"That's more like it."

"Anything else? Would you like me to fluff your pillow? Get you a glass of water? Or would you rather I just keep stroking your ego."

"Mmm… you're a competent girl. I'm sure you can multi-task."

She tossed one of the cards in Draco's face. "You're terrible. At this rate, I'm leaving you to your own devices."

"Fine, fine. I'll be good. Just stay."

"Oh? The great and wonderful Draco swaying to my whims? Who's the powerful one now, hm?"

Draco smirked. "I am, of course. Despite how terrible you claim me to be, you're still here. Clearly, I have the stronger hold."

Haley responded by throwing another card at him.

---

"That's cheating! You peeked!"

Somewhere between noon and five that evening, more guests had entered the infirmary. Haley and Draco were still playing cards, but somewhere along the line, Blaise had entered with Pansy and were dealt in on the game of Exploding Snap. Eventually, having wondered where everyone was, Ethan joined them in the hospital wing and was now being accused of cheating.

"I did not! Just take the pile, Blaise! It's not my fault you're too slow!"

"Bullocks…" the blonde grumbled under his breath, accepting defeat.

"Whose turn is it?" Pansy asked.

"Mine!" Haley flipped over a card. "Six."

Ethan flipped. "Seven."

Draco flipped. "Eight."

Pansy flipped. "Nine."

Blaise flipped. "Te-"

BOOM! The card exploded the second it left the boy's hand.

"Face it, Blaise." Draco said with a smirk. "You're just terrible at this game."

Blaise frowned and begrudgingly picked up the pile. "I hate you all."

"All right, all right. Is anyone else getting hungry?" Haley piped.

"That's what happens when you skip breakfast and lunch." Ethan said.

"I didn't skip lunch. I ate some of Draco's. Blame him for keeping me here all day."

"Hey, hey. You're not the one sick. You could have left at any time."

"Ah. Well then I shall see you later. I'm hungry." With that, Haley hopped off the bed and hurried to the door.

"No wait!" Draco tried but failed to grab the girl's wrist.

"See you, Draco!" She smiled with a wave.

Ethan shrugged. "I guess I'll go too. I'm sort of hungry, myself."

And so Draco was left with Blaise and Pansy, both watching him from the side of his bed.

"You know…" Pansy said, placing her forefinger to her bottom lip. "You sort of set yourself up for that one…"

"Oh hush up." Draco frowned.

"Why don't you just tell him? What's so bad about telling him?" Blaise wondered aloud.

"It's not bad. I just want to tell him when he's back to his original form."

"I think that's stupid," the girl noted. "He likes you, you like him. Shag already."

"It's not that simple, Pansy. He wants me to like him as he is. And I'll show him that I do."

"Well I for one agree with Miss Parkinson. You two are just wasting time. Did you even stop to consider that as Harry, it's practically definitive that he'll end up spending less time with you."

"Of course I've considered that. But after everything… I just want him to know that it's him I care for… who I've always cared for…"

The three friends sat in silence.

Then, simultaneously, "You're an idiot."

Draco glared at the pair. "Get out!"

---

"Hey, so what happens tomorrow?"

Ethan and Haley were sitting face-to-face at the end of the Slytherin table in the great hall. Most people had already left the table. Even Ethan was near finished, but Haley was really set on filling up.

"Well… I say goodbye to everyone, go to Dumbledore's office, drink the antidote, and voila. I'm back to my old self."

"Okay. So then how will you explain your sudden and budding friendship with a few of the Slytherins you once proclaimed hated you?"

"I don't think it'll matter much. People come up with all sorts of rumors on their own anyway. I think that if I suddenly just started hanging out with you lot, people will come up with their own stories. We don't have to deny or agree with any of them. Let people think what they want."

"And what if they all catch you staring longingly at Malfoy?"

"First of all, I wouldn't. I keep all my pining on the inside. And second, if I somehow managed to slip for a moment, they'll probably just think that I'm looking at him in detest."

"Don't you want to be his friend after this?"

"Well, yeah. Of course. But… I'm not too sure. I think he really hates me."

"That's stupid."

"No, I mean the real me."

"Again, stupid."

"Then how can you explain the fact that Draco finds it necessary to separate me from my real self?"

"What?"

"He knows. I heard him say it himself. He knows who I really am and yet he still plays along as if I'm someone entirely new."

"You… know… that he knows…"

"Yes. I just said that."

"Okay. So what makes you think he's separating the two?"

"Take today for instance. He knows that I'm really Harry, and yet he still was so kind to me as Haley. Maybe he just doesn't want to accept the fact that we're the same."

"I don't think that's it."

"Then what could it be?"

"If he knows and he still cares, then clearly he cares no matter who you really are."

"But-"

"But nothing. You're reading way too much into this. Stop confusing yourself."

"So you really think he cares for the real me?"

Ethan simply nodded.

"So then why does he still pretend?"

"Well… you never gave him a reason not to."

"What?"

"To Draco, you're still playing Haley. So, I figure, he's just playing along."

"You think so?"

The boy shrugged. "I do."

Haley was solemn. "You don't think it has anything to do with me being Harry?"

"Nope."

Haley slumped and took a bite out of her bread. "I hope you're right."

---

It was nearing ten that evening when Haley finally returned to Draco's side. She had made a pit stop to her room to finish packing the last of her things so she wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow. Back in the infirmary, she collapsed into the bed next to her friend who had kept himself occupied by reading up on some rare and complicated potions.

"Ugh, I'm stuffed." She groaned, patting her stomach.

He glanced at her. "You look stuffed."

"Some friend you are."

"I could say the same of you."

Haley sat up and frowned. "What? What did I do?"

Draco snapped his book shut and dropped it onto his tray table. He looked back at his friend with a frown of his own. "You left me. Again."

Haley stared at Draco from the bed next to him with her mouth agape. "You said I could!"

"I didn't mean it."

"You shouldn't say things you don't mean."

"I say them all the time. You're very pretty."

"You jerk."

"Now how did you know that I didn't mean that?"

"Because you just said-"

"I didn't mean that!"

"You're awful."

"You don't mean that."

"I could."

"But you don't."

"Shut up."

Draco was quiet, but a smile played on his lips. "…Come here."

"No. You're mean to me," Haley pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Only because I'm fond of you."

"Don't try to sweet talk me."

"But I mean it."

"Still…"

"Still…Come here."

"Ugh. Fine." Haley rolled out of the bed, rather ungracefully, and slumped all the way around to Draco's side. She hopped in next to him and turned her back to the boy.

She heard him chuckle. "You're such a child sometimes."

"This coming from the spoiled brat."

"Yes, yes. I'm very spoiled…" He said this wrapping an arm around Haley's waist and resting his head on hers so that their cheeks were touching.

"I don't see why I came back…" Haley frowned, still grouchy despite the fluttering in her stomach.

"Because… I' m brilliant."

"Is that another one of those things you don't mean?"

"Admit it. I'm great."

"You're breathing on me. Now I'm sure to get sick."

"Maybe not. I'm at the healing end of the cold, remember?"

"Ah, good. Cause that's the last thing I want right now."

"Is it? I would think the last thing you would want is for a mastrot to sit on your face."

"Gross."

"But I'm right, aren't I?"

"…Maybe."

He snuggled in closer to the girl, burying his face in her shoulder.

"You know… I really doubt Madame Pomfrey will let me sleep here, let alone in the same bed as you. So you can't fall asleep with me here."

"Too late…"

"Draco," she elbowed him in the ribs. "Seriously."

"Seriously? I want you to stay…"

"… I can't."

"But you would?"

"…Maybe."

"Then… just stay while you can. Wait until she kicks you out. Until then, let me fall sleep with you here. Although…"

"Although what?"

"I had rather hoped I'd be able to wake up with you here, too."

"Now you're just being selfish. Maybe I'm uncomfortable. Maybe I long for my own bed."

"So… you want us to move to your bed?"

"What? You totally read that the wrong way."

Again, he chuckled. "I would. If you'd let me."

"Well you can't because you're sick and you have to stay here."

"Boo…"

The two lay side by side for a while. The sounds of Draco's breathing were like a metronome to Haley and soon she found herself getting tired, especially since she had a full stomach. "I'm getting sleepy…"

"So sleep then…"

She closed her eyes and exhaled. "…I should go…"

"You can't. I won't let you, remember?"

"Fine… When she comes to kick me out, carry me to my room…" She joked.

"You? You honestly think I can carry you?"

"…Jerk…"

Draco smiled. "…Good night, Haley."

"Mmm… Night Draco…"

Draco spent the next ten minutes studying the girl in his arms. He was hopeful that tomorrow would turn out okay. Even though she would be leaving and returning to her normal state, Draco was hopeful that once Harry was back, they could move forward.

"Ehem."

Draco looked up at the nurse who was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed and with a frown on her face.

"You know, Mister Malfoy, that I cannot condone an underage boy and an underage girl sleeping in the same bed."

"Yes, I know…"

"Please wake Miss Jones and send her on her way."

"Well… she's already asleep. I don't really want to disturb her."

"Then what do you propose we do, hm?"

"I could always carry her to her room…" Draco tried. "I'm feeling much better than I did this morning and a good night's rest is all I need for a full recovery, right? Why not let me do so in my own bed? That way, I can take her to her room and just go to mine afterward."

Madame Pomfrey studied the boy carefully. "All right. I'm trusting you, Mister Malfoy. Take that girl straight to her room and then go your separate ways."

"Yes, of course."

Draco gently pulled away from Haley, and slipped out of the bed. He walked around to the other side and lifted the girl lightly as to not stir her. Madame Pomfrey held the door open for the pair.

"Remember, Mister Malfoy. Straight to your own room," the nurse warned.

"Yes, yes, of course."

Cradling her softly, Draco carried the slumbering Haley all the way down to the Slytherin common room, which was nearly empty by this time. When he got to their doors, he smiled. There was no way he wanted to part with her now. He skillfully opened his own door and laid her down on his bed. After taking off her shoes and setting them aside, Draco climbed in behind the girl to take up the position they shared before leaving the infirmary.

Draco snuggled in against her warm body. He wasn't exactly proud of lying to the nurse. But he wasn't exactly ready to part ways with his friend just yet. Again Draco smiled and closed his eyes. Hopefully, this time, she will be there when he wakes up.

Author's Notes/Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe is one that I neither live in nor own. Though I wish I had either or both. Yes.

I would have to agree with Pansy in this one. Hey you! Yes you! The one reading this! Thanks for sticking around long enough for me to write this! Yeah! You are awesome!!1one!! P.S. At this rate, how can anything go wrong for this pair? Teehee…