Author's note: HEY, GUYS! Like I promised, this chapter shall contain no more Draco bashing, and our main character has returned :D Keep the reviews coming, guys! I'd really appreciate that, thanks. And just a random fact, now there's 62 reviews, and 62 happens to be one of my favorite numbers because it sounds catchy. Yay~ But I really hope to see the numbers go up faster anyway…LOL only you guys can make a difference! And now, here's chapter 15.

P.s. this is by far the LONGEST chapter i've ever written o.o WOOHOO! tell me i'm awesome, come on~

Acceptance
Chapter 15
For Your Own Good

Finally, I was through with classes for the day. I had been having terrible visions every now and then about something bad happening to Draco, but my friends kept convincing me otherwise. But whatever the case was, I was going to return to the common room immediately. "Harry, slow down!" Ron gasped between breaths, running towards me. I guess I had been walking too fast, but you can't blame someone for being anxious after having those voices and visions telling them to go back, right? Nevertheless, I stopped in my tracks so that my best friend could catch up. "Sorry, Ron. I'm just freaking worried, let's just head back to the common room now, okay?" I shot him a desperate look, in which he abided to. Just as we began to walk again, I caught sight of two idiots in the distance running in our direction. I strained my eyes to make out who the two persons were.

"Psh…Just Crabbe and Goyle practicing for some lameass marathon or something," Ron shrugged.
"No, Ron. Goyle's carrying something…no…someONE….oh god…you don't think that's…"

"There you are, Potter!" Crabbe exclaimed, panting heavily. As they came closer into view, my face paled into complete whiteness. My worst fear had come true. Finally, the two Slytherins slowed to a stop, allowing me to take in the sight before me. In Goyle's arms lay Draco…my little Draco...He was in a horrendous state. His clothes were all torn and tattered, there were dried bloodstains around his mouth, his hair was a mess, and numerous cuts and bruises had ruined the initially flawless skin on his face. I didn't even dare to look at the damage done under his clothes. I was lost in a sea of mixed feelings; worry, panic, sadness, anger, confusion…and now I wanted to know…who the HELL did this to my baby Draco.

I stole a quick glance at Ron and found him almost as shocked as I was. In fact, he looked like he had been petrified. I stared long and hard at Goyle, who gulped when he recognized my I-want-answers glare. "Well, Potter...Just so you know…we weren't the ones who did this to Malfoy." "You know we wouldn't even think about it," Crabbe cut in. "THEN WHO THE HELL DID IT?" I bellowed. I was fuming. Why wasn't anyone giving me the answers I wanted? Why didn't I listen to my instinct before? Why wasn't I there in time to save Draco? Why did he have to go through so much pain and torture? It just wasn't fair! Why…why was I too late to prevent this…?

I didn't realize how much attention I had attracted. Now everyone in the hallway was staring, trying to figure out what happened. "Why…" my voice shook, my whole body shook. Tears had unconsciously rolled down, staining my face, and I was completely overwhelmed with depression. Draco didn't have to suffer like this… Why couldn't I be there for him like I promised countless times…Why…?

"Harry…don't cry…please…?"

My eyes widened upon hearing the small voice. It was the same innocent voice…His voice…The voice of the angel whose side I swore to never leave. I shivered as I slowly turned my head to face Draco. He was smiling at me. I guess it was his way of comforting me now since he was really in no state to do anything else. If Draco, bashed up till he was blue and black all over, was able to smile even under such circumstances, why shouldn't I do the same?

I gradually found a smile forming on my lips as well. I lifted my hand to stroke his swollen cheek, but to my astonishment, he had flinched a little and used his hands to cover his face in some sort of defending pose. Even Ron, Crabbe and Goyle were stunned by this.
"Dray…it's me. I'm Harry. I won't hurt you, come on, you trust me right?"
Draco peeked through his fingers and let his guard down at last. Goyle handed a visibly shaken Draco to me. I could still feel him trembling as I held him. The poor thing…

"Sorry we got there too late, Potter. We…Well…Anyway, take good care of Malfoy…Please," Goyle mumbled as he and Crabbe returned back to their common room. I watched as the silhouettes of the Slytherin pair faded out of sight, and turned to Ron helplessly. My best friend patted me on my shoulder and declared that we should take Draco to the infirmary without further hesitation. I nodded, but reluctantly. I knew that Malfoy had always hated hospitals and medicine stuff when he was a teenager, I doubt little Draco here would like it either.

"Ron, do you think…instead of the infirmary…could we bring him to Hermione?"
"Are you kidding me, mate? Hermione can't heal all of these in time. Draco needs attention NOW."

I sighed and hugged Draco so that he would stop whimpering, "you're right…Let's go."

Then we sped off, once again, many eyes had followed us, still wondering what the hell happened. As we ran, I couldn't help but feel distraught. Draco had tried to back away from me. Why would he do that? It really hurt to see someone I cared for so deeply…want to stay away from me… But it was okay now, I guess. He let me hug him… So everything's fine now, he trusts me again…right?

Once we reached the infirmary, Ron alerted Madam Pomfrey of her new patient and she instantly rushed forward to claim Draco and began her duty. Draco screamed in protest and struggled as she laid him on the bed. "Draco wanna go home! HARRY!" He was out of control. Obviously the trauma he experienced with Blaise was enough to make him go crazy, but now medical attention with all those scary needles? Draco kicked with all his might in a failed attempt to free himself. Madam Pomfrey was looking rather crossed with her young and stubborn patient, "Mr. Potter, could you please calm him down or something?" I took a deep breath and began coaxing him.

"Draco, listen."
"Harry! Save Draco! Draco dun wana get hurt anymore! Dun wana hurt!"
"I'm sorry, Draco…You need medical attention and-"
"Draco dun wana get taken away for medi thing! Draco wanna go home!"
"Please, Dray, it's for your own good. Let the nurse take you-"
"WHY HARRY LEAVING DRACO TO GET TAKEN AWAY AGAIN? HARRY PROMISED NOT TO LEAVE DRACO! HARRY LIED! HARRY LIED!"

I froze at his last statement. He's right…I guess I did lie…But he couldn't possibly expect me to really NEVER leave his side right? In times like these, what's a guy supposed to do? But what hurt most was how he shouted at me. Draco…He loved me, didn't he? And I loved the little bastard to death. Why was this happening? Oh god, if I had gone back to the common room earlier, none of this would have happened…Draco had the right to feel betrayed and angry. It was my fault… All my fault…

"NO! Don't poke, please! It hurts!"

I watched helplessly as the exasperated nurse began examining the injuries at Draco's tummy, which was his most sensitive area. The prodding was too much for him to handle in this state. He was in a lot of pain, I could tell. I just wished I could run to him, hug him, kiss him better, tell him it's okay, just like last time. Except this time, it wasn't just a simple stomachache, it was a series of severe injuries. No child deserved to go through this. Why him…? Given the choice, I'd rather be the one to suffer in his place.

"Harry! Please...!" Draco was begging for help again. He was crying so badly, time seemed to have slowed down as I watched him squirm and groan in pain. If I let him continue suffering like that, would he lose his trust in me?

I took a few steps forward but Ron held me back, "it's for his own good. Let him get over and done with it, he will recover after this, okay? You want him to get better don't you?" Emotions were running wild in my head again, my heart rate had been shooting up over the last few minutes, and with Draco in so much pain, begging me to help him…I could do nothing…once again…I had failed him.

"Mr. Potter, I would suggest that you and Mr. Weasley leave the infirmary immediately. We need absolute focus and attention with this boy," Madam Pomfrey called out above the screaming. A few other nurses rushed past us and surrounded Draco's bed, all frantically taking equipment out and doing god only knows what to my poor baby boy. I couldn't move, I simply stood there in shock and anxiety. Only until Ron started dragging me towards the door did I finally exit the infirmary.

I lumbered out and leaned against a nearby pillar, sobbing my eyes out. Ron stepped forward, "you okay, mate?" I shook my head, feeling worse than ever. I couldn't stop berating myself for letting this happen. Draco was my responsibility. I was to care for him, love him… But what did I do? I left him alone to get brutally tortured by some insane asshole whom I have yet to get my hands on, and when I had the chance to redeem myself and 'save' him from his fear of medicine and needles, I abandoned him again. Everything was going wrong.

"Harry…He'll be okay, you did the right thing."
"What if he never trusts me again after this? What if he hates me for not being there for him more than once?"
"He won't, he's not like that. At least, the Draco I've seen my best friend take care of over the past couple of months would NEVER be so unreasonable as to hate the one who loves him. I promise you, mate. He'll get out of that infirmary when he recovers, as good as new."
"Yeah but…what if he never comes out…?"

Ron paused abruptly, obviously recalling how serious Draco's injuries were. Who knew whether a little kid would be able to live through all that? Furthermore, who knew if his weakened body would be able to take in all that medicine they were going to give him? I was panic stricken, and Ron was starting to worry as well. Damn…what's going to happen to him…